Taipei travel guide: Why the mysteries of Taiwan are closer than you think
For western travellers, Taiwan has long been shrouded in mystery.
While it shares many cultural similarities with Britain – from street-food to skyscrapers and a love of tech – the island nation can hardly be called accessible.
But with a fascinating recent history, vibrant food scene and stunning scenery, its capital Taipei is ready to tempt overseas visitors to brave the long journey.
That tiresome 6,000-mile slog is now much more bearable, as non-stop flights are available from the UK to Taiwan for the first time in six years.
When Yahoo Style jetted over for a whistlestop four-day trip, we found ourselves enchanted by the mesmerising markets and intoxicating bustle of one of Asia’s biggest cities.
A clear must-see is Taipei’s CKS Memorial Hall – a 250ft looming national monument to Taiwan’s late President Chiang Kai-shek after his death in 1975.
Thousands flock to the giant white hall every week to witness the regular guard mounting ceremonies and see varied exhibits which give an insight into Taiwan’s chequered recent past.
The 300 mile-long country also known as the Republic of China lived under martial law for 40 years after World War Two, but had an economic boom in the 90s and now boasts one of the world’s true ‘megacities’.
A stone’s throw from the hall is Taipei’s Dihua Street, an atmospheric and charming network of lanes perfect for browsing Taiwan’s trademark silks, wooden ornaments and other souvenir oddities.
Spend any time in Taipei, however, and it’s impossible to miss its biggest landmark, the gargantuan Taipei 101 skyscraper.
An icon of modern Taiwan, the bamboo-inspired tower was the world’s tallest building for six years after its completion in 2004.
You’ll need a strong stomach to scale 91 floors to the observation deck – not just because of the height, but also the elevator which travels at 1000 metres-a-minute.
Even the hardiest of skyscraper fans will find the experience daunting. The tower’s bamboo-shaped floors mean that as you look down from 400m high, there’s a sensation of nothing being below you, which will make your stomach do backflips.
One of Taipei 101’s highlights is, ironically, at the bottom. Inside the tower’s otherwise-sterile shopping mall is Din Tai Fung, a chain restaurant serving dumplings. And not much else.
Chefs in this iconic Taipei food spot churn out 76,000 dumplings a day, but don’t mistake quantity for lack of quality. The tiny piping hot steamed bundles we had with prawn and pork were completely heavenly. They even serve oozing, liquid chocolate dumplings – a truly indulgent experience not to be missed.
Don’t take our word for our it though – the restaurant regularly hosts A-listers and is even a favourite of Tom Cruise. We were so impressed we can’t wait for the reported London branch to open this year.
The lure of Taipei is not restricted to its bustling centre. A short bus ride east from the city sits Jiufen, a mountain town featuring narrow, winding shopping streets you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the world.
The area’s unique scenery inspired the cult 2001 animated fantasy film Spirited Away, and it’s not hard to see why Jiufen makes a lasting impression.
Tiny street stalls selling anything from phones to fans, along with Taiwanese ‘mochi’ (local sweet glutinous cakes), and more of these delicious dumplings, Jiufen’s Old Street is an assault on the senses which you won’t forget.
In Taipei alone there’s more than enough to satisfy even the most curious visitors. Throw in those spectacular surrounding hillscapes and Taiwan is an adventure which should be near the top of your travel to-do list.
And best of all, this magical, manic corner of east Asia is now much closer than ever.
China Airlines operates flights from the UK to Taiwan five times a week, from London Gatwick, from £609.50 in economy. Visit www.china-arlines.com/uk/en or call 0207 6446110 for more details.
