Taipei City Guide

Taipei is the energetic capital of Taiwan and situated in the valley of the Danshui River. Taipei was once an agrarian economy, home to rice and vegetable farmers but today Taipei is a bustling vibrant city, which is the capital of a diplomatically isolated nation home to a population that is quite up to speed and connected with all that goes on in the world.

The city of Taipei experienced rapid economic growth after World War II and today it is 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 as a city has much to offer in the form of excellent restaurants, glitzy hotels, bustling shopping malls, animated street markets museums, temples, spas and gardens all of which contribute to make it an invigorating vacation destination.

Taipei’s many hotels are scattered all over the city. Most of the leading hotel chains in the world have a presence in Taipei.

The Xinyi District is the financial district of Taipei which hosts several business-centric buildings of the city like Taipei 101, Taipei City Council, the Taipei International Center and The Tapei Convention Center. Also located within the Xinyi district are many restaurants, Taipei luxury hotels, attractions like the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and some of the best shopping haunts of the city. The various conveniences offered by the Xinyi district make it a favored accommodation option with both business and leisure travelers on a visit to Taipei.

Zhonghshan is a verdant area of Taipei that hosts several green spaces like Rongxing Garden, Xinsheng Park, Zhongshan Fine Arts Park, the Dajia Riverside Park, and the Taipei Municipal Children's Recreation Area. This area also hosts numerous hotels of various grades and types along with a lively bar district and various other attractions like the Xingtian (Singtian) Temple. Zhongshan is well connected to the rest of Taipei via the Yuanshan Metro Station and if you have preference for green surroundings then perhaps one of the many hotels located in the Zhongshan will meet your accommodation requirements.

The Da’an neighborhood of Taipei hosts the city’s main educational institutions. The neighborhood also offers excellent shopping areas like Zhongxiao East Road, Dunhua South Road as well as popular department stores and malls like Breeze Center and the Pacific Sogo Department Store and markets like the Guanghua computer market, the Jianguo Holiday Flower and Jade Market, the Shida Night Market and Tonghua Night Market.

Yet another attraction of Da’an is the restaurant row of Yongkang Street, which hosts the original outlet of the world-famous, Taiwanese restaurant, Din Tai Fung, which now has outlets all over the world. If shopping and dining are your prime interests on your trip to Taipei, then one of many hotels located in Da’an should get your vote.

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 collections are on display. The treasures are stored in a vault carved into the mountainside.

The Taipei International Financial center is currently the world’s tallest building at 508 meters. It is said to have been constructed on a fault line. There are observation decks at various levels; the first one is on the 89th floor though if you want to go up further you are required to pay additional fees. If you do not want to go up to the observation decks, you can indulge in the delights of the shopping mall and fantastic Asian food court on the lower floors. Both these attractions cater to the local Taiwanese obsessions for eating and shopping. The Taipei 101 is the most popular attraction in the city that is considered to be a must-visit by visitors on a vacation to Taipei.

The magnificent memorial to the late leader stands in the National Democracy Park and is built of marble. Well manicured lawns and Koi ponds are located all throughout the memorial, which also has a statue of Chiang Kai Shek and a library on the ground floor. The library offers exhibits of 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.

The most famous temple of Taipei dedicated to the goddess Guanyin 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. The Taiwanese have rebuilt the temple time and again. The temple is symbolic of the resilience of the Taiwanese people.

The Postal Museum is a museum devoted to the mail delivery systems of Taiwan. It chronicles the development of this system over the ages along with exhibits of 80,000 stamps from 120 countries. In addition, the postal system also has exhibits of postal uniforms etc. This is perhaps one of the most unique museums in the world.

This temple devoted to the great philosopher Confucius is generally a peaceful sanctuary except on October 28th each year when there are elaborate ceremonies held here to commemorate the great philosop 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 to 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.

This shrine is dedicated to Taipei’s fallen heroes. The shrine is an exponent of the architecture associated with the Ming dynasty. The shrine is accordingly adorned with a splendid archway, tranquil paths and a changing of the guards, which is quite like the one at Buckingham Palace and a major attraction.

