In Taiwan, the mountains are almost uninhabited and the population is concentrated in large cities located on the west coast. These are XXL cities with immense towers, wide avenues and continuous activity. Here are four cities not to be missed during a stay in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s capital is truly surprising. The metropolitan area brings together 9 million inhabitants out of the island’s 24 million. Knowing that the surrounding mountains are almost uninhabited, the population is concentrated in a dense habitat mainly composed of immense tower buildings with random aesthetics and without any urban planning rules.
In short, overall Taipei at first glance is clearly not the most beautiful of Asian cities, but it is by discovering it that one appreciates its charm and its many assets.
Taipei can be a bustling city, like the Ximen district, with its lively streets at nightfall, its omnipresent lights and this very particular Asian atmosphere mixing food stalls, colorful shops and dense crowds.
It is in the night markets that one finds the most beautiful and exotic atmosphere. Hundreds of vendors offer street food as far as the eye can see: grills, soups, fried food, sweets… The experience is unique and alone justifies a trip to Taiwan. For a few euros, at each stall one discovers a new specialty: Many recipes based on pork, beef or chicken, but also specialties based on seafood as well as a wide variety of desserts and sweet products.
For less than 15€, one can enjoy a complete meal on the go, totally unprecedented with captivating and spicy flavors.
Even if one encounters a few tourists, these markets retain a real authenticity and are above all intended for the local clientele.
Taipei is not limited to its nightlife. As a large capital, there are also must-see monuments. The tallest and most emblematic of the capital is undoubtedly its Taipei 101 tower which rises to 508.2 meters. It was until 2010 the tallest in the world.
The public can access the 89th floor to admire a panoramic view of the city, but also test its surprising and ingenious elevator which climbs its 382 meters in only 37 seconds!
https://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/
Another stop to discover in the city center: The immense Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, a controversial figure who fought against the communists and in fact founded the current Republic of Taiwan in 1949, whose official name still remains "Republic of China", unlike the "People's Republic of China" which is mainland China. On a 26-hectare park, one finds his imposing mausoleum in the middle and two temples which are the National Theater and the National Concert Hall. Beyond the old-fashioned aspect of this mausoleum-museum and its folkloric guard, it is outside that one discovers a human and creative Taipei.
On the occasion of the lunar new year, Taiwanese organize many artisan markets of creators, with stands for children or outdoor concerts under cherry blossoms. There are also many artisan markets in different places in the country on the occasion of the lunar new year, a bit like our Christmas markets.
https://www.moc.gov.tw/fr/News_Content2.aspx?n=602&s=20419
https://www.cksmh.gov.tw/en/
Taipei is also a city of culture. There are many museums in the city center but also on the outskirts, with the National Palace Museum which brings together one of the largest collections of Chinese and Asian art in the world over more than 5000 years of history: porcelains, bronzes, jades, sculptures, paintings and calligraphy... The collections bring together nearly 700,000 objects in total, a large part of which moreover comes from mainland China and was repatriated at the time of the civil war, another part remained in Beijing in the Forbidden City.
If externally the museum is old, inside, one discovers very modern museography and visiting routes, which make it a true museum of the 21st century combining excellence of collections and openness and accessibility to all.
The exteriors of the National Palace Museum are also worth the detour with their magnificent classic and flowered gardens (Zhishan Garden).
Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and still preserves heritage from its rich and tumultuous history. These include the forts of Anping (Zeelandia) and Provintia, built by the Dutch in the 17th century.
The former capital of Taiwan has managed to preserve a real charm thanks to its many monuments and old houses. A real contrast with the modern city.
Tainan is also a destination close to the sea, with its beaches and water activities.
Tainan is truly a Taiwanese city that knows how to showcase its history, like this former sugar refinery turned into a percussion museum on the outskirts of the city. The place is really pleasant and perfectly transformed: concert hall, treetop adventure course, magical and luminous universe, as well as its old little train… It is a place that will delight families and offer a moment of relaxation away from the urban bustle. A great discovery.
A few hundred meters away, there is a museum that does not go unnoticed: Chimei has a slight air of a great Loire castle. This immense complex, certainly very recent, is inspired by Western castles, with its beautiful dome, its lake, its fountains, its statues… A quick round trip to Paris, Rome or Washington. The return home is also made inside the rich collections of the museum.
Here, almost no local or Asian works, but several rooms dedicated to classical painting, musical instruments, including an impressive collection of violins, as well as weapons and a natural history museum.
The place is worth the detour. It feels a bit fake, but it is really pleasant to stroll around the lake.
https://www.chimeimuseum.org/fr
It is finally a culinary destination, with many specialties such as Dan Zai noodles, a century-old recipe based on minced pork accompanied by shrimp, but also fresh beef soup, mullet porridge, shrimp rolls or even squid vermicelli.
Lukang is a “village” that is really worth the detour. For Taiwanese, the notion of “village” is understood by the fact that this city of 85,000 inhabitants does not really have skyscrapers like the others.
Lukang is one of the oldest cities in Taiwan and it still has two magnificent temples: the Longshan Temple with its century-old stones and beams and the very lively and colorful Matsu Temple, right in the heart of the city. In a country where historical sites are rather rare, these two monuments are to be visited to discover the soul and heritage of this people.
Located in the south of the island, this city is famous for the pagodas of Lotus Pond. A walk along the banks allows you to admire and access three colorful complexes: the Zuoying Yuandi Temple, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. It is these latter that are the most emblematic of the city.
Tradition has it that one enters through the dragon’s mouth to expel sins and bad energies and then comes out purified and strong through the tiger’s mouth.
Kaohsiung is not limited to this pretty and very photogenic lake, it is still the third largest city in Taiwan with nearly 3 million inhabitants. It is therefore a very active and industrial city, with its skyline of ultramodern-looking skyscrapers.
On the outskirts, one can also enjoy beautiful beaches and discover the impressive Fo Guang Shan Buddhist monastery. With its 36 m high Buddha statue, its immense alleys and its set of pagodas, it is a major place of the Buddhist religion in Taiwan and one of the most visited in the country.
In addition to vegetarian restaurants, prayer rooms and libraries, the site houses Buddha relics and a museum in which treasures are buried and which are accessible only once every 100 years.
General presentation of Taiwan and discovery of night markets in Taipei.
Photo credit for the cover: Taipei - Depositphotos.com / Online image bank
