Highway rest areas in Taiwan are privately managed. The results are very interesting, and profitable. With 14 highway rest areas in Taiwan, the areas have become not only places to stop on the way to a destination, but destinations in their own right.
Taiwan highways saw 60 million cars in 2009, with over 3 billion NT (100,000,000 USD) revenues for service areas. Some rest areas actually place limits on the length of time cars can park and limit activities to avoid them being overwhelmed with people who do not leave. In this episode, Clyde visits a couple of the rest areas, which are both strongly themed and do a great job of integrating the retail servicescape with the theme.
The top ten most popular rest areas in Taiwan:
| Rank | |
| 1 | Ku Keng (å¤å) |
| 2 | Nao Tou (åæ) |
| 3 | Ching Shui (æ¸ æ°´) |
| 4 | Nao Tou (åæ) |
| 5 | Jung Li (ä¸å£¢) |
| 6 | Ching Shui (æ¸ æ°´) |
| 7 | Kuan Miao (éå») |
| 8 | Ku Keng (å¤å) |
| 9 | His Hu (西æ¹) |
| 10 | His Luo (西èº) |
. Download: Links and photos from blogs and fan sites of rest areas. Click to download (1.7 MB).
These locations are all about being on trips with groups of people.
Length: 15 minutes. Download MP3 6.66MB (Right click->Save As).

From Taichung, Stephen, James, and Clyde .iPod (H.264 fast download 320x240) Download MP4 24.4MB (Right click->Save As).
Length: 15 minutes.
(1) Nantao rest area with the ever-present highway map.
(1) Nantao rest area with the ever-present highway map.
(2) Eating the ice cream we bought on the way out.
(2) Eating the ice cream we bought on the way out.
(3) Chingsuei entrance.
(3) Chingsuei entrance.
(4) Chingsuei entrance at night is quite attractive.
(4) Chingsuei entrance at night is quite attractive.
(5) Driving in, the area is glowing.
(5) Driving in, the area is glowing.
(6) Light sculptures.
(6) Light sculptures.
(7) The globe changes color.
(7) The globe changes color.
(8) A multistory central complex.
(8) A multistory central complex.
(9) Large welcoming entrance to the shops and a stair to third floor open area.
(9) Large welcoming entrance to the shops and a stair to third floor open area.
(10) The normal drink and snack shops.
(10) The normal drink and snack shops.
(11) Looking out toward the ocean.
(11) Looking out toward the ocean.
(12) With the sea nearby, the motif is obvious.
(12) With the sea nearby, the motif is obvious.
(13) Happy up in the air food court.
(13) Happy up in the air food court.
(14) A long slow walk up to the second level.
(14) A long slow walk up to the second level.
(15) With glowing characters in the floor.
(15) With glowing characters in the floor.
(16) Once inside, some interesting displays.
(16) Once inside, some interesting displays.
(17) The standard highway information desk--very modern looking.
(17) The standard highway information desk--very modern looking.
(18) Chingsuei rest area's interior is very spacious.
(18) Chingsuei rest area's interior is very spacious.
(19) Free standing shops encourage moving about, like water.
(19) Free standing shops encourage moving about, like water.
(20) The motif is the ocean, and a ship is coming out of the wall.
(20) The motif is the ocean, and a ship is coming out of the wall.
(21) Popular packaged snacks make perfect gifts when returning home or visiting friends.
(21) Popular packaged snacks make perfect gifts when returning home or visiting friends.
(22) A built in small supermarket.
(22) A built in small supermarket.
(23) Lights are included in the motif.
(23) Lights are included in the motif.
(24) The consistency of the motif is quite impressive.
(24) The consistency of the motif is quite impressive.
(25) Even staff have sea-related uniforms.
(25) Even staff have sea-related uniforms.
(26) Lots of signage for that renao feeling.
(26) Lots of signage for that renao feeling.
(27) Lines for samples.
(27) Lines for samples.
(28) Free standing bakery, includes windows in back of oven.
(28) Free standing bakery, includes windows in back of oven.
(29) For viewing the baking process.
(29) For viewing the baking process.
(30) The snack creation process is totally viewable.
(30) The snack creation process is totally viewable.
(31) Consumer actually visit rest areas to take photos and have their photos taken.
(31) Consumer actually visit rest areas to take photos and have their photos taken.
(32) The wonderful Christmas reference, although no one celebrates it!
(32) The wonderful Christmas reference, although no one celebrates it!
(33) Games for the kids are standard at rest areas.
(33) Games for the kids are standard at rest areas.
(34) Of course, a filling station.
(34) Of course, a filling station.