Touring Taiwan: The Top Attractions And Places To Go
The island of Taiwan is located in East Asia and the term Taiwan is often used to refer to territories that are governed by China. The island is 245 miles long and 89 miles wide and comprised of steep mountains lush with tropical vegetation. The shape of the island resembles a “sweet potato”, so because of this, many people in Taiwan refer to themselves as being, “children of the Sweet Potato”.
Taipei is a city in Taiwan, located to the in the northern part of the province. The city is home to the Taipei 101, which a 101-story landmark in the skyline over the city. When it was built in 2004, it was considered the tallest completed skyscraper in the world. The building has won several awards for its innovative design and set records for fastest ascending elevator speed. It has both indoor and outdoor observatory facilities and a spectacular New Years Eve fireworks display that attracts tourists from all over the world.
The National Palace Museum is an art gallery and museum combined and dedicated to a permanent collection of ancient Chinese artifacts. As a result of the Chinese civil war in 1940, the art collection was split in half and is now the other half is on display at the Palace Museum in Beijing. The museum now has a much larger collection of international interest, but still remains the museum that houses the largest collection of Chinese artifacts to date.
For recreation in Taiwan, the night markets are world famous. In the Shilin District of Taipei is the home of the Shilin Night Market. The streets are always very lively and crowded as the market opens up around 4 pm. The crowd reaches its peak at around 8 pm and continues until well past midnight.
Taipei is also an area very rich with temples that house Buddha, Taoist and Chinese religious deities. In the Wanhau District is the Longshan Temple. Built in 1738, by the Chinese, the temple served as a gathering place and structure for religious services for the settlers in the area. Over the years the temple has been bombed and experienced earthquakes, but the people of Taiwan has always rebuilt and renovated it through the years. This temple serves as a prime example of classical Taiwanese architecture and is an important historical landmark in the city.
The Beitou Hot Springs Museum is located in an area of the country which is renowned for its hotsprings. The structure was built during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan and is done in a European-Japanese style. The building was once the main bath house of Beitou and was completely renovated in 1998. There are twelve rooms in total which display pictures and a complete history of the bath house.
Yangmingshan National Park completely covers the volcanic mountains behind Beitou and Taipei. The world famous park has hiking trails, hot springs and numerous exotic flowers that grow exclusively to in this area. There is an observatory platform where visitors can see a panoramic view of the city, cherry blossoms, fumaroles and the bamboo lake.
The Ambassador Hotel in Taipei is famous for surrounding its guests in the lap of luxury and pampering them to the point of spoiling. The hotel offers massage services, a spa, restaurant, shopping arcade and round the clock concierge service that will cater to a guests every desire. The Empress Hotel is also another venue noted for its fabulous guests services and five-star service. The hotel offers guests such comforting amenities that it is like a home away from home for its guests. Taiwan is known as the “isle of smiles” and offers hospitality that is second to none, which makes it the perfect location for a tourist looking to be pampered and treated like family.
T'aipei is the chief tourist attraction, with such popular sites as the seat of government in Presidential Square, Lungshan Temple, and the nearby National Palace Museum and famous Yangmingshan Park. Attractions outside the capital include Shihmen Dam recreation area, Lake Tzuhu, and the mausoleum of Chiang Kai-shek. The many temples and Dutch relics of T'ainan, Taiwan's oldest city, and Sun Moon Lake near T'aichung also attract numerous visitors. The national sports are baseball, soccer, and basketball.
In 2000, tourist arrivals totaled 2,624,037, of whom 65% were from East Asia and the Pacific. Tourism receipts totaled US $3.7 billion. Hotel construction has boomed as a result of government investment. In 2000, there were 19,928 rooms. Visitors need a valid passport and tourist visa good for two weeks to 60 days.
In 2002, the US State Department estimated that the daily expense for a stay in T'aipei was US $232.
Taipei is a city in Taiwan, located to the in the northern part of the province. The city is home to the Taipei 101, which a 101-story landmark in the skyline over the city. When it was built in 2004, it was considered the tallest completed skyscraper in the world. The building has won several awards for its innovative design and set records for fastest ascending elevator speed. It has both indoor and outdoor observatory facilities and a spectacular New Years Eve fireworks display that attracts tourists from all over the world.
The National Palace Museum is an art gallery and museum combined and dedicated to a permanent collection of ancient Chinese artifacts. As a result of the Chinese civil war in 1940, the art collection was split in half and is now the other half is on display at the Palace Museum in Beijing. The museum now has a much larger collection of international interest, but still remains the museum that houses the largest collection of Chinese artifacts to date.
For recreation in Taiwan, the night markets are world famous. In the Shilin District of Taipei is the home of the Shilin Night Market. The streets are always very lively and crowded as the market opens up around 4 pm. The crowd reaches its peak at around 8 pm and continues until well past midnight.
Taipei is also an area very rich with temples that house Buddha, Taoist and Chinese religious deities. In the Wanhau District is the Longshan Temple. Built in 1738, by the Chinese, the temple served as a gathering place and structure for religious services for the settlers in the area. Over the years the temple has been bombed and experienced earthquakes, but the people of Taiwan has always rebuilt and renovated it through the years. This temple serves as a prime example of classical Taiwanese architecture and is an important historical landmark in the city.
The Beitou Hot Springs Museum is located in an area of the country which is renowned for its hotsprings. The structure was built during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan and is done in a European-Japanese style. The building was once the main bath house of Beitou and was completely renovated in 1998. There are twelve rooms in total which display pictures and a complete history of the bath house.
Yangmingshan National Park completely covers the volcanic mountains behind Beitou and Taipei. The world famous park has hiking trails, hot springs and numerous exotic flowers that grow exclusively to in this area. There is an observatory platform where visitors can see a panoramic view of the city, cherry blossoms, fumaroles and the bamboo lake.
The Ambassador Hotel in Taipei is famous for surrounding its guests in the lap of luxury and pampering them to the point of spoiling. The hotel offers massage services, a spa, restaurant, shopping arcade and round the clock concierge service that will cater to a guests every desire. The Empress Hotel is also another venue noted for its fabulous guests services and five-star service. The hotel offers guests such comforting amenities that it is like a home away from home for its guests. Taiwan is known as the “isle of smiles” and offers hospitality that is second to none, which makes it the perfect location for a tourist looking to be pampered and treated like family.
T'aipei is the chief tourist attraction, with such popular sites as the seat of government in Presidential Square, Lungshan Temple, and the nearby National Palace Museum and famous Yangmingshan Park. Attractions outside the capital include Shihmen Dam recreation area, Lake Tzuhu, and the mausoleum of Chiang Kai-shek. The many temples and Dutch relics of T'ainan, Taiwan's oldest city, and Sun Moon Lake near T'aichung also attract numerous visitors. The national sports are baseball, soccer, and basketball.
In 2000, tourist arrivals totaled 2,624,037, of whom 65% were from East Asia and the Pacific. Tourism receipts totaled US $3.7 billion. Hotel construction has boomed as a result of government investment. In 2000, there were 19,928 rooms. Visitors need a valid passport and tourist visa good for two weeks to 60 days.
In 2002, the US State Department estimated that the daily expense for a stay in T'aipei was US $232.
National Palace Museum, Taipei
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei
Dragon on the Longshan Temple
Temple in Alishan
