Citylite: Taipei
One of the best-kept secrets of the northeastern hemisphere, Taipei contains everything one needs for a fulfilling holiday: fine food, great shopping, rich local culture and plenty of natural beauty.
PLAY
Frolic at the night markets, mountains, parks, beaches, temples, hot springs, clubs and shopping arcades. But don’t miss the National Palace Museum and Taipei 101.
As the Louvre is to Paris, the National Palace Museum is to Taipei. It houses one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese art, and possibly the world’s most realistic stone likenesses of food: the Jadeite Cabbage and the Meat-shaped Stone. Laugh if you will, but these two highly valued treasures always draw a crowd.
Then there’s Taipei 101, the world’s tallest skyscraper (until surpassed by the Burj Dubai later this year). The building commands breathtaking 360-degree views of the city, and offers plenty of food and shopping (including the massive Eslite bookstore, open 24hrs).
SHOP
With Taiwan’s proximity to Japan and Korea and its eager adoption of Western ways, it’s not hard to get in on worldly trends in Taipei; one of the hottest shopping spots is Ximending, where most homegrown brands and plenty of internationally known labels congregate.
Those who enjoy the thrill of the hunt might opt for a trip to Houshanpi. Though a bit further away at the far-eastern end of the city, the neighborhood contains a massive labyrinth of lanes packed full of goodies for both women and men. Go in a bargaining frame of mind.
EAT
Taipei has for decades hosted many of the world’s finest culinary traditions, rivaling any metropolis. Yet the true flavors of Taiwan are located not in fancy restaurants but down in the depths of the city. And they only emerge at night.
Every couple of blocks or so, one happens upon night markets, evening bazaars that hawk clothes, gadgets, trinkets and – most definitely – food (especially Shida, Shilin and Tonghua).
Three quintessential night market snacks are choudoufu (臭豆腐), deep-fried cubes of tofu topped with oyster sauce and pickles; o’a’jian (豪仔煎), an omelet scrambled with oysters and lettuce and served with a sweet-spicy sauce; and chuabing (sometimes called baobing 刨冰), a condensed milk-drenched mountain of shaved ice burying candied beans, gelatin and fruits. Ice Monster on Yong Kang Street is famous for its delectable mango slushee served with heaping scoops of sorbet.
SLEEP
There’s no shortage of places for frugal travelers to lay their heads, but be forewarned that subtropical islands are prone to having bugs. Lots of them. Big ones. To avoid a potentially nasty experience, fork out for peace of mind.
And if you’re going to splurge, you might as well do it in style at the lavish and history-rich Grand Hotel (圆山饭店, www.grand-hotel.org). The traditional Chinese-style structure sits on the slopes of Yangming Shan and was once ranked among the world’s top 10 hotels by Fortune Magazine. The most modest of rooms starts at about RMB 840.
Alternately, the Jade Garden Hotel (玉圆庄宾馆, +886 02 2393 7555) is clean, comfortable, and conveniently located near the center of the city (RMB 260-325).
TIPS
• You don’t need a visa for a visit lasting less than 30 days, but make sure you have at least six months validity on your passport. Otherwise, face being turned away at the airport or paying a hefty fee.
• Do your research first. http://eng.taiwan.net.tw has plenty of useful information for tourists and has also been known to offer free travel packages for youth.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Panoramio.com and Jani Patokallio and http2007 of Flickr