The main deities are found inside the larger pagoda beyond a small courtyard. Along the way, the walls and pillars are decorated with skillfully crafted stone tablets depicting the various other gods that inhabit the temple. Offerings are left here, ranging from fruit and flowers to money. This can be done by burning paper money or placing real currency in the offertory box in front of the Goddess of Mercy's statue. This temple is one of the most impressive in Taipei – as much for its architecture as its religious practices.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall is a few minutes walk from the International Convention Centre and Taipei 101. The Memorial Hall stands in quiet gardens and is designed in typical Chinese palatial style. The entrance to the hall is dominated by a 30ft seated statue of Dr Sun Yat Sen. The Changing of the Guard here is a great spectacle – with plenty foot stomping and rifles whirling -- and is a very serious affair due to Sun Yat Sen’s pivotal role in Taiwanese history.
Apart from the memorial statue, at the back of the hall there's an expo on the history of the revolution and the good doctor himself. A theatre for performances and recitals occupies the upper floors, and the expansive surrounding gardens provide the largest green space in eastern Taipei.
One is in for an awe-inspiring museum visit at the National Palace Museum, a must-see for anyone who wants a complete overview of Chinese culture and arts in just one stop. With its extensive collection, it has earned a rightful place in the league of the best museums of the world.
Taipei 101 opened to the public in November 2003; at 509 meters, it's currently the tallest building in the world and likely to stay that way for some time. Its exterior is designed like a traditional Chinese pagoda with eight floors separating each level of the pagoda roof, while feng shui has been incorporated into every detail of the design. Well placed in the financial and exhibition district, 101 is close to the Taipei Exhibition and Convention Centre, Grand Hyatt Hotel, International Convention Centre, and the Japanese department stores of Sogo and Mitsukoshi.
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall is another palatial Chinese design with blue tiled roofs, white walls and red flowerbeds, representing the flag of Taiwan. The Hall is flanked by lush gardens and close to the National Theatre and National Concert Hall which stage international acts and performances from around the world.
At the very edge of the city stands Yang Ming Shan National Park. It remains a favorite for locals because of its amazing scenery, hot springs and easy access – just 45 minutes by bus or 70 minutes on the MRT train. Wonderful flora, wildlife, hiking and picnicking complement the natural hot springs and the surrounding spa hotels. From full-blown public baths to private in-room natural spring water jacuzzis – Taipei-ites love to take a dip and revel in the benefits from the mineral spring water.
At the bottom of Yang Ming Shan lies a quaint little district called Peitou, which forms the cheaper end of the park and is much easier to reach. The new Peitou MRT Line leads straight to the Hot Spring Public Park and Museum. The option of wading in the natural run-off from the springs is best avoided due to the plastic bags and other rubbish there. The walk from the station to the top of Peitou, where all the private baths are, takes only about 30 minutes. The route is lined with a variety of hotel spas offering either public baths, private baths or private baths with rooms attached. Prices rise for each of these respectively.
Back in the city, Guang Hua Night Market is a bustling street made up of food stalls and snack shops catering to the local residents, and ranks as one of the best of Taipei's street food marts, and is fun to browse around even if you're not hungry. It's not exactly geared towards tourists as it’s off the beaten track but it is exciting nevertheless. In general, it's harder to figure out which queue is for which stall than which snack to actually eat. Many local residents come down to Guang Hua Street to pick up food to take home, and friends and couples come along to grab a bite -- it's all relatively cheap and extremely tasty. Beef bone soup is a special favourite, while dumplings are equally popular. The stalls selling doughy pancakes, similar to Indian or Malaysian Roti bread, provide a touch of theatre as they are kneaded and pan fried with oil and then fluffed up to provide a layered chewy texture; spicy or tangy sauce is an optional extra.
Huashi Tourist Night Market was formerly a red light district in the old part of the city, near Hsimen. The area has seen some rejuvenation but still offers some interesting sights and temptations for travellers. It's made up of restaurants, foot reflexology salons, souvenir shops -- and food stalls which lay on some stomach-churning exhibitions. Gutting snakes, ripping out prized internal organs or chopping off turtle's heads is not really everybody's idea of an appetizer -- but nevertheless it's all on show here.
