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Although Typhoon Morakot recently cut through southern Taiwan, most popular destinations visited by international tourists remain untouched. Because the typhoon affected remote areas in southern Taiwan, the majority of domestic and international flights are operating as usual, and traffic on tour routes appears to be flowing smoothly.
Sightseeing, recreational facilities, and hotels, which are traditionally part of Taiwan’s international tourist network in Taroko Gorge, Kending, Sun Moon Lake, the ancient capital city of Tainan, and the port city of Kaohsiung, are reporting that things are business as usual.
In addition, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has stated that most of the big tourist attractions in northern Taiwan remain untouched. These attractions include the mountain towns of Jiufen and Jinguashi, Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, North Coast, Yeliu Geopark, Northeast Coast and Yilan, the Two Chiangs Culture Park at Taoyuan, and the Hakka towns of Hsinchu and Miaoli counties. Tourist locales in central Taiwan such as Guguan, Xitou, Baguashan, and Taichung City, as well as the outlying islands of Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, are similarly unaffected.
To expedite travel for visitors in areas damaged by the storm, several alternative travel routes are currently being provided. While the roads between Kaohsiung in the west and Taitung on the east are being repaired, flights between the regions have been instated, and transportation to the Zhiben Scenic Area in Taitung has recently been restored.
Although many of the areas damaged by Typhoon Morakot are in remote areas of southern Taiwan, tourists to these regions will find that railway and highway traffic through area remains disabled. Currently, Alishan’s road and rail links are broken, and the main road linking Alishan with Chiayi is scheduled to open again in mid September. For more detailed, up-to-date information, visit www.ali-nsa.net or the Directorate General of Highways at www.thb.gov.tw.