Taipei, capital of Taiwan, is a city of high rise office buildings, modern condominiums, and department stores.  It is also a city of beauty, culture, tradition, and sophistication.  It holds 1,000 years of priceless Chinese history in its hillside vaults.

The historical treasures of mainland China were transported piece by piece to caves to preserve them during wartime.  620,000 of these pieces are now exhibited in the National Palace Museum on a rotating basis, with the others remaining in storage.   Most of the porcelain, jade, lacquer, bronze, and other remarkable objects were once part of the Chinese imperial collection.  The National Palace Museum is considered one of the world’s four best museums.

The Lungshan Temple is a center of worship for deities from several faiths. The front court is devoted to the Buddhist goddess of mercy, the rear court to the Taoist goddess of the sea, and niches throughout the temple to many others. Nearby Hsiyuan Road is filled with stalls selling religious images and goods.

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is an impressive sight.  The gracefully designed building is bordered by extensive gardens, areas for rest and contemplation, and fish ponds.  It is a gathering place for walks and for kite flying.

The nightlife of Taipei is vibrant and entertaining. Don’t miss the Night Market with its myriad stalls offering everything imaginable.  Fine restaurants, classical music performances, modern art, traditional Beijing opera, and lively nightclubs all operate in harmony.  As for the cuisine, it is superb.  Visitors can enjoy regional specialties from all parts of China.

Outside the city there are several day trips that are of interest.  Yangmingshan is a mountain range at the north end of the city, and a great place for hiking and a visit to a hot springs resort. On the opposite side of town, to the south, is the Sungshan Nature Reserve. Its mountain hiking trails extend into lush forest.   Thirty minutes outside Taipei is the seaside resort of Jio Fun. The shore is lined with teahouses, each offering the world’s best view along the coast.

Taiwan's culture is a blend of its distinctive Chinese heritage and Western influences. Fine arts, folk traditions, and popular culture embody traditional and modern Asian, and Western motifs. The beautiful temples are the setting for colorful folk festivals.

Taipei is a source of fascination and excitement in every aspect.  A day in Taipei will be treasured forever.

National Palace Museum

221 Chihshan Rd Section 2

Open  9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 365 days a year. .

Directions:

Take bus 213, 255, or 304. Each bus passes the museum.

National Palace Museum is home to the largest collection of Chinese artifacts, approximately 720,000 in total. Only 15,000 can be displayed at a given time due to space limitations; however, the exhibits are rotated every three months. The collection was previously exhibited in Beijing's Forbidden City before being shipped to Keelong, Taiwan by the KMT in 1949. At that time, the KMT were being defeated in China,  and they feared the collection would be destroyed. The collection was stored in hillside caves for protection.

Lungshan Temple

Built in 1740, Lungshan Temple serves as both a religious and community center for local residents. Several different deities are worshipped at the Temple, and there are many festivals held there during the course of the year which are particularly lively occasions. 

Peace Park

Huaining St

The Peace Park commemorates the anti- Kuomintang protesters and innocent bystanders killed in 1947. The park is now a tranquil spot for relaxation with a lake, a pagoda, a pavilion, and shady trees.

National Theatre

21-1 Zhong-shan South Road, Chung Cheng District, Taipei

Tel: +886 2 3393 9888

The National Theatre is one of two buildings that compose the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Centre. Demonstrating the artistic concepts of classical Chinese architecture, the National Theatre is based on the beautiful Ta-ho Hall. The dazzling theatre offers celebrated opera and theatre performances year-round.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

21 Zhong-shan South Road, Chung Cheng District, Taipei

Tel: +886 2 2343 1100 | Fax: +886 2 2393 2740

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is constructed of white marble, with a red cypress ceiling, light red granite floor and a large, blue-tiled roof. The memorial is surrounded by an extensive, 25-hectare garden.

