30 Secrets & Best Places in Taipei, Taiwan
This is my ultimate travel guide for Taipei, Taiwan including 30 secrets and best places to visit which I carefully selected, things to do in Taipei like enjoying a knife massage, prawn fishing, death star mall, Ximending shopping district, ice cream shop snow king and the epic Taipei nightlife. Subscribe to my channel ► for weekly videos!
I went to Taiwan with no major expectations but let me tell you, the country, people, food and nature truly blew me away and now I understand why people consider it a hidden gem in Asia.
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I started my Taiwan adventure in Taipei, often called the food capital of Asia for its wide assortment of cuisines and unique themed restaurants including the prawn fishing restaurant where you'll be able to capture your own dinner but also the toilet restaurant where you can eat beef curry out of a toilet bowl.
The best way to start your Taipei adventure is with an epic Taiwanese breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk, the most popular joint in town but do come early, lineups can grow very large. I ordered the deep-fried bread stick, egg pancake and a delicious cold soy milk soup. There is a good reason why locals wait hours in line to get this stuff.
One of the most incredible experiences in Taipei was getting a knife massage by knife massage practitioners who require to be vegetarian and meditate daily but don't worry the cleavers used are blunt, it is quite satisfying getting hammered by blunt metal to a point where I fell asleep from relaxation.
For ancient temples in Taipei, visit the breathtaking Longshan temple, also known as 'the meeting place of the gods' were you can witness daily rituals, offerings and many locals praying to the many deities.
One of the strangest foods I tried were the fermented duck eggs which were traditionally made by a mixture of lime, salt and ash turning the egg white base into a gelatin texture and the egg yolk green from fermentation, to my surprise, this was a delicious snack.
As a giant lover of seafood, the Addiction Aquatic Development fish market in Taipei is the ultimate destination. A high-end fish market with some of the best sashimi, grilled eel and other fish products I had ever tasted, a great spot for lunch!
In conclusion, Taipei left a lasting impression on me to such an extent that I returned to Taipei a second time in less than a month time to record even more incredible footage of this mesmerizing city. If you are considering of visiting Asia, do NOT skip Taiwan.
Watch my episodes from Taiwan!
Episode 1: My Free Flight to Taiwan
Episode 2: Beautiful Mountain Village Jiufen
Episode 3: Drinking Snake Venom
Episode 4: Bizarre Toilet Restaurant
Episode 5: Eating Entire Duck
Episode 6: Taipei 101 (Icon of Taiwan)
Episode 7: Taiwan Street Food at Taipei Night Markets
Episode 8: Ultimate Taipei Travel Guide
Episode 9: Taipei Nightlife (Best Bars & Nightclubs)
Episode 10: Tainan Travel Guide
Episode 11: Kaohsiung Travel Guide
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Top 20 Things to Do in Taiwan!
Taiwan is the perfect place to visit in Asia if you’re a first-time traveler or traveling solo! I spent two weeks in Taiwan traveling all over the island, so I've put together this Taiwan vacation travel guide.
Top 20 Places To See in Taiwan and Things to Do!
1. Release a sky lantern in Pingxi outside of Taipei
2. Visit the many beautiful temples
3. Take a cooking class in Taipei
4. Visit Fo Guang Shan outside of Kaoihsung
5. The Dome of Light: A very beautiful MRT station in Kaoihsung
6. Taiwan's southernmost point
7. Kenting National Park
8. Mr. Brown's Road
9. Sansiantai footbridge
10. Take the MRT
11. Explore Ximending, Taipei
12. Visit the hot springs
13. Maokong Gondola Ride
14. Taiwanese Tea Ceremony
15. Pier 2, Kaohsiung
16. Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
17. Lotus Lake
18. Private Taipei 101 Luxury Tour
19. Dongmen Market
20. Thousand Island Lake
If you are traveling to Taiwan I really hope you find my guide helpful! You might also like my other videos from Taiwan:
KENTING, TAIWAN Travel Guide: 15 AMAZING Things to do in Kenting!
25 AMAZING things to do in Taipei, Taiwan:
Taitung Taiwan Travel Guide! // Bicycling in Chishang:
I also wrote this article on my blog: 10 Best Reasons to Visit Taiwan
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Visit Taipei, Taiwan: Things to do in Taipei - The City of Azaleas
Visit Taipei - Top 10 Things which can be done in Taipei. What you can visit in Taipei - Most visited touristic attractions of Taipei
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Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
A famous monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. Has two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang's age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance.
Mengjia Longshan Temple
A temple in Wanhua District. Was built in 1738 by settlers from Fujian, China. Like most temples in Taiwan, the temple worships a mixture of Buddhist andTaoist deities, such as Matsu.
