Taipei has many fascinating scenic spots. The neatly lined up trees along Dunhua South Road lend some green color and pleasant atmosphere to the city. The Taipei 101 skyscraper with its towering, beautiful architecture also appeals to many travelers. Expansive Liberty Square, with the National Concert Hall and National Theater flanking it, offers majestic scenery. The busy Ximending shopping district can be reached directly by the Mass Rapid Transit system, and nearby Zhongshan Hall, just a short walk away, is a grade 2 national historic site where many important arts and cultural events are held.
If you want to find the most down-to-earth aspects of Taipei and try authentic local cuisine, visit a night market. For specific holidays, the city offers an incomparable Lantern Festival and fireworks on the eve of Chinese Lovers’ Day. If you come to Yangmingshan (Mt. Yangming), known as “Taipei’s back garden,” you can admire the colorful hydrangeas, or at Tiger Mountain in the Xinyi District you can beat the heat and find a nostalgic circular arch bridge. Whatever your preferred itinerary, in this issue Taiwan Panorama will introduce you to the many charms of Taipei.
Binjiang Market (Pan Tongxi)
At the Binjiang Fruit and Vegetable Market many premium foods are sold. Located near the airport, it is an ideal place from which to take close-up photographs of planes landing and taking off.
Huaxi Street Night Market (Li Shengzhang)
The Huaxi Street Night Market, located near Lungshan Temple, is Taiwan’s first “tourist night market.” All kinds of food are sold there and it never fails to astonish travelers.
Flamegold rain trees on Dunhua South Road (Wang Liwen)
In autumn the flamegold rain trees neatly aligned along Dunhua South Road glitter like golden gems.
Hydrangea season at Zhuzihu (Wang Liwen)
Yangmingshan (Mt. Yangming) is famous for its hydrangea viewing season; the blossoming flowers form a magnificent “sea” of color.
