The principal city in the north, Taipei was designated a ‘special municipality’ in July 1967, thus acquiring the same status as a province and its mayor the same rank as a provincial governor. The area of the city has expanded to four times its original size, making it the fastest-growing city in Asia.
The city centre contains the National Museum of History, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, the Taiwan Provincial Museum and Chung Cheng (Chiang Kai-shek) Memorial Hall, which is a fine example of classical Chinese architecture. The magnificent main entrance is more than 30m (100ft) high. One of Taipei’s new attractions is a tour of the Fu Hsing Dramatic Arts Academy where traditional Chinese opera and acrobatic performers are trained and where they stage shows. Also new to Taipei is the City of Cathay, a replica of an ancient Chinese town which is located within the Chinese Culture and Movie Centre.
The Lungshan (Dragon Mountain) Temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, and was built in 1740. The temple, one of more than 5000 temples and shrines in the country, is regarded as the island’s finest example of temple architecture.
Among other outstanding buildings of classical Chinese architecture in Taipei are the Martyrs’ Shrine, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Chungsham Building in the Yangmingshan district of the metropolis, 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Taipei, where the National Palace Museum can also be found; it houses the world’s largest and most priceless collection of Chinese art treasures (over 6000 items). Yangmingshan National Park is famous for its cherry and azalea trees, and attracts thousands of visitors at blossom time.
Beyond the Capital
THE NORTH: Keelung has an imposing hilltop statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. The northeast coastal road offers a spectacular drive, passing the foothills of the Central Mountain Range and overlooking the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The traveller will pass through many small villages, the lifestyles of which have changed little with the advent of high technology. Other outstanding attractions of the area include Yehliu, noted for its fantastic rock formations (Queen’s Head); Green Bay and Chinshan beaches, with full beach resort facilities; Shihmen Dam; and Wulai, a mountain resort south of Taipei. Wulai is the site of a hilltop park and of a village inhabited by aboriginals who, besides making and selling artefacts, give song and dance performances for tourists. The Northeast Coast National Scenic Area, also with unusual rock formations, is not only good for swimming, diving, surfing, water-skiing and camping, but also the best place for seashore fishing and rock climbing. Window on China at Lungtan, 53km (33 miles) southwest of Taipei, contains reproductions on a scale of 1:25 of historical and other notable Chinese sites.
CENTRAL TAIWAN: The centre of the island has the most varied landscape. The east–west cross-island highway passes through spectacular mountain passes, most notably the Taroko Gorge, a ravine with towering cliffs shot through with extensive marble deposits. Lishan, located 1945m (6381ft) up on Pear Mountain, is a popular mountain resort. Other popular sights in the mountains include the Sun Moon Lake, the Chitou Forest recreation area, Yu Shan (Jade Mountain), and the alpine railway to Alishan.
Throughout the central area, there are numerous temples. The region’s main towns are Taichung, one of the largest ports on the island, and Hualien in the east.
THE SOUTH: Kenting National Park is a popular forest recreation area boasting fine beaches, coral lakes, a bird sanctuary and, more recently, facilities for watersports and golf, all set amidst tropical coastal forest. Kaohsiung is the main industrial centre and has the island’s only other main airport, besides Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek. Tainan, the oldest city on the island, is known as the ‘City of 100 Temples’; there are in fact 220, amongst them some of the best examples of Confucian temple architecture on the island.
LANYU: Lanyu (Orchid Island), one of the smaller islands off the southeast coast, is the home of the aboriginal Yami, one of the world’s last surviving hunter-gatherer tribes. Lotus Lake in Kaohsiung is the site of the Spring and Autumn pavilions and of the Dragon and Tiger pagodas.
Travel - International
Travel warning: Earthquakes (mostly minor) occur regularly and typhoons are a risk: visitors are advised to inform themselves about emergency procedures for such events.
AIR: The national airline is China Airlines (CI). EVA Airways (BR) offers flights to destinations throughout Asia (excluding People’s Republic of China), Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Other airlines serving Taiwan include British Asia Airways, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.
Approximate flight times: From Taipei to London is 15 hours 20 minutes including stopover in Hong Kong.
International airports: Chiang Kai-shek-Taipei (TPE) is 40km (25 miles) south of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Airport facilities include an outgoing duty-free shop (0600-2345), post office, car hire, bank/bureau de change (0630-2030), bar/restaurant (0600-2200) and tourist information. Buses depart every 15-20 minutes for both Sung Shan (domestic) Airport and the main railway station. Taxis and buses are available to the city centre.
