Garden Party

Garden Party

The Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall gardening team did an excellent job with this plaza. 

When it Just Rained

When it Just Rained

Rainy and overcast weather is terrible for the traveler but excellent for photos. Colors simply pop. 

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall with Taipei Dome in the back. The stadium was under construction when I was visited two years ago and it’s surprisingly still not done.

Rainy Commute

Rainy Commute

Walking towards Taipei 101 as the locals head to work. 

Segments

Segments

The Taipei 101 tower segments the evokes the patterns of an Asian pagoda and a stalk of Chinese bamboo. evoked in the a stalk of bamboo.

Foggy observatory

Foggy observatory

Due to fog the view at the Taipei 101 observatory wasn't best, but the lack of other tourists was nice. 

The Golden Globe

The Golden Globe

Any tall building in Taiwan needs to withstand typhoon and earthquakes. Taipei 101 features the largest ball damper in the world to counteract forces.

Tourist Watch

Tourist Watch

The vast entrance to the National Palace Museum. 

Open Spaces

Open Spaces

No matter where we go, we are all one. 

The Palace

The Palace

The National Palace Museum holds arguably the biggest collection of Ming and Qing dynasty treasures. Paradoxical to find it in Taiwan and not mainland.

Local Alleyway

Local Alleyway

A local alleyway full of small eateries and parked mopeds. 

The Commute Home

The Commute Home

People heading home after a day's work. When public transport is so good and far-reaching, there's no need to own car. 

Take-home Food

Take-home Food

Where's the need to cook when food shops are so plenty and cheap everywhere in Taipei? 

Over and Under

Over and Under

And another day is done for the locals. 

Shops on Shops

Shops on Shops

Variety is the spice of life. 

Food Heaven

Food Heaven

A trip to Taipei is not complete without many visits to night markets. It's indeed foodie heaven. 

Shilin Market

Shilin Market

Of the numerous night markets in Taipei, the ones I think worth a for sure visit is Shilin and Roahe.

We All Love Food

We All Love Food

Pro tip for food markets: if you can stand to eat a bit early, go closer to opening hours to avoid the masses of people later. 

Urban Lungs

Urban Lungs

This particular tree-lined thoroughfare we walked pass has got almost a forest for a divider. 

Zhongxiao Road

Zhongxiao Road

Zhongxiao Road is one of the main arteries that cuts through nearly the entire width of Taipei. There's a variety of things to see so we took our time to stroll along quite a bit of it. 

Ready Set Go

Ready Set Go

Taipei: a city of mopeds. 

Arriving

Arriving

At the 'Zhongxiao Fuxing' subway station watching a brown line train arriving. 

Green Condo

Green Condo

Saw this architectural beauty of a condo as we walk along Zhongxiao road. 

Green Balconies

Green Balconies

You probably can't get any more 'green' than this. 

Tree-lined

Tree-lined

A gorgeous tree-lined boulevard in the heart of Taipei. 

 

Memorial Hall

Memorial Hall

The sun decided to come out as we approach Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. A stunning facade indeed. 

Liberty Square

Liberty Square

The world famous Liberty Square of Taipei. Mass gatherings of good or bad (it's democratic China, after all) happens here. 

Kuomintang Symbol

Kuomintang Symbol

The Kuomintang symbol prominently displayed adorning the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall dome. 

Chinese Theatre

Chinese Theatre

One of the two theatre spaces with its unique ancient Chinese architecture. 

The Paifang

The Paifang

The main Paifang at the entrance to Liberty Square. 

Subway Station

Subway Station

A look at one of the many subway station we utilized on the trip. 

Ancient Gate

Ancient Gate

The old northern gate of Taipei, the only remaining bit of the ancient walls that protected the city. 

Taipei Post Office

Taipei Post Office

The glorious old main branch of the Taipei post office. 

Roadway Tiers

Roadway Tiers

I guess you have to stack roadways like this when real estate is at a premium. 

Tamsui River

Tamsui River

The view from Zhongxiao bridge as we cross the Tamsui River going from Taipei to New Taipei City. 

Riverfront Snakes

Riverfront Snakes

The way Taipei have put the highway stacks by the riverfront here reminds me a bit of downtown Seattle. 

Mopeds and Pedestrians

Mopeds and Pedestrians

You know mopeds are king in the city when they've got dedicated lanes on bridges. 

