Children’s Activities
Taipei's modern infrastructure has found a number of ways to accommodate families with children. Facilities and amusement parks designed especially for younger visitors are particularly popular, but there are also a number of natural landmarks and national parks that consistently score high with children. Travel agents in Taipei can help organise excursions to any of these attractions.
 Children's Recreation Centre This centre was designed especially for children and offers learning experiences in a variety of settings. The centre was built over the site of a former children's amusement park and zoo. The current facility is divided into three sectors exploring the region's past, present and future. The World of Yesterday has a number of exhibits dedicated to the region's culture and folklore with plenty of information regarding Taipei's indigenous tribes. Meanwhile, the World of Today focuses on fun, with several carnival-style rides and similar attractions. Finally, the World of Tomorrow predicts the future's technological advancements and includes an IMAX theatre. Phone: +886 2 2593 2211.
Formosa Wonder World For a day of mainstream, holiday fun, take your children to Formosa Wonder World. This facility is located along the West Coastal Highway, which is accessible by taxi or hire car. This amusement park has five waterslides, one of which is the longest in the region and takes 20 minutes to ride. A particularly thrilling ride, Jet Stream, sends thrill-seekers through a 65 foot plunge in only three seconds. Another thrilling waterslide, found in the Bermuda Triangle sector, spans nearly 1,000 feet and includes a free-fall followed by an intense spiralling slide into the pool below. Low-key rafting rides and wading pools are on hand for those who prefer leisure over adrenaline. Website: www.fww.com.tw/.
Youth Park Taipei Youth Park is the city's largest recreational area. It sits alongside the Xin Dian River in a peaceful, urban green space. Facilities include tennis courts, a swimming pool, basketball courts and a skating rink. The park grounds have several sculptures and other works of art on display, and a few picturesque pagodas peek up over the trees that line the park's perimeter. The park is a favourite place for leisurely afternoons spent kite-flying and Frisbee-throwing. Although the park becomes busy at weekends and holidays, the facilities are large enough to provide solace for anyone seeking relief from the crowds. Phone: +886 2303 2451.
Cultural Activities
The city of Taipei is a cultural treasure trove with numerous museums and temples that catalogue the region's artistic, religious and natural history. Many ancient buildings date to the 16th and 17th centuries, while much of Taipei's modern infrastructure was begun by Japanese colonists who favoured the architectural styles of the West. Further, the religious practices of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism are alive and well in Taipei, and temples serve both as architectural gems and active places of worship.
 Confucius Temple Construction of this ancient religious site was begun in 1665 under the Qing dynasty's patronage. The grounds originally housed the island's first national school sponsored by the Chinese mainland, and were also the site of the Taiwan Prefecture College. A series of renovations have preserved the temple's architecture and to this da, visitors can view the East Ta Cheng Arch and Stone Arch of Higher Learning. A number of traditional ceremonies are held on the temple grounds to preserve traditional Confucian rituals.
 Longshan Temple This place of worship was built in middle of the 18th century and survived a series of fires, earthquakes and bombings through the subsequent centuries. Citizens of Taipei have always been quick to renovate and rebuild the iconic temple, which blends the religious rites of Matsu, Buddhism and Taoism. Originally constructed by settlers from China, this is an excellent place to witness Taiwan's modern religious practices. The main hall of the temple holds several statues of the Buddha, around which countless candles burn in spaces rented by worshippers. Having a personal candle set in Longshan Temple brings perpetual good luck to worshippers.
 Martyr's Shrine This shrine was built in 1969 to honour those who have given their lives for the Republic of China. The shrine covers a large parcel of land, and the buildings are modelled after the palaces of the Ming dynasty. The front gate, located on Bei An road, is guarded by two armed military officers who stand still for the duration of their watch. Once every hour, these soldiers are relieved with an elaborate changing of the guards ceremony that attracts crowds of spectators. The president of Taiwan arrives every year in a great show of regalia to honour the nation's martyrs.
 Miniatures Museum One of Taipei's quirkier museums, the Miniatures Museum opened in 1997 under the patronage of Lin Wen-ren and his wife. His exhibits run the complete spectrum of miniature artwork and include more than 150 doll houses and dioramas, most of which originated in Europe and North America. The exhibits also feature a number of scaled-down, antique boats and automobiles. Occasional hands-on model-building workshops are offered for children. The Miniatures Museum is located on Chiankuo North road and is accessible via the MRT Muzha Line and a subsequent 10-minute walk. Phone: +886 2 2515 0583.
National Taiwan Museum This is Taiwan's oldest museum, built by Japanese colonists in the early 20th century. Built in the Greek style with 32 Corinthian columns, the museum was recently designated a National Heritage site by Taiwan's Ministry of Interior. The museum includes a permanent exhibit dedicated to the flora and fauna of the island, with several sections exploring the offshore marine environment, indigenous animal life, and high-altitude ecosystems of the interior regions. This facility is easy to find, as it sits close to the Taipei Railway Station where virtually all of the city's transportation links terminate. Website: www.ntm.gov.tw/eng/.
 National Palace Museum The impressive art galleries of this museum hold one of the world's most impressive collections of ancient Chinese artefacts and artwork. Recently renovated, this museum was reopened late in 2006 and now has even more to offer visitors. Some of its most celebrated artefacts include the painting One Hundred Horses, a fascinating copy of the Qingming Scroll, the Jade Cabbage; and the Meat-Shaped Stone, a fancifully stratified piece of agate that resembles a sizzling piece of soy-basted pork. Phone: +886 2 2881 2021.