National Museum of History

49 Nan-hai Road, Taipei

Tel: +886 2 2361 0270 | Fax: +886 2 2331 1086

A fine collection of artefacts and art is displayed in this museum, which is within the splendid Botanical Gardens of Taipei. The museum offers a variety of exhibits that provide an understanding of the culture and history of China.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

505 Jen-ai Road, Section 4, Taipei

Tel: +886 2 2758 8008 | Fax: +886 2 2758 4847

The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is an interesting place for history buffs as it is stocked with many photographs taken during the early part of the 20th century in mainland China.

Taipei Fine Arts Museum

181 Zhong-shan North Road, Section 3, Taipei

Tel: +886 2 2595 7656 | Fax: Fax: +886 2 2594 4104

The museum specialises in Taiwanese works of art, along with works by overseas Chinese and those who represent important trends in 20th- and 21st-century art. It also mounts exhibitions of modern and contemporary art from Taiwan and abroad.

Postal Museum

45 Chongqing S Rd, Sec 2

Tel: 03 2394 5185 (info)

Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00am-5:00pm

This museum showcases around 80,000 stamps from over 120 countries, postal uniforms, hardware and signage from 30 countries, along with models of Taiwanese mail-delivery methods (such as a buffalo-skin raft).  There are six floors.

Shihlin Night Market

Chung Shan North Road, Section 4

Nearest Train Station Chientan & Shihlin Stations

Neighborhood Shih Lin District

Opening Hours Afternoon to early morning daily.   Credit Cards not Accepted

This lively night market is just minutes away from the downtown area. The market is the largest and oldest in Taipei.

It has carnival games and a great selection of shops selling clothing, shoes, jewelry, tourist gifts, tools, pets, and much more.

Taipei Municipal Stadium

Downtown sports facility

10, Nan Jing East Road, Section 4

Taipei 104

+886 (0)2 2570 2330

Nearest Train Station Nanking Fuhsing Station

Neighborhood Chung Shan District

Opening Hours 6am-11pm daily (main stadium); times for other facilities vary

Taipei's biggest stadium is located in the vast sporting complex that also houses Taipei Baseball Stadium, indoor and outdoor basketball facilities, flood-lit tennis courts, a swimming pool and the Taipei Physical Education Institute.

The main stadium offers a recently refitted athletic track, which is open to the public seven days a week. Call ahead for information.

The Martyrs' Shrine

139 Bei-An Road

(886-2) 2885-4162

This Ming Dynasty style shrine honors Taiwan's fallen heroes, and attracts crowds hourly for the changing of the guard.

Taiwan Storyland

50 Zhongxiao Road, Section 1

(886-2) 2388-7158

 Recreation of a typical small Taiwanese town circa 1965 is displayed  in the basement of the technology-focused K Mall. This is the "Made in Taiwan" era of yesteryear, with a doctor's office, a classroom, a camera store, a general store, a cinema, a Black Cat bar, and  several restaurants.

Taipei 101

7 Xinyi Road, Section 5

(886-2) 8101-8898

This is currently the world's tallest building, a 1,671-foot giant.  A trip to the 89th floor costs a little less than one to the 91st-floor observation deck.  There is an upscale mall on the lower deck. 

Population:  2.63 million

Time Zone: GMT + 8

Telephone: Country Code: +886;  Area Code: 2

Language:  Mandarin Chinese is the official language in Taiwan, though other dialects are also spoken. Many people can speak some English, but most taxi drivers do not speak English.

Average Temperatures:

When to Visit:  Taipei experiences the tropical monsoon climate of the southern Chinese mainland.   More rain falls from May-September than at other times of the year.  From July-September typhoons are experienced over the South China Sea.  The summer heat is accompanied by high humidity.  Winter and Spring are usually very pleasant.  Sunshine averages 6 hours per day in winter, and of course longer in summer.

Holidays:

Founding Day                                       Jan. 1-3

Chinese New Year* (date varies)             Late January/early Feb.

