i e p i a T o G

Taipei Impressions Classic Taipei Destinations Culture and the Arts Step Outside Tasty Delights A Fashion Tour

Taipei Fact
City Overview
Roughly 3 million years ago, a lake that had been formed via subsidence began to lose water. As the water flowed out and sediments accumulated on the basin floor, what we now know as the Taipei Basin, home to present-day Taipei, began to take shape. The city is transected by four rivers from the Tamsui River system and surrounded by five mountain ranges, including the verdant Datun system. With half its area lying on either lush slopelands or rich alluvial plains, Taipei possesses a scenic wealth rarely found in a major metropolis. Taipei has an area of 271.8 square kilometers and is home to over 2.65 million people, giving it an average population density of 9,774 people per square kilometer, among the highest in Asia. It is Taiwans economic and cultural center, with more than 3.5 million people working or otherwise active in the city every day.

City FlowerAzalea
Fine hairs on the leaves of the azalea absorb dust and regulate moisture. These hairs enable the plant to tolerate both drought and excessively wet conditions, while also helping it clean the air of a city crowded with people and vehicles.

City BirdFormosan Blue Magpie

Typically found flocking through low-elevation forests, the Formosan blue magpies distinctive features include its blue body plumage and long tail. Hikers often see traces of the birds in the mountains.

City TreeChinese Banyan

The rugged, evergreen Chinese banyan lines many urban streets, where it absorbs noise and exhaust and helps beautify the city.

Contents

Go Taipei

Taipei Impressions

4 8
Culture and the Arts

Classic Taipei Destinations

1 4 22
Tasty Delights

Step Outside

29 34
A Fashion Tour

Taipei Travel Map

40

Travel Classroom

Taipei Film Tour

A Taste of Old Taipei
c omplex emotions and paradoxes swir ling T t h r o u g h 19 8 0 s Ta i p e i , t r i g g e r e d a w a v e o f he release of Monga , a film that depicts the enthusiasm for tourism in Taipeis Bangka area. Its Bopiliao Historic Block (), which was restored in 2009, has been restored to its original likeness, the teahouses, hostels, salons and pharmacies all making visitors feel as if theyve traveled back in time. Wandering from this area to cultural attractions such as the Qingshuiyan Temple ( ), then following up with a visit to Herbal Lane () for a cool glass of tea makes for a very pleasant summer day.

Strolling under the Trees

Daan Park () is a favorite spot of locals to take a morning walk. The park was featured in the films Love and Au Revoir Taipei, the natural dark green shades creating a great oasis within the city for rest and meditation. In the daytime this park is a vision of lush green forest, and at night it remains a place lush with attractive flavor, featured in the television idol drama In Time with You, where the lead characters share a late-night snack, enjoying the scenery. The Taipei Botanical Garden () is featured in the film A Brighter Summer Day, and Fujin Street is highlighted in the film Taipei Exchanges. These are all quiet locations removed from the busy surrounding city where you can escape to the quiet corners of the soul.

4
Sanxitang Teahouse

Classic Taipei Destinations

NO.

Tourist Attractions

Taipei Impressions 1 Bopiliao 2 Qingshuiyan Temple 3 Herbal Lane 4 Daan Park 5 Taipei Botanical Garden 6 Grand Hotel 7 Urban Caf & Bistro 8 Daughter's caf 9 W Taipei Hotel

Culture and the Arts

(02)2311-9380 (02)2381-3137 (02)2862-2404 (02)2861-3003 (02)2364-5313 (02)2363-7375 (02)2556-8909 (02)2511-7786 (02)2552-3721 (02)2595-7656 (02)2765-1388 (02)2358-1914 (02)2757-4547
A6 A6 B2 C3 B8 B7 A6 B6 B6 B5 C6 B6 C7

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

The Red House Zhongshan Hall Grass Mountain Chateau Lin Yutang House Treasure Hill Wistaria Tea House Lin Liu-hsin Puppet Theatre Museum SPOT-Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei Taipei Fine Arts Museum Songshan Cultural and Creative Park Huashan 1914 Creative Park Discovery Center of Taipei

National Palace Museum

Experiencing the Real Taipei

Classic and Modern Architecture

Taipei 101

building include the famed 660-metric-ton tuned mass damper that helps it withstand the wind, the division of the building into eight-floor segments (eight is considered a lucky number), and one of the worlds 10-fastest elevators to transport visitors to the observation deck. The exterior of the building is decorated with auspicious ruyi motifs. Its interior includes a shopping mall, observation platforms, and numerous restaurants. And since 2004, Taipei 101s annual New Years fireworks show has been attracting the worlds attention, since its 2004 inception. the quintessential Taipei landmark. Technologies T and concepts employed in the construction of the he world-renowned Taipei 101 (101) is

The National Palace Museum (), which houses a huge number of Chinese cultural artifacts, the Longshan Temple ( ), which is a bastion for traditional and folk religious beliefs, and the Presidential Office Building ( ) are historical structures that introduce visitors to some of the glories of the past. Located in Waishuangxi, the National Palace Museum houses more than 690,000 pieces, most inherited from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing imperial courts, including dynastic artifacts, books, documents, and works of art such as the Jadeite Cabbage and the Meatshaped Stone. The museums Sanxitang Teahouse,

DAAN

Tel

Coordinate

NO.

Tourist Attractions

Tel

Coordinate

NO.

Tourist Attractions

Tel

Coordinate

A Fashion Tour
(02)2336-1704 (02)2371-1517
Telephone service determined by each individual store

A7 A6 A7

A2

44 ShinKong Mitsukoshi Dept. Store (Taipei Station Branch)

(02)2388-5552
(02)2861-0036 (02)2893-9981 (02)2700-3830 (02)2303-9978 (02)2886-8888 (02)8751-5182 (02)8787-2425 (02)7703-8888
B7 A7 B5 C5 C6 C6 C1 A2 45 Q Square 46 Shopping Area Behind Taipei Main Station

A6

(02)2182-8888
(02)2897-2647 (02)2897-7682 (02)2893-9981 (02)2891-4386 (02)2939-9922 (02)2592-3934 (02)2595-1676
A2 A2 A2 A2 D9 A5 A5 47 Guanghua Digital Plaza 48 Wufenpu Shopping Area

A6 A6 B6 D6
Telephone service determined by each individual store Telephone service determined by each individual store Telephone service determined by each individual store

A4 A8 A9
50 BELLAVITA

(02)8789-5599 (02)8780-9966

C7 C7

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept. Store 49 (Xinyi Branch)

(02)8780-5959
A11 (02)8780-1000 (02)8729-2771

C7 C7 D6

(02)2558-0346
(02)2502-7924

A6 B6

Step Outside 23 Beitous Thermal Valley 24 Lengshuikeng 25 Beitou Hot Springs Museum 26 Plum Garden 27 Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public Library 28 Beitou Park 29 Puji Temple 30 Zhinan Temple 31 Taipei Confucius Temple 32 Dalongdong Baoan Temple 33 Taipei Xiahai Chenghuang Temple 34 Xingtian Temple