 Taipei Fine Arts Museum Opened in 1983, this was the first modern art museum in Taiwan. This facility boasts an excess of 3,000 works of art, most of which were created by local artists in the decades following WWII. The facility strives to focus on a particular style or medium each year. The museum also hosts classes and lectures covering subjects such as calligraphy, ceramics and sculpture. Tours in English, French and Spanish are available. Phone: +886 2 2595 7656; website: www.tfam.gov.tw.
Dining & Shopping
Shopping enthusiasts are well catered for in Taipei, with a number of upscale department stores selling brand name products sitting alongside lively night markets throughout the city. Locals are avid shoppers, and strolling through a market is a cultural experience in itself.
 Larger boutiques and department stores specialise in clothing, cosmetics, internationally-styled jewellery and home furnishings. Meanwhile, the sprawling street markets are home to a dizzying array of goods ranging from lacquer-ware and hand-painted lanterns to musical instruments and handmade shoes. Sea-grass mats are ideal for beach-bound tourists, and there are countless souvenir-style items like colourful handbags, jade jewellery, fine stationary and personalised engraved chopsticks.
 Shilin Night Market in the city district of the same name is open in the late afternoon and receives its first influx of customers when school is dismissed and hungry students head to the snack and noodle vendors for a bite to eat. This market is busiest after dark, however, typically between 20:00 and 23:00, though some shops remain open well after midnight.
 In the 1930s, Ximending Market area served as Taipei's arts and theatre district, though it has since grown popular with teenagers shopping for up-to-the-minute fashions and trendy accessories. The Taipei Underground Market beneath Civic boulevard is as much a tourist attraction as it is shopper's haven.
 Xinyi District offers a more cosmopolitan shopping experience. Headlined by the Taipei 101 monolith, this area is home several large-scale shopping malls including the Mitsukoshi shopping complex, New York Shopping Mall and Eslite Bookstore.
Taipei is also home to an equally impressive range of restaurants and bars. While Chinese cuisine is the most prevalent option for diners, there are numerous venues serving Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and European fare. The finest establishments are located in Taipei's eastern district, particularly along Anhe and Dunhua roads. The expatriate community located in Tienmu is the best place to begin a search for quality international favourites.
 Centuries ago, Han immigrants from the mainland brought traditional Chinese cooking styles with them, as did Japanese colonists. The abundant seafood regularly hauled in by fishermen has also always played its part in local cuisine and visitors can expect to see steamed grouper, oyster omelettes and milkfish porridge on the menu.
Rice is a principal ingredient in most local dishes, whether served as a side dish or ground up as flour and used in rice noodles or dim sum. Some of the best local snacks can be found at the night markets, where street-side vendors sell their products at fantastic prices. Be sure to sample a few bowls of noodles—typically served in a light broth with balls of pork or seafood.
Vibrant and colourful snacks are as fun to look at as they are to eat. Sweet treats include pineapple cakes, shortbread and sweet dumplings. Children are particularly fond of pearl milk tea, a sugary iced tea filled with novel 'pearls' made of sweetened rice flour which can be sucked up through an extra-large straw.
Outdoor Activities
Taipei's hinterland was formed by long-dead volcanoes, and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the gentle, rolling hillsides that crest at altitudes of just over 1,000 feet. Well-marked hiking and cycling trails criss-cross the countryside, and there are a number of national parks and nature reserves where the ecosystem is relatively unspoilt. Meanwhile, there are many miles of coastline that offer tourists a chance to swim and sunbathe or gear up and go scuba diving. Paragliding and surfing are also increasingly popular sports.
 Cycling Cycling is a reasonable way to get around Taipei's city centre. Although bike lanes are provided in many areas, this mode of transportation can be treacherous during rush hour traffic. The best cycling conditions are found as you head out of town, where tour guides plan cycling sightseeing tours into nature. If you prefer to head your own independent excursion, you'll probably want to start exploring along the Dan Shui Riverside Cycling Path. This well-maintained path begins at the Tam Sui MRT station and continues across the river into one of the nation's last remaining mangrove swamplands. Cyclists share the path through this nature reserve with joggers and walkers.
 Hiking There are a number of excellent hikes in Taipei's surrounding countryside. Seven Stars Mountain (Taipei's highest peak) is one of the most popular places to get started. Yangmingshan National Park is another great place to get out and explore nature. It is possible to leave your vehicle at Yangming Park and hike to the top of the local summit where hikers are rewarded with some phenomenal panoramic views of the surrounding hillside. It is also possible to arrange horseback rides in some of the parks, where inexperienced riders can arrange lessons while veterans of the sport can hire an animal out for an afternoon ride.
 Water Sports Visitors who come to Taipei during the summer enjoy a whole gamut of water-based activities and sports. White Sand Beach is a wonderfully secluded spot outside of Tamshui, and is best reached by hire car. This stretch of sand doesn't have as many of the volcanic rocks that make swimming treacherous in other places. A strong surfing community has established itself at Honeymoon Bay. 90 minutes drive outside of Taipei. While the swift currents here can make swimming difficult, they're ideal for surfing. Meanwhile, tour guides in Taipei city centre can arrange water sport adventures including boat hire, paragliding sessions and diving equipment.
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