Taipei, Taiwan's Metro System is Better than Yours

This is a quick video that show you some highlights of the best metro system that I've ever been on, the Taipei Metro MRT. The underground subway system covers most of the city. It's convenient, clean, inexpensive, and efficient. Compared to other mass transit systems, Taipei Metro feels luxurious. It may be the best public transit system in the world.
For more information about traveling to Taipei, check out my budget guide to the city: www.itchyfeetonthecheap.com/20...

[@jamesl9371]

I’ve lived in Taipei and visited many times. I’ve also been on many other subway systems in Asia, Europe and North America. The Taipei MRT is the best. There are so many reasons. Beautiful clean washrooms in every station. The best maps of surrounding streets and buildings in every station. Everything in English and Chinese. Very clean. Fully automated = Easy card is easy. Helpful friendly staff in every station. Design is excellent and so it’s easy to navigate through stations and the system. People are very polite and courteous to each other

[@levithefarmer1337]

I went to Taiwan a month ago and I caught the metro everyday. To go from Qillian station to Taipei 101 station it cost about $1 US. It is amazingly clean and a train comes every 1-5 minutes .Using the travel cards makes it so much easier as all you have to do is tap n go and top up once or twice a week. The trains are not very crowded and that makes life easier.I reckon Taipeis Metro is the best in the world.

[@judithdeluna226]

we visited Taiwan last may 20-24..love the meyto, love the food, love the people☺

[@stig]

the meyto rocks

[@joker.hahaha]

Judith de Luna taiwan love u

[@LiaoYiYu616]

come back again lol

[@maomaoglowgo]

We love you, too :D

[@MaiCosVlogs]

if you ride on a subway in taipei..all you can think of is..why is my country isn't like this?

[@jeremythesmith]

I love the Taipei MRT system. So clean, efficient and easy to use. Nothing like it in America.

[@LetsBuildThatApp]

Just got back from Taiwan myself for the first time. Taipei MRT and HSR high speed rail are leagues ahead of what we have in the California Bay Area. In addition to cleanliness, its also very quiet and peaceful in the MRT. No thugs or loud music in any of the cars.

[@supergoodjamie1995]

i miss the taipei metro system, Bart and Muni here in Bay area suck :(

[@qjtvaddict]

Jamie Lin umm this is what happens when you give town's their own say

[@vicbear16888]

Jamie Lin lo

[@CL-ev7lu]

hahaha Muni and BART...so true!!

[@gregh7457]

the grey area bla.. thugs and loud music i HATE. glad i got out of that hellhole

[@DogBrotherhood]

The metro in Taipei could be used as an example for any other country to follow. It is such a joy to use. I traveled there by myself, and being a little scared thinking that it would be difficult to understand since I am a country bumpkin. Not at all. Within 20 minutes I had wrapped my head around the system and I was up and running all over town. Easy! Clean, safe, cheap, efficient.... go! Check it out yourself. Won’t disappoint

[@oceanissoplane1290]

The best metro system in the world. Amazing how such a small country can have a better metro system than any US metro system

[@taipei2pa]

Amazing! I would enjoy public transport if things were so orderly, clean and safe. Can't wait to go back to Taiwan!

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

Me too. I only visited Taipei, so there's lots more to explore. Thanks for watching.

[@pumpkinhill4570]

Orderly and clean. Respect from Japan.

[@nz_planespotter4013]

I just got back from a trip to taipei and the Metro system was amazing

[@PetersTW]

"Still looking for garbage....." lol. Cool video!

[@helenwang7137]

I'm a Taiwanese and work in China now. I also lived in Taipei for years and I really miss Taipei Metro. Thanks for your video and glad that taking Taipei Metro makes you feel comfortable.

[@julsitos2]

Love the system, the behavior of the locals, the efficiency.... love love Taiwan

[@snowcatgirl]

I have been to several cities . To be honest, "Taipei Metro" is one of the best systems in the world! It's clean, convenient, people are polite and friendly. (They can't cut in line when you are waiting for the train)

[@mistertofu]

I just wanted to mention that every line has its own train arriving music. It's very special and adds a nice touch to the MRT.

