Taipei is Taiwan's largest city as well as its economic, political, and cultural center. It is a modern cosmopolitan metropolis with a lively and diversified face, filled with exuberance.
A City of Smiles
From the world's tallest building to the biggest collection of Chinese art, Taipei invites you into a world of fascinating contrasts-a mix of the modern and traditional, with a generous dash of energy and friendly smiles to make this one of your most memorable trips to Asia.
The cultural kaleidoscope of Taiwan's capital city pulses wherever you go. Incense-veiled temples dating back to dynastic times blend seamlessly with a neoned street life of a decidedly more modern era. Taipei has dozens of world-class restaurants where gourmets can sample the best regional Chinese cuisine; and for the gourmand, there are plenty of night markets serving up scrumptious evening snacks in an environment of chaotic excitement and fun.
The polarities of Taipei are vividly present as well in the joining of the urban and natural. Just a few minutes from the heart of the city you can soak away the cares of the world in mineral-rich hot springs nestled in the lush mountain foothills ringing the Taipei Basin. And throughout the city there are plenty of trails, parks and other oases of tranquility to lift and invigorate your spirits. Taipei City is full of interesting spots and a visitor would need at least a week to see the most famous ones and probably another week to explore Taipei's suburbs and its vast hinterland.
Places to see In Taipei
Tourist attractions, shopping, and as a culinary destination. That is a reason people make Taiwan as the travel destination. Starting from its natural beauty, Taiwan offers the coastal valleys and vast green forest. If viewed from the history and culture, Taiwan has the most comprehensive collection of Chinese artifacts relic in its National Museum. Not only that, for the culinary matters, national parks, and shopping, Taiwan does not need your doubt. The appeal of most of Taiwan lies in the architecture of the building. Historic buildings and temples in Taiwan many combines elements of art from the Netherlands and China, so beautiful.
Here are the best tourist attractions in Taipei Taiwan you must visit:
Yangmingshan National Park
If your landscape is a priority during a vacation in Taipei, Yamingshan National Park should be the first destination that should not be missed. The park is located 30 minutes drive from the city center is surrounded by rocky cliffs, mountain meadows, and lakes are calm. The best time to visit is around February and March for the cherry blossoms are blooming and the gardens of colorful flowers that are being showcased finest colors.
Beitou Hot Springs
Actually there are a lot of hot water baths in Taipei, but the most famous area is in Beitou. This area is famous for its hot baths resort since 1986. With beautiful gardens, museums, and temples around the city, you must visit Beitou in Taipei during the holidays.
Building Chiang Kai-shek Memorial
Building Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is a landmark of Taipei are usually used to celebrate national events. In this white marble walled building, visitors can learn the history of Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of Taiwan to visit the 20th century museum located in the basement. For those of you who are not too interested in history, you can enjoy views of the garden hall is decorated by tasteful Chinese ceramic.
Martyr Shrine
The Martyrs' Shrine is dedicated to the people of Taiwan who sacrificed themselves in battle. Built in 1969, the temple architecture is reminiscent of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Located on the mountain Chingsan, Shrine of the Martyrs is also present Keelung river view which is in the process of restoration by the Taipei government.
National Palace Museum
The museum is considered a very majestic as it has a collection of priceless antiquities from the country of Taiwan and China. Collection of Chinese-owned since Taiwan was chosen as a place to save objects of Chinese art at the time of the Sino-Japanese war and civil war in China. The collection, among others, various kinds of jade carvings and sculptures of boats made ??with olive seed material.
Longshan temple
Feels incomplete without a visit to Taipei when the ancient temple is very famous; Longshan Temple. In the temple built in 1738, you can see the statue of Guanyin Goddess of Compassion, a pair of dragon decoration in the hall, and the four dragons in the den. Everything is fine and perfectly chiseled
Taipei 101 tower
The skyscraper is located in downtown Taipei and just a few blocks from the Taipei World Trade Center. As the name implies, this tower has 101 floors and visitors can ride up 91 floors to see the sights of Taipei city from a height of 509 meters. To go to the top of the building, provided the world's fastest elevator to break the Guinness World of Record. Just in 37 seconds, you sped from the ground floor of 89 to see the sights.
Huaxi Night Market
If a visit to Taipei, do not miss the night market. This area is known for its variety of delicious foods are sold, such as meat soup, eel noodles, shrimp, and snake meat. One of the popular night market is Huaxi Night Market, located adjacent to the Longshan Temple.
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
This site is dedicated to Sun Yat-sen, the man considered the "father of the nation" in Taiwan and "forerunner of the revolution" in China. In it, you can find world-class performance hall, multimedia theater, and a very large library. Surrounding environment is very beautiful, there are lakes and extensive green gardens.
Presidential Office Building
Presidential Office Building is located in Zhongzheng district. Buildings built during the Japanese occupation has a beautiful wall with decorative gravel. As a legacy of Japan, the building has 5 floors and the main tower as tall as 7-story faces east to honor the goddess of the Sun. Building was inaugurated as the President of a national historical site in 1998 and is open to the public.
Nightlife in Taipei
When it comes to good nightlife, Taipei doesn’t lag behind other capital cities. The restaurants officially shut down at 21:30 but bars remain open till very late. The chief nightlife spots in the major city are clubs, discothèques, piano pubs, music lounges, karaoke bar, jazz clubs and bottle clubs.
The concept of bottle clubs is relatively new; simply buy a bottle, label it with your name and come back to drink whenever you want. The best nightlife joints are on the east and the west Taipei, which includes the Anho Road and Shi-men Ting. West Taipei embraces all kinds of clubs from huge pubs to small and crowded tea and coffee houses in narrow alleys.
Taipei’s nightlife has changed quite a bit over the past 20 years, and continues to change at a fairly rapid pace. Taipei has four main areas of night time activity, with each having quite a different flavour:
- Shida Road and Nat’l Taiwan University area
- Xinyi District
- Anho Road
- Shuang Cheng St. (aka “The Combat Zone”)
- Other venues
Regardless of where you might go, please remember not to drink and drive. Take a taxi if you’re going to drink. Taxis are inexpensive and widely available.
Shida Road and Nat’l Taiwan University area
This area benefits from its proximity to two major universities - National Taiwan University (NTU) and National Taiwan Normal University (“Shida” in Chinese). The Shida Night Market is one of the most crowded and active in the city. In terms of pubs, they tend to be relatively small and informal, but can be a good place for people watching and has an active vibe. Prices tend to be reasonable.
Xinyi District
Ooh la la. This is the relatively new “clubbing” district in a newer part of town. The venues are a bit far apart, and not always easy to find, but this is where the beautiful people go, and those who want to have a gander at the beautiful people therein. Not very cheap, and a little inconvenient, but this is where the “upscale” end of Taipei nightlife is migrating.
An Ho Road Area (between Xinyi and Hoping)
The number of pubs and bars in this area has dwindled a bit in recent years, but it remains home to two popular bars - Carnegies and Saints & Sinners, as well as several smaller pubs. An Ho is an interesting street to walk along, and it’s an area that’s easier to navigate than the previous two. Low stress.
Shuang Cheng St. (aka “the Combat Zone”)
The Shuang Cheng area’s hay days began in the 1970s when it was an R&R area for soldiers in the Vietnam War (one reason behind the moniker “Combat Zone”). The peak period was the 1980s through mid-1990s, with foreign businessmen and local expats providing the main fuel for business. Since then it’s been on a steady decline, but it retains some of the interesting grittiness of the old days.
