Destination: TAIPEI, TAIWAN

UNDERSTAND TAIPEI

THINGS TO SEE IN TAIWAN

• Taipei 101. Officially known as the Taipei International Financial Center, this 101-floor, 508-meter high skyscraper is located in the Xinyi District of Taipei. The tower is rich in symbolism: It was designed to resemble bamboo rising from the earth - a plant recognized in Asian cultures for its fast growth and flexibility, which are ideal characteristics for a financial building - and also divided into eight distinct sections, with eight being a number associated with prosperity in Chinese culture. The internal architecture of Taipei 101 is similarly awe-inspiring: pay attention to ornate details on the structural beams, columns, and everywhere else.
  However, Taipei 101 is perhaps most notable for its feats of engineering; since 2004 it is the world's tallest building, as determined by three of the four standards designated by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. It also boasts the world's fastest elevators, which will zip visitors up to the 89th-floor observation deck in a mere 37 seconds. It's expensive but worth it. The views are stunning, especially at night when the city is lit up; the best time to visit would be in the late afternoon so you can hang around for a couple of hours and see both day and night views of Taipei.
  For an additional NT$100, you can also go up to the outdoor observatory on the 91st floor. Don't forget to look toward the middle of the building, where you'll see one of the massive gold color dampers that keeps the building steady. Attached to the tower is a large, up-scale mall. While the stores themselves are unremarkable in that they offer the same brand-names as stores in other major cities around the world, the open and spacious design of the structure itself definitely makes it worth a visit.
  Located next to the cafes on the fourth floor is Page One Bookstore, which has one of the largest selections of English books in Taiwan. A supermarket specializing in imported food items is located in the basement. (See also the "Buy" section for more on the mall.) Taipei 101 is a 15 to 20-minute walk from the Taipei City Hall MRT station (Blue Line).

• The Sun Yat-sen Memorial is constructed in the memory of Dr Sun Yat-sen who is the founding father of the Republic of China. The construction of the Memorial commenced in 1965 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth. It was then opened in May 16th 1972, with the majestic architecture and placid landscape covering an area of some 115,500 sq meters.
  The park named Zhongshan Park marks the front yard of the Hall. On the inside, there is a 19-foot bronze statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen along with a library of 400 seats storing over 1.4 millions books. The 100 meter long Zhongshan corridor links the main hall to the four large exhibition buildings where contemporary arts and historical articles are frequently on display. There is an auditorium which has weekly lectures and seminars on aspects of art and life. Also a popular site for public concerts.

• The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is the symbol of both Taipei and the R.O.C. It is here that the nation's flag is raised every morning, and the huge court yard in front of the memorial serves as a place for both national celebrations as well as a platform to voice one's disapproval of the government. Even if you are not into memorials, the gardens with their Chinese style ponds are definitely worth a visit. The memorial has its own MRT station on the Xindian line. The grounds of the memorial are also a favorite place for locals to gather to practice martial arts, though you'll have to be there early if you wish to see this. Most people begin their work-out at around sunrise, and will have left for the office before 8 a.m.

• The National Theater and National Concert Hall - located in the grounds of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial -- are excellent places to see performances of a Taiwanese play or dance troupe, though they also host many international events. The building's neo-classic Chinese architecture is especially stunning when flood-lit at night.

• National Taiwan University. Taiwan's preeminent institution of higher education is located on the south side of Taipei. The campus grounds are surrounded by several blocks of shops, bookstores, eateries, cafes and tea houses popular with students and scholars. This is one of the main transportation hubs, many buses stop here. While you wait for your bus or before you go underground to catch the subway, you can get a lot of the shopping done: clothing, accessories, books, trinkets...you name it.
  Browse through the stales and booths directly across the street from the main entrance of the university (don't forget there is a lot more just behind the main street), grab a bite or 2 of the popular snacks: fresh fruit, spice-cooked meats and soy goodies, sky high ice cream cones, sweets, shaved ice, tapioca teas, fresh bread, etc. You can also sample the yummy Taiwanese fried chicken chain: Ding Gua Gua. Try a "Gua Gua Bao," a flavorful sticky rice pouch, and if you like sweet potato, Ding Gua Gua's fries will make you want to come back for more! There are many American fast food restaurants across the street on the right of the University, right next to several wonderful book stores. Nearest MRT station: Gongguan on the Xindian (Green) Line.

• The National Palace Museum - the world's best collection of Chinese historical artifacts and antiquities. The museum is located in Shilin district.

• Hua Shan Cultural and Creative Industry Center - This former brewery has been transformed into a creative space in a park. The exhibitions here are well presented and imaginative and the theater performances, while less formal than at those at the National Theater, are still none-the-less first rate. The center also has a great cafe with outdoor seating -- an excellent place to watch Taipei at work and play over a cappuccino.

• Fine Arts Museum - exhibits of local and international work - good gift shop.

