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Spring Festival Overseas Travel Plans (Part 1) / Roaming Through 8 Major Asian Cities on a Free & Easy Trip

Published: 2026-09-27 👁 101 views
Last updated 2026-09-27 — As the Spring Festival holiday approaches, the question “Where will you go for the holidays?” has become a common greeting. While the long nine-day break is certainly exciting, the overwhelming number of travel options, itinerary planning, and budget management can be quite a headache...

Text by Chen Guanxin, HowToTrip Travel Life Network (MOOK Scenic Spots), compiled and reported. Source: MoKo Editorial Department
 
As the Spring Festival holiday draws near, the question “Where will you go for the holidays?” has become a common greeting. While the long nine-day break is certainly exciting, the overwhelming number of travel options, itinerary planning, and budget management can be quite a headache. We have identified the top 10 international travel destinations for Taiwanese travelers in 2011 according to tourism statistics — China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom — and added some highly popular island resort destinations. We offer three travel plans: a budget-friendly free & easy trip for under NT$25,000, a warm winter island escape between NT$25,000–45,000, and a premium New Year-themed journey to Europe and America costing over NT$45,000, allowing readers to easily plan their Lunar New Year trips based on their preferences and budgets.

Traveling abroad during the Spring Festival often leads many tourists to choose Tokyo, Japan as their top destination. (Image provided by MoKo Editorial Department)

Option 1: Budget-Friendly Free & Easy Trip for the New Year

Budget: Under NT$25,000
 
When it comes to free & easy travel, the affordability and the freedom to go wherever and stop whenever you want are what make it most appealing. For this budget-friendly New Year free & easy trip, we have selected eight of the most suitable Asian cities for independent travel: Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Macau, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Not only can you easily explore these cities using local public transport, but we also provide suggested itineraries so you can enjoy the Spring Festival break in comfort while saving money.

Shanghai: Relive the Glamorous Days of the Bund

Shanghai, this unique city, showcases its nobility and luxury along both banks of the Huangpu River. On the west side lies the Bund, once known as the “Wall Street of Asia,” where grand European-style buildings stand in majestic splendor. Across the river in Pudong, skyscrapers compete to be the tallest, with landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center representing different eras of Shanghai. Stroll along East Nanjing Road, which was one of Shanghai’s most bustling areas half a century ago, at its peak hosting over 400 shops and seeing 1.5 million visitors daily. Located on Taikang Road, Tianzifang has in recent years become a hub for artists, blending tradition with modernity to create a new wave of trends — it is considered the birthplace of Shanghai’s creative development.

Suggested Itinerary:

Day 1: Explore the historic mansions on Sinan Road → Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence → Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street → Bund Cruise → Architectural Tour of the Bund’s International Buildings → Bund Night View
Day 2: Yu Garden → Nanxiang Steamed Buns → Old City God Temple → Shanghai Old Street → Shanghai World Financial Center & Oriental Pearl Tower
Day 3: Duolun Road Celebrity Street → Tianzifang → Xintiandi Nightlife

Along the Bund, the approximately 1,500-meter-long riverside promenade is lined with a variety of modern buildings in distinctive styles. Strolling along the newly renovated riverside viewing platform, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of both banks of the Huangpu River. (Image provided by MoKo Editorial Department)

Hong Kong: Experience the Allure of the Pearl of the Orient

Known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” Hong Kong is less than a two-hour direct flight from Taiwan. Its blend of Eastern and Western cultures and street vibes shines through at places like Wong Tai Sin Temple, Tin Hau Temple, Harbour City, Lan Kwai Fong, and Sky100, which offers sweeping views of Victoria Harbour — sure to dazzle first-time visitors. To experience authentic Hong Kong flavor, check out Ladies’ Market, Upper Lascar Row antique market, and the famous Central-Mid-Levels Escalator featured in countless Hong Kong movies. At night, the Symphony of Lights — a dazzling light show choreographed across 44 buildings on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, including the Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Central Plaza, International Finance Centre, Harbour City, and The Peninsula Hotel — is a truly spectacular sight.

