Why visit Taipei? First for its food, to dine on remarkable Chinese specialties of every description and regional origin. Some gourmets claim that Taiwan has it over Hong Kong in this respect, though you can get into a fight by making that claim in Hong Kong.

Second, and apart from business reasons, to visit the city's National Palace Museum with its unique collection of the very best in Chinese art, removed from the mainland in 1949 by KMT, just before Beijing fell to the communism.

And a third and more subtle reason, is to see how the Taiwanese people, under great adversity, have built a functioning though still imperfect democracy. After centuries of oppression by warlords and such, and decades of almost as severe repression under Chiang Kai Shek's Nationalists from 1949 until just a few years ago, the people of Taiwan have finally achieved their full independence and elected their own government in free elections.

It's fascinating to imagine how the society here could have been that of the mainland, absent the oppression of student reformers and others by the present-day Chinese government. Taiwan is what China might have become, and some day, may become.
 

Travel guide Taipei --A very good english version Taipei travel guide.

Taipei city guide --  Info Include live cams, media, travel and tourism, transportation, weather, business, services, education, government ...

Travel in Taiwan-Taipei --Global Direct, detailed information for Your travel to Taiwan - Taipei. Hotels, Business, Lesuire.

Yangmingshan national park --This site could easily be livened up with a bunch of photographs of the park. Nevertheless, visitors will be treated to detailed (textual) descriptions of the park's different sections and what to expect out of each one.

National Palace Museum  -- Touting the museum's transformation from "a 'palace' museum to a 'national' one," the NPM website offers extensive descriptions, a number of photos and timely information about current exhibits.

What's cool in Taipei -- What's Cool in Taipei Bargain huntung in Taipei Taipei is a paradise for shoppers. night markets and small stores are the best choices for budget saving. At night markets there is a dash of local colors on almost everything at good bargains...
 
Taipei rapid transit system
Taipei transportation guide
Taipei city gov

   travel in Taiwan

  If you have something to add to the page, please email me at BrianJeng@bigfoot.com