51 Hankyu Dept. Store 52 SOGO Dept. Store (Zhongxiao Branch) 53 SOGO Dept. Store (Fuxing Branch) 54 Tongling Plaza B5 A7 C7 D6 B8 A6 A6 A7 A7 60 Metro Souvenir Shops 59 55 Mingyao Dept. Store 56 Breeze Center 57 SOGO Dept. Store (Tianmu Branch) 58 Dayeh Takashimaya

(02)2729-9699 (02)2776-5555 (02)2776-5555

Telephone service determined by each individual store

C6 B6 B6 C6

(02)2777-1266 (02)6600-8888 (02)2834-5000 (02)2831-2345

C6 B6 B4 B3

Taipei City Hall Publications & Souvenirs Shop

1999; For callers outside of Taipei City (02)2720-8889 (02)2775-3036

C7

Tasty Delights 35 Shilin Tourist Night Market 36 Huaxi St. Tourist Night Market 37 Linjiang St. Night Market 38 Raohe St. Night Market 39 Jingmei Night Market 40 Yansan Night Market 41 Ningxia Night Market 42 Nanjichang Night Market 43 Guangzhou St. Night Market

B6

Taking in the magnificent National Palace Museum, enjoying the view from Taipei 101, sipping tasty tea in Maokong, hiking through Yangmingshan National Park quintessential Taipei experiences await. Come explore!
modeled on the Emperor Qianlongs study in the Forbidden City, serves meals that give patrons a taste of palace food. Built on a traditional Chinese pattern with three enclosed courtyards, Longshan Temple is very popular with worshippers. The temples fine stone sculptures, wooden sculptures, and paintings, even its layout and its look, give full expression to the beauty of traditional Taiwanese temple architecture. Todays Presidential Office Building was built as the Office of the Governor-General during the Japanese colonial period. Constructed in late Renaissance style, both the beauty of art and the flow of history are seen in its colonnades, gables, arched corridors, and arched windows.

National Concert Hall

Presidential Office Building

Longshan Temple

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Green Plazas for Public Recreation

Completed in 1980, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall ( ) honors former President Chiang Kai-shek. The structures exterior is blue and white, representing the sun and sky. The memorials grounds are also home to the National Theater and National Concert Hall, the Avenue of Democracy, Liberty Square, and Chinese-style gardens. The plaza provides citizens with a public recreational space and gathering place, and is also frequently used to host large-scale cultural events and performances. Completed in 1972, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall ( ) is a solemn and majestic structure of neat and clean lines that combines traditional and modern elements. In addition to functioning as a memorial, the hall and its grounds serve as an integrated recreational park, providing a venue for outdoor leisure, sports, and the arts.
5

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Classic Taipei Destinations

Volcanoes to the North, Tea to the South

If you enjoy the outdoors, check out Yangmingshan National Park ( ). Located on the northern fringes of metropolitan Taipei, the park is renowned for volcanic terrain and attractive scenery that changes with the season. Enjoy flowers in the spring; take a break from the heat in the summer; watch the silvergrass sway in the fall; and warm your bones in a hot spring in the winter. Whether the flower clock and hiking trails, or scenic destinations like Qingtiangang, Longfeng Valley, and Dayoukeng, the park offers incredibly diverse scenery in what is practically Taipeis backyard. When you leave the mountains, stop by the Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence ( ), now a park that includes both the official residence itself and extensive gardens. The outer gardens are European-style flower gardens and include an open-air stage that is an excellent venue for live performances. The inner Chinese-style gardens feature s m a l l b r i d g e s o v e r f l o w i n g w a t e r. T h e residence, which stands next to a pretty, fragrant rose garden, was once the home of President and Madame Chiang Kai-shek. You can also ride the Metros Wenhu Line to the Taipei Zoo Station on the citys southern fringes. There you can visit the zoos adorable pandas, koalas, red-crowned cranes, penguins, and Formosan black bears, or catch the Maokong

Yangmingshan Qingtiangang

Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence Rose Garden

Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence

Yangmingshan National Park Flower Clock

Drinking Tea in Maokong

Gondola () up the mountain to sip tea in a natural green setting. Riding between the gondolas four stations, youll enjoy mountain scenery that recalls splashed-ink landscape paintings. Be sure to take in the dancing water and the animal-themed clock outside the zoo station, too. The area is a must-see for visitors to the city.

Taipei Zoo Panda

Maokong Gondola

Maokong Dancing Water

Taipei Zoo

Recommended Top 10 Taipei Destinations

Taipei 101 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Add: 505, Sec. 4, Renai Rd. Tel: (02) 2758-8008 Add: 1-20 Zhuzihu Rd. Tel: (02) 2861-3601 Add: 60 Fulin Rd. Tel: (02) 2881-2512 Add: 7, Sec. 5, Xinyi Rd. Tel: (02) 8101-7777

National Palace Museum Longshan Temple

Yangmingshan National Park Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence Taipei Zoo

Add: 221, Sec. 2, Zhishan Rd. Tel: (02) 2881-2021 Add: 211, Guangzhou St. Tel: (02) 2302-5162

Presidential Office Building

Add: 22, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd. Tel: (02) 2311-3731

Add: 30, Sec. 2, Xinguang Rd., Tel: (02) 2938-2300

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Add: 21 Zhongshan S. Rd. Tel: (02) 2343-1100

Maokong Gondola

Add: 8, Sec. 2, Xinguang Rd. Tel: (02) 218-12345

Culture and the Arts

An Arts Scene that Blends Old and New

A 100-Year-Old Brick Octagon
he Red House () rises just a 10-minute walk away from the MRT Ximen Station. Built more than 100 years ago, this innovative octagonal building was Taipeis rst governmentconstructed public market and remains the best preserved of the markets designated classthree historic sites. The Red House itself includes a theater, the Cho West Cha tea shop, a boutique area, and an exhibition area. Its northern square features a holiday arts fair and the Moonlight Movie Theater, while its southern square includes an open-air cafe. The complex represents a new kind of creative space, and is a mustsee for visitors to the Ximending area. Zhongshan Hall ( ) stands not far from the Red House. Conceived in 1928 to commemorate Japans rule over Taiwan, the building originally served as a gathering place. It was renamed Zhongshan Hall following Taiwans retrocession. Over the years, it has often functioned as a reception area for foreign dignitaries, and has even hosted presidential inauguration ceremonies. Nowadays, the hall is a cultural arts center. On the third oor the corridor space has been transformed into the Taipei Lecture Hall and tea-room space, dedicated to the preservation of classic practices, a cultural space suffused with a Zen ambiance and tea focus.

Zhongshan Hall

The Red House

An outdoor performance at the Red House in Ximending

Strolling through Taipeis streets, whether around old historical buildings or personal spaces displaying modern art, makes for a tasteful cultural baptism.

