Going to Taroko park on the mountains so i just needed a short ride before the starting point. A guy on scooter went back home picked up a second helmet and took me for famous lemonade in Xincheng old street. Then he took me to the Taroko visitor center. Amazing hospitality. On this marked spot better hitchhiking inside the crossroad than on the narrow sidewalk.

Unlucky day, i really waited 3 hours and it was worth it! Firstly i tried at the beginning of the scenic road just 5 minutes walking east from the train station. Many cars and motorbikes for the views, no one stopped. So i walked here and found out most cars go downhill to port. Road is narrow. Very friendly people gave me snacks, finally got a ride came to Dong'Ao beach before sunset (3 hours earlier would be too hot) and slept there so wonderful. don't miss it!

Popular beach for camping and vanlife travelers. Sleep on the beach with friend groups partying or at abandoned pagodas if rainy. Public toilets by the temple. Come here in the morning, a big tree gives you shade for hitchhiking south.

Great spot to the east coast, enjoy nature view, no rush. A young guy driving a new Audi came back and made U Turn to pick me up, and after him 4 more drivers within 3 days did the same. Taiwan is amazing! Even if you drop off close to town centers such as Toucheng to go northeast coast, people are super friendly and will take you out of towns.

This is not a hitchhiking spot. This is very good park for making money by music performance - busking! Although forbidden for tourists in Taiwan, guards in the park can accept you and let you continue unbothered. Many buskers on weekends and occasionally on weekday evenings. Also ask for art villages where taiwanese tourists go at weekends, like Luojin village in Lukang township. Another great spot at the train station just few metres east of the train symbol on Google Maps - bus stop Taichung Station Dazhi N road and walk 50m south if busy) Busking in hot summer days made me book ferries to leave Taiwan to Fuzhou and slow trains to cross China. Winter can be more helpful as well as more hitchhikable.

Direction Hsinchu, Taipei, north. Extremely friendly people, after 5 minutes one couple suggested me the bus then they offered me and another couple translating 1.5kg bananas each (there's big wholesaler fruit and vegetable market nearby, maybe find leftovers around 4pm). After 30 minutes a family asked me why no bus, i showed them my flute to do busking so they gave me 1000ntd and left. More than busking money in a hot summer day. The same translating girl finished working and gave me a ride to Hsinchu - university bus stop which is NOT easy to hitchhike at peak traffic hour. My destination was Keelung port so i gave up after sunset and took direct bus from Hsinchu university - see Google Maps - right on time for the 22:30 night ferry to Matsu. This was my fourth day hitchhiking Taiwan, the first highway, the first non-touristic route and the only time holding a sign. This helps catching attentions as drivers fill the fuel tank at the gas station.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a very cloudy day (about to rain). On my way from Taitung to Taipei. I was dropped less than 1 km south from here. I thought I'd have to walk much more, but very quickly I found this spot. On the map it looks very urban. But in reality it's not that much. There is loads of space to stop. Good visibility. Mid busy traffic. Cars go slowly. After 4 minutes I got a ride all the way to Taipei. The driver was kind enough to drop me in the center, even though he was going to bypass the city.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a very cloudy day (about to rain). On my way from Taitung to Taipei. I was dropped less than 1 km from here in the town. I've found this really good spot after a short walk. I really don't understand why I was waiting here 40 minutes (very long like for Taiwan). A bit on a hill, but still good visibility, cars go slowly. Maybe not loads of them but still 2-3 every minute. Not the best weather, but it didn't rain. And extra lane with loads of room to stop. This place was a puzzle for me. Finally, after 40 minutes two (!) cars stopped at the same time. The first one took me to Hualien. The driver was kind enough to take me to the north of the city, so I didn't have to walk much to find a new spot.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a very cloudy day (about to rain). On my way from Taitung to Taipei. A good place. Good visibility, plenty of space to stop. Not many cars, they go slowly here. After 12 minutes I got a ride to Chenggong.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a very cloudy day. On my way from Taitung to Taipei. It's my second time using this spot. Please find the description in the previous review. This time I was waiting a bit closer to the city, coz it was a cloudy day and in the shade under the trees it was too dark. This time I was waiting also only 5 minutes. But I got a short ride, about 20 kms.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). My previous driver was going straight south, I needed to turn left to go to Taitung. I could go a few hundred metres more, but I asked to be dropped here. A very nice place. There is more place to stop (an entry to some sort of a picnic area) and shade. The first car which stopped was also going south. But the second one (after 13 minutes) took me to Taitung. The couple was superb lovely. They stopped in 3 touristy places on the way and showed me them. And in Taitung they dropped me at the address I was going to.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). It's my second time using this spot. Please read the description in a previous review. This time I didn't have shade. But I waited again only 7 minutes. The driver was going to Hengchun, so he dropped me just before the road split to Taitung.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). A very good spot. There is lots of space to stop (a scooter lane, a shoulder strip plus an entrance to some property). On a map there is a bus stop marked. But I didn't see any. There are trees giving shade. After the trafic lights. So the visibility is great. Cars go slowly. Not heavy traffic. After 6 minutes I got a short ride to Fangliao, where quickly I got another ride.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). My 3rd time using this place. And it's getting better and better. This time I waited only 2 minutes. And it was a lorry which stopped! Weeks ago when I was using this spot for the first time I was afraid there is not enough space for a normal car to stop. But it turned out that even a lorry can do that :) The driver took me south just enough to leave the highway behind. So later I easly found rides to Taitung.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). A good place. I was standing at the exit of the petrol station. Plenty of space to stop (much more that at the station across the highway). Visibility good, but sometimes blocked by the lorries which have their parking at this part of the station. I was hoping for a ride passing Kaohsiung. But I took the ride to that city, coz the first car stopped after 15 minutes (long wait in Taiwan) and the guy promised to drop me at a very good spot there, I already knew. So, I went to Kaohsiung. The ride was a lorry. My first one after 1,5 hitchhiking in Taiwan! Interesting, that day 3 lorries stop for me :)

