Entertainment

Though Taipei often strikes the first time visitor as a city lacking things to do, this couldn't be further from the truth. If it is temples and Chinese history that gets you going, or just window shopping, without a doubt Taipei is a fascinating city and has plenty to offer everyone.

Night Markets and Temples If temples are your interest, Taipei has an abundant selection and variety of temples. There are several temples to be seen all over the city, but one of the more notable and frequently visited is the Lungshan Temple, located on the western edge of the city. With its ornate features and bright colors, Lungshan Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy, truly stands out and is invariably busy with both tourists and local worshipers.

Other interesting temples worth a visit are the relatively quiet and sedate Confucius Temple and the Taoist Xing Tian Gong.

Just a few minutes walk away from Lungshan Temple is Snake Alley. Although now it caters to tourists mostly, there are still some fascinating things to see. Such as the well-trained snake handlers cajoling and handling the snakes. The ultimate purpose of the snake handling is to extract a snake's blood and bile (caution- it's not for the squeamish); if you're brave enough, you can drink the end result. Supposedly, it's good for virility, which might explain the bus loads of elderly tourists who eagerly hand over their money for a glass of the prized snake juice and alcohol mixture.

Taipei has numerous bustling night markets, which can provide visitors a true feel for the tastes, smells and nature of this thriving city. One of the larger markets is the sprawling Shi Lin Night Market in the north of the city and can be reached easily by MRT (Shihlin station). The Shi Lin Night Market comes to life in the early evening and continues into the early hours of the morning. There are endless choices of fake designer clothes, music, shoes and cheap jewelry, among other things. Another market worth visiting is the much smaller Tong Hua Street Night Market in the southeast section of the city. Night markets are also a great place to eat, especially on a warm summer evening with a breeze in the air. Whether you're after fresh seafood, Japanese teppanyaki, noodles, dumplings, barbecued snacks, fresh fruit, or just a street side table where you can enjoy a couple of beers and watch the world go by, a night market is the place to go.

Escape from the City Taipei can be a crowded and stifling city, so from time to time it makes sense to escape into the breathtakingly beautiful countryside and mountains that surround Taipei. The hot-spring resort area of Bei Tou (Peitou) is only 13 km northwest of central Taipei, but it seems a world removed. A legacy of the Japanese colonial occupation period, Bei Tou's natural hot spring resorts are among the finest island-wide.

The numerous hotels in Bei Tou vary in quality, but are invariably very Japanese in style. One such example is The Whispering Pine Inn that was built by the Japanese in 1934 and offers sensational views, Japanese gardens, fish ponds, and a soothing waterfall.

Also worth visiting in Bei Tou is Hell Valley, a nature reserve renowned for its boiling sulfurous spring water (not for bathing!). For those interested in temples, the beautiful Chaoming Temple is worth a visit.

Still within Taipei City limits is Yang Ming Mountain (Yangmingshan) and the Yang Ming Shan National Park area. Yangmingshan is a favorite destination for its beautiful flowers, cherry blossoms, abundant hiking trails and hot springs similar to those in nearby Bei Tou. Also, the many teahouses are another attraction where you can enjoy a beautiful night view of the city. Yangmingshan is a great place to relax and get away from Taipei.

For those that are seeking to escape, but are confined to the city, Taipei does have a handful of city parks that are worthy of a mention. The largest is Da An Park, at Xin Yi Road Section 3; another is the New Park, on Xiang Yang Road. Museums and History For history buffs, Taipei has its fair share of museums and assorted historical sights. Perhaps the most notable example is the National Palace Museum which has been voted one of the top 4 museums in the world. With over 700,000 items (easily the world's biggest collection of Chinese artifacts) but display space for only 15,000, the items are rotated every 3 months. It would take a dedicated visitor a whopping 12 years to see everything! Alternatively, visit the much smaller Taipei Fine Arts Museum which regularly hosts displays of foreign and local artists.

One of the most significant landmarks in Taipei is undoubtedly the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall on Xin Yi Road Section 1. It's a stunning piece of architecture, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The National Theater and National Concert Hall are also located at the same site.

The more understated but equally impressive Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall on Ren Ai Roadis home to an interesting selection of historical items, mostly related to the much revered Sun Yat-Sen. The Memorial is a favorite venue for numerous cultural events.

Shopping For those that enjoy a dose of retail therapy, Taipei has plenty to offer other than night markets. Zhong Xiao East Road, and the numerous lanes and alleys that surround it, offers an endless choice of clothing stores, shoe shops, department stores, and other boutiques as well as a good variety of bars, restaurants and teahouses. Meanwhile, on the other the side of the city, the bustling Xi Men Ding area (which caters to a younger crowd) offers an equally wide variety of shopping.

Taipei also has an abundance of Japanese department stores, such as Sogo Department Store and Mitsukoshi, as well as numerous well-equipped shopping malls, such as the Asiaworld Shopping Center, complete with superb food halls.