An Arts Space Surrounded by Green

Suburban Taipeis Yangmingshan is home to two historic arts spaces the Grass Mountain Chateau () and the Lin Yutang House ( ). Located next to Yangmingshan National Parks No. 1 parking lot, the Grass Mountain Chateau is a Japanese-style building that served as a hot-springs resort for the ruling elite during the period of Japanese rule. It became Taiwans first presidential residence in 1949, but was turned into a presidential office space and summer retreat when the Shilin Official Residence was completed Lin Yutang House in 1950. The Taipei City Government designated the building an arts salon in 2003. After undergoing renovations, the chateau was reopened at the end of 2011, a multifunctional cultural and tourism destination that houses exhibit and dining facilities with an emphasis on the arts and humanities. Located in the foothills of Yangmingshan, the Lin Yutang House was designed by Lin Yutang himself and was his home for the last 10 years of his life. The house integrates Spanish architectural elements and a Chinese courtyard, blending classical and modern elements. These days, the house is a multipurpose facility that offers lectures and meals. A stroll through the home is a spiritually soothing experience that includes serenading birds and fragrant flowers.

Grass Mountain Chateau

Hidden Treasure
Treasure Hill () is an historic Taipei settlement. Originally a maze of self-built residences strung haphazardly across a hillside, the settlement now includes the Treasure Shrine, which is a city-designated historic site, Treasure Garden, where the settlements original residents now live, and the vibrant Treasure Hill International Artists Village.

Treasure Hill

Culture and the Arts

A Thoughtful Cup of Tea

The unique Wistaria Tea House ( ) is a virtual oasis on Xinsheng S. Road. Built during the period of Japanese rule, the house originally served as a residence for high officials in the governorgenerals office. In the 50s, it became a gathering place for scholars promoting liberalism and a space where intellectuals discussed their social responsibilities. In the 70s, it became popular with artists, who still fondly remember it as a beautiful and genial place to alight. In 1981, Wistaria became Taiwans first salon-like art tea house and began organizing numerous events related to tea and the arts. At Wistaria, tea is the medium through which music, dance, and folk theater interact, further diversifying Taiwans tea arts.

Wistaria Tea House

Wistaria Tea House

Passing on the Puppetry Tradition

Lovers of the traditional arts should be sure to visit the Dihua Street shopping area on Taipeis west side. The Lin Liu-hsin Puppet Theatre Museum ( ), dedicated to the preservation of traditional puppet theater, stands nearby. In addition to displaying puppetry-related items from around the world, the museum hosts occasional shows and special exhibitions, as well as classes on carving glove-puppets and promoting traditional puppetry, and master classes. Performances by the museums Nadou Theatre Company combine real actors, puppets, and modern music in a new and innovative theatrical aesthetic.

Lin Liu-hsin Puppet Theatre Museum

10

A Cup of Coffee and a Film

SPOT-Taipei Those who want to experience Taipeis contemporary arts scene might head to Zhongshan N. Road, where the old US embassy has become SPOT-Taipei ( ), an arthouse cinema. The Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei is in the same general area, inside what was a schoolhouse for Japanese children during the period of Japanese rule.

SPOT-Taipei occupies a white building modeled on a colonial-style home of the American south. Formerly the US embassy, it was abandoned when the USs military advisers withdrew from Taiwan. Renovated and reopened in 2002, the building now includes a theater, a caf, an arts lounge, and an exhibition space. The small theater screens independent and non-mainstream films daily, and has become a favorite gathering place for culture enthusiasts. The Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei () is just a 10-minute walk from SPOT. Featuring a collection of contemporary and avantgarde art, the museum is a 120-meter-wide, twostory building with a brick exterior and black tile roof. This historic building has hosted numerous exciting contemporary-art exhibitions since being repurposed as a museum in 2001.

SPOT-Taipei

SPOT-Taipei

Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei

11

Culture and the Arts Classic Galleries

T h e Ta i p e i F i n e A r t s Museum ( ) is full of pleasant surprises. Of special note is the very popular Taiwan Excellence Pavilion (), inside the south entrance, which showcases the best in Taiwan creative, brand-name, and internationally competitive products. The attractive Taipei Story House ( Taipei Fine Arts Museum ), which stands beside the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, was built by successful Dadaocheng tea merchant Chen Chao-jun in the early part of the Japanese colonial era as a country villa. It was used as a social gathering place for local gentry and important foreign guests. The facility served as a key pavilion during the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition.

New Life for an Old Tobacco Factory

The Songshan Tobacco Factory ( ) was completed in 1937. It originally operated as a monopoly facility under the authority of the Japanese GovernorGeneral. The architectural style emphasizes horizontal sight lines and adopts a simple and elegant look. The facility was a model industrial plant. After World War II its name was changed to the Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau Songshan Tobacco Factory. In 2001 the complex was officially declared the citys 99th city heritage site, and in the citys efforts to revitalize its heritage facilities and give them practical, self-supporting functions. The site was transformed into the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, actively staging arts and cultural-creative activities in support of the design and visual industries, with the focus on cross-domain and cross-border ferment. This comprehensive, diversified operational philosophy has quickly made it a key base for the Taipei design and cultural-creative industries.

Taipei Story House

12

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

The Brewery and the Discovery Center

After visiting the magnificent former residences, check out the park built on the remains of an abandoned brewery. The Huashan 1914 Creative Park (1914) began life as a brewery during the period of Japanese rule. The site lay dormant for more than a decade after brewing operations were relocated. Renovated and reopened as a creative park, it is now bringing a new ferment to Taipeis art scene. The present-day facility offers theatrical and musical performances, and includes an installations area and a second-hand market. Those who want to get a better handle on Taipei shouldnt miss the Discovery Center of Taipei ( ) located in City Hall. The centers first-floor Taipei Impressions Hall displays scenes of some of Discovery Center the best spots in the city to begin a sight-seeing of Taipei tour. The second-floor Special Exhibitions Hall arranges occasional exhibits on topics of interest. The City Discovery Hall, located on the third floor, includes a variety of displays on Taipeis culture and ecology. The fourth floor includes the Dialogue with Time Hall, which outlines Taipeis history, and the Discovery Theater, which boasts a 360-degree screen that takes visitors on a journey through Taipeis past and present. Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Recommended Tours
Western Taipei MRT Ximen StationThe Red HouseZhongshan HallLin Liu-hsin Puppet Theatre Museum Grass Mountain YangmingshanGrass Mountain ChateauLin Yutang House Arts Appreciation Museum of Contemporary Art TaipeiSPOT-TaipeiTaipei Fine Arts MuseumTaipei Story House A Cultural Excursion Discovery Center of Taipei Songshan Cultural and Creative ParkHuashan 1914 Creative ParkTreasure Hill
13

Step Outside

Step Outside and Leave Your Cares Behind

Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public Library

Bathing in Mountain Hot Springs

aipeis hot springs are known far and wide. There are three distinct varieties: green sulfur springs (found in Beitous Thermal Valley;), white sulfur springs (which are less pungent), and iron sulfur springs. In summer, the springs rejuvenate the skin. In winter, they warm the bones. Yangmingshans Macao hot spring is a volcanic spring with both green-sulfur and white-sulfur pools. The water is a semi-transparent gray with an acidic pH of 2-4 that makes it undrinkable. Nighttime views of nearby Macao Bridge are remarkably romantic.

