Taipei

Introduction

Taipei 101 Building (2)

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Taipei (台北 Táiběi) is the capital and largest city in Taiwan with about 10 million people living in the metropolitan area and about 2.7 million in the city proper. It is located in the most northern part of the island at the Tanshui River and is the economical heart of the country. The city is surrounded by hills and mountains and the area is prone to earthquakes as well. The city is still home to the largest skyscraper in the world, Taipei 101, but this won't be the tallest for much longer as the Burj Dubai is set to be completed soon and is already the highest unfinished skyscraper. Still, this building is a remarkable landmark in the city and represents the enormous economical growth of the city during the last decades. For travellers there is enough to see and do to keep you busy for a few days and good hotels, food and transport all make it very easy to visit as well.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 Building (2)

© All Rights Reserved bobrk607

Taipei 101, officially known as the Taipei International Financial Center is one of the tallest building in the world at 508 metres above the ground level. The high skyscraper is located in the Xinyi District of Taipei and is rich in symbolism. For example, it was designed to resemble bamboo rising from the earth and bamboo happens to be a plant recognized in Asian cultures for its fast growth and flexibility. These are ideal characteristics for a financial building. On top of that, the building is also made up of eight sections and eight happens to be a number associated with prosperity in Chinese culture.

The observatory in Taipei 101 consists of three sections. On the 88th floor, visitors get to see upclose the tower's wind damper that sways to offset movements in the building caused by strong gusts. The 89th floor is an indoor viewing area, while the 91st floor is an outdoor viewing area, but only open on certain occasions and weather permitting.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall recently renamed as the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall is more or less in the middle of Taipei. The grounds in front of the hall are flanked by both the Taiwan National Theatre and The National Opera House. The hall itself has a museum on the first floor and the second floor used to be the home of a large statue of Chiang Kai Shek. There is also a frequent changing of the guard that is well worth watching. If you are in Taipei visiting the hall is a must. The hall has its own subway stop so getting there is easy.

Other sights and activities

• Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall
• Night Markets

Events and Festivals

Weather

The weather is generally hot and humid, although winters can get cold, with temperatures occasionally around 0 °C. Still, Taipei generally has mild winter weather with temperatures normally around 20 °C during the day from December to February and around 12 °C at night. In summer, temperatures average around 30 °C (but well over 35 °C is possible) and this is also the time when the typhoons can hit the island, leaving an enormous amount of rain in some parts of the country as well. The period from October to April is a better time for a visit, compared to the hot and muggy conditions in summer.

Getting There

By Plane

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) near the capital Taipei is the busiest in the country and therefore receives most international flights. In fact, it's in the top 15 of busiest airports in the world when it comes down to handling international passengers. Until 2006 it was called Chiang Kai-shek International Airport.

The national airline is China Airlines which has international flights to many destinations in Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania. Another major international airline in Taiwan is EVA Air, serving slightly less destinations to the same continents mentioned.

To/from the airport:

• Rail: until the Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System opens in 2013, the only option is to get a shuttle bus to the Taiwan High Speed Rail Taoyuan Station (THSR), about 8 kilometres away.
• Bus: Frequent buses link the airport to Taipei, Taoyuan City, Jhongli, Taichung, Banqiao, Changhua, and THSR's Taoyuan Station.[37] Bus terminals are present at both terminals.
• Taxi: available at both terminals.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

Chungwa Post is the national postal service of Taiwan. It offers fast and reliable postal services, both domestic and internationally. Post offices are generally open from 8:00am to 5:00pm during weekdays, though some keep longer hours or are open on Saturday (morning). Prices for sending postcards or letters (up to 20 grams) start at NT$5 within the country, while postcards by airmail to other countries start at around NT$10-12 per item, and letters are slightly more expensive. There is a wide range in prices regarding international parcel sending, and other companies like DHL, TNT, FedEx and UPS offer similar services.