We really enjoyed our week in Taipei. Our trip coincided with Chinese New Year, and there were pluses and minuses to being there for the holiday. On one hand, traffic was very light around the Grand Hyatt, and some places had festive decorations. On the other hand, some attractions were very crowded, though I'm obviously…
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We really loved the zoo as well. From your pictures and even your descriptions, it sounds slightly more crowded than normal but everything is always crowded. The population density in Asia is crazy 🙂 part of the charm but tough with strollers.
Went to Nantou (~two hours from Taichung) and Taipei right before I started my blog, so no reviews there. But Nantou in particular was stunning, and completely worth the ride.
By the way, Travis, was there a "Tokyo-like" vibe in Taipei? I think so but my friends think I'm nuts.
Loved Taipei. We were there over calendar NY a year ago. We stayed at the W on Ben's recommendation and really enjoyed it. Taipei 101 NYE fireworks were amazing. We enjoyed Longshan Temple as well as multiple night markets. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall was really cool as well. MRT was our method of choice for getting around (just two adults) and we found it clean, easy to navigate, and cheap. We will definitely be back.
A few thoughts here: http://www.alltherightpoints.com/2015/01/ringing-in-2015-w-taipei.html
Different strokes for different folks, of course, (so no disrespect to people who disagree) but I have to say that this sounds like family travel done right to me!
It's too bad you didn't do a night market. To me (Taiwanese-American), Taiwan is all about the night market.
Nice review of Taiwan... my homeland (well my parents)....
I've always thought of Taipei as trailing Tokyo by about 5 years... but it could only be 2-3 years now.. so yes very Tokyo-ish....
How did you find the food?
FDW
Travis - did you find uber easy to use in Taipei? I've read some comments online that there is a long wait due to lack of drivers.
@Alvin:
Really depends on the district in Taipei, and what part of Tokyo. Ximending is probably the closest to what people think of Tokyo.
@ Alvin:
Depends on what district you're in and which part of Tokyo. Ximending is probably the closest to what people usually think of when they talk about Tokyo.
I love Taipei too! So many things to do and with so much unbelievably delicious food!
As someone who only goes to Asia once every year or so, I found my visit to TPE a bit redundant being a Japanophile. It's a bit like a mini Japan. My sinosphere scholar friends tell me that's an artifact of the colonial era, when Japan was occupier. A very cool country. Way way more fun than HKG in my opinion. But I tend to think J >>> C (I am white)..
In my opinion Taiwan has selectively cherished the best parts of Chinese and Japanese traditions, without too much of the sexist, elitist, Confucian values that come with them, thus Taiwan is able to push itself towards the work ethics and being detail oriented like the japanese and respect and care for its elders like the Chinese, but also elect a female president with no ties to big corporate money, and mainstream population supports GLBT rights in a way that Japan or China probably won't see in 50 years.
@Travis
I visited Hawaii (Oahu) recently. Found "it's a really beautiful country", just as you had found Taiwan to be. After Hawaii, the next country I will be visiting will be USA, which I, of course, hope will be as beautiful a country as Hawaii. I will be writing a travel blog on my visits to these 2 countries. Hopefully, citizens of both countries will enjoy reading my most knowlegeable - geography and history-wise - blog, just as I have enjoyed this most knowlegeable article of yours. 🙂