Youth Day                                            March 29

Tomb Sweeping Day                             April 5

Dragon Boat Festival*                           June 13

Mid-Autumn Festival*                             Sept. 20

Teachers' Day                                       Sept. 28

National Day                                         Oct. 10

Taiwan Retrocession Day                       Oct. 25

Chiang Kai-shek's Birthday                     Oct. 31

Sun Yat-sen's Birthday                          Nov. 12

Constitution Day                                   Dec. 25

* Date varies based on Chinese lunar calendar

Currency:  Taiwan dollar (yuan).

Business Hours:  Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM; Saturday:  9:00AM – Noon

Post Office:  Ai I Road

Shopping Specialties:  jewelry, carved stones, electronics.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; two-pin plugs are standard

Internet:  At the end of 2005, half of Taipei had access to Wi-Fly, the city's public wireless Internet service; coverage is expected to be 90 percent by the end of 2006. Wi-Fly costs 100 Taiwan dollars a day. Zaka cafe, 37 Lane 177, Dunhua South Road, Section 1, (886-2) 2773-7009 will supply you with both internet café and coffee. 

Getting There:

By Air

Planes arrive and depart from Chiang Kai-shek International Airport just outside Taipei. 

Taipei's International Airport is well-served by international flights. All Asian countries have flights to Taipei, with many inter-continental flights available as well. It is customary for international airlines to reconfigure their names in Taipei to avoid offending the Chinese.   British Airways becomes British Asia Airways, etc.  

By Cruise Ship: 

Large cruise ships dock at the Port of Keelung in northern Taiwan, on the east China Sea.  This is about 40 minutes from Taipei.

Getting Around:  The Taipei Metro covers virtually the whole city and runs from 6 a.m. to midnight. Fares depend on how far you're going, and an all-day pass is a bargain.

By Taxi

Taxis are plentiful and fairly cheap.

By Bus and Train:  Taipei has an extensive city and regional bus service, and four major bus terminals.  There is excellent service to other parts of Taiwan. The bus and train networks are both extensive.   With frequent departures and arrivals and on-time service.

Late January/or early February

Taipei Lantern Festival

On the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, a second "New Year" celebration takes place throughout the city. Children carry lanterns illustrated with legendary heroes, birds and beasts to Taipei's temples. It is a competition, of sorts, for favor from the "God of Heaven," whose birth this Lantern Festival, Shang Yuan, commemorates. The largest gathering of lanterns is at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, an event so popular that the city fathers have extended it with various Lantern Exhibitions running through the following week.

The event combines traditional arts with modern technology, using light and music effects to display the lanterns to best advantage. Thousands of  lanterns are strung along the length of Jenai Road, lighting up Taipei City at night.

Mid March

Lao Tse's Birthday

Every year; the 15th day of the 2nd month in the Chinese lunar calendar, the birthday of the founding sage of Taoism, Lao Tse, is celebrated by Taoist practitioners throughout the world.

The date of Lao Tse's birthday is calculated according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The dates change from year to year.

Mid April

Parade of the God of Medicine

This celebration  takes place four days before the God of Medicine's actual birthday on the 15th day of the third lunar month.  It is one of the most visually stunning and vibrant parades in Taiwan, if not the whole of the Far East. The center of the celebrations, which are spread throughout the more than 160 temples of the god in Taiwan, are the temples of Pao Sheng in Taipei and the Temple of Ching Tzu in Hseuhchia.

The incredible procession at Ching Tzu Temple is more than 3km (2 miles) long and is composed of a huge number of dancing troupes, priests, pilgrims and costumed musicians. There are around 21 traditional floats decorated with flowers, each containing a figure from legend or story, as well as a number of huge statues of the medicine god himself, carried on sedan chairs on the shoulders of pilgrims. The highlight of the parade is always the performance put up by the various theatrical and dancing troupes, the Chen Tou, of which up to 78 participate at one time, showing off their talents in a suitably flamboyant manner.

The parade is headed by a group called the Centipedes and as the procession gets underway worshippers throw themselves on the ground in front of them to be trampled, in order to exorcise evil spirits and demons.

+886 (0) 2 2349 1500

Late July-Late Aug

Ghost Month Festival and Quianggu

in Taiwan, believers claim that spirits of the dead return, demanding sacrifice, entertainment and appeasement from the living, for an entire month.