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

I didn't realize that. I love that idea.

[@srwang56]

Exactly! That's one feature I appreciate about the MRT in Taipei.

[@chingo1543]

I literally just acme back from Taiwan a couple hours ago and I already miss their MRT system...

[@s9211513]

I am from Taiwan and I am proud of my country 🇹🇼

[@xuantingchen2506]

W Y Taiwan wasn't, isn't and will not be [a country], no one admit or accept it as a country formally. Don't flame on me, I'm just stating the truth.

[@txr8565]

Xuanting Chen, Taiwan is a better COUNTRY than China.

[@urirozenblit3823]

Let the comment war begin!

[@yuanzhengsun9268]

Why not vote for independence? It's not like KMT is stopping you anymore. I really need the price of the military industries in the stock market to shoot up. Please vote for independence.

[@txr8565]

Yuanzheng Sun We had voted for our own President, and that means we are an independent democracy country period.

[@k.a.5785]

Currently saving for my Taiwan trip!

[@pakan357]

It's worth every single cent, trust me.

[@nickgirard9018]

What an amazing design!

[@PrinceLogicYT]

My dad is from Taiwan, from Taipei. We live right by Dongmen Station (it transfers from the red and orange line)'s Exit 8. It is so convenient and I ride it every day. It's clean, and people are polite, and everything is an organized and neat system, with no garbage, and incidents rarely happen. It takes cares of everything and it has AC in the summer and heating in the winter. Riding on the MRT is one of my favourite things to do when I am bored. I rate it 5 stars. The best underground transit that I have ever seen.

[@hihihihahahah]

According to my experience during my trip to Taiwan, I think Taiwanese people are polite, and they keep their streets really clean, although it was really hard to find a trashcan. I had to put garbage into bags and carried them with me until I found a trashcan. That was great. I visited both Taipei and Kaohsiung, and their MRT systems were really really nice and modern. I felt luxurious, that's for sure. Young Taiwanese dressed very neat and nice. Hope to be back to Taiwan!

[@123kwj]

I agree with Hihihi. Taipei streets and sidewalks are very clean. But it is almost impossible to find any trash cans on most streets in Taipei. I wonder if this is partially the reason the streets/sidewalks are so clean. A few times I had to walk into 7-11 or some other convenient stores in order to get rid of a few small pieces of paper trash in my pockets.

[@yu-peiyen1390]

Welcome back. :)

[@Wowdeadcharger]

Yes the purpose of close to no trashcans on sidewalks is to keep the streets cleans it makes you keep your trash in your hand until you go to an MRT station or someplace that has a trashcan (you can ask people at 7-11 too) This system has worked very well and more or less like trains you to not litter. :P

[@awesomeness87878787]

City don’t provide trashcans on purpose because they want people to create less garbage and bring your garbage home to dispose. I know it’s not very tourist friendly but it’s a way of life in Taipei

[@kevinwang2723]

actually on the other hand, due to the recycling policy and specific trash bags required by the city, trashcans will be filled up with family garbage by those who didn't want to spend time to recycle or spend the money to purchase the trash bags. The streets are clean because there are people out early in the morning to sweep the city, we still get littering, very minimal, but yes, there are still those who like to throw their garbage like it had nothing to do with them.

[@babyrage1763]

I just came back to my home country from Taiwan. I am in love with its metro system and of course, the people

[@jealousof]

Taipei is my fav city

[@NegativeX83]

After riding the Taipei subway system and coming back to New York... we are so behind here. And NY just introduced the tap system which Taiwan has had for years!!!!

[@chenchic]

Thanks for supporting Taipei Metro of my country. In addition, Taoyuan Airport MRT will officially open on March, 2017. Welcome to try this brand new line connecting Airport and downtown Taipei.

[@daniellee7178]

Can't wait to ride it next time I go back.

