Keep reading to learn how to take and pay for the Taichung Mass Rapid Transit (AKA, Taichung MRT, TMRT, or Taichung subway). Also find stations along its route and nearby attractions.
When taking the Taichung MRT, I realized that I wish there were more resources surrounding it. That led me to write this guide.
Table of Contents
Important Information
| Operating Hours (As of 2024) | 6 AM – 12 AM |
| Free Wi-Fi | None |
| Peak Hours | 7 AM – 9 AM |
| 5 PM – 7 PM | |
| Time Between Arriving Trains | Peak: Every 5 min |
| Off-Peak: Every 8 min | |
| After 11 PM: Every 15 min | |
| Holidays (6 AM – 11 PM): Every 8 min | |
| Holiday (After 11 PM): Every 15 min | |
| Number of Stations | 18 |
How Much Do Tickets Cost?
The Taichung MRT (台中捷運 / táizhōng jié yùn) costs between NT$20 – 50 for a one-way trip. The amount you’ll pay depends on the stations you depart from and arrive at. The fare increases by NT$5 for every 3 miles (5 km) traveled.
How Do I Pay To Take the Taichung Metro?
Pay for the Taichung MRT by using single-journey tickets or stored value cards. The former is a token that you’d purchase from the ticket vending machine or customer service booths.
You can’t use phones to pay for the Taichung Metro. You also can’t use Apple Pay and Google Pay (AKA Google Wallet). You can, however, attach your EasyCard to Samsung Pay (on certain devices).
Or you could use the EasyWallet app, which is only in Chinese and isn’t tourist-friendly.
The stored value cards refer to:
You’ll need to pay an NT$100+ deposit on the EasyCard and iPASS. Then, fill them with a balance. The iCash 2.0 is only available at 7-Eleven. I recommend just getting an EasyCard. There’s no benefit to getting an iPASS or iCash.
Unless you’re after a souvenir limited edition card.
Ignore the iCash in the picture above.
Regardless:
I recommend using these cards over the single-journey tickets. They make decent souvenirs and are cashless for numerous shops and services throughout Taiwan. For instance, you can only pay for YouBike bicycle rentals using an EasyCard or iPASS.
When you use the token.
When entering the gate, you tap the token against the card sensor. When leaving, you insert the coin into the little slot.
How to Buy Taichung MRT Tickets
Purchase your ticket from a customer service center or one of the ticket vending machines. Those using a stored value card will set their card on the card scanner and add money through the machine.
The Single-Journey Tickets will require you to push the button with the large round green token.
Let’s compare the various passes accessible through the Taichung MRT:
| Pass | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| One-Day Pass | NT$120 | Staying in Taichung for less than a day |
| 24-hour Pass | NT$150 | Staying in Taichung for over a day |
| 48-hour Pass | NT$250 | 2-day Taichung travel |
| TPASS | NT$699 – NT$999/mo. | 14 – 30-day stays in Central Taiwan |
Taichung MRT Passes compared.
The TPASS is an intercity pass that allows you to travel around Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, and Miaoli. This pass is only useful if you’re staying in Taichung for a while. I’ll discuss it more in a separate guide.
Considering that you’ll combine the MRT with the TRA (local train), it’s not worth using most passes.
Discounts for Taichung MRT Tickets
Groups of 10 or more people should purchase a group ticket from the TMRT customer service booths. These tickets will give you 20% off your fare.
Anyone with concessionaire tickets — seniors and disabled folks — get 50% off their MRT tickets.
Does it have a monthly rebate like the Taipei MRT? Nope.
How to Enter & Exit the MRT
1. Make your way toward the gates with the green arrow. Tap your card or Single-Journey Pass against the card sensor and wait for the gate to open.
2. Make your way to the platform and wait for the MRT.
Wait behind the waiting line in a single-file line. Once the train arrives and the door opens, enter the cart by following the black triangles.
3. Get off at your stop.
Once the MRT reaches your stop, depart. There’s nothing else to it.
If you’re familiar with the Taipei MRT, it’s the same entry method.
Tips & Etiquette for a Smoother Journey
Find a Taichung MRT Station by looking for signs like this outside the station:
And keep these tips in mind when taking the MRT:
- Don’t eat, drink, chew gum or betel nut on the train (you’ll get fined)
- Wait for departing passengers to leave before entering the MRT
- Sit in the light green seats
- Don’t sit in the pink seats unless you’re pregnant, elderly, or disabled
I couldn’t find any mobile apps for the Taichung MRT, but the Bus+ app has a map. It shows the number of minutes between stations and the cost of your journey.
If not walking up/down escalators, stand on the right side. It’s hard for me to describe in words. Here’s a video to illustrate this:
Route Map
Here’s a map of Taichung MRT’s Green Line:
All Stations on the Green Line
The TMRT Green Line has the following stations:
| Station | What’s Nearby |
|---|---|
| Beitun Main Station | Costco |
| Jiushe | Nanxing Park |
| Songzhu | Songzhu TRA Station |
| Sihwei Elementary School | Beitun Children’s Park |
| Wenxin Chongde | NA |
| Wenxin Zhongqing | Riverside cycling path |
| Wenhua Senior High School | NA |
| Wenxin Yinghua | NA |
| Taichung City Hall | National Taichung Theater |
| Shui-an Temple | Shui-an Temple |
| Wenxin Forest Park | Wenxin Forest Park & Fulfillment Amphitheater |
| Nantun | NA |
| Feng-le Park | Feng-le Sculpture Park & Costco |
| Daqing | Daqing TRA Station |
| Jiuzhangli | NA |
| Jiude | NA |
| Wuri | Wuri Night Market |
| HSR Taichung Station | High-Speed Rail Station |
Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Green Line stations.
Taichung only has the Green Line at the moment. But it makes traveling around Taichung City much easier. Especially if you combine it with taking the Taiwan Railway Association (TRA) trains.
What does that even mean?
Transfer at Daqing or Songzhu stations will allow you to transfer to their correlating train stations. These will enable you to navigate to the following states throughout the inner city:
- Taiyuan
- Jingwu
- Taichung Station
- Wuquan
Taichung Station lies by Miyahara, the Green Waterway, and various other popular attractions. And it gives you access to TRA trains that exit the city. A great way to get out of Taichung without paying the High-Speed Rail (HSR) prices.
It’s still a pain to navigate the city center. You could rent a YouBike, hail a taxi, take a bus, or walk. I walked because, god knows, I needed the exercise.
Future Taichung MRT Line Expansions
Taichung is working on the following MRT expansions:
- Blue Line: Taichung Harbor — Taiping
- Orange Line: Taichung Airport — Wufeng
- Red Line: Shepi — Shin Min High School
- Purple Line: Yuanshan New Village — Daqing
Here’s a plan of their planned proposal:
Nothing too exciting. But it’ll make navigating the central city and its outskirts much easier. No more having to take the bus everywhere.