Suggested Itinerary:

Day 1: Nan Lian Garden → Wong Tai Sin Temple → Ladies’ Market → Harbour City → Symphony of Lights
Day 2: Sky100 → International Finance Centre Mall → Queen’s Road East area → Upper Lascar Row Antique Market → Central-Mid-Levels Escalator → SoHo → Lan Kwai Fong
Day 3: Hong Kong Disneyland → Ngong Ping 360 → Po Lin Monastery → Ngong Ping Village → Tsing Ma Bridge and Viewing Platform
Day 4: Hong Kong Maritime Museum → Stanley Market → Tin Hau Temple → Peak Tower

The Bank of China Tower, designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, features a unique design resembling bamboo shoots reaching skyward. Upon its completion in 1989, it instantly became a new landmark of Hong Kong and was named one of Hong Kong’s Top 10 Best Buildings in 1999. (Image provided by MoKo Editorial Department)

Tokyo: Embrace the Fashion Capital with the Skytree

Step into Tokyo, the fashion capital, where a blend of modern skyscrapers and historic temples creates a rhythm of life that is both fast-paced and leisurely. First-time visitors to Tokyo can explore the stylish Roppongi, the Edo-period charm of Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori, offering a unique blend of old and new. This year’s new highlight, the Tokyo Skytree — which opened on May 22 — or the classic romantic spots from Japanese dramas like Odaiba Seaside Park, will allow you to experience the diverse facets of Asia’s fashion capital.

Suggested Itinerary:

Day 1: Tokyo Station → Tokyo Character Street → Roppongi Hills → Mori Tower Observatory → Tokyo Midtown → Garden Place → LUXIS
Day 2: Senso-ji Temple’s Kaminarimon Gate → Nakamise-dori → View the Tokyo Skytree from Azuma Bridge → Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck → Tokyo Soramachi → Ameyoko → Ueno Park → Yanaka Ginza → Cat Street Café 29 Afternoon Tea → Arakawa Line (Tokyo’s only remaining tram line) → Ikebukuro Sunshine City
Day 3: Tsukiji Market → Odaiba Seaside Park → Rainbow Bridge → DiverCity Tokyo Plaza → Wako Main Store → Hoppyland Building → Tokyo Tower

The Tokyo Skytree was inaugurated on May 22, 2012, becoming the tallest freestanding broadcasting tower in the world and the tallest man-made structure in the Pacific Rim. (Image provided by MoKo Editorial Department)

 Seoul, Immerse Yourself in the Romantic Vibes of Hallyu 

Thanks to Seoul’s convenient subway network, first-time visitors can explore this vibrant and diverse metropolis easily via public transport. The Seoul Metro consists of eight lines. Line 1, with key central stops such as Jonggak, City Hall, and Seoul Station along its mid-section, serves the heart of the city. A must-visit on this line is Dongdaemun Market, famed for its wholesale fashion. Line 2, dubbed the “University Line” by locals, passes through university districts like Hongik University and Ewha Womans University. Nearby Myeongdong, accessible from Euljiro 1-ga Station, is a hotspot for trendy, youth-oriented shopping. Line 3 is the cultural route, featuring five of Seoul’s historic palaces, including Gyeongbokgung, as well as Insadong for an immersive traditional Korean experience, and Namsangol Hanok Village, which showcases old Korean life. To discover more of Seoul’s diverse scenery, take Lines 4 or 5 to Yeouido or N Seoul Tower in Namsan Park.

Itinerary Suggestions:

Day 1: Gwanghwamun Square → Cheonggyecheon Stream → Myeongdong → Namsan Park & N Seoul Tower → Myeongdong
Day 2: Gyeongbokgung Palace → Samcheong-dong → Bukchon Hanok Village → Insadong
Day 3: Ewha Womans University & nearby shops → Hongdae area → Dongdaemun

Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the most familiar filming locations for K-drama fans, was the main royal palace built by Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. (Image provided by Mookas Editorial Department)

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