Taipei

INTRO
Taipei is the provisional capital of Taiwan, which is administered and governed by the Republic of China. Less than a century ago, the valley of Danshui River was home to farmers that were growing rice and vegetables. Today the former swamps and grassy lowlands are the site of the bustling city of Taipei - the centre of Taiwan's government, commerce and culture. Taipei is frenetic, noisy, boisterous, energetic and very expensive - you will realise that at the very first minute that you spend in the city. It is full of high-rise structures, cars and people and covered with smog - just as every developed capital city in western Asia. Taipei has a plenty of things to offer to its guests - quality food, nice hotels, stunning nightlife and breathtaking views that leave no one nonchalant.

City Profile
City: Taipei
Country: Republic of China (Taiwan)
Area: 271,80 km2
Population: 2,630,872
Districts: 12
Mayor: Hau Lung-bin
Language: Mandarin Chinese

LOCATION
Taipei city is located in the Taipei Basin in northern Taiwan. On the South it is bordered by the Xindian River, and on the west - by the Tamsui River. The northern districts of the city are bordered by Yangmingshan National Park.

TIME TO VISIT
The best time to combine mild temperatures, relatively little rain and best air quality is in from the end of October until the end of November. If you are staying in Taipei for an extended period of time, humidity could really get to you. As it is located in a valley, the city experiences high temperatures and humidity during the summer, a problem that to a high extent has been enhanced by the high population density and the use of air-conditioning almost everywhere. Climate is subtropical. Lantern Festival, also known as a Shang Yuan Festival, is a Chinese feast, which is celebrated on the 15th day of the lunar year's first month according to the Chinese calendar. During this time, children go out at night, carrying bright lanterns. The Chinese Lantern Festival is organised in the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration period, and it takes place on a different day every year according to the European calendar. If you want your trip to Taipei to coincide with the festival, you should check the exact date of the celebration.

POPULATION
According to the census data from January 2007, the population of Taipei city is 2,630,872, and the density - 9,679 people per km2. The official language is Mandarin Chinese, but as many inhabitants of the city are of southern Fujianese descent, Min-nan (the Southern Min dialect) is also widely spoken. Some elderly people speak Japanese, and the most popular foreign language in Taipei is English. The city is the perfect place to learn Chinese - as there are numerous language schools that offer Chinese classes - ranging from hourly-based classes to university programs. The main religion in Taipei is Buddhism - it was introduced to Taiwan in the 16th century, and it is now the most prevalent institutionalized religion. Taoism, Catholicism and Protestantism are also peculiar to different ethnic groups in the city.

DISTRICTS
Taipei city is divided into 12 districts. In most of them there are interesting objects and landmarks that could give tourists a good feeling and image of the city.

Beitou District - located in northern Taipei, it is famous for its hot springs. In the past, it had the dubious distinction of being one of the biggest red light districts in Taiwan. Today the area has dramatically changed - as a result of the efforts of the government. Many new spa hotels and apartment blocks were constructed, and the district has good connections to Downtown Taipei. Within the boundaries of the area is located the famous Yanmingshan National Park.
Shilin District - home of many museums, including the famous National Palace Museum. The area houses one of Taipei's largest night markets.
Nangang a southern district of Taipei. It features excellent infrastructure, glittery new modern buildings and is home to many IT industrial complexes.
Wenshan District - there are many tea plantations in the hills that surround the district. Here you can find a lot of good restaurants bare and cafes. Taipei Zoo is situated within the borders of the district.
Downtown Taipei there are 7 districts within its boundaries. Huge high-rise structures, horrendous traffic, busy streets, exquisite dining facilities, large shopping malls - if that is what intrigues you, Downtown Taipei is the place to visit. Get ready to pay a lot - no matter if you are eating, shopping, taking a cab or just having a cup of coffee - everything is extraordinarily expensive.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

