Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and, in any case, the owner doesn't mind browsers. The shop is back from the main road
in a courtyard.
VVG Thinking
BOUTIQUE
(Hǎo yàng sīwéi; noon-9pm; Zhongxiao Xinsheng)
In the funky loft space above a fusion
restaurant in the Huashan 1914 Creative Park is this quirky boutique bookstore/design
shop with a rich collection of art and cook books, vintage collectables and designer
products. VVG is in the complex of red-brick buildings to the west of the giant
smokestack.
Indigenous Cultural & Economic Centre
ABORIGINAL DESIGNS
( 12.30pm-9pm Tue-Sun; Taipei City Hall)
Literally within Taipei City Hall MRT station
(head to Exit 4) is this small shop selling a range of exquisite aboriginal designs, includ-
ing clothing, jewellery, vases and knick-knacks.
Little Garden Embroidered Shoes
SHOES
(Xiǎo Huāyuán Xiùhuāxié;
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/little-garden
;
70 Emei St; 12.30-6pm;
Ximen)
This third-generation shop is the last remaining traditional embroidered shoe out-
let in Taipei. Most of the dainty little items (with patterns such as auspicious dragons, pe-
onies and phoenixes) are now made with computer-controlled machines, but you can still
order completely hand-stitched ones. Shoes start at NT$690.
TAIPEI STREET DECODER
Taipei street, lane and alley signs are all bilingual but most locals can neither read nor
write a romanised address. Showing someone that you want to go to 14 Zhongxiao Rd is
going to elicit blank stares in most cases. Another problem is that while officially Taipei
uses Hanyu Pinyin, you will run into varying romanisations, especially on name cards.
Below are some major streets with their characters, Hanyu Pinyin and possible alternat-
ive spelling.