This monument, which is devoted to the father of the Republic of China, is adorned with an impressive bronze statue of the leader and other memorabilia such as photos. Tours of the memorial also include a multi-media presentation highlighting the events in the life of Dr. Sun Yat- Sen.

Taipei experiences a typical humid subtropical climate. The city generally experiences hot humid summer temperatures that tend to usually record highs of 29.4°C or 84.9° F.

The city also experiences the Pacific typhoon season, which generally lasts 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. Based on the information of its weather patterns, you can summarize that Taipei is an all weather destination which can be visited at any time of the year.

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Taipei can be accessed via its Chai Kai Shek international airport which is located just outside the city on the north east side in Taoyuan County. Many Asian and other international carriers serve this airport. Fare Buzz periodically offers great flight deals for Taipei so if you are looking for a cheap air tickets or even last minute flights to Taipei, be sure to call Fare Buzz at 1.888.808.4123 to get access to these attractive deals.

Taipei is very easy to navigate as it is served by an excellent public transport system .The MRT or Mass Rapid Transport system runs from 6am until midnight. An all day pass purchased for use on the MRT can also be used on the bus service.

The bus network in Taipei is also well developed with buses connecting areas not served by the MRT. Metered taxis are also easily available in the city but the drivers rarely speak English so it makes sense to carry a card with the Chinese translation of your destination before your hail a taxi in Taipei.

Shopping is a major recreational activity in Taiwan, a visitor on a visit to Taipei can buy almost everything at Taipei’s numerous and vibrant shopping haunts. Department stores and stores devoted to designer goods co-exist with traditional markets and night markets in Taipei.

Some of the most popular department stores and malls in Taipei include Core Pacific City Mall ( open 24 hrs a day and also known as the Living Mall), Breeze Center, Sogo, Shinkong Mitsukoshi, Idée and others.

Aside from stores, the city is also equipped with numerous vibrant markets like the Dinghao market which is filled with restaurants, pubs, tea houses, bakeries and many stores that sell high end and casual fashion along with footwear and accessories. Dinghao also hosts a street market that features many street vendors who sell a wide variety of goods.

The Shihlin night market is the most famous night market of Taipei. It is a typical Chinese market populated by a host of vendors selling a vast variety of wares. The Shihlin Night Market also has much to offer for children by way of games stalls; so if you are on a vacation with children in Tapipei, you should pencil in the Shihlin Night Market as a must-do attraction. Taipei’s Guanghua Market is the city’s premier computer market that features vendors of computers, software and peripherals. Further; Taipei also has a Holiday Jade and flower market, which is held on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. At this market, the many vendors specialize in Jade products and jewelry as jade is venerated by the Chinese.

Taipei is renowned the world over for its excellent restaurants that serve authentic Chinese cuisine. Taiwanese cuisine is known for its dumplings and dishes that feature fermented bean curd. It was in Taiwan that the famous beverage, bubble tea was invented and the city offers numerous outlets that serve this tapioca ball filled beverage.

The city also has a vibrant street food culture, which features vendors who serve up a wide variety of Chinese snacks and eats. These vendors can also be found at the city’s main markets like Shri Lin, GuangHua and Huashi markets. If you enjoy sampling local eats then Taipei’s street foods should be considered as must-do on any visit to Taipei.

The city is additionally equipped with numerous restaurants that serve as wide variety of cuisines including the myriad variations Chinese cuisines. However, one weird and wacky restaurant that you cannot afford to miss whilst on business or vacation in Taipei is the Modern Toilet restaurant. Modern Toilet features a bathroom inspired ambience both for the food that it serves as well as its décor.

Taipei has a lively nightlife scene that features many Karaoke bars, discotheques, piano bars, music lounges, and pubs. Some the most popular bars and clubs in Taiwan includes bars like Brown Sugar, the Luxy nightclub complex, My place, My other Place, Malibu East and West and Saints and Sinners.