[@lamtian2010]

Took the taoyuan airport line last month, it's probably the slowest subway I have ridden on so far, but still faster going to Taipei downtown than taxi or coach (at least no traffic jam on the way), but still need huge improvement, especially connection within the airport terminal and to other parts of taipei

[@user-or5kq4ok3s]

加油 我陪睡

[@kanazef]

so clean...

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

@2:30 is known as a 'Cross Platform Interchange' - such is the best way to design for major inter-line transition movements.

[@eric1604]

Welcome to Taiwan ^^ Have a nice journey :)

[@angieo2798]

Haha That video looks like me when I ride around Taipei. I am going there tomorrow. I should make more videos like this on my channel.

[@carolhou4020]

Angie Catkid hope you enjoy your trip here❤

[@angieo2798]

Thanks Carol. My almost two years here have been pretty good.

[@clc2563]

Angie Catkid Thank you !

[@earlonearth8463]

Taiwan mode of transfortation is one of the best in the world very convenient what I really miss there is their famous milktea I used to buy it every time I go to taipei for groceries and one of my fav. Flavor is blacktea with vanilla ice cream. I miss you taiwan!! 😵 😵 😵

[@kelvincao8359]

I've been taking Taipei Subway almost every day during my 2 weeks stay there. The whole system obviously is not as long as Shanghai's, as efficient as Tokyo's, as convenient as nyc's, or as spectacularly looking as Moscow's. HOWEVER, everything is just quite good enough for the whole city, which I believe it makes one of the best city railway system in global.

[@lukeydisme]

I'm Australian, every metro system is better than ours :p

[@moorfang]

+Lukey D I know right. As a Sydneysider, I'm so unimpressed by our miserable public transport.

[@lukeydisme]

hahaha it was a Melbourne based comment, but it very much holds true for Sydney :)

[@lukeydisme]

If you're offering to send someone, I'll go :p

[@nedhappily]

I went to Sydney before, I really like it.

[@moorfang]

I guess you'll like it less once you've stayed long enough and experienced daily commuting here.

[@ALWH1314]

Each station has different arriving music:-)

[@wlul]

There is so many wonderful things in Taipei. If you are a traveller, may be you can try some apps created be taiwan engineers, such as Tipga(good blog for mobile), Funliday(good itinerary for mobile), ....etc.

[@SeoWoojin55]

I’m half-Korean and I still think that Seoul has the best metro system but when I went to Taipei and Tokyo, their systems are close and I could rank the three of them as the best in the world!

[@vspcuber3902]

Better than Singapore in terms of reliability. Very very few disruptions

[@Pineapplecookieankle]

true. Taipei MRT is the best in terms of reliability since the network is not so complex (compared to other asian cities such as Tokyo or Shanghai). what i say is validated by international institution!

[@ronanlo791024]

Welcome to Taipei city, hope you have a nice trip @ here.

[@YouTube-Taiwan]

Thank you and Welcome to Taiwan!

[@earlonearth8463]

This is their government effort that really utilizing their resources to make their citizen's life become convenient in all aspect I really felt envy in that regards and wishing to my own country that we also have what they had.

[@Daniel-nq4hc]

When you posted that comment, Taipei Metro was actually paying for themselves.

[@mistertofu]

I just got back from Taiwan and I love the MRT system.

[@OxGreen]

Thanks for making this video.

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

Thanks for watching

[@yun1255]

Oh wow. I'm a Taiwanese who lives in Taipei and I don't even know about the straight-to-exit escalator. I'm afraid not every station has that, or the changing lines without going different levels thing. About standing on the right side of an escalator - the metro company used to encourage people to do that, but the funny thing is, they've cancelled that policy for more than 10 years now (after a terrible incident due to high traffic for New Year celebration). Nowadays, people keep to the right out of habit, though there are actually movements encouraging people to stand on both sides, as it can indeed be dangerous for people to rush on an escalator, even though it is indeed convenient for people in a hurry as well.

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

Thanks for the insight. I like the stand to the right rule. In my opinion, an escalator isn't a place to take a break, it's to get you to the top faster.

