TAIWAN, A HIDDEN GEM IN ASIA
Honestly, I went to Taiwan with little expectations. Instead, what I found was an engaging and vibrant city that both me and my parents enjoyed. Though I only spent three days in the capitol city of Taipei, there are still so many sights to be seen in this hidden gem in Asia.
First, the National Palace Museum is a mainstay draw for many. Housing almost 700,000 Chinese artifacts and artwork spanning 8,000 years of Chinese history, many of these artifacts were originally from the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Patricia recommended specifically seeing the Jadeite cabbage: a diminuitive (7.4 inches tall) piece of jade carved to resemble a piece of Chinese cabbage. If you look closely, you can also see a hidden cricket and locust on it. Unfortunately, because of the large crowd surrounding the display case, I didn’t have much time to appreciate it. I suppose I felt more excitement and anticipation prior, because when I was able to view it, I was a bit disappointed to see how small it was. Though the book mentioned the vastness of artifacts in the museum (suggesting it would take a few months to see all of them) I was satisfied with my one-day visit.
Nearby the National Palace Museum is The Grand Hotel. The hotel was a magnificent and breathtaking place to stay at; a gorgeous example of traditional Chinese design with a red saturated hotel lobby that stupefied me with wonder upon entering. The Grand Hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle from the hotel directly to Taipei Main Station every 20 minutes. Just be mindful of the time because the last shuttle leaves Taipei Main Station at 6:00pm each day.
For stunning views of Taipei, I suggest reserving one of the Chi Lin Rooms. The Chi Lin rooms are much larger than the standard rooms, has plush, premium bedding, and includes a balcony overlooking the city.
If you do stay at The Grand Hotel, be sure to bring your swimsuit and take a swim in their Olympic-sized swimming pool. Especially during the extreme weather in Taipei, a dip in the pool is a lovely escape from the heat and humidity. Additional amenities include a fitness center and tennis courts.
If you want to stay at a more modern, swankier hotel closer to the city center, I would recommend the Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel. Although this hotel isn't as visually stunning as the Grand Hotel, it does provide a familiar sense of luxurious creature comforts. Upon check-in, the front desk offered an amenities package upgrade, which I accepted for $60 more. This provided us with a larger room, lounge access, complimentary laundry service (up to $605 NT), and a complimentary breakfast buffet.
There are so many interesting sights in Taipei, including their famous night markets. Here are some recommendations if you’re planning on exploring other spots in Taipei:
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall: Named after the leader of the Kuomintang Party, this national monument was erected to memorialize this political leader.
The original Din Tai Fung: Even though there are many locations around the globe (including at Disneyland!), the original Din Tai Fung is a fun, fan-favorite place to visit. For those who aren’t familiar, this restaurant chain is famous for its soup-filled steamed dumplings, called xiao long bao. The address is No. 194號, Section 2, Xinyi Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 (As of this writing, it looks like they only offer takeout at the moment).
Mango Cha Cha: Their mango shaved ice was amazingly delicious. There were a bunch of different places that sold mango shaved ice, including the one inside Taipei 101, but I personally thought that Mango Cha Cha served the best mango shaved ice (My parents and I probably had it almost every single day, too!).
Chun Shui Tang: The (alleged) home of the original boba milk tea! Need I say more?
Shilin Night Market: A large, bustling night market and tourist hotspot that’s great for souvenir shopping. Just be aware of the stinky tofu that resonates around the street food carts (unless that’s your gig, then by all means, grab a plate!).
