TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN “TAIWAN”
1)Taiwan – A home to the best street food markets in the world
Taiwan offers sumptuous delicacies and a culture of fine cuisine which has become a major draw for visitors from all over the world. Taiwan’s richly varied food culture has attracted millions of tourists, and sampling Taiwan’s delicious delicacies has become a favourite activity. The Taiwanese capital, Taipei, has around 20 streets dedicated to snacking. Taiwan’s diverse food culture combines special techniques and flavours from around the world and includes such local delicacies as Taiwan-style meatballs, tempura, pearl milk tea, fish-head casseroles and three-cup chicken. Seafood plays heavily into the local cooking. Omelettes just taste better with oysters in them, especially with the gelatinous chew of some sweet potato starch cooked with the eggs. Cooked oysters are the way to go in Taiwan.
Taiwan is one of the world’s best producers of fine tea, specifically the partially oxidized style called oolong. Tea is an essential part of the culture here, from bubble tea to default daily drink to the high-end, crafted stuff as nuanced and delicious as fine wine. Tea shops are everywhere and local teas range from bright green, fragrant varieties full of creamy floral notes to dark, heavily roasted styles as moody and complex as coffee.
2)Night Markets
Taiwan has the best night market scene in the world and some of the most exciting street food in Asia. With little space at home to cook, the Taiwanese prefer to head out almost every night to the heaving markets for the cheap snacks – that are found across the
island – on corners, in clusters of food-devoted streets or at one of over 100 night markets. Tourists can also sample from full menus packed with delicious dishes from Asia and beyond. The best thing about the night market is that the dedicated cooking happens at one place with a simple range of foodstuffs.
Night markets in Taiwan are also famous for selling stylish clothes at very low prices and a lot of awesome cheap jewellery. They are also extremely crowded and congested.
Taipei’s Shihlin Night Market is the most famous due to its very wide range of local delicacies in its small streets and alleys.
3)Street shopping in Taipei
Shopping in Taiwan is great fun, and there are shops everywhere in Taipei. The city of Taipei is so big that it is difficult to sort out from where to begin the shopping spree. Luckily, there are numerous districts around Taipei that offer particular shopping experiences, so one can narrow down where and how to begin the day of retail therapy.
Taipei is also home to dozens of markets where vendors sell special products at discounted prices. For instance, the Weekend Jade Market is one of the largest jade markets of Asia. There is also a huge wholesale clothing market, where vendors offer discounted clothing in the Wufenpu area of the Songshan District. Ximenting is the mecca for youth culture. From tatton street to Wannian Plaza accessory shops, cosplay to street dancing, Ximenting offers a venue for youths to express themselves. Pop stars often come here for promotional events on weekends.
It features a dense collection of shops and walking malls surging with trendy youths. You’ll find a good selection of Japanese magazines, as well as fashion and gaming accessories. To the so-called “Japan Junkies,” this place is as good as it gets in Taiwan. Japan played such a key role in Ximending’s past. During the Period of Japanese Occupation, they built Ximending based on Tokyo’s Asakusa district. They planned a commercial area, and gradually established a marketplace. Today, Ximending still has an abundance of great eateries. The Goose Meat Shop, A-Zhong Noodle Soup, Lao Tien Lu stewed meats, Chengdu Starfruit Ice, and Bee Coffee are all old shops with distinctive tastes. If you get a chance, don’t forget to swing by and give them a try!
4)LOHAS – A great culture to discover
What is LOHAS? LOHAS is an acronym for “Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability”. The term was coined by Gaiam, a media company known for producing yoga DVDs. It is a market segment focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development and social justice. The focus of LOHAS movement is more on health, wellbeing and happiness. The literal translation of LOHAS is ‘happy life’ and it appears that Taiwanese want to live a traditional lifestyle with a modern twist.
The major attraction of Taiwan is their hot springs, which are not only enjoyed by the people of Taiwan but also by travellers from other parts of the world. Almost every city in Taiwan is equipped with hot springs that is why Taiwan is also acknowledged as “the Hot Spring Kingdom”. Hot springs are formed by natural waters that emerges from the depth of the earth that bring along a high concentration and great variety of minerals that are mostly foreign to the human body and benefit the general health by having positive effects on disorders of the nervous and digestive systems and other organs. Since Taiwan’s hot springs are located in beautiful scenic areas, visitors not only soak themselves in these hot springs but can also enjoy gorgeous scenery while listening to the voices of nature. Specific properties of hot springs vary depending on chemical composition, mineral concentration and water temperature. Taiwan has a great variety of both hot and cold springs.
With the LOHAS trend, Taiwan has become a must-see travel destination in Asia, offering Zen meditation, Ci Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Spas, hot springs, foot massage and Nephropathy that brings tranquillity in an oriental way.
Each of Taiwan’s spa is unique in discovering physical and mental balance. Nephropathy is used for treating ailments such as headache, neck pain, and algomenorrhea, and can aid the circulation of energy, invigorate the joints, adjust cardiopulmonary function, and strengthen resistance. It soothes the aura by making one relaxed and comfortable.
LOHAS has gained a lot of attraction from all over the world and has brought traditional concept to a modern audience. There is no better way to experience it than to travel to Taiwan for its LOHAS practices. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature in Taiwan.
5)A scenic trip to Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan National Park was officially the third national park established in 1985. Situated on Mt. Yangming, one of the most well known mountains in Taiwan, Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Taiwan, both for foreigners and for locals. It features volcanic formations and fragrant blooming flowers during all four seasons. Because of the variety of beautiful plants and colorful flowers that flourish in the park, some people regard Yangmingshan National Park as the “backyard of Taipei”. Due to its tropical climate, Yangmingshan is an ideal location for plants and animals to grow.
Being the only national park in Taipei City, Yangmingshan National Park has become increasingly popular amongst Taipei citizen as well as foreigners. It is one of the best choices for families, couples, friends, and hikers to visit.
