Taipei Vacations
Overview
Taipei should be the first town you visit on your Taiwan vacation. Situated on the Danshui River, the city has served as the customary capital of the Republic of China, which is commonly known as Taiwan. Taipei first began as a trading port more than two-hundred years ago and is now the financial and political center of the country.
Activities & Attractions
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was erected in the memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China. It is surrounded by a park and a large square that incorporates the National Theatre and Concert Hall. The National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall stands in memory of Sun Yat-sen, one of the founding fathers of the Republic of China.
The National Palace Museum is a leading art gallery and cultural landmark built around a permanent collection of ancient Chinese artifacts. The Taipei Fine Arts Museum focuses on collecting modern art. The National Taiwan Museum is the oldest museum in the country and The Armed Forces Museum is the only military styled museum in the country.
Taipei is also home to one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world - Taipei 101 - that offers an amazing viewing and observation deck. With 101 floors above ground and 5 below, it is designed to resist earthquakes and typhoons. North of Taipei is Yangmingshan National Park. It offers its visitors a remarkable sight of majestic mountains, hot springs, tall grasses, bamboo forests and broad-leaf trees. Trails lead to the park's most scenic spots and walkways are well maintained.
Taipei is also home to many temples. The Longshan Temple, located in the Wanhua District, demonstrates architecture with southern Chinese influences most commonly seen in older Taiwanese buildings. Taipei also hosts numerous festivals, such as The Golden Horse Chinese Language Film Festival, Lantern Festival, and Taipei Film Festival. Be aware that many events follow the lunar calendar so it is recommended to check the Taiwan Tourist Bureau's events section before planning to attend an event.
Lodging
Finding lodging in Taipei is easy. There are numerous accommodations of various price and quality throughout the city. There are luxurious hotels, hostels and moderately priced business-class hotels. There are also numerous pay-by-the-hour hotels and motels with comfortable rooms. For more information, check out the links in the resource section below.
Transportation
You can get to the city by train or flight. Intercity travel is easy by bus and is quite inexpensive. Luxury buses are also available but are 15 percent more expensive than government buses. The Taipei MRT makes the city one of the easier Asian capitals to navigate. Every station has bilingual wall maps pointing out neighborhood attractions.