Travel to Taiwan 2011

By Angeline - April 11, 2010

Taipei (台北) is the national capital of Taiwan. It is the fourth largest city of Taiwan, after New Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung, and it serves as the island's financial and governmental center.

Some of the famous landmarks in Taipei included Taipei 101, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei Botanical Garden and Longshan Temple.

Contributed by Ong Lai

For trendy shopping area, Ximending is a must-visit place. From trendy goods to assorted Taiwanese cuisine, it can easily be find in Ximending.

In most of the Taiwanese food show, Lu Rou Fan (Stewed Pork with Rice) and Pai Kut Tang (Pork Ribs Soup) are some of the food that always mentioned in the show. Hence, it created a great impression to us and oftenly listed in our must-try food list when traveling to Taipei .

Lu Rou Fan NT$25

A bowl of steamed rice topped with stewed pork only cost NT$25. It is a cheap yet delicious Taiwanese cuisine. Enriched with spices and cooked with pork and pork lard, the delicious gravy is the secret of behind the Lu Rou Fan.

Pai Kut Tang NT$55

The steaming hot bowl of Pork Ribs Soup comes with pork ribs and white raddish topped with spring onion. White raddish is a common ingredient used in Taiwanese cuisine as it could absorbed the flavour of the soup/gravy very well.

A complete meal only cost NT$80

For a standard double room, the price ranges from:
Budget below NT$2,500
Mid-range NT$2,500-5,000
Splurge NT$5,000+

Taiwan is also famous for its Boutique Hotel which offers comfortable room at a cheap price. With the price below NT$2500, you can get a complete room with comfortable ambiance.

Our room, Complete with phone, kettle and coffee maker. Comfy bed

Unpacking

Taipei City has a very clean, efficient and safe Mass Rapid Transit system known most commonly as the MRT, but also called Metro Taipei (台北捷運). The last trains depart at midnight. Fares are between NT$20 and NT$65 for one-way trips around town. Stations and trains are clearly identified in English, so even for those who cannot read Chinese, the MRT system is very accessible. All stops are announced in four languages: Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and English. Most stations have information booth/ticket offices close to the ticket vending machines. There is no eating or drinking while in the stations or on the trains. Trains generally run from 6AM to midnight, with convenient bus connections outside the stations. (resource from: http://wikitravel.org/en/Taipei#Get_around)

Taipei 101

The most famous night market in Taipei is the Shilin Night Market (士林夜市). Some of the best known night market snacks are the Tianbula (Taiwanese version of Tempura), Stinky Tofu, Pan-fried Bun, Shaved Ice, and Vermicelli.

Shaved Ice with Red Bean NT$60

Shaved Ice with Black Sugar flavour NT$60

Ah-Chung Rice Vermicelli is a must-try in Ximending and Shihlin.

Taiwanese Sausages

Set Lunch @ Wu Fen, Taiwan

Bird Nest Fern Garden

Breakfast - Pien Tang or Bento (Going Green to safe the planet)

Taroko National Park Headquaters

Taroko National Park (traditional Chinese: 太魯閣國家公園) is one of the seven national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park. The park spans Taichung City, Nantou County, and Hualien County. (resources from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taroko_National_Park)