Cheap Business Class Flights to Taipei

The frantic city of Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. The vibe in Taipei is super busy so much so that pace of life here is akin to that of other bustling cities like New York or Hong Kong. Known largely as a powerhouse for the manufacture of electronics, especially computer hardware, Taiwan is all that and more. Situated in the valley of the Danshui River ,Taipei was once had an agrarian economy characterized by rice and vegetable farms, today it is a busy vibrant city which continues to be diplomatically isolated but populated by people who are up to speed and connected with all that goes on in the world.

Taipei’s historical past makes a fascinating read .The Japanese colonized Taiwan in 1895 and set up their administrative head quarters in Taipei. During this time they developed much of the city’s infrastructure as well. The native Taiwanese though were very unhappy under the Japanese.

The Second World War devastated the city as it was vigorously carpet bombed by the allied forces. The Yalta Agreement signed at the end of the war ensured that the control of Taiwan would be handed over to China. Taiwan after the war was administered by a corrupt Chinese general Chen Yi who was appointed governor. The Taiwanese revolted against Chinese rule and in 1947 there were anti-Chinese riots in which thousands of civilians lost their lives.

When the communists came to power in China in 1949, the Chinese ruler Chai-Kai Shek moved his government to Taiwan and the ‘Two China’ syndrome came into effect. As China got embattled in the Korea war of ...Read Morethe 1950s the Mainland neglected its proposed invasion of Taiwan. The two China syndrome established the Mainland as the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan as the Republic of China (ROC). The ROC government rebuilt and vastly industrialized the country as a result of which Taiwan grew to become one of the wealthiest Asian nations in the 1960s.

In 1971 Taiwan lost its UN representation to mainland China and the late 1970s saw Taiwan was being increasingly isolated. Unofficially though Taiwan does continue to be recognized by member states. Martial law was lifted in Taiwan in 1987 and since 1994 it has tried in vain to get back its UN seat. This has been viewed unfavorably by China which is keen to unite the two countries under their ‘One China’ policy.

Taipei in fact experienced rapid economic growth after World War II as it is today a thoroughly modern urban center which is littered with soaring skyscrapers, the most famous of which is the heaven touching Taipei 101 tower which is named for its 101 floors and is the city’s international financial center and chief tourist attraction.

Taipei’s citizens largely speak Mandarin though other Chinese dialects like Hakka can be also heard in the city. The city experiences the typical humid subtropical climate that characterizes the region as it experiences hot humid summers when temperatures generally record highs of 29.4°C or 84.9° F.The city also experiences the Pacific typhoon season that is known last between the months of June to October. The winters in Taipei are generally drier with cooler daytime temperatures of around 14.9°C or 58.8°F.

Taipei as a city has much to offer for the city is a world famous foodie heaven which is known for its excellent restaurants, glitzy hotels, bustling shopping malls, animated street markets museums, temples, spas and gardens. Moreover the city is also known for its legendary nightlife that is centered on its red light district in Zhong Shan which is yet another major tourist attraction in the city.

If you’ve never been to Taipei but have always wanted to then you should try tracking down a cheap business class air ticket to Taipei to get you there for the journey from the US to the island of Formosa (the name the early Portuguese traders gave Taiwan) easily extends over sixteen hours depending on whether you have stopovers en-route or not.

A discount business class fare to Taipei will enable you to make this almost back- breaking journey in relative comfort for all these cheap business class airfares to Taipei come loaded with all the amenities of regular business class like convertible in to flat bed seats, priority check-in and airline lounge access, extra baggage allowance, outstanding service and limitless good food and wine. Additionally these cheap business class seats in many instances are eligible to earn miles and have facilities like advance seat selection. However since they constitute business class deals they may have some terms and conditions attached to them like advance purchase requirements which are barely an inconvenience considering the tremendous savings that these discount business class tickets afford.

How does one acquire such a tempting discount business class fare to Taipei? One way is to keep abreast of airline industry business class deals to Taipei for many airlines that fly there including the country’s own home grown carrier, EVA air periodically announce sales which take the form of cheap business class airfares which they advertise through newsletters to their subscribers or through social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.