From the first day of the Ghost Month, the living set up lavish feasts and opera performances to entertain the dead, burning paper money (more than 220,000 tons of paper money are burned in Taiwan every year for the festival!) to keep them happy. 

The festivities peak  on the 15th day of the month, when there are huge feasts in temples throughout Taiwan and the priests chant prayers for the dead to enable them to transcend their present condition. The festival is dedicated in part to those dead who do not have families to pray for and look after them, to enable them too to transcend to higher levels of the afterlife through sacrifice and prayer..

It is traditional in Taiwan to sacrifice a pig and a sheep for these feasts and offer them up to the invisible dead in attendance. During the feasts the cityscapes of Taiwan, particularly the temple courtyards, are transformed by tall lights set up on bamboo poles, lit to light the way for the dead. Hundreds and thousands of little floating lights are also set adrift on rivers and bodies of water, to appease the spirits of the drowned, who might otherwise return to claim new victims.

Keelung hosts the most important of the Ghost Month celebrations, with parades and elaborate feasts at Tsu Pu Tan Temple in Chung Cheng Park. The largest festivals in Taiwan are held in this area on the seventh day of the month and again at the end of the month.

+886 (0) 2 2349 1500.

Mid September

Moon Festival

The Taiwanese celebrate the year's finest moon with cakes and contemplation.

For years the lunar calendar was reflected in the cycles of the soil, while the autumn moon marked the end of the agricultural year; a time to celebrate and reflect.

The Moon festival is the occasion for consumption of the famous moon cakes. Traditionally filled with red bean paste, these are presented to friends and family to mark the occasion. When darkness comes, the parks around Taipei fill with families and couples seeking to enjoy the full moon.

+886 (0) 2 2349 1500.

Ceremonies In Commemoration of Confucius at the Confucius Temple

The sage Confucius was China's greatest teacher. The anniversary of his birthday is celebrated on September 28 each year. Solemn ceremonies are held at the Confucius Temple; schoolchildren perform a ritual dance in honor of Confucius on the platform outside the Ta Ch'eng Hall. 

Taiwan Storyland

50 Zhongxiao Road, Section 1

(886-2) 2388-7158

 Recreation of a typical small Taiwanese town circa 1965 is displayed  in the basement of the technology-focused K Mall. This is the "Made in Taiwan" era of yesteryear, with a doctor's office, a classroom, a camera store, a general store, a cinema, a Black Cat bar, and  several restaurants.

The Taipei Municipal Children's Recreation Center

(02) 2593- 2211 Ext. 211

No. 66, Sec. 3, ChungShan N. Rd

Taipei  104

Nearest Train Station Yuanshan

Neighborhood Chung Shan District

Opening Hours 9-5 Daily  Admission charged.  Credit cards not accepted.

The Center is built on the combined site of the former Yuanshan Zoo and Children's Amusement Park. Its name was changed to The Taipei Municipal Children's Recreation Center in 1984. In recent years there has been a complete overhaul and renovation of the park. 

It is a recreational center that provides education and amusement.  The layout is amazing with much attention to detail. 

The Center is divided into three theme areas with different characters: "World of Yesterday", "Amusement World" and " World of Tomorrow".

The World of Yesterday offers visitors the life experience of the ancestors. It was officially opened to the public in January 1st 1991. It is sub-divided into:  The Mythical World; a children’s play area, a folk art/handicrafts area, a folk arts culture area, and the Yuanshan Archeological Site Exhibition room.

Amusement World focuses mainly on the recreational activities of children and teenagers and has a number of amusement park rides that appeal to these age groups.

The World of Tomorrow emphasizes the introduction of updated scientific knowledge. The Space Theatre was opened to the public in August 1992. The area contains:  the space theatre; a  parent and children’s fun area, a children’s science exhibition floor, and a “take a break” rest area.   

These three areas present different styles and features of "folklore", "amusement" and "science".