Fri 25th Jul 2008
- Taipei Travel Guide & City Information
Taipei, is the capital city of Taiwan. It is the main administrative, commercial, manufacturing, and cultural center of the island nation. The first settlement on the present-day site of Taipei was established in the 1700s. Taipei is a city of many faces, where ancient and modern co-exist. Where rice paddies stretched for miles only 30 years ago, glass-faced highrise office buildings, luxury condominiums, and modern department stores tower above wide, tree-lined boulevards.
Taipei is gradually moving towards the standards of Western metropolitan cities. With a rapid transit system (MRT), plenty of buses and cheap taxis, getting around in Taipei is fast and cheap. Popular areas include Hsin Yi (City Hall) area with Taipei 101 (the world's tallest building), Taipei Train Station and the Dun Hwa Shopping Area. Tourist attractions include the world-renowned National Palace Museum (partially under rennovation until 2005), Hua Xi Street (aka Snake Alley), Guang Hua electronics market and of couse, shopping.
A visit to the capital of Taiwan should include the famous hot springs at Pei Tou. Combine this with a trip to the beautiful Shann Garden, also in Pei Tou, which has restaurants, teahouses, and the Taiwan Folk Arts Museum.