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). A perfect place. Loads of space for a car to stop. Great visibility. I even got some shade. After 2 minutes I got a ride. The driver was going to Kaohsiung, but I asked him to drop me at a petrol station on a highway, before Kaohsiung, because he couldn't leave me at a good spot in Kaohsiung.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). The place looked pretty nice. Just enough space for those willing to stop. A bit of curve and a small bush, but generally good visibility. Cars go quite fast and in waves (traffic lights a bit before). Lack of shade. But it was my longest wait in Taiwan. In 1,5 months of travelling here I never waited longer than 20-25 minutes. This time I waited 45. The problem was not that people didn't want to stop, but they didn't go my direction. I wanted get on the highway #1 and go south. Before I got a ride 5 cars stopped. 3 were genuinely trying to help me, but they didn't go my way. And the other two asked for money! It never happened to me in Taiwan. And I hitchhiked here a lot. And in this one spot it happened twice!!! Anyways, after 45 minutes I finally got a ride for about 50 kms, to a petrol station on the highway #1, from a guy on his way to Chiayi. And from there it went quickly. I got that day to Taitung. So if you go south, as me, be patient and you'll get your ride eventually.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a cloudy day. On my way from Chiayi to Taichung. I didn't like that place. But others recommended it, plus there was no much choice. I was standing a couple meters before the turn right, leading to the highway going up north. There was no much place to stop, basically the scooter lane. The cars going straight also were passing by. It was still an urban area, I was standing in front of a closed shop. And a parked car was blocking my visibility. I think using a sign could help. Or maybe moving a bit up on the ramp leading to the highway. But there is no space to stop. Basically it's a bit puzzle place. Luckly it's Taiwan, so I got a ride. The first car stopped after 10 minutes, but the guy wasn't going very far, so I passed. The second car stopped 7 minutes later. The guy was going south, but he wanted to buy me a bus ticket. It was a bit hard to persuade him, I don't really need one. Finally 8 minutes later, one small lorry stopped and a driver took me all the way to Taichung. He even dropped me at the address I was going to. Welcome to Taiwan :) 25 minutes isn't such a long wait. But so far it was my longest in Taiwan.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Kaohsiung to Chiayi. I got dropped here by a previous ride. A very good spot, (like most petrol stations on highways). I was waiting at the end, by the exit. There is just enough space for a car to stop. Very good visibility. Of course cars go slowly. No shade, but I was waiting only 2 minutes. One guy spotted me from the car park and waved to me. I grabbed my bags and went to his car. It turned out he was going to Chiayi as well. He gave me a lift, and dropped me in the centre at the spot when I was going to.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Kaohsiung to Chiayi. It's my second time using this spot. Please read the description in the previous review. I only add, for those wondering if it's legal to stand in this spot, that a police car passed me while I was standing there with my thumb up and they didn't bother me at all. This time it went quickly. After 4 minutes a man stopped and gave me about 30 kms ride to the first petrol station on the highway. It was a good decision to go there. Coz at that petrol station I waited only two minutes and I got a lift all the way to Chiayi.