Ximending

Ximending

The Ximending shopping district is the Harajuku/Myeongdong of Taipei. Come here for food, fashion, and youth culture. 

Subway Exit

Subway Exit

The Ximen subway station will take you right to the entrance of Ximending. 

Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad

Ximending has a thriving graffiti scene. We encountered this impressively large Suicide Squad themed mural. 

Iron Canopy

Iron Canopy

An impressive canopy sculpture at Ximending. 

Night Tower

Night Tower

Taipei 101's beauty comes alive at night.

Night Changes

Night Changes

The Sun Yat Sen Memorial Plaza at night looking towards Taipei 101. 

A-MEI Tea House

A-MEI Tea House

The world famous A-MEI Tea House at Jiufen, purported to be the inspiration of Miyazaki's Spirited Away. 

It's too bad one the day we went the fog was in full strength. 

Lanterns

Lanterns

The lanterns and architecture of Jiufen. 

Hundred Steps

Hundred Steps

Being on a hillside facing the ocean, a trip to Jiufen is going to involve plenty of stairs. 

Jiufen Old Street

Jiufen Old Street

The central shopping street in Jiufen is full of food and trinkets to trap tourists, but I did have the best red-bean cake I've ever ate here. 

Maokong Hike

Maokong Hike

Did some damp weather hiking in Maokong. 

Stairway

Stairway

Hiking in Maokong can be quite the workout. 

Rest Area

Rest Area

Catch your breath. 

Tea Farm

Tea Farm

Maokong district is the place to be in Taipei for one of the things Taiwan is famous for: tea. 

Obscurity

Obscurity

On a normal day one would be able to see Taipei 101 from Maokong. Unfortunately we did not go on a normal day. 

Sitting Area

Sitting Area

Sitting by the tea. 

Tea House

Tea House

One of the many tea houses in Maokong where you can sample tea and take in the views when the weather cooperates. 

Maokong

Maokong

The view of the Maokong area once you get off the gondola at Maokong station. One can also get to this same spot via local bus. 

From Elephant Mountain

From Elephant Mountain

No trip to Taipei is complete without hiking Elephant Mountain because it offers the best view of Taipei 101 and the surrounding area. 

Scenic Greetings

Scenic Greetings

The view afforded to you halfway up the main trail on Elephant Mountain. 

Coup De Grace

Coup De Grace

One for the postcards. 

Inbound

Inbound

A subway train pulling in to Beitou station. 

Beitou Station

Beitou Station

The architecture of Beitou Station. You'd want to come here because Beitou is the hot springs capital of Taipei. 

Car Spotting

Car Spotting

It's pleasantly odd to see an American icon like the Ford Mustang just popping up in Taipei. 

Heart of Beitou

Heart of Beitou

The red pavilion marks the center of town. Surrounding it is all manners of hot springs hotels/resorts. 

Thermal Valley

Thermal Valley

One of the main landmarks in Beitou is scenic Thermal Valley, showcasing a natural hot sulfur spring. It site for the eyes and the nose.  

Beitou Public Library

Beitou Public Library

In addition to all the hot springs action going on, Beitou also have one of the most architecturally ornate public libraries I've ever encountered. 

Natural Spring Water

Natural Spring Water

Flowing from up the mountains down through Beitou is a creek of natural spring water. Please don't be an idiot and trespass on the water. 

Fresh Water Creek

Fresh Water Creek

Clean and fresh enough to bottle. 

Hide and Go Seek

Hide and Go Seek

Even if hot springs aren't your thing, Beitou is so beautiful it's worth the subway ride from Taipei. 

Keelung River Park

Keelung River Park

One street over from the famous Raohe Street Night Market is the Keelung River and its surround recreation area. 

Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge

The aptly named Rainbow Bridge gives off a myriad of colors in its reflections off Keelung River. 

Huandong Boulevard

Huandong Boulevard

Looking west from Rainbow Bridge is Huandong Boulevard bridge and the Second MacArthur Bridge behind it. 

Reflecting Light

Reflecting Light

Rainbow Bridge doing its rainbow magic on the Keelung River. 

Twist and Turns

Twist and Turns

While it may look straight from afar, the Rainbow Bridge is a surprising bend. 

River Stroll

River Stroll

The view east standing on Rainbow Bridge.