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Guide to Taipei, Taiwan
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Taipei
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TaipeiA former rice valley, Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is a thriving, overpopulated, overpriced, and overreaching city with some of the most welcoming people in all of Asia. It is unquestionably the countrys epicenter for government, culture, and commerce, bringing millions of tourists to its streets each year for unforgettable experiences; some memorable, some not-so-memorable, but nevertheless unforgettable. Though the Taiwanese government greatly discourages entrepreneurialship in its flagship city simply because competition is extremely fierce businessmen and women continue to flock to the capital for their own chance to make it big in the hubbub and the smog. Theres no other city in the world like Taipei. This, the city prides itself on, and for this spirit alone you should visit Taipei. The heavy pollution may not give credence to some visitors views of the city as a tourist destination, but the snakecharmers here are sure to get your mind off of the fumes a bit.
When to go:
Sitting in the northern sector of Taiwan, Taipei experiences quite a high level of humidity throughout much of the year, regardless of the amount of rainfall. The comfort level for outdoor activity diminishes significantly when the city sees peak temperatures. To avoid these conditions, we advise you plan your trip around the months of October and November, and though Taipei has been known to get hit by typhoons in October, if theyre not in the forecast, you can rest assured that youll have the best weather of the year at your hands. In addition benefiting from smart weather planning, youll also see a sizeable drop in crowd volume in the number of visitors, that is.
Getting there and around:
Because Taipei is the center of everything in the country (excluding its geographical stance), it wont be surprising to hear that international flights from around the world arrive at its airport each and every day. What may surprise some, however, is that on arrival, you wont notice your original carriers title displayed by the counters. For courtesy purposes, youll be greeted instead by employees working for airlines such as British Asia Airways and Japan Asia Airlines. This can be confusing to some, but is nonsensical to pursue the reasoning behind the alterations.
Taipeis MRT (Metropolitan Rapid Transit) system was the countrys first mass-transit system, and still is its most efficient. The cars rarely ever become overcrowded, and while the wait times may be longer than one would presume them to be, the pace seems to work seamlessly with that of city life. By no means should you go the route of a car rental. They are available, and package deals may seem enticing, but once youre on the road, it will only be regret, regret, and, oh yes, more regret. If you want your own vehicle, the closest you should get to accomplishing this goal is to hire a taxi. Drivers known the roads, and the only task you will most-likely have to perform is writing your destination in Taiwanese unless, of course, you know the countrys native language.
Attractions:
The best place to start your exploration of the city, where you will get the most comprehensive tour of the countrys history, is the National Palace Museum. The collection here began its accumulation more than 10 centuries ago, and while many of the items have gone through a rough past, and some even lost or destroyed in the process, there are thousands of pieces that chronicle the Chinese Empire and the birth of Taiwan. Many of the artworks here are priceless, and though some find it hard to believe, most of the Museums pieces had been on an incredibly adventurous journey. From evading Japanese control to Communist control in general, workers secretly moved the items from crates to basements to attics just for the sake of their preservation. Some visitors have even dubbed the story of the collection to be more fascinating than the pieces it is comprised of!
If you want some respite from the gases and the noise, you can head over to Taipeis Botanical Gardens where you can wander around the pond and the walkways for hours on end. If youd like an authentic Taipei experience, you can always visit the Link Antai Old Homestead, where youll get to see a structure (moved from its original location) from the late-1700s. It stands as the oldest residential building in the city today.
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