Taipei has a great range of attractions, from astonishingly beautiful old temples to grandiose skyscrapers and safari park-like zoos. In fact, you'd be hard pushed to find anything better in one city in mainland China. Plus everything is kept spotlessly clean and well maintained.
There are attractions worth seeing in all districts, including Taipei's mega structure Taipei 101 in Xinyi, Longshan Temple in Wanhua, and the vaunted National Palace Museum in Shilin. Most attractions can also be seen on foot and the expansive MRT train network is highly efficient and covers the majority of the main sights in the Taiwan capital.
Looking like rising bamboo, Taipei 101 is the epitome of Taipei. At an impressive 1,474 feet above the city, it is one of the world's tallest structures and also boasts the world's fastest elevators. Amazing views can be had from its observation points and fireworks are launched from the top in New Year.
The huge Sun Yat-sen Memorial is a giant structure that was built to honor the Republic of China's (Taiwan's) founder, Dr Sun Yat-sen. He was born in 1865 and the memorial was built 100 years later in 1965. It sits in the quiet Zhongshan Park and is an absolute must-see for all.
One of Taipei's main landmarks doubles as the stunning five-star Grand Hotel. Located near Yuanshan, it is described as one of the world's best and is an attraction in its own right, with its distinctive tiered roof and amazing dé cor and facilities.
Another must-see landmark is the Buddhist Longshan Temple. It is dedicated to Guanyin and is situated in the historic district of Wanhua in a tranquil part of the city away from the mayhem of shops and traffic. You can explore on foot and get in via the MRT's Longshan Temple station.
It's not all temples and architecture, Taipei also has fun attractions the whole family can enjoy, such as Taipei Zoo. This particular zoo is set up more like a park where visitors can wander around and mingle with the less ferocious animals. The Muzha MRT line serves the zoo.
This fantastic museum is the envy of Beijing as it contains more of a variety of artifacts from China's illustrious history than any other. Included in the National Palace Museum's collections are bits and bobs from the Forbidden Palace and myriad other antiquities. You'll find it in Shilin District, northeast of downtown.
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