Travel Guide

The Taipei Guest House is a historic building located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan. It was originally built between 1899 and 1901 as the official residence of the Governor-General of Taiwan during Japanese rule, and was rebuilt in 1911. Today, it is owned by the Government of the Republic of China and serves as a state guesthouse for receiving foreign dignitaries or hosting celebratory events. Its architectural style is French Second Empire palace-style, featuring a Mansard roof, tall Roman columns, and luxurious interior decorations, complemented by a modern Japanese garden.

Shilin Night Market is a night market located in Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan, often considered Taiwan's largest and most famous night market. The night market comprises two distinct sections: one part, formerly the old Shilin Market building, primarily houses food stalls and small restaurants; and the surrounding shops selling other non-food items. The food court has 539 stalls, and the second floor serves as a parking lot with 400 spaces. In addition to the food court, side streets and alleys are also lined with storefronts and street vendors. Cinemas, video game arcades, and karaoke halls are also common in the area. Like most night markets in Taiwan, local businesses and vendors begin operating around 4 PM. Crowds peak between 8 PM and 11 PM as students return home from school. Businesses remain open past midnight, closing around 1 AM or 2 AM. Since the opening of two nearby stations of the Taipei Metro system in 1997, tourist traffic has increased.

The Taipei 101 Observatory is located on the 89th floor of Taipei 101, offering an excellent vantage point to overlook Taipei city. Taipei 101 was once the world's tallest building, renowned for its unique postmodern architectural style and earthquake/wind-resistant design. The observatory provides both indoor and outdoor viewing experiences, while the building also houses office areas, high-end restaurants, and a multi-story shopping mall.

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a national monument built to commemorate Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China, and is a famous landmark and tourist attraction in Taipei City. The Memorial Hall is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, at the eastern end of the memorial park, with the National Theater and National Concert Hall on its north and south sides, respectively. The main body of the Memorial Hall is a white four-sided building with a blue octagonal roof, symbolizing the ethical spirit of 'loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, love, trustworthiness, righteousness, and peace'. The Memorial Hall has 89 steps, representing Chiang Kai-shek's age at the time of his death. The ground floor houses a library and museum, documenting Chiang Kai-shek's life and deeds, as well as Taiwan's history and development. The upper floor is the main hall, containing a giant bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek in a seated posture, and regularly holds a changing of the guard ceremony.

Daan Forest Park is a large public park located in the heart of Daan District, Taipei City, Taiwan, covering an area of twenty-six hectares. The park is bordered by Xinyi Road to the north, Heping East Road to the south, Jianguo South Road to the east, and Xinsheng South Road to the west. It is an important place for Taipei citizens to engage in outdoor activities and enjoy green spaces, known as the "Lungs of Taipei City". The park boasts rich ecology, home to various animals such as squirrels, ducks, egrets, and turtles, and features facilities like ponds, pavilions, walking trails, an outdoor amphitheater, a children's playground, jogging tracks, and a skating rink.

Raohe Street Tourist Night Market is one of Taipei City's most popular night markets, known for its diverse Taiwanese snacks, unique goods, and lively atmosphere. Visitors can taste classic delicacies such as Fuzhou Pepper Buns, Medicinal Herb Pork Rib Soup, and Luwei (braised dishes) here.

Tainan's Douhua is renowned for its adherence to traditional preparation methods and unique flavor. Made fresh daily from freshly ground non-GMO soybeans, it boasts an incredibly smooth and delicate texture with a rich soybean aroma. The accompanying syrup and toppings are also meticulously selected.

One of the most iconic snacks in Taiwanese night markets. Fresh oysters, vegetables (usually bok choy or garland chrysanthemum), and sweet potato starch batter are pan-fried together. Before serving, an egg wash is poured over, and finally, it's topped with a special sweet and spicy sauce.

A highly controversial Taiwanese specialty snack, famous for its unique "stinky" smell produced after fermentation. There are various preparation methods, the most common being deep-fried stinky tofu, which has a crispy skin and porous interior, served with pickled cabbage and sauce.

A classic Taiwanese thick soup snack, featuring handmade red vermicelli as the main ingredient, combined with braised and flavorful pork intestines and fresh oysters, thickened into a rich, gooey consistency. It has a smooth texture and a savory-umami taste, making it a comfort food for many Taiwanese people.

A unique Taiwanese snack featuring a chewy skin made from rice flour, sweet potato starch, or tapioca starch, wrapped around fillings like pork, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. It can be prepared by steaming or deep-frying, and is typically served with a drizzle of soy paste and sweet chili sauce.

A type of rice cake made by steaming seasoned glutinous rice, shiitake mushrooms, shallots, dried shrimp, minced pork sauce, and other ingredients in small bamboo tubes or metal cans. When serving, the rice cake is inverted onto a plate and topped with sweet and spicy sauce or minced pork sauce.