Taipei Recap: Part 2 — Sightseeing

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, and has many sights to see. We were able to check out my favorite places, and even a couple places I’ve never been. We didn’t have time to see and do everything, but still had a jam-packed and awesome trip. Here are some highlights!

Hua Shan 1914 Creative Village (華山1914文化創意產業園區) –

Hua Shan is one of the top places to go if you like art, cute shops, and cafes. Cathy found some art supplies and picked up some fancy pens. There are often exhibitions here. In the past I’ve seen an upside down house, One Piece, among others. This time there was an exhibit for some kind of anime cat. Since it was a super long line for something we didn’t know about, we did not go in. 

However, we checked out an exhibit for a pop-up toy shop. Such a pity that I have no luggage space. Did snag some cool pics of “art” though.

Tourist Recommendation – Go if you have time or are interested in art or one of the exhibits.

Also quick link to a similar creative park: Song Shan Cultural and Creative Park

Shihlin

Shihlin Night Market is the biggest and baddest night market of all Taipei. While locals will each have their own favorites, no one will argue that Shihlin is THE night market. If you only have time for one, it’s this one. There are food stalls with all the typical Tawiwanese street food. Retail shops with all the trendiest clothes, phone accessories, and you name it. There’s even carnival games and a food court.

Given the many family dinners we had scheduled, Shihlin was a late night post-dinner venture. Still quite successful, as Cathy found a cute iphone case, bought some clothes, and ate stinky tofu!

Tourist Recommendation – Absolute must! Go at least once, then check out other night markets. I usually will make it out there once per trip. If you want to see it jam packed with crowds, go on a weekend. Otherwise for a more casual environment, go late on a weekday. 

Dan Shui (Tam Sui) –

Dan Shui’s wharf is the home of the Lover’s Bridge. This bridge is one of Taipei’s landmarks (though technically it is in New Taipei City). We came early in the morning, which allowed us to get many tourist-free shots. It would also be great for sunset pictures, but that’s also when it will be the most crowded.

Kissing in front of Lover’s Bridge. Shot isn’t perfect (blocking the bridge in the back). But hey, love isn’t perfect either. ;)

Dan Shui also has many retail stores catered to tourists along one major street (Gongming Street), while the waterfront has restaurants and some carnival games. Since we got there so early, all the stores were closed. It wasn’t until 11 that they started to open.

Super Secret Local Spot (Qingshui Street) - If you venture off the main path, you can experience a local market full of eats, grocery stalls, and butcher shops. The main clientele are elderly people doing their daily groceries.

Tourist Recommendation – Go for pics of an iconic bridge. Warning: It’s a little far out, so recommend pairing this on the same day with Beitou and/or Shihlin. 

Beitou

Thermal Valley in Beitou. Still so much steam despite the hot weather!

Beitou is known for its natural Hot Springs! You can find any and all types of hot springs available here - from very cheap co-ed public baths (swimsuit required), to gendered public baths (birthday suit), to your own personal private bath. It’s great to go with friends, family, and your significant other.

Cathy and I opted for the most luxurious experience - a private bath at the Grand View Resort. We were super lucky they had a room available without reservation (probably because it was a hot day in the middle of the week). Rooms are available for 90 minutes, which was perfect for us.

Tourist Recommendation - If you like Japanese Onsens, you will enjoy this. If you haven’t done it before, you ought to give it a try at this super accessible spot. I go every chance I get.

Ximending

Ximending was our personal home base for the trip, as my uncle kindly let us stay at his apartment there.

To the winner goes the spoils… a Totoro Boba Drink Holder!

See video here!

Ximending is a trendy tourist hotspot with lots of retail and restaurants. There’s sidewalk vendors and retail stores, food stalls and restaurants. If you enjoy novelty, check out the toilet curry restaurant or sidewalk vendors hawking penis pineapple cakes. For a bit of history and hipster shopping, check out the Red House. Ximen is loudly LGBT friendly, which is all that much more meaningful given Taiwan was first Asian country to legalize gay marriage.

Claw machines are a Taiwan staple, and they are ubiquitous in Ximending. It boggles my mind how so much prime real estate is occupied by these claw machines. Perhaps, it makes sense because the prizes are cheap and the machines are rigged. And yet… I came, I saw, I conquered! 

Claw machine technique: You can’t rely on the claw to grab the item and drop it off. The claws are purposefully loose and will open before returning to the drop off location. Instead, you need to consider that your item will be let go early, and factor in how it must roll down into the drop off. 

Protip: Don’t wait the long line for Xin Fu Tang, Taiwan’s self-proclaimed “#1” milk tea spot. They have another small stall on Hanzhong Street’s “Tattoo Street”, where you can skip the line and enjoy your drink watching people getting tatted up on the alley. This spot isn’t on Google Maps, so it’s that much more unknown. Personally, I thought their brown sugar milk tea was just okay.

Tourist Recommendation - Must check out this trendy hotspot. Good shopping, good food, good times. Wild crowds on weekend nights. It may remind you of Tokyo’s Shinjuku.

Linear park (between Zhongshan and Shuanglian)

There is a green beltway between the Zhongshan and Shuanglian MRT stops. This park is full of art installations, greenery, and boutiques on both sides. It’s extra lively on weekends with the addition of street vendors.

We strolled the park at night and did a mini photo-shoot among the many light installations.

Lights in the park.

Tourist Recommendation - If you are in the area, you should stop by! Preferably at night and/or on weekends!

Protip: If you have extra time, there is an underground book street that is directly below the park and connects the two MRT stops. It’s also interesting to visit after hours to check out the graffiti when the metal doors are rolled down.

