Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Taipei Highlights
See an art legacy spanning millennia at the
National Palace Museum
(
Click
Be charmed by the historic district of
Tamsui
(
Click here
).
Explore the spiritual and artistic legacy of temples such as
Bao'an
(
Click here
)
.
Cycle
urban riding lanes and riverside paths (
Click here
).
Shop, snack and people-watch in
Ximending
(
Click here
)
.
Hike and hot spring in
Yangmingshan National Park
(
Click here
)
.
Sip gourmet coffee along historic
Dihua Street
(
Click here
)
.
Feast at night markets such as
Ningxia Night Market
(
Click here
)
, currently
Taipei's best.
Touch the sky from the top of Asia's tallest building,
Taipei 101
(
Click here
).
History
Before the 18th century, Taipei basin was home to Ketagalan aboriginal tribes. In 1709,
settlers from Fujian received permission from the Qing government to settle and develop
Manka (present-day Wanhua). Manka and later Dadaocheng became trading centres for
tea and camphor, fuelling economic development and further immigration. In 1882 the
city was walled (the last Qing-era city to be so) and in 1886 became the capital of the
newly founded Taiwan province.
Under Japanese rule, the walls were torn down, and a major redesign of roads and av-
enues took place. Taipei became the administrative headquarters for the colonial govern-
ment, which developed railways, ports, city parks and public buildings such as museums.
After the exit of Nationalist forces from China in 1949, Taipei was looked upon as a
temporary and utilitarian space: public parks were built over and many other Japanese-
era improvements in living quality reversed. With the remarkable growth of Taiwan's
economy starting in the 1960s, the capital attracted people from all over and architectural
anarchy played out in the drive to provide housing for the masses. The repercussions of
that era's lack of planning played no small part in winning Taipei the reputation as the
'Ugly Duckling' of Asia.
Since the late 1990s, however, beginning with the mayorship of Chen Shui-bian, the
city has made a remarkable transformation into one of the most liveable and vibrant cit-
ies in Asia. Current mayor Hau Lung-bin ran on a platform of making the city beautiful
