Taipei Overview
By Roz Andrews
Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, is located in the north of the island, hence its name which means ‘north Taiwan’ in Chinese.
Begin your visit with a panoramic view of the city from the observation deck on the 89th floor of Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings.
Take an English language tour of the National Palace Museum housing the world’s largest collection of Chinese art with more than 700,000 exhibits, including pottery fragments more than 5,000 years old.
Visit the vibrant night markets selling a wide range of goods and food. At Huahsi Night Market, known as Snake Alley, you can sample snake soup or even snake bile and watch cobras under the skillful control of snake handlers.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city in the 2-28 Peace Park or Ta’an Park, whose amphitheater is the venue for concerts, shows and dances, especially at the weekends. Another popular weekend activity is to visit the Chienkuo Flower and Jade Market.
Take a train ride from Taipei along the beautiful east coast of the island to Taroko Gorge for spectacular mountain scenery. Other day trips that will introduce you to the beauty of Taiwan include excursions to the hot springs at Yangmingshan or to the mountain resort of Wulai. Go!
