Taipei Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Taipei (pronounced TIE-bay) is where East meets West. In this capital city of Taiwan, you'll find an explosion of neon lights, designer goods (both Chinese and Western), noise and smog—all new to a city where a few decades ago rice paddies and fields covered the landscape.

Taipei is a sprawling metropolis, and it's the home of the well-known Taipei 101 building, a financial and shopping complex standing 1,671 ft/509 m high, so named for its 101 floors.

There are great getaways from the hustle of downtown to nearby mountains, where hot springs can ease away urban stress. Taipei is also one of the best cities in the world in which to sample Chinese delicacies and other foods from around the globe—often at great value.

Must See or Do

Sights—The changing of the guard at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall; city views from Taipei 101 and the Miramar Ferris Wheel; religious ceremonies at Longshan and Bao'an temples.

Museums—Chinese artifacts at the National Palace Museum; local and international works at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum; contemporary pieces and conceptual art at the Museum of Contemporary Art; cultural displays at the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines.

Memorable Meals—A traditional spicy hot-pot meal at Tian Wai Tian; excellent seafood at one of Xin Pu Yuan's revolving tables; the vendors at Shilin Night Market.

Late Night—Dinner and drinks at Fifi's lounge bar; late-night dancing and mingling with local celebrities at Mint or Barcode.

Walks—Hiking through Yangmingshan National Park; a stroll through Da-an Park; a walk down Dihua Street; wandering among the traditional Chinese house and garden at Lin Family Gardens; taking a cable-car ride over the mountains and tea plantations of Maokong.

Especially for Kids—Taipei Zoo; the processions at the Dragon Boat or Lantern festivals; the celebrations and fireworks displays during major city holidays.

Geography

Located in the northern part of Taiwan, dynamic Taipei is the island's largest and most modern city. In Mandarin, the name Taipei means "north Taiwan." Surrounded by mountains, the city rests in a basin of four rivers—the Sindian, Danshui, Dahan and Keelung, which form natural borders.

Taipei is divided into 12 districts, each with its own distinct characteristics. There are the Datong, Zhongzheng and Wanhua districts to the west; the financial and commercial districts are in the Neihu and Xinyi districts to the east; and downtown is roughly defined as the Zhongshan, Songshan and Da-an districts. The downtown districts are congested but can be successfully navigated with a little skill.

The Eight Virtues (Ba De) espoused in the Chinese Confucian tradition lend their names to the four main east-west thoroughfares that run through Taipei: Zhongxiao, Xinyi, Renai and Heping. Most visitors to Taipei will travel at least one of these roads during a stay.

Keep in mind that the romanization of Chinese names has yet to be standardized around the island. Taipei has adopted Hanyu Pinyin romanization, which is used in China. Expect to see a few different spellings for streets and major sites.

History

Aboriginal tribes originally inhabited Taipei, and it was not until the beginning of the 18th century that migrants from China started settling in the area. The Dutch and Spanish briefly colonized Taiwan in the 17th century before Koxinga, a Chinese pirate prince born in Japan, became a legend by defeating the Dutch.

Despite the relatively ruthless times, Koxinga allowed the Dutch to leave the island peacefully. In 1895, after the Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan was ceded to Japan, which ruled the island for 50 years. Though the rule was harsh, Taipei became the capital, and the infrastructure was vastly improved. Many signs of Japanese rule are still visible today, including such architectural sites as the Presidential Building and the mining towns of Jioufen and Jinguashi.

In 1945, at the end of World War II, Taiwan was handed over to the Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek. Then, in 1949, communists gained control of China, established the People's Republic of China, and forced Chiang Kai-shek and his government to flee to Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek served as president of the Republic of China until his death in 1975. Power then passed to his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, who is commonly credited as the person most responsible for bringing incredible growth to both Taiwan and Taipei.

Ultimately, Chiang Ching-kuo's influence led to the formation of the first opposition party (the Democratic Progressive Party) in 1986, and the end of 38 years of martial law in 1987. Politics were further liberalized when the first Taiwanese-born president, Lee Teng-hui, took office in 1987.

China has stated that it will invade Taiwan if the island makes a formal declaration of independence, and therefore the Taiwanese continue to refer to their country as the Republic of China.

Potpourri

The name Taiwan comes from the country's indigenous Siraya people who call it Tayuan, meaning "I" or "us." Bei or pei is the Chinese word for north, so Taipei means "northern people".

Taipei 101 tower was the world's tallest building from 2004 until 2010, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai. The 1,667-ft/508-m tower has 61 elevators, the fastest of which travels at 38 mi/61 km per hour, or 55 ft/17 m per second.

Taipei hosts the annual Beef Noodle Soup Festival, where Taiwan's top chefs pit their cooking skills against each other, hoping to claim the honor for Taipei's top beef noodle soup. The popular event also features demonstrations and cooking classes.

Statistics suggest that Taipei is the scooter capital of the world. Nearly every resident has one, and there are 20.3 million scooters in Taiwan, which has a population of roughly 23 million. Some 700,000 new scooters are bought every year.

Many Taiwanese like chewing betel nut, which is a mild stimulant. Taipei City has banned the "betel nut girls" who sell the nut at colorful roadside stands, but they can be seen in Taipei County and elsewhere.

Taipei's population density is nearly 25,900 people per sq mi/10,000 people per sq km, and the island's population density is second-highest in the world among countries with a population of more than 10 million.

Location

Keelung Taiwan Cruise Port, the cruise port for Taipei, is located approximately 16 mi/26 km from the city and is easily reached by train or bus. The harbor service building can handle 1,500 passengers per hour and is close to Keelung Railway Station and Kuokuang Bus Stop, allowing visitors to connect to other parts of Taiwan with ease.

Shore Excursions

Most visitors arriving by cruise ship head straight to Taipei for sightseeing. Tours are arranged by the cruise line or local travel firms who offer one-day or half-day excursions. Typically the half-day outings focus on the attractions in the area surrounding Taipei Railway Station or the Taipei 101 tower. Cultural attractions also include the National Palace Museum, Longshan Temple and dining on local delicacies.