Lengshuikeng

Beitou Hot Springs Museum

14

If you want to fully appreciate Taipeis natural setting, try soaking in its mountain hot springs, enjoying tea in Maokong, riding a bicycle along the river, or hiking through its mountains just dont miss out on its wonderful scenery!
Lengshuikeng() (cold water pit) is located in the eastern foothills of Mt. Qixing between Qingtiangang and Menghuan Lake. The springs name derives from its roughly 40C temperature, which is lower than that of most other hot springs. The nearby Juansi (silk yarn) Waterfall gets its name from the silky appearance of the water tumbling down its 14-meter height. Menghuan Lake is an ecological conservation area and home to Isoetes taiwanensis, a fern classified as a national treasure. The Beitou hot springs were well known during the period of Japanese rule and were very popular with Japanese tourists. Fascinating sites litter the area today. They include the many scenic spots surrounding the springs, Tiangouan ( ; Beitous first hot springs resort), the Beitou Hot Springs Museum (), the Plum Garden(), Ketagalan Culture Center ( ), the Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public Library ( ), which is Taiwans first green library and has been named one of the 25 most beautiful public libraries in the world, Beitou Park (), and Thermal Valley ().

Thermal Valley

Plum Garden

Ketagalan Culture Center

Beitou Hot Spring

15

Step Outside

Riding the Maokong Gondola to Fine Teas

The Maokong Gondola, Taipeis first tourist gondola, has four stations along its 4.03-kilometer length: Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo South, Zhinan Temple, and Maokong. Ride it up the mountain for a birds-eye view of the areas tea fields. Water flowing through Maokong has over the eons eroded the stones in A Meal with Tea in Maokong the riverbed, forming potholes. Early pioneers named the area niao kang in the Minnan (south Fujian) dialect, giving rise to the Mandarin Chinese name maokong. Maokong is also renowned for its numerous teahouse Maokong Gondola restaurants. Have tea or a meal at one for a truly pleasurable experience. After your meal, stroll along the Dakeng River and check out the potholes in the riverbed, or hike up to Zhinan Temple () for excellent views of Taipei. Since its restoration by the Taipei City Government, the Camphor Tree Trail has been offering hikers lovely vistas of rustic pastoral simplicity and stunning views of lupin. The flowers begin bursting into bloom in March, presenting visitors with a glorious sea of flowers showcase.

Meandering through Old Streets

Camphor Tree Trail

Taipeis winding tree-lined alleys are punctuated with brick-walled old residences that give them their own unique feel. The quiet and secluded streetscapes of the Daan Districts Qingtian () and Yongkang Streets () and the Mingsheng Communitys Fujin Street () are dotted with interesting cafs suggestive of Taipeis softer side. Longshan Temple, a class-two historic site in the Wanhua (Bangka) District, honors the goddess Guanyin and is one of Taiwans top tourist attractions. Bangka also offers strolls through nostalgia-saturated historic streets.

16

Fujin Street

Taipei Confucius Temple () is located in the citys culturally rich Dalongdong area. This complex is of great importance from a number of perspectives: as a ceremonial space, as a Confucian symbol, and as a historical work of architecture. New learning experiences have been created with the Six Arts Experience Multimedia Exhibit and the Minglun Hall 4D Theater. Nearby Dalongdong Baoan Temple ( ) is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. Among its points of interest are the seven murals by master painter Pan Li-shui, regarded as a national treasure master, that line the corridors around its main hall.

Taipei Confucius Temple Minglun Hall 4D Theater

Classic Student Garb

Dalongdong Baoan Temple

Taipei Confucius Temple

Maokong Gondola Information

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 09:00-21:00 Friday and the eve of national holidays: 09:00-22:00 Weekends and national holidays: 08:30-22:00, except for Sundays and the last day of national holidays, when the Gondola closes at 21:00. (Closed Mondays) Tickets: 1 station: NT$30, 2 stations: NT$40, 3 stations:NT$50, Payment can be made with the EasyCard. Stations: Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo South, Zhinan Temple, Maokong Getting There: Take the Taipei Metro Wenhu Line to the Taipei Zoo Metro Station, then walk to the gondolas Taipei Zoo Station. Note: For detail on suspension of service for annual maintenance, ride reservation, and other matters, visit the official website (gondola.trtc.com.tw).

17

Step Outside

A Yongle Market Fabric Store

Known for shops specializing in dried goods, Dihua Street ( ) is Taipeis go-to spot for Chinese New Years supplies. Its narrow but deep stores usually have retail space in front, and either a workshop or warehouse in back.While Dihua Streets Taipei Xiahai Chenghuang Temple () is dedicated primarily Taipei Xiahai Chenghuang Temple to the city god, also enshrined here is the popular matchmaking god Old Man Under the Moon, whose love charms are among the temples most sought-after items. Xingtian Temple ( ) is one of the most popular temples in northern Taiwan, and is visited by as many as 10,000 people per day. The fortune tellers that occupy the underpasses near the temple also draw masses of believers seeking insight into their fates.
Dried Goods

18

Xingtian Temple

Beauty Preserved in the Taipei Flora Expo Park

After the success of the 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, three of the existing parksYuanshan, Fine Arts and Xinsheng were converted into the Taipei Expo Park. In addition to the expansive and charming outdoor landscaped spaces, numerous pavilions remain in place, preserving the wonderful aesthetics. These include the EXPO Dome, EXPO Hall, 3D Vision Theater, Pavilion of Future, Pavilion of Taipei (from the Shanghai World Expo), Pavilion of Angel Life, Folk Handicrafts Area & Exhibition Hall (Taipei Children's Recreation Center), Lin An-tai Historical House & Museum, and Pavilion of Aroma of Flowers.

EXPO Hall

Pavilion of Angel Life

Biking along the Riverfront

Bicycling is one of Taiwans most popular recreational activities. Recognizing this, the Taipei City Government has built several riverside bike paths accessible via each of the riverside evacuation gates. The paths let cyclists take in the scenery as they ride and even offer bikes for rent. Bikes can be returned at multiple locations.