Taipei 101
A landmark supertall skyscraper in Xinyi District. The tallest and largest green building in the world. Construction started in 1999 and finished in 2004. Comprises 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground.
Taipei Zoo
The most famous zoological garden in Taiwan. The largest zoo in Asia. Was founded in 1914. Displays domestic animals in its Children's Zoo, as well as over 12000 birds of over 130 species in an aviary.
Shilin Night Market
A night market in the Shilin District. Encompasses two distinct sections: a section formerly housed in the old Shilin Market building, containing mostly food vendors and small restaurants; and the surrounding businesses and shops selling other nonfood items.
Miniatures Museum of Taiwan
The first museum to collect miniatures in Asia. Was founded on March 28, 1997 by Mr Lin Wen-ren and his wife. Ranked second in the world, with a collection of nearly 200 items.
Fort Santo Domingo
A wooden fort originally built by the Spanish in 1629 at Tamsui District. Now, it is a museum with the interior recreated from photographs. The fort is open to the public Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm. There is no charge for admission.
Lin Family Mansion and Garden
Taiwan's most complete surviving example of traditional Chinese garden architecture. Was a residence built by the Lin Ben Yuan Family. It is necessary to have a tour guide lead to enter the mansion's interior.
Bitan
A tourist spot in Xindian District. Bitan literally means green lake, referring to where the Xindian River widens to form the lake. There is a well-known suspension bridge that is used only by pedestrians.
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
A memorial to the Republic of China's National Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and was completed on 1972. The main entrance to the hall contains a statue of Sun Yat-sen. Every hour, there is a formal changing of the guards, which is a popular tourist attraction.
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15 Secrets & Best Places in Tainan, Taiwan
This is my ultimate travel guide for Tainan, Taiwan including 15 best things to do and best places to visit which I carefully selected, like Fort Zeelandia, Du Xiao Yue for its epic Dandan noodles, Chun Sui Tang - the inventor of bubble tea, mega gachapon machine and the eating bizarre chicken butts. Subscribe to my channel ► for weekly videos!
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Sadly, #Tainan is not popular with foreign tourists even though it is the oldest city in #Taiwan. Tainan became a top priority on my bucket list for the simple reason that it was found by the Dutch in 1624. The city is home to Dutch VOC fortresses Zeelandia and Provintia which were massive fortifications for its time. I visited Tainan to find the remnants of my ancestors since I am Dutch myself.
Tainan is known by the Taiwanese as the food mecca of the country due to its many locally grown produce, from epic mango shaved ice desserts to Chun Sui Tang - the original restaurant where bubble tea was invented but also its delicious beef noodle bowls called dandan noodles at Du Xiao Yue.
My first stop was the Dutch Fort Provintia where the Dutch VOC's (Dutch East India Company) administrative heart of Taiwan was located. I was blown away to learn that the foundation of all these Dutch forts was made with a mortar recipe containing crushed oyster shells, sugar and sticky rice since cement was hard to come by on the island.
In the evening I went for dinner on the ancient Shennon street which is gorgeous during the evening for its small historic shops and cozy atmosphere. At a local street restaurant I went all out and tried their bizarre local delicacy; grilled chicken butts. One place where you should definitely eat is Du Xiao Yue, the oldest noodle shop in Taiwan founded in 1895 and order the Dandan noodles! Alternatively, try their milk fish, rice eel and incredible fried shrimp rolls. Let's not forget about the delicious beef soup and beef tongue and Win Chang restaurant..
The highlight of my visit was Fort Zeelandia, a massive Dutch VOC fortress on the Anping peninsula which the Dutch held onto until 1662 when the Ming Dynasty sent Koxinga to take over Formosa (Taiwan's original name) and banish the Dutch. Fort Zeelandia showcases a huge collection of Dutch artifacts from that time period. If you want even more Dutch history, check out the Merchant House for many ancient Dutch maps and VOC ship scale models, additionally visit the incredible treehouse, a warehouse completely engulfed by nature.
My favorite object was the scale model of Fort Zeelandia, the sheer size was absolutely mindboggling. The Dutch were besieged by Koxinga for 9 months which left them with no other option than to surrender after which Taiwan became Chinese territory and the Dutch retreated back to Batavia in Indonesia, nowadays known as Jakarta.
Tainan doesn't really have a big nightlife, for good parties you'll have to go to either Taipei or Kaohsiung but luckily Tainan has one major nightclub called MUSE Tainan where I had a great time drinking and socializing with the locals. For just 700 NT ($25 USD) it was an all-you-can-drink party. It was a crazy experience seeing not many people at the bar even with it being an all-you-can-drink event, I guess the Taiwanese know their limits very well.