[@theinitialD]

Just visited it. Love that country. Friendly

[@robertos4876]

Most impressive is Taiwan's safety record. I can't find even a disruption due to any accident.

[@y11971alex]

Little tidbit: before the installed the platform doors, there were inset lights on the edge of the platforms, and the lights would blink whenever the train was about to arrive. Now that they have platform doors, they removed the lights and fill in the holes they used to occupy. That's why there are little circles on the edge of the platform. Taipei's metro system (built in the 90s) is spanking new compared to most in the west.

[@Stewty1]

love the Metro station it sure is the cleanest and I like it better than Japan’s railway system. I make a point to visit this place every other year - I’d love to move to Taipei someday

[@ryanpagsanjan3168]

I want to go back, I love Taiwan's MRT!

[@ftsection2156]

Ryan Pagsanjan you are welcome anytime! ✌️

[@francesvansiclen3245]

Wow, beautiful; very civilized !

[@loois3431]

Looks and works almost as identical as Japan's, except this one was built recently.

[@txr8565]

Welcome back to Taiwan again!

[@masterimbecile]

Lines 1 and 3 used to be 1 line going all the way through CKS Memorial Hall Station down to Xindian, which is why you can "change lines" on the same platform from Line 1 to Line 3 there. I still remember being super confused when they changed the lines. Sure it does mean I can now go to Taipei 101 on 1 train from my old home, but then I don't need to go through the Taipei Main Station anymore, which I thought was half the fun.

[@ShippoHsu]

masterimbecile it was line 2 for the Red Line. Line 1 is the brown line lol

[@jazzreyes189]

this video is informative 🙆

[@moover123]

Looks like Tokyo

[@linusfotograf]

You're making me miss Taipei. By the way, Hong Kong has my favorite Metro system.

[@briantravelman]

EVERYTHING in Taiwan is better than ours. America has fallen behind.

[@brianpan6453]

The designated line means EVERYTHING in this topsy turvy world. 😃

[@doris409]

Agree!!!

[@h-matsujpn4097]

🔘🔘 [JPN] ➕ [TWN] ➡【👏、👍】。🔘🔘

[@nekochen]

I went to Taipei last year and rode on the subway. Me and my friends felt the pressure since it's so quiet and clean. We just looked at each other the whole ride, it was kind of uncomfortable trying very hard not to chat lol.

[@htchd0211]

U could just talk as usual but in lower voice, I guess.

[@SunShaoGang]

Proud of my city

[@fwefhwe4232]

even Delhi Metro is similar. Apart from token, I have a card as well as use mobile QR APP (pay via phone). coaches are heated in winter, cooled in summers. trains every 2 mins during peak hours. I prefer to ride it whenever I visit Delhi

[@ShippoHsu]

30 seconds Tech the government in Taipei has been trying to do a workaround on this but the technology used in Taipei IC cards just won’t work lol

[@mllh2022]

Train stops are announced in English, Mandarin and Hakka

[@kianono3209]

and Taiwanese.

[@Pilikapililala]

謝謝你介紹台灣的MRT

[@maryasonipsie9118]

"Taipei, Taiwan's Metro System is Better than Yours" Me, suffering from Manila's MRT: *_*genuine pain*_*

[@h.mandelene3279]

"Taipei, Taiwan's Metro System is Better than Yours" Japan .... has entered the chat. Japan: Hold my saki...

[@user-vn9eo3mf4f]

Cheap one-way ticket and also only NT1280 (46 usd) for monthly pass(unlimited travel on metro and buses) in the whole Taipei area.

[@user-cy2ff6zo2v]

Enjoy ur stay in Taipei.

[@htc2channel565]

Taipei city is the mega city :)

[@Lulofan]

OH!! This station is near my home. lol

[@jeremyunderground41]

I've been to Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong. I can say that Hong Kong has the best train system in Asia or even in the whole world. Next to Hong Kong is no doubt Taiwan.

