Taipei台北

Overview

Taipei is the central city of China's Taiwan region, blending traditional Chinese culture with modern urban vitality. The National Palace Museum houses hundreds of thousands of Chinese treasures, Shilin Night Market's snacks are unforgettable, and Taipei 101 was once the world's tallest building. From ancient Longshan Temple to trendy East District, from hot spring town Beitou to Songshan Cultural Park, Taipei radiates unique charm.

Key Facts

Top Attractions

National Palace Museum

Houses nearly 700,000 Chinese cultural treasures. Jadeite Cabbage, Meat-shaped Stone and Mao Gong Ding are the three star pieces. A must-visit for Chinese civilization

Taipei 101

508m landmark tower, 89th-floor observation deck offers 360-degree panoramic views, high-speed elevator in 37 seconds

Longshan Temple

Built in 1738, Taipei's most famous temple, exquisite carved beams and painted rafters, always bustling with devotees

Shilin Night Market

Taipei's largest and most famous night market, 500+ stalls serving everything from oyster omelets to fried chicken, stinky tofu to bubble tea

Beitou Hot Spring District

Centuries-old hot spring town, Thermal Valley with sulfurous mist like a fairyland, Beitou Hot Spring Museum showcases Japanese-era bath culture

Food & Snacks

Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)

Thin wrapper encasing savory broth, a bite releases hot soup, Din Tai Fung's xiaolongbao are world-famous

Beef Noodle Soup

Taipei's national dish, rich braised or clear beef bone broth with large beef chunks and handmade noodles, annual Beef Noodle Festival competition

Bubble Tea (Pearl Milk Tea)

The globally popular drink originated in China's Taiwan, chewy tapioca pearls with fragrant milk tea, found on every Taipei street

Oyster Omelet

Night market must-eat, fresh oysters in sweet potato starch batter pan-fried with egg, topped with sweet chili sauce

Festivals & Events

World & Intangible Heritage

• Taiwanese Opera (Gezai Xi) (2009) — Traditional opera originating from Yilan, China's Taiwan, performed in Taiwanese (Min Nan), the region's most representative local opera form

Practical Tips