Taipei 101

Taipei is a diverse city. There are lots of things to do and lots of places to go. However, there are three things that you must check out: the National Palace Museum, food, and shops.

It does not take a culture buff to be totally amazed by the exhibit at the National Palace Museum. If it's your first time in Taipei especially, you should definitely check out the breathtaking treasures in the National Palace Museum. This world-famous museum has the finest, and perhaps most complete, collection of Chinese artifacts and arts. In 1949, when the Communists took over in China, the KMT government took all the treasures from Beijing with them and moved to Taiwan. Eventually they all became exhibit items at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Their collection is so huge that, at any given time, only 10% of the items are on display inside the museum. One trip to the museum would give you a great overview of the Chinese culture and art. It is the number-one destination I would definitely recommend.

Another thing that you can never miss is the food in Taipei. Taipei is known for its diversity, and that reflects in the restaurants as well. You can find almost all different types of Chinese cuisine and restaurants serving different flavors of fusion food in Taipei. You might also want to check out the night markets, which are very popular amongst the local crowds. There you'd be able to find some very authentic Taiwanese snacks and food you will not find anywhere else in the world.

If you're into shopping, then you'd find your paradise in Taipei. There are countless of shops, and lots of them are clothing stores, everywhere in Taipei. The trendiest ones are located in the eastern side of the city along Chung Hsiao East Road. If you'd like to check out the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101, there are many nice shops nearby as well.

Taipei is a city full of energy. Many of the restaurants and some of the shopping malls are open 24 hours a day, so you don’t need to worry about jet lag, because you'd always find things to do throughout the day and the night. I hope you'll get a chance to enjoy and explore this interesting city.

Quick Tips:

Most of the residents in Taipei do not speak English, so learning a few useful Chinese phrases or carrying a phrase book with you could be handy at times.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around is through TRTS (Taipei Rapid Transit System), and the route map can be found at TRTS' official site. The stations are clean and the routes are well labeled in both Chinese and English. At each stop, the broadcast system in the train also broadcasts in English. Taking the TRTS is definitely the most efficient and convenient way to get around.

In case TRTS does not reach where you'd like to go, you can always get a cab. There are millions of taxis driving around in Taipei, so there's no need to call ahead. The fare is very reasonable compared with the rate in most of the US cities. Also, since most people do not speak English in Taipei, in case you want to take a cab, make sure that you have someone translate it for you or have the destination written down in Chinese on a card beforehand.

The Westin Taipei is located in the eastern side of the city. The TRTS (Taipei Rapid Transit System) station is only 1 block away and is well within walking distance. This is a huge advantage over other five-star hotels in Taipei, where many of them don't have access to TRTS.

The Westin Taipei was built only a couple of years ago, so all the amenities and rooms are fairly new and very well maintained. There are many different restaurants serving different types cuisines within the hotel. However, they tend to be quite expensive and the quality of the food is not that great, so I'd recommend that you check out the restaurants nearby. Many of them are really good and a lot cheaper.

Overall, the Westin Taipei is a great hotel. The rate is usually above $150. If your budget is not a problem for you, I'd definitely recommend this hotel!

Ding Tai Fung, in many ways, is Taipei's pride. This restaurant has won numerous awards and is covered by many travel guide books and fine dining magazines. In 1993, it was even voted as one of New York Times top 10 international restaurants. Today, you can find its branch restaurants in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the U.S. (Los Angeles). However, to experience the real Ding Tai Fung, you have to go to where it got all started: Taipei. Ding Tai Fung was first established more than 30 years ago in Taipei, serving authentic Shanghainese cuisine. Its success lies in the outstanding quality and the taste of the food. One of the most famous Ding Tai Fung dishes is steamed pork dumplings. They are so popular that some varieties of the steamed dumplings were sold out within an hour after the restaurant opens everyday. Just like all of Ding Tai Fung's branch restaurants in other countries, you'd find a long line outside the flagship restaurant in Taipei almost everyday. They do not accept reservations. So checking this restaurant out on a weekday can probably save you some time. But definitely don't be scared off by the long lines, because it is well worth the wait.

Ding Tai Fung is a great restaurant. With everything said, the one last thing left now is to try it out with your own tastebuds!

Quick Note: 1) The language barrier is usually not a problem here, because the menus are available in Chinese, English, and Japanese. Some of the waiters can also speak multiple languages. 2) The price is quite reasonable at Ding Tai Fung. It costs around $20 USD per person.

King Join is a Chinese restaurant serving Beijing dishes. They are known for their delicious desserts, and the original recipes are said to be from the Royal Palace in the Ching Dynasty. One of the desserts I like is "Osmanthus Cold Cake". The story goes that one of the daughters of Emperor Chian-Lung really loved this dessert. So, after she got married and moved out of Beijing, when the Emperor got to visit her, he'd always bring osmanthus cold cake with him for her. Osmanthus cold cake is made of glutinous rice with bean-paste fillings, served with osmanthus syrups, and it tastes really good! Another dessert I like has an interesting name, "Donkey Rolling". It got the name because the shape and the color of the dessert looks like a donkey covered with yellow sands. This is a popular traditional Beijing dessert, and it is made of yellow bean flour. There are many other desserts that are really good too. You just have to try them out.

I went to Taipei Ice Bar in the summar of last year and it was truly a treat. The restaurant is really tiny with a small sitting area. Most people, however, would just order the items to go. Taipei Ice Bar is famous for its mango desserts. Their specialties include Jumbo Mango Ice, red bean ice with mango ice cream, and "super 4" ice (a combo of mango, strawberry, kiwi, and pineapple ice). Jumbo Mango Ice was probably my favorite. Costing around $4, this is your best friend on a hot summer day. In summer, you'd usually find a long line at the counter, and I heard that they are actually quite popular throughout the year. If you happen to walk by Taipei Ice Bar, go inside and try one yourself.

The National Theater in Taipei is the best theater available in Taiwan. It offers a wide variety of programs, including traditional Taiwanese drama/dance and Peking operas, as well as classic operas, ballet, and Broadway-type shows. You can check out the ongoing programs at http://www.ntch.edu.tw/ and purchase tickets online.

The National Theater is located inside the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park, one of the landmarks in Taipei. If you have time and the weather permits, after the program, I'd recommend to take a walk in the Memorial Park, where you can enjoy a slower-paced and a more relaxed side of Taipei that you don't find very easily elsewhere in the city.

Quick Note: The National Theater can be easily accessible by TRTS, Taipei's metro system. It is free to enter the Memorial Park, and the tickets to the theater range from $10 to $50 in average. Formal attire is usually not required. Copies of the programs can be found at most of the large bookstores in Taipei. They are also listed online.