Guandu Wharf

19

Step Outside

Rainbow Bridge

Guandu Bridge

Following the Tamsui River, riders pass the Dadaocheng and Guandu Wharfs, then travel up the left bank of the Keelung River to the Dajia Wharf by the Grand Hotel. Further east, the 167-meter-long Rainbow Bridge (), a meandering red span that looks like a dragon snaking its way across the water, links Taipeis Songshan and Neihu Districts. Open only to pedestrians and cyclists, it is Taiwans only large pier-less S-shaped bridge over water. The colorful lights that illuminate the bridge at night make it a beautiful spot for a date. The Yanping Riverside Park bike path begins at Dadaocheng Wharf and links the Xindian, Dahan, and Tamsui Rivers. It provides easy access to nearby cultural and historic sites such as Dihua Street and the Taipei Xiahai Chenghuang Temple, allowing you to mix exercise with cultural education. You can also drift through Taipei on the Blue Highway. Boats on the highways Tamsui line set out from Dadaocheng, sail past Guandu and Tamsuis Old Street and waterfront, and dock either at Tamsuis Fishermans Wharf or Balis Left Bank Wharf. A ferry also runs between Tamsui and Bali. On the Keelung River, the night-time rainbow lighting and the light-carving imagery are splendid sights.

Riverside Bike Path

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Hiking in the Mountains

Taipeis environs include amazing natural scenic wonders. Located in a basin encircled by mountains, it has Yangmingshan National Park to the north, and the Erge Mountain Ranges to the south. In all, there are five mountain ranges around the citythe Datun, the Qixing, the Wuzhi, the Nangang, and the Erge crisscrossed by several hiking trails that make it easy for locals and visitors alike to get up into the mountains. There are many nature trails to choose from. At certain times of the year, hikers on the Guandu Hiking Trail ( ) in the Datun Mountains can see flocks of migratory birds flying over the Guandu Plain. Guanyin Mountain nestles up against the Tamsui River, overlooks the Guandu Plain, and lays the whole of the Taipei Basin before your eyes. If you take Qixing Mountains Tianmu Hiking Trail (Shuiguan Rd. Trail;), a popular trail along the southern edge of Yangmingshan National park, youll see ferns, giant taro, and other indicator plants.

Shuiguan Rd. Trail

The Xianjiyan Hiking Trail ( ) is located in the Erge Mountain Range in Taipeis Jingmei District, near the intersection of the Jingmei and Xindian Rivers. The Xianjiyan Hiking Trail offers broad vistas to the hiker even though it rises only 144 meters above sea level. In fact, it even offers views of both Guanyin Mountain and the Datun Mountain Range and is gentle enough Xianjiyan Hiking Trail for hikers of all ages.

Tips for Walking in Taipei

1. Tackle the city by district Theres a lot to see in the city. If you want to enjoy it at your leisure, explore it a little bit at a time. Limit yourself to two or three sights a day to ensure that you enjoy your visit to the fullest. 2.Take advantage of the public transportation system Taipeis Metro and bus network are pervasive, and some combination of the two will get you to virtually every tourist destination in the city. We recommend you make full use of them.

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Tasty Delights

Delicious Taipei : Food, Fun, and Nightlife

Din Tai Fung

Down Home Taiwanese-Style Dishes

aipei is known far and wide for its little dishes food culture. When youre here, you have to give it a try! Din Tai Fung was named one of the worlds top 10 restaurants by the New York Times. In recent years, it has gone international, serving Chinese and Jiangsu-Zhejiang cuisine at locations around the world. Steamed pork dumplings, shrimp fried rice, steamed chicken soup, steamed fish dumplingssample them all! Beef noodle soup is another Taiwanese specialty. Drop by Ximendings Beef Noodle Soup Street to taste it in all its varieties. The many famous beef noodle soup shops that line the road (more properly known as Taoyuan Street;) fill it with the rich aroma of beef broth. The soup pairs tender, flavorful beef with specially seasoned pickled vegetables and either a clear or braised broth to deliver an authentic and utterly addictive meal.

Beef Noodle Soup

22

Whats cooking in Taipei? Try a bite and find out! Dive into Taipeis world-renowned local restaurants, authentic foreign cuisines, and vibrant nightlife. Youll be sure to come back for more!
The scent of food begins to waft over the city as soon as the sun goes down. Fuxing S. Road, Section 2 (2), is known for having many restaurants that serve congee and side dishes all night long, making it a great place for a late night snack. The old-style Taiwanese dishes that accompany the congee with sweet potatoes are a unique local delicacy. Taipeis range of vegetarian fare seems to know no bounds, and has become very popular with healthconscious modern diners. At buffetstyle locations such as Lian Chi Ge and Lotus Fragrant Vegetarian Restaurant you can eat as much as you want. Other locations such as Fa Hua, Zhong Liu Vegetarian, Yangming Spring Vegetarian Creative Cuisine, and Hui Liu provide banquet-style table service and set meals that will be long remembered.

Vegetarian Cuisine

Side Dishes at a Congee Restaurant

Taipeis International Beef Noodle Festival

Each year, Taipei City Government organizes a festival in honor of one of Taiwans favorite dishes: beef noodle soup. A very popular event, the Taipei Inter national Beef Noodle Festival serves domestic and foreign visitors tasty bowls of this authentic Taiwanese treat.

23

Tasty Delights

Foreign Cuisines
Taipeis fine food offerings extend far beyond Taiwanese cuisine and little dishes to mouth-watering delicacies from all over the world. The Yongkang shopping area is a case in point. Centered around Yongkang Park, the district includes Yongkang St. (), Lishui St. (), Jinhua St. (), and Xinyi Road, Section 2. Restaurants offering Indian, French, Italian, and German dishes, as well as Japanese set menus line the streets and alleys of the area. The izakaya, karaokes, and clubs of Taipeis Linsen N. Road ( ) have long been among the most popular destinations for Japanese visitors to the city. Heading to an izakaya to unwind with a few friends over food and drinks represents a typical slice of Taiwans bustling nightlife. Fei Chien Wu, known for its barbequed eel over rice, is a fine example of the areas Japanese restaurants.

Fei Chien Wu The eel rice

Indian Cuisine Islamic Restaurant

24

Yongkang Shopping Area

Interested in a tour of foreign cuisines following Islamic dietary rules? On Yanji St. youll find Aaleja, serving IndianPakistani fare, on Beining Rd. youll find Yunus Halal restaurant, serving a variety of Asian dishes, and on Fuxing N. Rd. is Kunming Islamic Restaurant, primarily offering Indian/Yunnan classics. Whether its Indian, Thai, or a menu with Taiwan flavors integrated, your choices are many, and lip-smacking satisfaction guaranteed. For a change of pace, Korean food is a strong choice. Try the famed Han He Ting and Min Dong restaurants in the Daan District, which excel in the unique spicy tastes of Korean cuisine so popular with local gourmets and gourmands. The Tianmu () areas large number of foreign residents, and its American and Japanese Schools, make a visit here a bit like a trip to a foreign land. Marys Hamburger, a Tianmu institution for decades, stands near the campus of the Taipei American School. Though simply decorated, it serves up generous portions of tasty, authentic American food. Marys cheeseburger and chili dog are particularly popular with patrons. Ale Music Bar, a French restaurant at Zhongshan N. Rd. Sec. 7, offers patrons mouthwatering French cuisine, including a Provencal roasted rack of lamb and Bordeaux grilled prawns.

