Whether you are looking for an intriguing cultural vacation adventure, a safe yet educational jaunt into the fascinating and vast world of Chinese culture, some rest and relaxation in a friendly city with bargains galore, or are even just going on a business trip that happens to be in the city of Taipei, chances are you will likely enjoy your visit when you arrive there. There is a lot to do, see, eat, and drink in Taipei, so you will have plenty to explore and stay entertained by while visiting. Thankfully it all comes at a relatively inexpensive price. Hopefully this article will make it even easier to plan your itinerary in advance, so you can truly maximize your Taipei adventure while you are there.
Taipei is situated in the country of Taiwan and is home to a wide array of architectural and artistic wonders that making a visit is worthwhile for the sights alone. Once you have arrived in the city, the best way for a tourist to get around in Taipei is the public train system. While taxis are relatively inexpensive, the train system is one of the world’s best and deserves at least a visit just to see first hand how nicely it has been designed and constructed. The Taiwanese are very proud of their wonderful train system and it is rather evident why they appreciate it so much. It is known as the MRT in Taipei and it will easily get you to just about any popular landmark or tourist destination in the city. While it doesn’t go everywhere yet, the city bus network picks up the slack and carries you the rest of the way to just about everywhere else.
Some of the more popular tourist destinations are popular for a good reason. They are truly spectacular. They are also usually large enough, or rather gigantic enough, that they will likely not ever feel very touristy at all. Let’s take a look at some the best of the bunch which should be on any short list of places to definitely visit in Taipei.
If amazing skyscrapers and/or humungous shopping malls are something you enjoy marveling at, then the legendary Taipei 101 is a skyscraper mall ready and waiting for you to explore. As the tallest building in the world for almost 5 years, it is truly an architectural marvel of modern engineering innovation. In its core is a gigantic sliced steel orb that acts as a counterweight to provide balance and flexibility in high winds. There is even an outdoor observation deck from which to get a potentially thrilling and informative view of the city. Best way to get there is to take an MRT to Taipei City Hall station and walk or grab a bus or taxi from there.
If traditional and epically spectacular architecture is more your cup of tea, or just another of your favorites, then the area around the MRT station known as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall will likely more than satisfy. While not ancient, it is definitely spectacular. The best part is that it’s all in one spot for you to easily enjoy. The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial itself is stunning and gigantic enough to justify a visit, yet it is flanked by the national concert hall and the national theater. Both of these buildings are in a lavishly traditional Chinese style and are truly epic in proportion.
That wraps up the best of the biggest in Taipei, but there is so much to explore! Hope this has been a good start to planning a wonderful trip to Taiwan.