[@middletransport]

Huh. In HK, the new subway constructions are locally known as "Tofu construction". The stations are falling apart during construction, like tofu. Very poor quality.

[@garyysu]

HK MTR has no public bathrooms. How do I know? I had worked in HK for almost 4 years.

[@god-son-love]

Best in the world.

[@hiimcortana1568]

You should actually try to visit Taipei again. Totally better with now a circular train route being planned which will make the MRT system lines connected in a circular kinda shape removing the need of having to travel a lot of stations for stations that are geographically close but there is no direct connection. And 30days ticket of unlimited train and bus rides is only 1280TWD. As a student coming to study here,it is very worth since I use the metro everyday and it saved me thousands actually. Even the U-bike can be ridden for 30mins free with this unlimited ticket. The Taoyuan MRT line which connects Taiyuan airport to Taipei main station is unfortunately not acknowledged as part of Taipei's metro but called Taoyuan MRT instead. The stations are not as clean but not dirty because very few people live in taoyuan right now. But this thing almost made taxi drivers went out of business due to passengers with very little baggage or luagge will just use the taoyuan MRT to get to taipei main station and Get a taxi from there which reduce half the taxi fares easily.And as a student ,I can enjoy 25% discount just by buying a Metro pass card meant for students. Elder people get like 50% discount or higher iirc. Metro pass can be used outside of Taipei metro even on local trains or High speed bullet trains meant for other cities or counties. 7-eleven ,family mart . Convenience stores and Supermarkets also accept the metro pass card as a payment option to purchase goods.

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

Glad to hear Taipei is improving it even more. I really think public transport is very important, but North America doesn't seem to care that much about it.

[@chillectro4893]

the title of this video is gonna spark alot of arguements

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

You're right. Hopefully it won't devolve into racism, but it's the Internet so it probably will.

[@user-kk6hc5ff9p]

Itchy Feet on the Cheap don't worry. Asians would fight each other first, so there's no need for worrying about devolving into racism.

[@lenouveauvillageois3182]

It is quite good but only reaches n3 on the international ZM:S report.

[@davidhsieh2761]

Is it like in HK where you cannot eat in the metro?

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

Yeah. I think that helps keep it clean, but I do enjoy sipping coffee on public transit.

[@kevinwang2723]

yup, no eating in the metro, not even chewing gum.

[@kpc16754]

Taipei Metro No garbage no homeless no crime no racial slurp no stinky smell .. Best in world

[@TG4164]

That one hell of a door chime tho...

[@amapparatistkwabena]

Looks like any of the newer stations in South Korea. You need to get out more.

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

+Anthony Stewart I've been to South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai... I get out.

[@PeterLiuIsBeast]

But I think not changing levels is kind of a bad thing if you look from a different angle. It means that 2 lines share the same track meaning that less trains can be run on the same track. Beijing metro has trains run every

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

I don't know if the trains share the same track at any point. They're different lines going different ways. Perhaps they cross each other, but I'm not sure. During rush hour the metro in Taipei runs trains every 2.5 minutes.

[@PeterLiuIsBeast]

Itchy Feet on the Cheap Well, if 2 trains share the exact same platform then they must share that little stretch of track no? I'm not saying Taipei Subway is particularly bad. It's just that it seems like a typical East Asian subway system. Although definitely better than anything in the US. Chicago, San Francisco, San Jose, Houston, San Diego, Portland, DC and San Juan rail transport all are 2nd tier in comparison.

[@echostarx]

@@PeterLiuIsBeast this is how it works! Pretty cool right? commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cross-platform_transfer_in_Taipei_metro.svg

[@echostarx]

They put them on different floors

[@gogozzzz]

this is as like bts(bankok train system ) using coin charge and chest screendoor

[@mikesylvester8850]

NYC should be ashamed

[@TW-um5hs]

That's an extreme example though......

[@blessingmatadi7607]

NYC will say "our metro is the best not yours"

[@308_Negra_Arroyo_Lane]

The Never been to Tokyo, huh.