Thai Cuisine

Mary's Hamburger

French Cuisine

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Tasty Delights Night Markets: Food, Drinks and Shopping

Taiwanese love shopping in night markets, which are a distinctive part of the local culture. Such markets offer a huge variety of snacks and goods at bargain prices, allowing visitors to satisfy their cravings at minimal cost. They also offer the chance to play pinball and scoop fish, providing endless entertainment to young and old.
Pearl Milk Tea

Shilin Tourist Night Market () is the largest of Taipeis night markets, and the most popular with tourists. The market has two sectionsthe area around the Yangming Cinema and the newly built, centrally managed food-stall area. Market specialties such as little-bunwrapped-in-big-bun, jumbo-sized Shilin sausages, deep-fried chicken cutlets, and fried buns are not to be missed. The Huaxi Street Tourist Night Markets ( ) renowned old Taiwan atmosphere and its recent appearance in the film Monga have attracted huge numbers of local and foreign visitors. Most of the stalls here have been in business for more than 30 years, and memorable offerings include Beigang Sweet Soups hot peanut mochi, and Uncle Yongs rice noodle soup.

Tempura

Shilin Tourist Night Market

Raohe Street Night Market Small Sausage in Big Sausage

26

The Linjiang Street Night Market () is one of the few Taipei night markets located in a residential area. The market has nearly 200 stalls and dozens of specialties, including many types of flavored sausages, luwei (foods stewed in soy sauce), and rice vermicelli soup, that make it a very popular place to eat. The smaller Raohe Street Night Market ( ), located at the intersection of Bade Road, Section 4, and Tayou Street, has its own set of not-to-be-missed delicacies, including Chen Dong medicinal sparerib soup, Dongfa oyster noodles, black pepper buns, Dongshan duck heads, and stinky tofu. Other night markets around the city include the Jingmei (), Yansan ( ), Ningxia( ), Nanjichang (), and Guangzhou Street () night markets , all of which are great places to eat and have fun after dark.

Fried Buns

Linjiang Street Night Market

Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market

Live House

Nightscape Highs: The City that Never Sleeps

If youve finished your night-market explorations and are in the mood for some fun, give one of Taipeis live house music pubs a try. Roosevelt Roads () The Wall and Riverside Live House are guaranteed to pump you up. Or head over to Anhe Road (), where a row of softly lit lounges offer a quieter kind of night on the town.
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Fun Nightlife

The Dunhua S. Road () branch of Eslite Bookstore is perhaps the best known of Taipeis 24-hour shops. People seeking food for the soul keep it busy well into the wee hours. If all your eating, drinking, and shopping hasnt worn you out, you might want to drive up Yangmingshan to view the thousands of city lights twinkling like stars in the basin below. Other places to take in the city at night include the Ferris wheel at the Miramar in Dazhi and the observation platform of Taipei 101 (before 9 pm). When youve finally worn yourself out, try a foot massage. The massage p a r l o r s o f X i m e n d i n g , To n g h u a Street ( ), Linsen N. Road, and Changchun Road () are all open until midnight. After youve soaked your tired feet in hot salty water infused with essential oils, a therapist will knead them gently with skilled hands, releasing tension and sending you off to get a good nights sleep.

Foot Massage

Ferris Wheel at the Miramar in Dazhi

Eslite Bookstore

View of City Lights from Yangmingshan

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A Fashion Tour

A Fashion Tour
If you love shopping, dont miss out on the chance to indulge your passion in fashionable Taipei! The citys department stores and shopping centers offer everything from top brands to inexpensive knick knacks. You can shop to your hearts content and never run out of options.
If youre looking for the newest and cheapest computer, communications, and consumer-electronics products, make your way to the Guanghua Digital Plaza ( ). Occupying roughly 16,500 square meters on six floors, the new plaza offers every kind of computer, video game, and audio-visual product you could possibly want. If you have a craving for still more, explore the Gongguan Commercial District ( ) on Roosevelt Rd. in the National Taiwan University area. The dense concentration of students in this area has given rise to a wide-ranging emporium of inexpensive goods. And if youre on the hunt for low-priced clothing and accessories of solid quality, theres no more enjoyable place than the Wufenpu Garment Wholesale Area ( ) near Songshan Railway Station. Here youll find all the newest and most fashionable apparel and accessories, with tremendous style diversification, at great value for your money.

A Fashion Tour

Hot, Fashionable Taipei

Bargain Hunting in a Shoppers Paradise

High-End Products Abound Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept. Store Breeze Center

Grand Formosa Regent Taipei

Fashion in the Xinyi District

The Xinyi District () is home to the Vie Show Cinema, a 17-screen megaplex popular for dates. The nearby Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store is a complex of four buildings connected by skywalks that make shopping there enjoyable, rain or shine. The many brands on offer in the complex mean you can shop till you drop, all in one location. Eslite Bookstores flagship Xinyi store opened in the area on January 1, 2006. The store carries almost 200,000 different book titles, with one million physical copies in stock. Its museum-like design and rows upon rows of books make it a virtual pilgrimage destination for lovers of the written word. BELLAVITA, which opened in 2009, is about a 10-minute walk from the Xinyi Eslite down Songgao Road. The building, which occupies a more than 33,000-squaremeter site, adds modern touches to classical European elegance. BELLAVITA is home to Bottega Venetas flagship Taipei store, the worlds second Versus retailer, and Taiwans first Michelin-rated French Restaurant, as well as other upscale attractions. If you enjoy fashion and fine food, BELLAVITA is the place to be. Connected with the W Taipei hotel, the Hankyu Department Store ( ), which opened in October 2010, is integrated with the Taipei City Hall Bus Station. The stores incredibly convenient location is sure to make it the Xinyi Districts newest shopping center.

The Bustling Zhongxiao Shopping Area

Every hour on the hour, doll-like figures emerge from the clock outside the first floor of the Zhongxiao E. Road ( ) SOGO Department Store and dance to a tune. Though more than 20 years old, the clock remains very popular and an indelible childhood memory of many Taipei residents. The stores great selection and convenient location near the MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station have made it a local institution.