Great spot to the east coast, enjoy nature view, no rush. A young guy driving a new Audi came back and made U Turn to pick me up, and after him 4 more drivers within 3 days did the same. Taiwan is amazing! Even if you drop off close to town centers such as Toucheng to go northeast coast, people are super friendly and will take you out of towns.

This is not a hitchhiking spot. This is very good park for making money by music performance - busking! Although forbidden for tourists in Taiwan, guards in the park can accept you and let you continue unbothered. Many buskers on weekends and occasionally on weekday evenings. Also ask for art villages where taiwanese tourists go at weekends, like Luojin village in Lukang township. Another great spot at the train station just few metres east of the train symbol on Google Maps - bus stop Taichung Station Dazhi N road and walk 50m south if busy) Busking in hot summer days made me book ferries to leave Taiwan to Fuzhou and slow trains to cross China. Winter can be more helpful as well as more hitchhikable.

Direction Hsinchu, Taipei, north. Extremely friendly people, after 5 minutes one couple suggested me the bus then they offered me and another couple translating 1.5kg bananas each (there's big wholesaler fruit and vegetable market nearby, maybe find leftovers around 4pm). After 30 minutes a family asked me why no bus, i showed them my flute to do busking so they gave me 1000ntd and left. More than busking money in a hot summer day. The same translating girl finished working and gave me a ride to Hsinchu - university bus stop which is NOT easy to hitchhike at peak traffic hour. My destination was Keelung port so i gave up after sunset and took direct bus from Hsinchu university - see Google Maps - right on time for the 22:30 night ferry to Matsu. This was my fourth day hitchhiking Taiwan, the first highway, the first non-touristic route and the only time holding a sign. This helps catching attentions as drivers fill the fuel tank at the gas station.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a very cloudy day (about to rain). On my way from Taitung to Taipei. I was dropped less than 1 km from here in the town. I've found this really good spot after a short walk. I really don't understand why I was waiting here 40 minutes (very long like for Taiwan). A bit on a hill, but still good visibility, cars go slowly. Maybe not loads of them but still 2-3 every minute. Not the best weather, but it didn't rain. And extra lane with loads of room to stop. This place was a puzzle for me. Finally, after 40 minutes two (!) cars stopped at the same time. The first one took me to Hualien. The driver was kind enough to take me to the north of the city, so I didn't have to walk much to find a new spot.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). A good place. I was standing at the exit of the petrol station. Plenty of space to stop (much more that at the station across the highway). Visibility good, but sometimes blocked by the lorries which have their parking at this part of the station. I was hoping for a ride passing Kaohsiung. But I took the ride to that city, coz the first car stopped after 15 minutes (long wait in Taiwan) and the guy promised to drop me at a very good spot there, I already knew. So, I went to Kaohsiung. The ride was a lorry. My first one after 1,5 hitchhiking in Taiwan! Interesting, that day 3 lorries stop for me :)

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a sunny day. On my way from Taichung to Taitung (over 350 kms). The place looked pretty nice. Just enough space for those willing to stop. A bit of curve and a small bush, but generally good visibility. Cars go quite fast and in waves (traffic lights a bit before). Lack of shade. But it was my longest wait in Taiwan. In 1,5 months of travelling here I never waited longer than 20-25 minutes. This time I waited 45. The problem was not that people didn't want to stop, but they didn't go my direction. I wanted get on the highway #1 and go south. Before I got a ride 5 cars stopped. 3 were genuinely trying to help me, but they didn't go my way. And the other two asked for money! It never happened to me in Taiwan. And I hitchhiked here a lot. And in this one spot it happened twice!!! Anyways, after 45 minutes I finally got a ride for about 50 kms, to a petrol station on the highway #1, from a guy on his way to Chiayi. And from there it went quickly. I got that day to Taitung. So if you go south, as me, be patient and you'll get your ride eventually.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a cloudy day. On my way from Chiayi to Taichung. I didn't like that place. But others recommended it, plus there was no much choice. I was standing a couple meters before the turn right, leading to the highway going up north. There was no much place to stop, basically the scooter lane. The cars going straight also were passing by. It was still an urban area, I was standing in front of a closed shop. And a parked car was blocking my visibility. I think using a sign could help. Or maybe moving a bit up on the ramp leading to the highway. But there is no space to stop. Basically it's a bit puzzle place. Luckly it's Taiwan, so I got a ride. The first car stopped after 10 minutes, but the guy wasn't going very far, so I passed. The second car stopped 7 minutes later. The guy was going south, but he wanted to buy me a bus ticket. It was a bit hard to persuade him, I don't really need one. Finally 8 minutes later, one small lorry stopped and a driver took me all the way to Taichung. He even dropped me at the address I was going to. Welcome to Taiwan :) 25 minutes isn't such a long wait. But so far it was my longest in Taiwan.

