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TAIPEI

City of Azaleas

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CITY GUIDE

"Taipei is a friendly city whose allure lies in its blend of Chinese culture with a curious fusion of Japanese, Southeast Asian and American influences."
 - Lonely Planet

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BIRTH DATE -

  • 1884

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POPULATION - 

  •  23,820,000

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AKA - 

  • The City of Azaleas, Tai-pak, Taipeh, Taihoku

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MEANING - 

  • The North of Taiwan

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RIVER - 

  • Tamsui River with it's 3 tributaries -  the Keelung River,                                                       Xindian River and Dahan River

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HISTORY - 

  • Originally Taipei was a big lake. it was settled by aboriginals of Malay-Polynesian descent. They retreated to the mountains when the Dutch and Spanish came along.

  • In the 1660's Koxinga a Chinese pirate defeated the Dutch and claimed the Island.

  • The Qing Dynasty claimed it in 1863 and later made it a province of China.

  • Over the years different waves of refugees fled China for Taiwan.

  • In 1890 the Japanese took over and tore down the city wall and improved the infrastructure. They also developed the hot springs around the island.

  • At the end of WW2 the Japanese left and were replaced by Chiang Kai Shek and the Kuomintang. At first the islanders celebrated until they realized that what had replaced the hated Japanese was even worse.

  • Corruption and outright theft was rampant as the new Chinese rulers tried to line their pockets as much as possible.

  • In 1947 the "February 28 Incident"known as the"228 Incident" occurred. A woman in the market believed to be selling contraband cigarettes was struck by agents of the State Monopoly Bureau. One of them then fired into the gathered crowd of angry bystanders. A man was hit and died later.

  • The next day there were demonstrations and the soldiers fired into the crowd. The demonstrators took over a radio station and broadcast news of the revolt to the rest of the island.

  • The government put down the uprising with the massacre of around 20,000 people. This began the period of the "White Terror"where political prisoners were persecuted, tortured and murdered. Thousands were sent to the prison on Green Island.

  • When Mao drove CKS from the mainland he took China's gold and treasures with him. He ruled Taiwan with an iron fist having the longest period of Martial Law at the time from 1949 to 1987.

  • When CKS died his son Chiang Ching-kuo took over. Stalin had held him captive when he went to school in Russia to have power over CKS. Ironically during this time he was sent out to the gulags and married a local woman and developed an affinity for the working man.

  • Years later when he took over Taiwan he lifted Martial Law and started easing restrictions.

  • In 2000 55 years of continuous Kuomintang rule ended when former political prisoner Chen Shui-bian was elected.

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BEST TIME TO GO - 

  • Cherry Blossom time when the weather is warm and dry, between March and May.

  • June to August is hot, humid and rainy. June to October is Typhoon season.

  • May to September is peak tourist season and it also gets busy around Chinese New Year in January / February.

  • Winter is from November to January when it's cold, humid and dry.

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TOP 10 - IN NO ORDER

  1. Grand Hotel Taipei

  2. Taipei 101

  3. Maokong Gondola and Tea Plantation

  4. Beitou Hot Spring Museum

  5. National Palace Museum 

  6. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

  7. National 2-28 Memorial Museum

  8. Shilin Night Market

  9. Yongkang Street

  10. Yangmingshan National Park

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FUN FACT - 

  • Garbage Trucks in Taipei are musical and play Fur Elise. This is so garbage isn't left lying around. People wait until they hear the music and have their rubbish at the ready. It gives them a chance to have a gossip while they are waiting and keeps the place vermin free.

 

AIRPORT TRANSFER - Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE) 40 km

  • West of Taipei.

  • The easiest way to get in to town is on the MRT which now extends out here.

  • Otherwise there are bus, taxi and train options.

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SAFETY - 

  • Very safe just take the usual precautions

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FOOD - 

  • You're in for a treat. Great food and it's cheap. They have their own unique dishes as well as ones they have adapted from Chinese, Japanese and other influences.

  • Head straight to Yongkang Street Taipei's food mecca. If you see a line up somewhere join in. You know it's going to be good. Don't miss the home of the world famous Din Tai Fung (Shanghai soup dumplings).

  • There are lots of night markets with lots of food stalls. You can go to a different one every night as there is about 30 of them around Taipei. There is so much food you need to have a plan of attack to get to all of the things that look appealing.

  • Some of the must tries are - Beef Noodle Soup (the fresher the beef the better, people line up at 5 am for it), 

  • Scallion Pancake (sometimes with ham, cheese or other fillings), 

  • Pork Pepper Bun (baked in ovens and crispy), 

  • Braised Pork Rice, 

  • Taiwanese Fried Chicken (the squid is good to), , Stinky Tofu (I couldn't get past the smell),

  • Oyster Omelet,

  • Extra large Takoyaki with prawns and broccoli as well as Octopus,

  • Fantastic versions of  Okonomiyaki (Savoury pancakes),

  • Coffin Bread (a seafood veloute in a toast coffin), Bubble Tea, Pineapple cake, and a whole lot more.

