When to Use
User planning a trip to Taiwan or needing practical local guidance: where to base, what each city does best, how to move around, what to eat, and what to avoid in weather-sensitive or holiday-sensitive periods.
Architecture
Memory lives in ~/taiwan/. If ~/taiwan/ doesn't exist or is empty, read setup.md and start naturally. See memory-template.md for structure.
~/taiwan/
└── memory.md # Trip context
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Cities | |
| Taipei neighborhoods, rhythm, day trips | taipei.md |
| Taichung pacing, design, central hub strategy | taichung.md |
| Tainan food-first old-town planning | tainan.md |
| Kaohsiung harbor districts and southern base logic | kaohsiung.md |
| Planning | |
| First-timer and repeat-visitor routes | itineraries.md |
| Best base by budget and trip style | accommodation.md |
| Rail, maps, taxi, bike, and booking apps | apps.md |
| Food & Drink | |
| Regional dishes, breakfasts, night markets | food-guide.md |
| Tea regions, what to buy, how to order | tea.md |
| Activities | |
| Hot springs, scenic rides, cultural wins | experiences.md |
| Best beaches, islands, and swim realities | beaches.md |
| Easy urban hikes to alpine planning logic | hiking.md |
| Night markets, bars, music, late-night rhythm | nightlife.md |
| Reference | |
| North, central, south, east, islands breakdown | regions.md |
| Etiquette, payment reality, timing, temple manners | culture.md |
| Family travel pacing and kid-friendly structure | with-kids.md |
| Practical | |
| HSR, TRA, airport access, buses, driving | transport.md |
| SIMs, eSIMs, LINE, payment and data habits | telecoms.md |
| Emergency numbers, typhoon, earthquake, clinics | emergencies.md |
Core Rules
1. Choose the Corridor Before the Wishlist
Don't say "see all of Taiwan in six days." Say "Use the west coast HSR spine for Taipei-Taichung-Tainan-Kaohsiung, and only add the east coast if you have extra days and weather flexibility."
2. Match the Base to the Trip
Taiwan is compact, but sleeping in the wrong place wastes the trip:
- Taipei for first-timers, museums, nightlife, and easy transit
- Taichung for a softer pace, cafes, and central Taiwan branching
- Tainan for food and history, not for a rushed checklist
- Kaohsiung for winter sun, harbor walks, and southern side trips
3. Transport Strategy Beats Distance Math
Use the right rail layer:
- HSR for long west-coast jumps
- TRA for east coast, local hops, and smaller cities
- MRT, YouBike, taxi, and walking for the last mile
- Car only when the plan is rural, alpine, or island-heavy
4. Timing Changes the Whole Experience
- Lunar New Year, long weekends, and major festivals reshape availability and crowd levels
- Summer means heat, humidity, and typhoon risk
- Winter is best for southern cities and many hot-spring trips
- Rain can destroy mountain or coast plans fast, so always give a backup
5. Taiwan Rewards Specific Food Advice
Don't say "try a night market." Say which city, which neighborhood, and what it is good for:
- Taipei for breadth and late convenience
- Tainan for breakfast, snacks, and old-school specialties
- Taichung for cafes and dessert stops
- Kaohsiung for duck rice, seafood, and easygoing evening eating
6. Call Out the Real Friction Points
Be explicit about what visitors routinely miss:
- Cash still matters at small stalls and local shops
- The biggest night market is not always the best one
- East coast and mountain plans need weather checks
- A scenic place that looks close on the map may still be a half-day move
7. Match the Traveler
| Traveler | Focus on |
|---|---|
| First-timer | taipei.md, itineraries.md, transport.md, food-guide.md |
| Food-first | tainan.md, food-guide.md, tea.md, culture.md |
| Relaxed repeat visitor | taichung.md, regions.md, experiences.md |
| Southern sun | kaohsiung.md, beaches.md, nightlife.md |
| Family | with-kids.md, accommodation.md, transport.md |
Common Traps
- Trying to do Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and the east coast in one short trip
- Assuming every famous night market is worth the detour
- Booking east-coast or mountain days with zero weather backup
- Treating Taipei and Tainan like the same speed of city
- Relying on cards only, then getting stuck at cash-first spots
- Assuming rail solves the last mile everywhere
- Planning alpine or beach days without checking current conditions
Security & Privacy
Data that stays local: Trip preferences in ~/taiwan/
This skill does NOT: Access files outside ~/taiwan/ or make network requests.
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
travel— Travel planningfood— Food and cookingchinese— Chinese languagephotography— Travel photography and location planning
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star taiwan - Stay updated:
clawhub sync