Taipei 台北

Some pictures of Taipei

Presentation of Taipei

Founded in the early 18th century by migrants from the Chinese province of Fujian, the city of Taipei, now the capital of Taiwan, has seen the passage of different authorities over the centuries: Chinese, Japanese, etc. It was only after the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 that Taipei experienced rapid development, absorbing the surrounding towns and villages, thus becoming one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Built in the middle of a basin in the north of the island, the city is surrounded by small mountains and is dotted with greenery, which allows for a balance between urban and natural places during your visit. Between Yangmingshan National Park, Beitou Hot Springs, and Tamsui Resort, all located just north of Taipei and accessible by public transport, you can be sure to experience new sensations every day. And if you feel like wandering through matcha tea plantations and tasting dishes made with it, you can take the Maokong cable car which passes right above the city zoo. At the very heart of the city’s urban landscape are architectural treasures from different eras, such as the Taipei 101 tower, once the tallest skyscraper in the world and offering breathtaking views of the city, but also the Longshan Temple, the most visited Buddhist temple on the island. The most important building in the city, however, remains the National Palace Museum, which houses the largest collection of Chinese art objects in the world (over 650,000 pieces, twice the size of the Louvre). With night market culture being omnipotent in Taiwan, it is only natural that Taipei has several of them within its walls, offering hungry stomachs the opportunity to enjoy the island’s culinary specialties and deep pockets the opportunity to do some shopping. Taipei is not a megalopolis as vast as Beijing or Shanghai, exploring it by bike is possible and made very pleasant by the presence of a good number of cycle paths. The metro serves most places of interest, and buses are also plentiful. In addition, its proximity to the coast makes day trips to the seaside possible. Taipei is a city with a strong international community, and is therefore very affordable and convenient to visit for foreign visitors. All signs (signs, metro stations, etc.) are given in Mandarin and English, which is also valid throughout the island.