Compared to many other large Asian cities, Taipei is something of a youngster at only 300 years of age, but it’s truly making up for lost time now. With its heady blend of Chinese, Japanese and Western influences, Taipei is rapidly forging its own identity. Whilst it does boast a number of colonial-era lanes that hark back to days gone by, the rapid rise of skyscrapers and neon lit nightlife means that its name as a buzzing Asian city is absolutely on the rise. A visit to Taipei is a wonderful taster plate of cuisine, culture, architecture and breathtaking surrounding landscapes.
Areas & Neighborhoods in Taipei
Wanhua — Taipei’s oldest district, Wanhua has a wealth of historic buildings that include the Longshan Temple and the Red House Theater. However it is also home to Ximending, a rapidly evolving shopping quarter that caters in particular to youth fashion and culture, especially to those of a Japanese persuasion.
Datong — Another old district of Taipei, Datong was at one point the commercial hub of the city. Those days are long since passed, and whilst you can still see a lot of the traditional architecture from that era, Datong is now best known for the Japanese colonial and Qing dynasty heritage to be found on Dihua Street.
Daan — Taipei’s modern quarter, northern Daan is home to Taipei’s department stores, fashion boutiques, bars and restaurants. This is the part of town that the wealthy like to call home. At the southern end of Daan meanwhile, you will find two universities, National Taiwan University and National Taiwan Normal University, and alongside them a wide selection of more affordable shopping and dining, not to mention a lively nightlife.
Xinyi — Modern Taipei’s financial district and location of the towering Taipei 101 skyscraper, as well as the World Trade Center and the International Convention Center. The newest part of the city, it’s also the part that’s likely to feel most familiar to visitors, with shopping malls and entertainment complexes aplenty.
Things to See in Taipei
Why not start your sightseeing at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall where the national flag is raised every morning and in front of which is the huge courtyard that plays host to national celebrations. This is also where you’re most likely to see first-hand Taiwan’s admirable democracy at work, as this is where the people often congregate to voice their peaceful dissent to government policy. Taipei 101 is also a must see, not only as one of the world’s tallest buildings, but also as one whose architecture rather uniquely draws its inspiration from nature - in this instance bamboo. The National Theatre Hall meanwhile plays host to a huge assortment of both national and international performers and events, whilst the National Palace Museum houses the world's foremost collection of Chinese historical artifacts and antiquities.
Things to Do in Taipei
With Yangmingshan National Park a part of the fabric of Taipei, hiking is an obvious and popular activity here. Taipei also hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, but two in particular are not to be missed. The Lantern Festival runs for several days and is a dazzling display of lanterns and lasers that sees the release of huge lanterns that float dreamily across the night sky. The Dragon Boat festival meanwhile sees gaudily decorated dragon boats take to the water around the city to race each other in memory of the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan.
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