Zhongshan North Road

Zhongshan N. Road () is one of Taipeis three large tree-lined boulevards. Following retrocession, it linked the Shilin Official Residence, the Songshan Airport, and the Presidential Office Building. A national road constructed to represent Taiwans development and modernization, it is rich in history.

he shopping districts surrounding the Taipei Main Station are well known and the cram schools that line Nanyang Street on the south side of the station draw thousands of young students to the area every day. Shopping destinations i n c l u d e t h e Ta i p e i M a i n Station branch of the Shin Q Square Shopping Center Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store (-), the Q Square (), and numerous small shops and boutiques catering to the fashion sense of young people. The shopping area behind Taipei Main Station () specializes in handicrafts supplies, accessories for women, and leather goods, all at very reasonable prices. Ximending, a favorite with young people, lies south of the station. It is home to Eslite 116, Shinjuku Plaza, and the Wannian Commercial Building, all of which are great places to pick up fashionable accessories. The areas cinema street, home to a large number of movie theaters, delivers the latest in audio-visual entertainment.
Chen gde
Shopping Area Behind Taipei Main Station

Fuxing Branch of SOGO Dept. Store

BELLAVITA

The Fuxing branch of SOGO Department Store sits catty corner to the Zhongxiao branch. The fashionable light-green store is integrated with the Metro station exit, and stocks world-renowned brand-name goods. The Breeze Center mall, which is a 10 to 15-minute walk north of SOGO on Fuxing S. Road, is known for high-quality upscale goods. The mall also includes a cinema, a Kinokuniya Book Store, and a Hands Tailung Creative Life Store. The Breeze Centers many shops and entertainment venues offer a fantastic array of leisure-time options. If you walk towards the Zhongxiao Dunhua Metro Station, youll find the older Tongling Plaza ( ), the Mingyao Department Store ( ), and the Zhongxiao branch of the Breeze Center (). In the alleys linking this area with SOGO and the Xinyi District, youll find dozens of little shops where trendy Taiwanese hunt for fashion gold.
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi Place

Dayeh Takashimaya

A Boutique-Lined Boulevard

Zhongshan N. Road, Section 2, personality. has a Taipei is a city with style and Wander to very international flavor, with internationalyour hearts content through parks and neighborhoods class hotels such as the Grand Formosa captured inthe Taipei films:Taipei, travel back in time to old Regent Taipei, Hotel Royal and Taipei in the Monga district, through Daan Parks Ambassador Hotel Taipei, as wellstroll as the flagship outlets of such urban forest, orupscale steep brands yourself inas the low-key cultural Louis and Gucci. The district around vibe Vuitton of an elegant coffee shop. the nearby Zhongshan Metro Station, with its Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store and many boutiques, is a great The to building in otherwise which thewhile Beitou Museum is place shop and housed was constructed in 1920. Exhibiting exquisite away your leisure time. workmanship, this to is Section a site of significant historical If you head north 6 and Skip Beat! and cultural , a Taiwan television Section 7 of value. Zhongshan N. Road, drama based on the Japanese manga of the same youll arrive in the very international name, used the museum complex for location Tianmu Shopping area, where youll find shooting. Those with an interest in the trends of the Tianmu SOGO. Another of the local youth fashion can check out Urban Caf & Bistro department stores, Dayeh Takashimaya ( Tianmu ( ), depicted in the idol drama The Shopping Area ), is located on Zhongcheng Road. Fierce Wife, and Daughters Caf (), featured There are also many unique and foreignin the film Taipei Exchanges. Whether youre looking flavored gifts and knick knacks for sale at the for a simple and low-key cultured ambiance or a bright traffic circle where Tianmu E. and W. Roads, and vibrant space brimming with fashionable modern and Zhongshan N. Road, Section 7, intersect. styling, Taipei never lacks for pleasant surprises.

Fine Food and Drink

Taipei Souvenirs Bring Home a Little Bit of Taipei!

Taiwan is well known for its snacks. If youre looking for uniquely Taipei gifts t o b r i n g h o m e to friends and family, local products such as tea leaves and pineapple cakes are excellent choices. If youre looking for a different sort of gift, consider the playful Mr. Chin line of goods designed by ALESSI for the National Palace Museum. For Taipei-oriented specialty goods, try browsing the publications and souvenirs store on the first floor of Taipei City Hall, where cute souvenirs await your attention: pairs of matching glasses depicting Taipeis little green man crosswalk

Eslite Bookstore Flagship Store

Civic Blvd.

Q Square Squareer

Taipei Main Station

Taipei Bus Station

Zhongxiao W. Rd., Sec.1

Guanghua Digital Plaza

Hankyu Dept. Store Taipei City Hall Station Taipei City Hall Bus Station Xinyi Eslite Bookstore
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi Place Taipei City Hall

Ximending Cinema Street Wannian Building Shinjuku Plaza Chengdu Rd. Kunming St.

Hankou St.

Ximending Cinema Street

A4

BELLAVITA
Songgao Rd.

Civic Blvd.

Wuchang St. Ximen Eslite 116 Henyang Rd. Ximen Station Zhonghua Rd., Sec.1

A8 A11

A9

Discovery Center of Taipei

ATT4FUN Vieshow Cinemas

Taipei 101 Songzhi Rd.

Songshou Rd. NEO19

The Red House

Xinyi Rd., Sec.5 Songren Rd.

SOGO Dept. Store (Zhongxiao Branch) Breeze Center Tongling Plaza Zhongxiao Fuxing Zhongxiao Zhongxiao E. E. Rd., Rd., Sec.4 Sec. 4 Station Mingyao Dept. Store SOGO Dept. Store Zhongxiao Dunhua Station (Fuxing Branch) Dunnan Eslite Bookstore Ren ai Rd., Sec. 4 Dunhua S. Rd., Sec.1 Fuxing S. Rd., Sec.1 Yanji St.

PoloTaipei shirts, and baseball The Cinema Park ( ), caps Metro Souvenir d. located in Ximending, is a large recreational space that gR en Shops atart, the film, Taipeiand Main Dept. Store It has combines popular SOGO youth culture. gch n o (Tianmu Branch) Station, the Zhongxiao Zh become a popular spot for local citizens to spend their Fuxing Metro Station, Dayeh Takashimaya leisure time. Scenes from the television idol drama the Taipei Arena, and Dept. Store Love You were shot here. Heading over to the citys the Maokong Gondola east district, aspect of chic popular culture is Taipei Zoo another Station offer presented. The well-known Metro-themed items love confession and kissing Minquan scene featured in the idol drama Office Girls was shot E. Rd. such as teddy bears, Love near the Taipei 101 skyscraper, and in the film charms, and I Love Rd. Minquan W. Taipei T-shirts. Doze Niu Chenthe wealthy businessman played byStation Minsheng E. Rd. zer attends a noisy party at the W Taipei hotel. These The Ambassador Hotel scenes are portals into the world of sumptuous modern lian Shuang GUCCI Station luxury found in the east district. LV
Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec.2
Zhongshan Station Nanjing E. Rd.

Pop Culture and Film signal, souvenir watches,

Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec.6

Rd.

Rd. Xining S.

Grand Formosa Regent Taipei Hotel Royal Taipei

Shifu Rd.

Gongguan Shopping Area

Wufenpu Garment Wholesale Area

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35

36

37

38

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Grand Formosa Regent Taipei

Zhongshan N. Road, Section 2, has a very international flavor, with internationalclass hotels such as the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei, the Hotel Royal Taipei, and Ambassador Hotel Taipei, as well as the flagship outlets of upscale brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The district around the nearby Zhongshan Metro Station, with its Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store and many boutiques, is a great place to shop and otherwise while away your leisure time. If you head north to Section 6 and Section 7 of Zhongshan N. Road, youll arrive in the very international Tianmu Shopping area, where youll find the Tianmu SOGO. Another of the local department stores, Dayeh Takashimaya ( ), is located on Zhongcheng Road. There are also many unique and foreignflavored gifts and knick knacks for sale at the traffic circle where Tianmu E. and W. Roads, and Zhongshan N. Road, Section 7, intersect.

