Taipei

Taipei's 228 Memorial Museum provides an introduction to one of the most important events in Taiwan's recent history, which continues to have a strong influence politics and culture today.

It's very common to see the statues of Buddha or Guan Yin (the Goddess of mercy) in the mountains of Taiwan. They are found in temples, shrines, caves, or sometimes just on big rocks. On Elephant mountain in Taipei, there are many statues of Buddha, too.

How to get to Elephant Mountain?

From Taipei 101 it takes about 15 minutes to get to the start of the hiking path.

First, walk east along Xinyi Road for about 10 minutes to the junction of Song Ren Rd and Xinyi Road Section 5.

Gasthaus Zum Adler German Restaurant

Gasthaus zum Adler, a German restaurant run by Mr. Söffner, is near the center of eastern Taipei, 10 minutes walk from Taipei 101. They specialize in southern German cuisine. Mostly the dishes are home made.

We often go there for afternoon tea: a cup of fresh coffee or tea, with home made German dessert. It costs only NT$150. For German desserts, we can have a choice of their home made ice cream, chocolate-coated banana cake, chocolate truffle, or black forest cake.

Taipei's jade market can be a very surprising place. The first surprise is that the jade isn't all green. The second surprise is that the stallholders don't seem very enthusiastic about selling jade.

Join the crowds strolling through Taipei's Flower Market on Sundays. It's good for people watching even if you're not buying, and in summer all that vegetation keeps temperatures surprisingly pleasant in the shaded market.

“Food is one arena where Taipei — the world’s most underrated capital city, according to Monocle magazine — blows Beijing away. Its food incorporates more influences, spans street food to haute cuisine with greater aplomb and is out and out more delicious”, according to The New York Times.

Apart from joining our cooking class, here are some more ideas for activities to do in Taipei if you like nature, culture, and exploring.

1. Elephant mountain hiking trails

2. Dental services

3. Buying glasses