In conclusion, I had a fantastic time in Tainan and I will consider visiting Tainan in the near future to see what other great places this magical city has to offer so I can create another #TravelGuide for you guys!
Watch my episodes from Taiwan!
Episode 1: My Free Flight to Taiwan
Episode 2: Beautiful Mountain Village Jiufen
Episode 3: Drinking Snake Venom
Episode 4: Bizarre Toilet Restaurant
Episode 5: Eating Entire Duck
Episode 6: Taipei 101 (Icon of Taiwan)
Episode 7: Taiwan Street Food at Taipei Night Markets
Episode 8: Ultimate Taipei Travel Guide
Episode 9: Taipei Nightlife (Best Bars & Nightclubs)
Episode 10: Tainan Travel Guide
Episode 11: Kaohsiung Travel Guide
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10 Things to do in Nakano: Tokyo's Cheap Budget District
These are my carefully selected 10 top things to do in Nakano, the secret budget district of Tokyo. I included gems like Koala March pastries, Daily Chico, Namco Arcade, Horumon Yakiniku and where to get a FREE Gyoza dinner to complete an epic afternoon in Tokyo. Subscribe to my channel ► for weekly videos!
Tokyo is overrun by tourism, luckily for you there is an alternative nobody is talking about yet. The Nakano district is just 5 minutes west by train from Shinjuku and a hidden gem in Tokyo. Nakano is famous for being the oldskool Anime, Manga & Gaming mecca compared to the hugely popular Akihabara electronic town district plus is it extremely cozy and welcoming compared to obvious tourist hot spots of Tokyo.
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Nakano is especially great to visit during a rainy day in Tokyo since Nakano's primary shopping street and the Nakano Broadway complex, which houses 250 stores, are all indoor. Nakano Broadway includes super fun places, super cheap Japanese snack shops, plenty of arcades and comic book stores to keep you entertained throughout the day.
Whoever says Tokyo is expensive is an amateur traveler and is just doing it wrong. Most travelers go to Shinjuku, Shibuya & Ginza which are quite expense. Together with my friends Heather, Kelly and Bobby we enjoyed an incredibly cheap evening food adventures in Nakano.
Start your adventure in Nakano by walking through the Sun Mall shopping street until you end up at the Nakano Broadway complex where you can browse through at least 30 Mandarake store. Mandarake is THE pre-owned comic book dealer of Tokyo since 1987. Every Mandarake store has a different theme. For the most unique Mandarake store head to the 3rd floor where you can enter a special shrine that sells vintage tin toys.
The best part of the Nakano Broadway complex is the basement. Here you'll find gigantic cheap grocery stores with incredible products ranging from household items to dirt cheap fish and delicious sushi pre-made meals.
Near the back of the basement you'll find the Daily Chico soft-serve ice cream store that sell this ridiculous 8 flavors, 40-centimeter-tall soft-serve ice cream cone which makes for hilarious selfies and sells for 480 YEN, $4 USD!
In the evening I recommend you explore the extreme cozy back alleys on the east side of the Sun Mall shopping street. This area houses plenty of sake bars, karaoke shops and izakaya’s (Japanese drinking spots) but above all wagyu beef and steak houses. Wagyu is expensive fat marbled beef that will melt on the tip of your tongue. After some digging I found that Horumon Yakiniku offers the best bang for your buck. Their wagyu beef was mouth-watering delicious.
Another place to visit is Terrie's Dog Cafe. Entrance is FREE but does require you purchase a plain tea or coffee with rates starting at only 300 YEN, $2.80 USD. Terrie's Dog Cafe is a shelter for rescue dogs so please do the right thing and support these poor little cuties.
My favorite part of Nakano is the atmosphere, it is cozy, friendly and fun, especially on a rainy day. With the massive amounts of indoor shops there is something to do for everyone. Do not hesitate and make the 5-minute train journey just west of Shinjuku main station.
In conclusion, Nakano is the definition of a cheap day in Tokyo. Especially for travelers on a serious budget. Do not pay tourist prices in the obvious tourist districts of Tokyo. Head out of the tourist comfort zone and explore the lesser known areas. You won't be disappointed!
Taipei, Taiwan - 5 Things You Should Know Before You Visit
*DON'T FORGET TO WATCH THE SEQUEL TO THIS VIDEO: 5 More Things You Should Know Before You Visit:
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More about Taipei:
Taipei, Taiwan is a super modern city with a deep-rooted culture that is becoming more and more popular as a gateway to East Asia and Southeast Asia.
