Chicago to Kaohsiung (Xiaogang) (ORD–KHH) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 90 days. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for the duration of the stay. A return or onward ticket is required. At Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) or Taipei Songshan (TSA), immigration stamps your passport. Automated e-Gates are available for registered travelers.

Taiwan is a 36,000 square kilometer island off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Taipei 101 (508m) was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010. Night markets define the food culture: Shilin, Raohe, and Ningxia in Taipei serve dishes from TWD 40 to TWD 150 ($1.25 to $4.70). The Taroko Gorge on the east coast, Sun Moon Lake in the central mountains, and Kenting National Park at the southern tip cover Taiwan's natural range. The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) connects Taipei to Kaohsiung in 1 hour 34 minutes.

Direct flights from New York JFK to Taipei run about 15 hours 30 minutes on EVA Air. Los Angeles to TPE runs about 13 hours on EVA Air, China Airlines, and Starlux Airlines. San Francisco and Seattle also have nonstop service. Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD), trading at roughly 32 TWD per $1. Card payments and contactless payments work widely. The EasyCard works on Taipei's MRT (7 lines), buses, YouBike bike-share, and convenience stores. MRT rides cost TWD 20 to TWD 65 ($0.62 to $2.03). The Taoyuan Airport MRT connects TPE to Taipei Main Station in 35 minutes for TWD 160 ($5). A sit-down restaurant meal costs TWD 200 to TWD 500 ($6.25 to $15.60).

CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from downtown Loop stations to O'Hare (45 min, $5). Pace buses serve suburbs. Ride-shares cost $35–55 from downtown depending on traffic; add 30+ minutes during rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway.Economy parking lots E/F connect via ATS people mover. Terminal 5 (international) is separate from Terminals 1–3; allow extra time for inter-terminal transfers.