Taipei 101 - the world's tallest building. Taipei International Financial Centre 101 is 508 m tall and has 101 storeys. Finished in 2004, it was built to resemble a stalk of bamboo. If you are not fascinated by heights, on the lower floors you can enjoy a large shopping mall and the best Asian food court. http://www.taipei-101.com.tw/index.asp
Lin Family Mansion and Garden - a prime example of a Quing-period mansion, with library, receiving halls and stages for performance. The house is set amidst ponds and gardens, built in 1853, and open for public in 2001.
Longshan Temple - Longshan (dragon mountain) temple is dedicated to Guanyin, the goddess of mercy. The temple was originally built in 1738, and was demolished 3 times - first by an earthquake, then by a typhoon and by the US army air raids during World War II. Now the site is perfectly restored, and it belongs to the most colourful and popular temples in Taiwan.
Postal museum - 80,000 stamps from more than 120 countries, postal uniforms, hardware and signage, and models of Taiwanese methods for mail-delivery - yore - which is a buffalo skin raft. The exhibits cover 6 storeys.
National Palace Museum - the exceptional collection of treasures dates backs from the 10th century, when Chinese emperors began to annex art treasures. Thousands of artworks were shipped from China to Taiwan to escape invading armies, and miraculously, most of them survived, some being housed today in the National Palace Museum.
The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall - built in the memory of Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China. It is also a popular site for public concerts.

AIRPORT
The city of Taipei is served by two major airports

Taoyuan International Airport - its current name was adopted in 2006. The old name of the facility was Chiang Kai Shek International Airport (often abbreviated as CKS), and is still commonly used. Taoyuan International Airport is the most important international air transportation hub for North Taiwan. Located about 30 km away from Taipei city, it provides regular freeway buses picking up and dropping off passengers at most of the big hotels, as well as near the Taipei Main Station and the domestic Songshan Airport. Express Airport Buses cost between NT $120 and NT$150, and there are stops at both terminals. Taxi from the airport to the city will not cost les than NT $900. http://www.tsa.gov.tw/2005tax/index.php http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/CKSchi/
Songshan Airport is located in the heart of the city of Taipei, but it is a small facility, servicing mostly domestic flights.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

Metro - in the city of Taipei there is a very well developed, efficient and clean Mass Rapid Transit System - also called Metro Taipei. Stations and Trains are identified in English, and all stops are announced in 4 languages - Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and English. Fares vary between NT $20 and NT$65 for a one way trip, there are discount cards available.
Bus - all public buses display information in English, thus making the system is very accessible to visitors that do not speak Chinese. Fares are payable to the bus driver - NT $15 for a ticket.
Taxi - there is a large number of cabs in Taipei. Compared to the mass transport taxis are expensive, but quite cheap regarding the rest of the world. It is good to have your destination written down in Chinese, as most drivers do not speak English. Cabs are metered, and the night and rush hour rates are higher. Base fare is NT $70.

HISTORY
The region of Taipei basin was home to Ketagalan tribes until the end of the 18th century, when Han Chinese began to settle in the area. From 1875 until the beginning of the Japanese rule Taipei was part of Danshui County of Taipei Prefecture and it remained a temporary provincial capital before it was officially declared a capital of Taiwan in 1894. After the Japanese defeat in the Pacific war, Taiwan was taken over by Chinese Nationalist troops, and a temporary office of the Taiwan Province Administrative Governor was established in Taipei. Taipei was also the capital of Taiwan Province until the 1960s, whan the provincial administration was moved to Chunghsing Village in central Taiwan.

CITY LINKS

Official Website in English - http://english.taipei.gov.tw/TCG/index.jsp
Taipei Times - news in English - http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/
Map of Taipei - http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=tw&city=Taipei
Taipei Travel Information - http://www.asiatravel.com/taiwan/taiinfo1.html
Weather in Taipei - http://www.weathercity.com/tw/taipei/
Taipei Public Library - http://www.tpml.edu.tw/TaipeiPublicLibrary/index.php?subsite=english
Taipei Fine Arts Museum - http://www.sinica.edu.tw/tit/museums/1195_TaipeiFineArtsMuseum.html

UNIVERSITY LINKS

National Taiwan University - http://www.ntu.edu.tw/chinese2007/
National Taipei University of Technology - http://www.ntut.edu.tw/english/