If you do not find such business class deals on your own then you can also think of approaching an airfares consolidator as these airfares consolidators often have a whole stock of deeply discounted air business class offers to several worldwide destinations due to exclusive consolidator contracts with various airlines.

Taipei is equipped with a modern airport which is located just outside the city on the north east side in Taoyuan County. Many Asian and other international carriers serve Taipei’s Chai Kai Shek international airport though the city also has another airport called Songshan airport which is used mainly by domestic airlines.

Taipei is very easy to navigate as it is served by an excellent public transport system. The MRT or Mass Rapid Transport system in Taipei was the first to be built in Taiwan and the system operates from 6am until midnight. The trains operate at a frequency of four to seven minutes.

The Bus network in Taipei is also well developed with buses connecting areas not served by the MRT. Another mode of transport used not only in Taipei but all over Taiwan is the motor scooter. This contraption can weave in and out of traffic easily and is not regulated by the laws that govern vehicular traffic.

Once you are Taipei, you have to make it a point to take in its wide array of attractions which include temples like Longshan Temple at Wanhua which is the most famous temple in Taipei that is dedicated to the goddess Guanyin. This temple and was built in 1738 by settlers from the Fuijan province of China. Over the years the temple has been destroyed by earthquakes, typhoons and even bombings by the Allies in the Second World War and the citizens have rebuilt the temple time and again so much so that this temple is symbolic of the resilience of the Taiwanese people.

Other temples of interest include the Confucius temple which is located at Talung Street and is dedicated to the renowned philosopher Confucius. The temple is usually a peaceful sanctuary except on October 28th each year when there elaborate ceremonies are conducted at the temple to commemorate the great thinkers birthday. Located in the vicinity of the Confucius temple is the 230 year old Pao an Temple. The temple is a place of worship for followers of Taoism and the deities worshipped here are Pao Sheng (god of medicine), Ju Lai Fo (god of luck) and Chu Seng Niang Niang the goddess of birth and fertility.

Perhaps Taipei’s most visited attraction is Taipei 101 which was once the world’s tallest building as it soars to 508 meters. The Taipei 101 is the Taipei International Financial center which has offices of major investment banks and finance companies located within its folds. The building which is supposedly constructed on a fault line is also equipped with observation decks at various levels which afford panoramic views of the city though it also has a shopping mall and an Asian food court on its lower floors which cater to the twin national obsessions of shopping and eating.

Yet another attraction worth visiting in Taipei is the National Palace Museum this museum houses the fabulous works of art annexed by the Chinese emperors since the 10th Century. The collection has traveled through many locations and has found its resting place in Taipei at any one time not all of the collection is on display. The treasures are stored in a vault carved into the mountainside.

Also of interest is the Chang Kai Shek memorial. This magnificent memorial to the late Taiwaese leader stands in the National Democracy Park and it is built of marble. Well manicured lawns and Koi ponds are located all throughout the memorial which has a statue of Chiang Kai Shek and a library on the ground floor which has photos and other memorabilia. Adjacent to the Memorial are the National Theater and the National Concert Hall both of which are exponents of traditional Chinese style architecture and worth visiting.

Yet another shrine which is worth taking in is the Martyr’s shrine is dedicated to Taipei’s fallen heroes which is located on Bei-An road. The shrine is built in a style that was characteristic of Ming dynasty and it’s elaborately adorned with a splendid archway and tranquil paths. The shrine also has a changing of the guards ceremony which is quite like the one at Buckingham Palace in London and a major attraction in Taipei.

Taipei, like any other global metropolis has several diverse hotels that cater to its business as well as leisure travelers. One of the most renowned hotels in Taipei which dates back to the times of Chai Kai Shek is the Grand Hotel. Once the epitome of luxury, the hotel which is built in a traditional style has a somewhat dated feel to it today though it continues to be popular with tourists who enjoy the sense of nostalgia that it evokes. Presently however hotels like the Taipei Sheraton, the Shangri-La Far Eastern Hotel, the Dong Wu Hotel and modern boutique hotels like the Ambience enjoy much custom with travelers who visit this exci  Hide