  • As a special treat when you go to the National Palace Museum you can eat two of Taiwans (and China's) most priceless treasures. The on-site restaurant serves up very accurate culinary replicas of the Jade Cabbage and the Pork Stone.

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NIGHTLIFE - 

  • Night life isn't huge here but you will find some good pubs and clubs with friendly locals to talk to.

  • Joining the Taipei Pub Crawl is a good way to find out about the local scene.

  • Another thing to look for is the all you can drink parties where you pay a set fee at the door and then you're right to drink through until 4.30 am.

  • Finish up with a late night hotpot.

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SIDE TRIP - 

  • Jiufen - Shifen - Wulai

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COSTS - 

  • Taipei is good value and you will live pretty well and stay on budget.

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GETTING AROUND - 

  • Taipei has great public transport and all information is in English as well. It's a good idea to stay near a Metro Station. The Metro has the city covered and is very easy to use. Most of the attractions are near stations too.

  • There is a bike rental scheme with bikes outside of most MRT Stations.

  • Taxis are cheap and honest (a rare commodity), Uber is back but taxis are better, 

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MUST DO - 

  • Try to find the Betelnut Girls

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SHOPPING - 

  • There is good shopping all around Taipei                                                                                some of the better known areas are - 

  • Xingyi (near Taipei 101), 

  • Ximending (for the younger crowd), 

  • Nanxi (Department Stores), 

  • Taipei Main Station (a bit of everything), 

  • Yongkang (for food and other treasures), 

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                MEET TAIPEI 10N                

2021-03-28 23_44_00-Chiang Kai-shek Stat
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HIGHLIGHTS - jade cabbage & pork stone

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  • night markets - Food Streets - old streets - hot springs

  • national parks - geo parks - statue park - tea plantations

  • Historic sites - indigenous sites - overnight trips - day trips

  • Fly into Taoyuan International Airport and start to enjoy Taiwan's transport system straight away as you catch the Metro Express straight to Taipei Main Station right near your hotel. Wander around, get to know your neighbourhood and start to get a feel for the place. If you get here early enough you could get out and cross something off of your list. Freeing up some time later on.

  • Every evening you are in Taiwan you should start off at the Night Market. They have so many you can go to a different one every night. After dinner head out for a few drinks. There's a different area for this each night too. 

  • There is a lot to see and do so things are worked out on a geographical basis. After a few nights in the city you will head off for a four night excursion spending 2 nights in Jiufen and 2 in Loudong. You could rent a car for this trip or take public transport and rent a scooter in Luodong. 

  • Spend time in the city looking around at the important sites. Find out why February 28 is such a significant date? Find out what White Terror is? Why is it called Taipei 101? What is the incredible story of the Young Marshall? What is Stinky Tofu? Where did kamikaze pilots fly out from? Who are the Betel Nut Girls? Sample the world's most famous dumplings. Go hiking and soaking. Ride a glass bottomed gondola to famous Tea Houses. See what to do with the surplus from a personality cult. See China's treasures that were shipped out by Chiang Kai Shek. Learn about the aboriginal people of Taiwan. Cycle along the riverfront. Go to the baseball. Get a knife massage. Eat your way through the long list of Taiwanese specialties. Get your fortune told. See waterfalls, museums, markets, hot springs and lots of weird stuff.

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  • On your side trips you will find "Old Streets" which are great for eating, drinking, shopping and getting to know the locals. A former gold mining town that has been turned into a museum. Gorgeous scenery. Visit an award winning single malt whisky distillery where you can make your own blend and take it home. Soak in famous cold springs at Dongyue and have a beer with the locals. Visit the super fresh seafood market and restaurants at Nanfangao. Eat on the pier. Go to Sanxing and eat their famous Scallion Pancakes. Soak in wild and remote (but developed) hot springs out in the middle of mother nature. Eat Tea Cuisine.

  • It's going to be an action packed 10 days and you should be totally in love with Taipei and Taiwan by the time your finished. It is a very easy place to travel in. Great transportation, everything is in English, people are wonderful (and also speak English), it's heaven for foodies, the Night Markets are the best in Asia, it has a ton of history and culture and it's very laid back.

  • If you want to stick around and see a bit / lot more check out #  Meet Formosa, #22 N E Asian Islands and see Islands for Matsu and jljljl.

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  • Taipei to jingtong by metro and bus then can take train to pingxi old streets and Shifen (Old street) then can take train to Ruifang station for - Jiufen (Old street geopark and gold mine) 2 n - then back to Ruifang (10 min bus) for train to Luodong (Rent a scooter and see the sights) 2N

  • Taipei - arrival day - wulai day  - statue park day - around town day - yanmingshan day - Tea plantation day - 

sunrise-Chiang Kai Shek Hall

Image by mcyeh935505 from Pixabay 

Beitou hot-springs-

Image by Sharon Ang from Pixabay 

taipei-101-
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