Tianmu Shopping Area

signal, souvenir watches, Polo shirts, and baseball caps Metro Souvenir Shops at the Taipei Main Station, the Zhongxiao Fuxing Metro Station, the Taipei Arena, and the Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station offer Metro-themed items such as teddy bears, charms, and I Love Taipei T-shirts.

Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec.6 Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec.2

SOGO Dept. Store (Tianmu Branch)

d. gR en gch n o Zh Dayeh Takashimaya Dept. Store

Minquan E. Rd.
Minsheng E. Rd.
The Ambassador Hotel

Minquan W. Rd. Station Shuanglian Station

GUCCI LV

Grand Formosa Regent Taipei Hotel Royal Taipei

Zhongshan Station

Nanjing E. Rd.

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Travel Classroom
Getting from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei
Airport Buses
Where to board: The Terminal 1 bus platform is located on the B1 level of the arrival lobby. The Terminal 2 platform is located on the northeast side of the first-floor arrival lobby. Ticket counters are located in the arrival lobbies. Tickets are NT$110-140 per person. The trip takes approximately one hour. Hours of operation : Approximately 05:40~24:00. Stops: Most buses stop at the Taipei Main Station and Taipei Songshan Airport, as well as near Metro stations and major hotels. However, the routes used by the bus companies are not identical. Please double-check the map at the ticket counter.

Airport Taxis
Where to board: Taxis queue outside the north side of Terminal 1 and the south side of Terminal 2. Airport taxis charge a 15% surcharge to the fare shown on the meter, and highway tolls represent an additional charge. Hours of operation : 24 hours. Telephone inquiries: Terminal 1 Taxi Service Center : (03) 398-2832 Terminal 2 Taxi Service Center : (03) 398-3599

High-speed Rail
Where to board:You can catch the 705 bus to the Taoyuan highspeed rail station from either Terminal 1 or 2. The fare is NT$30 and buses depart every 10-15 minutes during peak times. Hours of operation : 06:15~22:45 Inquiries: 0800-241-560

Tourist Information Hotlines

Tourism Bureau Tourist Information Hotline: (02) 2717-3737 (08:00~19:00) Tourism Bureau 24-hour Toll-free Travel Information Hotline: 0800-011-765 Toll-free Traveler Assistance : 0800-211-734 Taipei City Audio Guide audioguide.taipeitravel.net TaipeiTravel.Net : www.taipeitravel.net The TaipeiTravel.Net website provides Taipei-related travel information in Mandarin, English, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. It also offers audio tours of scenic destinations and a database of hotels.
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Getting around Taipei

Metro Taipei
Service Hours: 06:00~24:00 24-Hour Customer Service Hotline:(02)218-12345 Metro Tickets Ticket One-way Trip NT$20-NT$65 Day Pass NT$200 (incl. NT$50 deposit) Price

Taipei Pass

The Taipei Pass is activated upon first use on bus or metro ticket readers and valid for unlimited use till expiration. The Taipei Pass can be purchased at all Metro stations, and is used on the Taipei Metro and on Taipei and New Taipei City public buses.

One-day pass: NT$180 Two-day pass: NT$310 Three-day pass:NT$440 Five-day pass: NT$700 Maokong Gondola One-day pass: NT$250

EasyCard

I n i t i a l p u r c h a s e: N T $ 5 0 0 ( i n c l . N T $ 4 0 0 applicable to transit fares). The card provides discounts on transit fares and can also be used for small purchases at convenience stores and other designated shops.

Taxis

All the citys cabs are yellow. They can be reserved by phone, caught at a taxi stand or flagged by the roadside. Fares: Fares are metered, and include NT$70 for flag fall, plus additional charges for distance traveled and wait times. Rides taken between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. are subject to an NT$20 per journey surcharge. Fares are payable in cash or with an EasyCard.

Tourist Taxis Buses

0800-055-850 (Drivers of tourist taxis speak English and Japanese. They can be requested by telephone.) Taipei has a well developed public transportation system. It includes ordinary city buses, Metro shuttles, mountain lines, recreational buses, and minibuses, all of which run regularly to virtually every location in the city. Bus farespayable in cash or by swiping an EasyCardare calculated per section. Fares are NT$15 per section, and routes are either one or two sections in length.

YouBike Public Bicycles

There are bicycle rental stations at 11 locations around Taipei. These include the MRT Taipei City Hall and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall stations, Taipei City Hall, Civic Plaza, Xingya Junior High School, NewYork NewYork Green trails, Xinyi Plaza, Exhibition Hall 3 of the Taipei World Trade Center, Songde, the Taipei City Emergency Operations Center, and Sanzhangli. New stations will continually be added. Please check online for the latest information. Website:www.youbike.com.tw Telephone:(02) 8780-8773

Taipei Visitor Information Center

Taipei Main Station ADD: 3 Beiping W. Rd. (southwest side, 1F lobby area, Taipei Railway Station) T E L: (02)2312-3256 Taipei Songshan Airport ADD: 340-10 Dunhua N. Rd. T E L: (02)2546-4741 East Metro Mall ADD: Room 4-2, B1F, 77, Sec. 1, Da'an Rd. T E L: (02)6638-0059 MRT Ximen Station ADD: B1F 32-1 Baoqing Rd. (close to Exit No. 5) T E L: (02)2375-3096 MRT Yuanshan Station ADD: 9-1 Jiuquan St. T E L: (02)2591-6130 MRT Jiantan Station ADD: 65, Sec. 5, Zhongshan N. Rd. T E L: (02)2883-0313 MRT Beitou Station ADD: 1 Guangming Rd. (left side, entrance area, MRT Beitou Station) T E L: (02)2894-6923 Taipei City Hall Bus Station ADD: 6, Sec. 5, Zhongxiao E. Rd. TEL: (02)2723-6836 Miramar Entertainment Park ADD: 20 Jingye 3rd Rd. (in rear of fountain plaza, 1F) T E L: (02)8501-2762 Plum Garden ADD: 6 Zhongshan Rd. T E L: (02)2897-2647 Gondola Taipei Zoo Station ADD: 2, Ln., 10, Sec. 2, Xinguang Rd. T E L: (02)8661-7627 Gondola Maokong Station ADD: 35, Ln., 38, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd. T E L: (02)2937-8563

ADD: 11008 4F 1 Shifu Rd. Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. TEL: For callers in Taipei City Please dial 1999 for the Citizen Hotline; For callers outside of Taipei City, please dial 02-2720-8889 ext. 7564 or 7565 TaipeiTravel.Net: www.taipeitravel.net Publication Date: May 2012