Kaohsiung International (KHH) (website: www.kia.gov.tw) is 9km (4 miles) from the town centre. Airport facilities include an outgoing duty-free shop (0600-1930), car hire (0900-1900), bank/bureau de change (0900-2130), post office and bar/restaurant (0700-1400). A regular bus service is available (travel time – 30 minutes). There is a taxi service to the town.
Departure tax: None.
SEA: Ferries run regularly between Keelung and Kaohsiung ports (Taiwan) and Okinawa (Japan). There are also sea links between Kaosiung and Macau.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Mandarin Airlines, Transasia Airways, Far Eastern Air Transport and Uni Air are amongst the domestic airlines that run services to local destinations from Sung Shan Airport, Taipei.
SEA: There are reasonable connections from local ports. For details, contact port authorities.
RAIL: Services are provided to destinations all over the island by the Taiwan Railway Administration (website: www.railway.gov.tw). The main tourist routes are Taipei–Taichung–Chiayi–Tainan–Kaohsiung (a top-class service), Taipei–Taichung–Sun Moon Lake (with the last leg of the journey by bus), Chiayi–Alishan (with spectacular mountain scenery) and Taipei–New Hualian–Taitung (scenic coastal route). Air-conditioned electric trains run at least hourly from Taipei to Kaohsiung; some trains have restaurant cars. Children under 3 travel free; children aged 3 to 13 pay half fare. Train tickets can be purchased at many major hotels in Taipei, as well as at the main railway station.
ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There is an adequate road system joining all major cities. A highway links Taipei and Kaohsiung. Some main streets have English signs. Congestion can be a problem, and mudslides may block mountain roads. Bus: There are both local and long-distance bus and coach services. Taxi: These are plentiful and inexpensive (metered). The destination may have to be written in Chinese for the driver. Car hire: This is available in major towns. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
URBAN: A number of private bus companies provide extensive services in Taipei. An unfinished Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, a monorail train, serves Taipei and its suburbs. Metered taxis are available in Taipei; tipping is not expected, but it is starting to come into practice.
TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Taipei to other major cities/towns:
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HOTELS: There are over 466 tourist hotels in the country offering a broad range of accommodation and services. Prices range from US$30 to US$50 a day for smaller hotels with US$90-150 a day being average. For details, contact the Press Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK or the Taiwan Visitors Bureau. Many hotels belong to the International Tourist Hotel Association of Taipei (tel: (2) 2721 7379). Grading: Hotels are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 ‘Plum Blossoms’ using a system equivalent to the more familiar 5-star system, with 3 Plum Blossoms being about average:
4 to 5 Plum Blossoms: Fifty hotels (half of which are in Taipei) are in these categories. The hotels are luxury class with a range of services and facilities, eg tennis courts, swimming pools and beauty salons.
2 to 3 Plum Blossoms: The 80 hotels in these categories are clean, comfortable and functional.
CAMPING/CARAVANNING: Campsites are available.
YOUTH HOSTELS: Dormitory and non-dormitory rooms are available in major cities and in scenic areas.
Sport & Activities
Watersports: Taiwan’s best diving tends to be off the islands around the coast, where the water is clearer and strong sea currents have kept pollution to a minimum. The sites at Green Island to the east include Nanliao, with beautiful coral; Chungliao Submerged Reef (suitable only for advanced divers); and Tapaisha. Orchid Island is surrounded by coral reefs and features several recommended dive sites. The coral reefs of the south and the Pescadores Islands are considered good skindiving areas. Sharks and barracudas are rare in the waters around Taiwan. For further information, contact the Chinese Taipei Diving Association, No 34, Section 2, Chih Shan Road, Taipei (tel: (2) 2883 9466; fax: (2) 2883 9468). Rivers, lakes and the sea are ideal for swimming. The best time for swimming on the north coast is May to September; the south coast has warm waters all year round. Hot springs abound throughout the country. Some of the sites are easily accessible and provide baths, hot tubs and hotel facilities. Lakes, rivers, fish farms and the sea offer mainly unrestricted fishing. Near Taipei, there is good fishing at the Tamsui and Hsintien rivers, Green Lake and Shihmen Reservoir.
Other: There are several year-round golf courses. For further information, contact the Golf Association of the ROC (Taiwan), 12F-1, 125 Nanking E. Road, Sec. 2, Taipei (tel: (2) 2516 5611; fax: (2) 2516 3208). Ten-pin bowling alleys and roller-skating rinks are quite common in major cities. Tapei also has two ice-skating rinks. Hiking in the numerous parks is also popular.
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:57 am Post subject: I want to go to a place call Xizi
I have heard of a place of taiwan called xizi bay . That is a romantic and beautiful bay because if you r there ,you can't separate where sea is and where horizon is .But i don't know it is true or not .If it is true ,can you tell me where is Xizi Bay. Xiexie
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