It’s new express MRT service from Taoyuan International Airport, a 36 minute ride, will make it even more convenient for travellers, especially those on a short layover.
This short but important list of essential things you should know will help keep you on track with a smooth stay.
Although taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive compared with other big cities in East Asia the MRT is one of the best ways to get to most of the main sites and business centers of Taipei City.
The Nangang Exhibition Center where many conventions and shows are held is accessible by the blue and brown MRT lines. Neihou, where many tech industry businesses have their head office is also on the brown line, Xihu is one of the most convenient stops for quick and easy access.
Taipei 101 for the last 3.5 years has had it’s own MRT stop on the red line. This is where you’ll also find The International Convention Center next to the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall. It’s also in close proximity to Taipei City Hall and is apart of the Xinyi Shopping District, where you’ll find one of the largest selections of luxury goods stores in East Asia.
If you want to get more of a local perspective pick up an Easycard available at most MRT stations and register it online with Ubike, so you can have access to the city bikes that have stations across Taipei City and New Taipei City. Simply swipe your card next to the bike you want to rent and you’re ready to go. You can drop the bike off at any Ubike station. They’re almost always located near an MRT station.
In the video I mention briefly that the Taiwanese people are very friendly and helpful. It’s true! If you ever appear to be lost or confused while looking at a map you will in most cases immediately attract the attention of a local who will be pleased to help you find your way. That’s wny I said “get lost”, literally you can get lost while exploring this amazing city with it’s maze of alleyways, quiet cafes, food stalls and shops and not worry that you won’t have help getting back to your hotel.
Taipei and the rest of Taiwan is an extremely safe place to travel. There is literally no or very rare violent crime against tourists. Personal ownership of guns is banned. There has been reports of pick pocketing and petty theft, particularly in night markets and crowded places, but I think this is even rare now.
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Enjoy your stay in Taipei and please feel free to leave any comments or questions. You can also message me on the Far East Adventure Travel Facebook page!
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Taipei’s BEST Street Food Guide 2019!! UNKNOWN Taiwanese Street Food + Japanese Food in Taiwan
SEAFOOD in Taiwan + BEST Japanese Food and SUSHI in Taipei!
Join us for an INSANE street food tour in Taiwan's capital city and street food HEAVEN: Taipei!!! We are going to take you away from the tourist crowds to show you the BEST Taiwanese foods and restaurants you've never seen before! Today, we are going to eat what the LOCALS love to eat! Let's go! 加油 !
We start our epic day of eating and exploring at an UNKNOWN restaurant for the most incredible bowl of braised pork rice 滷肉饭 and tofu for breakfast. Come early, this place gets PACKED! Next, we check out a beautiful temple, Xingtian Temple 行天宫 to see Taiwanese culture in action. This temple banned the use of burning incense to combat air pollution. Awesome! Then, we take you to a spot where old concepts meet new design: Addiction Aquatic Development. Here you can have get an incredibly CHEAP deal on sushi, sashimi, grilled seafood and MORE! We also checked out the live seafood area while we were there to have TUNA. Now that we're SUPER full, we take a rest at Lin An Tai Ancestral Home, a peaceful museum and garden where you can observe one of the best preseved Chinese homes in all of Taiwan! For dessert (of course) we head to a shop that specializes in Wheel Cakes 红豆餅, one with red bean and one with custard. And how could you resist?! They are so CHEAP and FRESH! To end our CRAZY day of eating, we head to a Michelin recommended (bib gourmand) street food stall that fries meat 烤肉! We ordered beef & clams, Taiwan-style! As a tip, wash it all down with a Taiwan beer! Taipei is a food-lovers DREAM come true!
