Taipei, the capital of Taiwan is a bustling metropolis full of friendly people who always seem to be in a hurry and on the move. It lies at the top end of Taiwan just across the Formosa Strait from the Chinese mainland.
The old part of the city retains it's unique charm. Longshan Temple with issouthern Chinese architecture is famous for worship of Buddhist and Taoist gods with the main deity being the Buddhist goddess of Mercy. Near the Temple is a favorite tourist haunt - the Huashi St Night market better known as snake alley. As dusk falls the area comes alive with dozens of small roadside restaurants, which spring up, and vy for custom with the large seafood restaurants. The adventurous can even order a cobra to be served to them boiled, fried or pickled or perhaps in a soup if they so fancy.
The Taoist Paoan Temple is one of the finest examples of temple architecture in Taipei. Its unusual wooden construction makes it the most valuable historical sights of the city.
The National Palace Museum is one of the most important museums in the world with the largest collection of Chinese artifacts. The vessel collection alone has over 68,000 pieces of bronze, porcelain, jade, lacquer, and enamel amongst others and there are over 9000 paintings and innumerable documents. Today it is perhaps the most definitive collection of its kind in the world, a testament to Chinese tradition and culture.
The Botanical gardens offer peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Museum of Natural History with its pottery collection and the National Science Hall and National Arts hall are worth a visit.
The Yangmingshan mountain range at the northern end of Taipei is another idyllic spot particularly in the spring when it is a riot of colour with blossoming cherry trees and azaleas. Tienhsiang, (a little out of the city) with the Taroko Gorge (19 km /12miles long) with sheer cliffs and the sound of gushing water is a sight to behold. The Eternal Spring shrine lies just above the entrance to the gorge. When not hiking or sightseeing most visitors love to go shopping in Taipei, a virtual shopper's paradise. Taipei also offers excellent food, from the exotic to the gourmet.
The Taiwanese are fond of celebrating festivals with some festival or the other on throughout the year. The most important festival is of course the Chinese New Year. Other solar and lunar festivals popular with tourists are the Lantern festival, the Dragon boat Festival, Lovers day, and many others. The skies light up with firework's and a riot of colour greats the visitors. The only low-key festival is the Ghost Month, which is in the 7th lunar month. Believers feel that during this time ghosts from hell walk the earth, so people avoid doing anything auspicious and fun during this time, such as getting married, moving house, etc.
Taipei has only two seasons. Being subtropical, rain is possible at any time. November to April is cool; May to October is hot and humid with torrential rain in short bursts and the possibility of the occasional typhoon.
Taipei is well connected by international flights from all over the world.