Jiufen

A classic tourist spot, Jiufen is said to evoke the feeling of Spirited Away. While Miyazaki goes on record saying Jiufen did NOT inspire the setting for the movie, it does have a similar charm. The old street is filled with tiny tea shops, traditional foods, and trinkets. Take the atmospheric stairs up the hillside, to enjoy great views of the town overlooking the ocean. 

Cathy enjoying tea and the view.

Thanks to jetlag, we were up early to beat the crowds. When we arrived at 8:30am, the shops weren't open yet. We had time to enjoy a traditional tea service (tea shops open early!), before heading back along the old street to enjoy the shops.

Cathy absolutely loved this place. It captures the vibe of olden times, when streets were narrow, stairs were steep, and the shops full of delicious treats.

Tourist Recommendation - This is a must for tourists. Locals rarely go, but it’s a unique atmosphere to take in. At least go once!

Protips: Go early, because it gets crowded!

Getting there: It’ll cost about 1500-1800 NTD one way (~$50) by the taxi cabs lining Ximending. You can haggle with them if you want. Uber quoted about 1,000. We were lucky to get an early cab driver who agreed to take us for 1,000. Out of curiosity (since he hadn’t been in 10 years), he ran the taxi meter and it came out to 1,140. (This was early in the morning, with no traffic). There’s also a bus line that will be much, much cheaper.

Xiang Shan (Elephant Mountain)

Elephant Mountain is the top (haha) vantage spot for Taipei 101 views.

The catch is that this is not so much a hike, as it is stairs on stairs on stairs. Literally, the path up is all stairs. So be careful who you take with you. If someone doesn’t like stairs, or gets hangry easily, this hike will make them a Crabby Cathy. And then when you are excited to take all the glorious pictures - with the massive sign carved into rock, from the viewing platform, on top of the well placed boulder, and from a roped off vantage point - she will barely oblige and not appreciate the experience to the fullest.

And still, this hike is worth it. For the view, for the pics, for the exercise, and for the overall experience.

Hiked the outdoor stairmaster for this pic.

Tourist Recommendation: Absolute MUST. 

Protip: Everyone wants to get a pic from the rock at sunset! The line is long, and you need to get there early. Weekdays are much better than weekends. Alternative is to catch the sunrise, though Taipei 101 is west of Xiang Shan, so supposedly sunrise is not quite as amazing as sunset. May be worth it to avoid the heat and crowds though.

Getting there: This hiking trail is super accessible via the Xiangshan MRT stop. Many signs will show you where to go.

Taipei 101

One of the tallest buildings in the world, Taipei 101 can be considered the city’s icon. 

Inside the building is mostly office space, a few levels of retail (mostly very high end), a food court (relatively cheap), and restaurants. Like other iconic skyscrapers, there is a viewing observatory and restaurants at the top. I’ve heard their restrooms are fun, as you can look out at the city while relieving yourself. Haven’t experienced it for myself though.

We didn’t go to the top because it costs a pretty penny. Besides, I consider the view OF 101 much better than the view FROM 101.

The surrounding area has more retail and restaurants and food stalls. There’s also bars and nightclubs nearby, although sadly my old mainstay, Room 18, is long gone.

Cathy and I walked around, got stuck in a Zara, found a tasty udon spot a food court, and went off to Ice Monster for some excellent snow ice. 

Pic was actually taken elsewhere, but essentially what I did while Cathy shopped.

So yes, that’s about it. There are unique things to do here, and you can make of it what you want. Otherwise, just pretty cool to go and get up close shots, and see what piques your fancy.

Tourist Recommendation: Go check it out! Good food and shopping. Most popular chains will likely have a branch here, so you can get your fix of whatever you are looking for. And of course, the view if you want it!

Eslite Book Store

Quick callout to the Eslite book store because this 24/7 bookstore is what Barnes and Nobles should aspire to be. They have many English books and is a great spot for book lovers. What makes it special is how Eslite chains have expanded to include other retail, from home goods to clothing, organized around books of similar topics!

Cathy would have spent more time here that night if Allen wasn’t deliriously sleepy and passing out in public.

Di Hua Street and Da Dao Cheng Wharf

Looking up from the busy street.

Di Hua Street is full of traditional medicine, traditional foods, and very traditional Taiwanese goods. It was one of the main streets in olden times, and now enjoys an annual renaissance as THE destination for Lunar New Year merchandise. We were lucky to see all the action during the two weeks leading up to Lunar New Year.

The hustle and bustle were apparent during our walk. Each stall gave samples, and their hawkers made a weeked Costco trip seem tranquil in comparison. We found multiple red envelope stands with rat-themed envelopes, Disney franchised envelopes, and jokes (“I love money”, “No money inside”)! There were also traditional treats, which made Cathy think of her grandma who would absolutely love them. We witnessed a toy auction. Quite a sight to see, with people gathering around a makeshift stage and the auctioneer explaining toys before calling out for bids.

Da Dao Cheng Wharf is next to the Di Hua Street. And it is a cute little area with a bike path and a few small restaurants. It would be extremely quaint for a relaxing night out to have drinks by the river.

Other mentions:

We ran out of time for some other great spots. But I’d like to mention them still.

For some art and history, I would recommend the National Palace Museum and the National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.

For art: Modern Art Museum

For nature: Hiking in Yangming mountain, or head out to Shifen for the waterfall.

For some cultural fun: Pingxi for sky lanterns, available year round.

Sorry, no bar or club recommendations. Not my scene anymore, and the ones I knew aren’t around anymore. Party scene is pretty amazing though. I have a friend who literally goes to Taipei to party for every New Year’s, and he isn’t even Taiwanese!