[@user-yt1je9uf9f]

have been living in Taiwan for 10 years and i have never seen anybody using that sticker ....

[@user-pg8ys2dj5x]

Welcome,

[@exploretheworldwithchacrit1717]

metro system in Bangkok Thailand is clean too similar to Taipei metro . I will visit Taiwan on 30 october 17

[@JJ-yu6og]

What if you selected the wrong destination and don't realize it until you're ON THE TRAIN, and you remain on the train for 3 more stops? Does the train police fine you??? Who is policing the rider's integrity? Thanks for the video, and if you can reply!😃

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

Sorry, I'm not sure. Maybe someone else can help.

[@marie-angehakow4486]

You pay only at the end. They are smarter than this dude!

[@hiimcortana1568]

If you try to exit at 3 more stops . The price of the small coin thingy you bought will not be able to open the passing gate machine and you will have to go to information counter and pay the extra fee needed to make your ticket fee meet the total fare of the travel route you took.

[@danichen6227]

Welcome to Taiwan!😆

[@lil----lil]

Try NYC Subway: 1. Trash bins overflow and abundant. On tracks AND Off Tracks. 2. Trains/Stations are forever being "repaired" Never "fixed" - Delay, Delay, Delay. 3. Loud, obnoxious young people play music loudly, disrupting passengers. Dengerates. (regardless of race) 4. Union workers doing boondoggle jobs. 5. One NYPD incident and it's game over for half a day. 6. Rats Heaven. 7. Homeless people take over the entire bench seat fouling the air quality. (no offense to HL people). 8. IT'S DANGEROUS at night. DON'T KID YOURSELF. Only Manhattan is safer. It's the PEOPLE. Stupid! Try Germany, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, and you will experience pretty much the same thing.

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

It's also the age of the system, the rules set in place (no eating). Homelessness is a pretty rare thing in East Asia. Also, there's less crime - whether it's because of the people or the fact that the punishments are stricter. The lack of unions and the way the workforce is setup means more people working and faster results.

[@bravia9999]

台灣的捷運真的很乾淨。

[@jsnswjahzhz1238]

welcome Taiwan

[@francesvansiclen3245]

you and your girl make a cute couple !

[@GLA741]

So, it's similar or a copy of Japan's Rail system. And it's cleanliness are just the same as JR

[@earlonearth8463]

@afappingJap because most of Taiwanese really admired japan for them Japanese concept is a good model and reputation and they really want also to do what the Japanese did.

[@turner9324]

Taiwan NO.1

[@NGC7009]

I live in Taipei, so the system is not better than mine edit: that wide angle lens tho

[@robloxswinwake4530]

Try out Shenzhen Metro,you will see which is better.

[@ayudhray1747]

I agree with you,but there are less people riding the metro. It's much easier to maintain

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

That's true. It's hard to compare metro systems when the cities they're in are all so different.

[@ayudhray1747]

That's true. But Taipei's metro is really very clean and tidy,even if you compare to some small cities' metros.

[@136760mas1]

So clean. Asia is so way ahead of the U.S especially their subway technology. I am a naive New Yorker and I am so disgusted by our antiquated and dirty subway system.

[@poikakrichiey6063]

Lol Taiwan's Metro is basically almost Asian metro system. Easy access to other lines. | Cleanliness in every station, and train. | Respect to other passengers. Chimes that play before a train arrives (South Korean Metro). So you could say Taipei's subway is the same to most asian countries/cities

[@itchyfeetonthecheap]

It's true. I live in Chengdu, China and it's pretty close to the same. I found South Korea pretty good too, but it's older so it's a bit more worn down - same with Hong Kong.

[@weiyouzeng5588]

Eating,drinking as well as littering in metro stations or on trains are prohibited by law , people will be fined for violating, and don't even chew in MRT systems across Taiwan. People fixed their eyes on me when I started chewing, and that was as horrible as being chased by a monster.

[@MrMedukneusha]

0:15 Watchout! There's a hipster following you!!!!!!