• The former residence of the U.S. Ambassador has been transformed into an art center called Taipei House, which focuses on film. In addition to holding film festivals, the house also has great cafes and restaurants that spill out onto balconies and into the garden. The book store offers a good selection of hard-to-get art/independent film maker type movies on DVD, though for other movies, prices are lower at regular DVD rental stores.

• The Museum of Contemporary Art was Taiwan's first art space dedicated to contemporary work. The red brick, former Taipei City Hall is easy to locate on an otherwise unexceptional road.

• Taipei Story House - a tea merchant's 19th century European style house has been converted into a space for telling the story of Taipei and tea. There are permanent exhibits on these subjects as well as visiting exhibitions and the occasional traditional music concert. The patio serves as a tea garden, which offers pleasant views over the Damshui River and beyond. The facility is open from 9AM to 6PM, and admission is NT$30. The house is located in the same plot of land as the Fine Arts Museum.

• Taiwan National History Museum is located in 'Peace Park' (near Taipei Main Station) in a splendid baroque and renaissance style building. Opened in 1899, it was Taiwan's first museum and focuses on anthropology and the fauna and flora of the island.

• Miniatures Museum of Taiwan is a small private museum that is a monument to patience and a steady hand. The 40 bulb chandelier the size of grain of rice is one of the many impressive pieces on display.

• Longshan Temple - This temple is where countless generations of Taipei citizens have come to pray and seek guidance at times of trouble. As the temple is dedicated to Guanyin (the Buddhist representation of compassion) it is officially defined as Buddhist, but there is a great amount of folk religion mixed into the fabric of the beliefs here. However, if you want to feel the real heartbeat of Taipei, one that is far removed from the skyscrapers and shopping malls of East Taipei, this is the place to come. It just oozes with character, though don't come expecting to find teachings on meditation.
  The area around Longshan Temple, Wanhua, is one of the original districts of Taipei. And, while much of the traditional architecture has been lost, the area still maintains a traditional feel. It is here that the blind masseurs congregate to offer their skill. Likewise, this is the area where the Taiwanese come to learn who they should marry or what to name their son or daughter by consulting one of the many fortune tellers that set up shop along the roads and alleys around the temple.

• Confucius Temple

• Paoan Temple

• Da-An Forest Park is the largest green space in the downtown area, and as the name implies, much of the area is covered with trees. In addition, there is a lake, gardens and an amphitheater, and tucked away on the northwest corner is a statue of Guanyin (aka Avalokitesvara), the Buddhist representation of compassion. The park is bordered by Xinsheng South Road, Xinyi Road, Jianguo South Road and Heping East Road.

• 228 Peace Park (formerly known as 'New Park') is one of Taipei's oldest parks, and houses the Natural History Museum and a memorial to the 228 incident, named in reference to the date (February 28) when a dispute between a female cigarette vendor and an anti-smuggling officer triggered civil disorder, and the uprising and crackdown that followed in 1947. The main entrance to the park is on Gongyuan Road, near Taipei Main Station.

• The Botanical Gardens - these beautiful gardens have inspired the citizens of Taipei for over one hundred years. The lotus ponds are a hallmark of the park and are especially captivating when the these symbols of peace are in full bloom and swaying in the summer breeze.

• The Zhongshan Fine Arts Park is a gentle green space interspersed with ancient trees, outdoor sculptures and art exhibits. It is located between the Fine Arts Museum and Yuanshan MRT Station.

THINGS TO DO IN TAIWAN

• Public hot spring etiquette requires that bathers thoroughly wash and rinse off their bodies before entering the bath, do not wear clothing (including swim wear) in the bath and tie up their hair so that it does not touch the water. Finally, people with high blood pressure, heart disease or open wounds should not enter the baths.
  There are three main places to have a soak in the Taipei area: Beitou, Wulai and Yangmingshan

• The prestigious Golden Horse Chinese Language Film festival is held annually in November at various locations in Taipei. Although the main films are all in Chinese, there are subtitles and also there is a non-competition foreign language film section, so the festival and awards has a very international feel.

• The Lantern Festival is a dazzling display of lanterns and lasers which runs for several days around the fifteenth day of the lunar new year. While the main city event is held at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall grounds, Renai Road perhaps offers the most elegant display, with the whole tree-lined boulevard transformed into a delicate tunnel of lights. Pingsi in Taipei County celebrates the festival with the release of huge lanterns that float serenely across the night sky, carrying with them the dedications and aspirations of those who release them.

• Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (born 340 BC), who drowned himself in a river out of despair that his beloved country, Chu, was being plundered by a neighboring country as a result of betrayal by his own people. The festival falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (31 May 2006), and is marked by races of colorful dragon boats at various locations throughout the island. One of the best places to view a boat race in the Taipei area is at the Bitan River in Xindian. Special sticky rice balls called dzongdz are also eaten on this day.

• Taipei International Travel Fair, Taipei World Trade Centre.

STAY SAFE IN TAIPEI