Taiwan is an often ignored destination. It’s understandable due to its proximity to mainland China. You will practically see the same structures, so most travelers opt to go to the mainland where they would see similar stuff but on a larger scale. When people found out I was going to Taiwan, most of them asked why. And they asked me what would I see there. i have to admit you won’t see many unique architectures and monuments. Even the landscape is similar to elsewhere in the region. But the fact that most travelers ignore this destination made it really enticing for me.

Since I’ve been doing a backpacker style of travelling, i had to look for an ideal hostel. There could be better ones out there, but the one i chose seemed close to perfection. The hostel (Flip Flop Hostel)  itself was great. Rooms had air conditioning, beds were comfy, each bed came with its own locker, there’s a laundry machine onsite, the shower areas were clean and liquid soap was provided.. honestly, based on the hostel’s appearance and its facilities, it’s the best hostel I’ve ever stayed in. And i haven’t even mentioned the location yet, which is absolutely perfect for exploring the city since the main train station is practically next door! It’s also centrally located. there’s a mall right in front of it where you can buy everything you need. There are also lots of restaurants nearby. the staff were also helpful. Most travelers who are staying at the hostel come from neighboring Asian countries. That’s not a bad thing, but in my experience, Asians from neighboring countries are generally shy and just keep to themselves unlike Westerners. So don’t go in expecting the usual social hostel experience you get when backpacking in other countries.

So basically there were just a few notable structures to visit in Taipei, and you can visit all of them in a day. The first one i visited was the National Palace Museum. It houses a massive collection of Chinese Artifacts, some as old as 10,000 years. it’s a great place to start, you will learn a lot about Chinese history, not just about Taiwan. It sucks that taking pictures isn’t allowed, but take my word for it. Each room contains collections that would leave you in awe. You could easily spend a whole day here if you’re not in a rush.

The next structure I visited was the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. It’s another building that any visitor to Taipei shouldn’t miss. There’s an in house museum that would give you a lot of insight on the country’s history, and it will make you fully understand its conflict with the mainland.

After lunch I headed to Taipei 101. It’s a remarkable modern structure, and it used to be the tallest building in the world. The line to the viewing deck is really long, but the view is definitely worth it. There’s not much to see in terms of history, and arguably you can just admire the architecture from the outside, but the building offers a panoramic view of Taipei that you won’t see anywhere else. Beware of the gift shops though. The prices for those items are outrageous!

About a few blocks away is the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. It’s quite an old building which also houses memorabilias, but to me they pale in comparison to those seen in the National Palace Museum and the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial. It’s worth a visit if you have time, but one you can choose to skip. A sprawling park surrounds the building and a lot of locals seem to visit the park just to relax. For that reason, the park is a good place to recharge after several hours of exploring the city.

I’ve read about taking a gondola to Maokong to have some tea and local food. Frankly, it’s something you can easily skip. Okay, so the view while riding the Gondola is great, but iv’e seen better views elsewhere. And Maokong itself? I did not see what all the fuss was about. Sure the temperature is cooler since it’s on top of the mountains. But as for the food and tea? You could purchase similar ones in the city center. I see no need to travel all the way to Maokong, and the time spent in line while waiting for a  Gondola was totally not worth it. But if you’ve got a lot of time to spare, why not? Might as well see everything Taipei has to offer.

Now i couldn’t leave Taipei without visiting one of those famed night markets. The most famous one seemed to be the Shilin Night Market. Outside the place there are already lots of stalls selling street food. There are also a lot of booths were you can play a number of carnival games so the atmosphere in the surrounding areas were festive. There are lots of shops selling a variety of things, but I did not go there to shop. i went there to eat! the food was delicious, it arguably tasted better than the food I ate at restaurants in the city. Not too sure about hygiene and sanitation though.. but i guess that made the food taste better! lol. I’d highly recommend visiting a night market to fully immerse yourself in Taiwanese Culture.

I don’t think I’ll be coming back to Taipei unless I have to. but I’m glad i was able to cross it off my list. It’s not spectacular, but it’s not a bad place to visit either. I’d recommend a visit at least once. The country does have things you won’t get to see elsewhere. 🙂