When we think of Taiwan, the first city that pops up in our heads would be Taipei. With a fusion of Chinese, Japanese and western culture, Taipei is undeniably a unique city. Going to Taipei next? Here is a list of attractions that you should be visiting!
Urban Attractions
Taipei 101
With just a small fee of NT$600, visitors are able to get the best views of Taipei’s skyline from Taipei 101’s observation deck. A must-see tourist spot, Taipei 101 was previously the world’s tallest structure for a whopping 6 years. As if the attraction isn’t remarkable enough, Taipei 101 also houses one of the world’s fastest elevators that take visitors to the top in a matter of seconds! With that said, it is recommended to visit the observatory just before sunset for a surreal 360-degree panoramic view of the city before dusk! Interestingly, the structure of Taipei 101 was influenced by a bamboo stick. For such a tall building, just one small engineering mistake will cause the building to topple. To counter such possibility, a mass damper can be found on levels 87-91 where visitors can enter with just an additional NT$500 to view the engineering marvel.
For more information on the urban giant, click here.
Just below Taipei 101 is the Taipei 101 Mall. This 7 storied floor sells branded goods from famous brands worldwide! If you're looking to kill time before going to the observatory, Taipei 101 Mall is a great place to shop at.
Address: Taipei 101, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Jiufen and Shifen
Hidden deep in New Taipei City lies the prominent Jiufen and Shifen. Although the town lacks accessibility, the rustic and nostalgic vibes of the towns are worth the transport. Both Jiufen and Shifen have a rich history of being gold and coal mining towns before the 1950s. To honour the contributions that the town had made for the country, museums were erected. Visitors are now allowed to enter the mines to get an immersive experience on the conditions that previous citizens had worked in.
Travel down Jiufen Old Street and indulge in the lively atmosphere that’s decorated with hanging lanterns along the alleyways. The old street is a great location for food as it’s packed-filled with delicacies. For anime geeks, Jiufen Old Street can be a paradise as it was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. Many shops in Jiufen sell tiny anime figurines such as the character, Totoro from My Neighbour Totoro. If you are a film or anime geek, don’t miss out on catching a break at A-MEI Teahouse that was said to have inspired the iconic bathhouse in Spirited Away!
The most popular activity in Shifen is probably the sky lanterns activity. Guests are required to write their wishes on the surface of the lantern. A selection of colours are offered with each representing different categories of wishes. For instance, pink represents romance while yellow represents money. It’s recommended to visit Shifen during the day for sharper pictures but night for a nicer view of the Sky Lanterns. If you want to set sky lanterns off in a less-touristy location, a good location would be Pingxi.
Guandu Temple
If you are thinking of heading to the Beitou Hot Springs for a dip, drop by the Guandu Temple. The Guandu Temple was built in 1661 and is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, Mazu. The original name of the temple was “Ling-Shan Temple” and it is currently known to be the oldest Mazu temple in Northern Taiwan. Legend has it that in 1895, three ancient Banyan Trees at the temple’s entrance died without explanations. Locals believed that the Goddess of the Sea was trying to warn them of an impending disaster. Soon after, the area was occupied by the Japanese.
The Guandu Temple is magnificent and elegant, decorated with dragon pillars, stone lions and wall sculptures that are carved to top precision. As if the temple isn’t awe-inspiring enough, the surrounding views of the rivers and mangrove swamps will definitely make your jaw drop.
Address: No. 360, Zhixing Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan 112
National Palace Museum
Fancy a little history while travelling? The National Palace Museum is home to the world’s largest and best collection of Chinese artefacts in the world. It is also said to be comparable to the Louvre Museum.
The National Palace Museum is 4 stories tall and holds 2 exhibition halls. The museum is said to attract 14,000 visitors a day! Paintings, calligraphy, lacquerware, ceramics, jade and religious artefacts can all be seen on display. But the most popular arteact is definitely the jadeite cabbage with insects. As the artefacts are rotated to protect them from deteriorating, visitors can expect new experiences every trip there. With so many wonders to feast the eyes upon, the fee of NT$350 can be said to be a steal.
You can purchase tickets on site or online here!
Address: 221 Zhishan Rd, Sec 2, 至善路二段221號
Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market - the most popular night market in regards to food and nightlife for tourists in Taipei. Like a maze, the night market has many intertwining alleyways that are packed with food stalls, making it a mini-adventure for all visitors. The most popular food items to try in the Shilin Night Market would be Ai Yu Jelly, Hotstar chicken, flame dice beef cubes and the stinky tofu.
Other than food products, there is also a variety of local, traditional and international shops for the leisure of foreigners and locals. These shops range from shoes to makeup to dried food products. If you do not fancy such a touristy experience, try heading to other night markets in Taipei such as, Raohe, Tonghua, Nanjichang, Huaxi, Ningxia, Lehua, Lianing, Shida and Jingmei!
Address: 2F., No.9, Ln. 144, Wenlin Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City 111, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan, China
Taipei Zoo
Opened in 1986, the Taipei zoo holds the title of being the largest zoo in Asia. The zoo was originally a private zoological garden that was founded by a Japanese citizen in 1914. Currently, it is home to 400 animal species, 7 indoor exhibits and 8 outdoor exhibits with different themes.
One of Taipei Zoo’s most prized possessions would be “Grandpa Lin Wang”, an Asian Elephant that lived for 86 years old. As the elephant has lived for such a long life, Grandpa Lin Wang has even amazed zoologists. Now, guests can see Grandpa Lin Wang on display in the “Education Center” of the zoo. Another popular sight would be the Panda enclosure. The pandas were a gift from China, symbolising “reunion” because of their names - Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan. In addition, the enclosure is also the home to the first locally born panda cub called Yuan Zai!
If you are visiting Taipei Zoo, another nearby attraction is Maokong that’s only a short ride from Taipei Zoo in the Maokong Gondola.
Tip: Want to explore Taipei City’s famous sites easily? Ride on a double decker bus tour and roam around the city in your own time.