Want to visit these places too? Check the information below:
Braised pork rice & tofu at 今大魯肉飯 (Jin Da Lu Rou Fan)
No. 40 Daren St., Sanchong District, New Taipei City
Closest MRT: Cailiao Station
Temple Visit at Hsing Tian Kong 行天宫
No. 109, Sec. 2, Minquan East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Closest MRT: Xingtian Temple
Tuna sushi platter & wine at Addiction Aquatic Development (Tresors de la Mer)
No. 18, Alley 2, Lane 410, Minzu East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Closest MRT: Xingtian Temple
Wheel Cakes Dessert at 晴光紅豆餅 Qing Kwang Hongdou Bing
No. 16, Lane 12, Shuangcheng Street (inside covered market), Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Closest MRT: Zhongshan Elementary School
Fried beef & clams at 駱記小炒 Luo ji xiaochao
No. 27, Alley 50, Lane 39, Tonghua Street (in Tonghua Night Market), Da'an District, Taipei City
#TAIWANESEFOOD #TAIPEI #STREETFOOD
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Hey there, we’re Luke Martin and Sabrina Davidson with chopsticktravel.com ! We’re on a journey to document the BEST Street Food around the world! Chopstick Travel started in Taiwan, where we frequent the best Street Food stands everywhere from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Not only do we feast on amazing street food in Taiwan, but our food focused travels take us on Street Food missions trying unique foods around the world! We've eaten Street Food in Japan, Street Food in Taiwan, Street Food in Malaysia, Street Food in Korea, Street Food in India, Street Food in Turkey, Street Food in Italy, Street Food in Greece and many more! I post 2 times a week mostly food, some travel. Street Food tours around the world and the most unique dishes we can find in all kinds of hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Stay updated for my latest video VIA our Facebook page and Instagram! Always remember that the best part of travel is immersing yourself in the local culture, and no where better can you immerse yourself than into the Street Food!
Street Food in TAIPEI TAIWAN 2019
12 Districts of Taipei City (Part 1)丨Hack It Formosa 003 - Storyteller of Taiwan
How well do you know Taipei, the biggest metropolitan and also our most visited city in Taiwan?
In this video, we talk about the best known features of each district in Taipei city, from old to new, from fancy apartments to hot springs, and from temples to nightclub areas. As travelers, here are some places for you to visit, explore and at times, to avoid!
Stay tuned! Hack It Formosa sums up the perfect survival guide for your stay in Taipei, Taiwan. May the traveling odds be ever in your favor!
▪️ Zhongzheng District
▪️ Wanhua District
▪️ Datong District
▪️ Xinyi District
▪️ Da'an District
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Enjoy our introduction of Taiwan anytime, anywhere!
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丨Editor & Effect: Boan Wang / Esther Jan
｜Actor & Actress: Ashley Chen / Boan Wang / Thomas Moerlen
TRAVEL TAIWAN VLOG | Kenting National Park 墾丁 #12
Located in the south of #Taiwan, #Kenting isn't a place where I visit often as it is approximately 3.5 hours away with both the high speed rail and the local bus. I decided that with Kevin in town, I'd have to take him once out of the city of Taipei. The semi-private beach at the hotel is definitely the most beautiful one I've seen on this island. Listening to the waves hitting the shore makes the long commute all worthwhile. Honestly, if I had a chance to live by the water, I'd jump on the opportunity without a doubt. A special appreciation to my friend Doris and her boyfriend Kelvin for the company.
For more information, please visit:
Things to Do near Kenting National Park
Kenting National Park
Chateau Beach Resort
This vlog is filmed with HTC Re and edited via Adobe Premiere Pro, find out more about the camera on my review:
#KentingNationalPark #TravelTaiwan #TaiwanVlog #LivingInTaiwan
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Top 5 Recommended Hotels In Taipei, Taiwan
Top 5 Recommended Hotels In Taipei - Here are Best Hotels in Taipei, Taiwan:
1. Palais de Chine Hotel [5-star] -
No. 3, Section 1, Chengde Road, Taipei Main Station, Taipei, Taiwan, 10351
This modern and luxurious hotel resting in the heart of Taipei is ready to serve both business and leisure travelers alike. Conveniently set within close proximity to the Taipei Train Station and the MRT Taipei Main, guests will have no trouble gaining access to different districts of the city.
2. Imperial Hotel [5-star] -
600 Lin Shen N. Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, 10460
The Imperial Hotel is located right in the center of Taipei's business and financial district. Transportation is very convenient with a number of public bus lines and an MRT line to take you to any point in the city.
3. San Want Hotel [4-star] -
172,sec.4 Chung Hsiao E. Rd, Daan District, Taipei, Taiwan, 10688
San Want Hotel features a wonderful location for seeing the highlights of the city. It is located in the heart of Taipei's business district, within walking distance to the city MRT station and is 45 minutes away from CKS International Airport.
4. Hotel Midtown Richardson [4-star] -
No.4, Xiushan St., Ximending, Taipei, Taiwan, 10042
Located in the lovely area of Ximending, Hotel Midtown Richardson enjoys a commanding position in the nightlife, restaurants, shopping hub of Taipei. From here, guests can enjoy easy access to all that the lively city has to offer.
5. United Hotel [4-star] -
200, Kwang-Fu S.Rd, Daan District, Taipei, Taiwan, 10694
Located in a bustling section of eastern Taipei, near the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei International Convention Center, and Taipei MRT station, this cozy property makes an excellent hub for Taipei’s massive transportation network.
Music License: Happy Life by FREDJI -