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a cloudy day. On my way from Tainan to Kaohsiung. A challenging spot. It wasn't marked on any hitchhiking websites. I've only found info on one of them that the entrances to the highway are good spots. The only problem is that the entrance here is very narrow, with a big and busy junction just before the ramp leading into the highway. Tjere is really not a place for a car to stop. Normally I'd never hitchhike in a spot like that. But I've found something a bit promising. Just before the last traffic lights, before the ramp leading to a highway. There were two good things about that spot. There is an extra lane, about 15-20 m long. An entry into a parking for delivery cars going to shopping centre. And two. The most right lane (the closest to you) is used basically only by the cars entering the highway. I decided to give it a go. The spot was very different to others spots in Taiwan I used. One car pulled over just to take off after a second. Two taxis stopped for me thinking I was stopping then. Nothing like that happened before. Also it was my longest wait in this country. But after 25 minutes a woman stopped and took me all the way to Kaohsiung. It turned out that she was just going back from school where she dropped her son. She decided to drive me to another city (50 km up + 50 km down), just because she felt that I was in some danger standing in this busy spot (her words). I'm not sure if it's a good recommendation. In the end it worked. I didn't wait that long. But I've got mixed fillings about this spot. Maybe someone finds a better one elsewhere. Maybe a sign saying "SOUTH" or with a name of your destination could help a bit?

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, sunny day. On my way from Kaohsiung to Tainan. The same story like 10 days before, when I was going south from a spot across the junction. On the other side of the highway there is a mirror place for those going south. Normally I'd never hitchhike in a spot like that. On a small triangle drawn between 3-lane street and a very busy entrance to a highway, where a few lanes were squeezing to become one. A very busy traffic. No shade. But all the hitchhiking website were recommending this spot for those going north. And ONLY this spot. So, I took a few deep breaths, walk up there and put my thumb up. I stood at the (wider) end of the triangle for 20 minutes. A bit longer than normally in Taiwan. But actually two cars stopped before, but I turned their offers down, coz they were stopping before Tainan and I didn't want to look for a new spot. It paid off, coz the 3rd car took me directly to Tainan. And 20 minutes isn't that long after all :)

One male 40+, no sign, one small and one big backpacks, a cloudy day. On my way from Taitung to Kaohsiung. My previous ride was going to Kaohsiung, but first they were stopping in Pingdong for a couple of hours. So I decided to look for a good spot before a highway starts. I picked that spot to try my luck with someone else. A perfect decision it was. It's a very good spot. With loads of room to stop (an empty parking), the traffic was very busy and superb slow. Cars were basically going 10-20 kms/h or even stopping when the nearby lightwas red, so they could see me clearly and they had time to decide. After 4 minutes I got a ride. Actually two cars stopped at the same time. The first car was going beyond Kaohsiung, but they were kind enough to drop me there. They even went to my destination place and dropped me at the door. Welcome to Taiwan :)

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Great spot to get to Taipei! Cars have a bit of space, and won’t hesitate to stop (especially annoying and insistent taxis)

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Needed to go to Keelung, was picked up very quickly despite this tough stretch. Cars have a lot of place to stop and can see you from far away. There’s also a red light not far so cars will have to slow down

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Got dropped off at the southern entrance of the city on this road and tried hitchhiking while walking until this spot, where I got picked up and brought to Yilan

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! My friend and I went on our separate ways, despite the fact that this was a turn, a car quickly stopped for me

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! We stood there longer than what I expected, considering the great visibility, enough place for cars to stop, next to a 7/11. Me and my friend eventually got picked up by this car that was already way too full

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Hitchhiked with a friend, around 8:30-9 am on a workday. In Taiwan you can stand on the side of pretty much any road and you’ll guaranteed be picked up

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Got dropped off here, excellent spot to continue hitchhiking to the north. There’s a lot of space and cars see you from far away. I hitchhiked in the middle of a random day

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Had to walk « quite a bit » from the hot air balloon festival, there’s a lot of cars and motorbikes leaving the place, so I just think I wasn’t the luckiest. Still found a ride to Taidong after a reasonable time (long time according to my standards of hitchhiking in Taiwan)

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Hitchhiked back to the city. Had to walk a bit under the rain before a couple took mercy on me

[Did this back in 2024] Don’t trust the few dots in Taiwan, this country is super hitchhikeable! Really random place to hitchhike from but it works to get back to the city centre