Ashley TanFor those of you whose ideal holiday is an endless shopping spree fueled by bouts of feasting, Taipei is the ultimate holiday destination.
There’s so much to see around Taipei City that even if you spent weeks or months there, you would probably not even scratch the surface of its shopping and dining scene. But if you only have 7 days, here are the essential sites to visit to make sure that you make the most out from your trip to Taiwan’s capital!
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Day 1 and 2: Central Taipei – Zhongzheng and Da’an
Get a taste of traditional local breakfast fare
Image credit: istolethetv
Head straight to Hua Shan Traditional Market for a traditional local breakfast at Fu Hang Dou Jiang. Be there early for a cup of smooth soy milk that goes perfectly with You Tiao (Chinese fried churros). While you’re there, make stomach space for their signature fluffy Shao Bing (Chinese layered flatbread) as well.
Get a headstart on your souvenir shopping at Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Centre
Image credit: Charles Chan, of a Chinese-style landscape painting (left); Jirka Matousek, of jade jewellery (right)
For authentic, high-quality and affordable handicrafts, it’s definitely worth checking out the non-profit Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center. Browse a range of interesting items from mini oil paper umbrellas to jade jewellery; you might just get all your souvenir shopping done in a single morning!
Learn about Taiwan’s modern history at Liberty Square
Image credit: AngMoKio
Your next stop is the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, recognisable from its impressive white facade and classic eight-sided blue roof. Inside, you’ll find a memorial library, the Chiang Kai-shek museum, and exhibition halls where you will learn about the life and career of one of modern Taiwan’s founders.
Image credit: Dudva
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall overlooks Liberty Square, where numerous public gatherings of historical importance were once held. Today, however, you might see locals making use of the space to jog, play mahjong and practice tai chi.
Feast like kings and queens
Image credit: Dian Shui Lou
A plethora of great eats are available near the Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Centre and Liberty Square. Our top choice would be either a warming bowl of beef noodles at Liu Shandong or the seasonal special menu at Shanghainese restaurant Dian Shui Lou. Both were awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand in this year’s inaugural Taipei Michelin guide.
Image credit: Alain
Another fantastic option is Jin Feng, which serves up the best lu rou fan (braised pork rice) in Taipei. This local staple is a simple dish, consisting of tender braised pork laying atop a bed of soft white rice. It’s best eaten with winter melon soup, stir-fried vegetables, and braised eggs.
Satisfy all your electronics needs at Guang Hua Digital Plaza
Image credit: Wpcpey (left), The Tech Revolutionist (right)
Head over to Guang Hua Digital Plaza, best known as the mecca for Taiwanese techies. Within the impressive six storeys of electronics stores, there’s literally every gadget you could possibly want, from mobile phones to computer parts and even karaoke machines.
Snack on Taiwanese street food at Shida Night Market
Image credit: David
Shida Night Market caters to its youthful crowd with plenty of cheap fashion stores, locally-designed apparel and affordable food fare.
Image credit: MR+G, of sheng jian bao (left); Ron Dollete, of gua bao (right)
Grab some sheng jian bao (pan-fried minced pork dumplings) from Hsu Ji, gua bao (Taiwanese pork buns) from Lan Jia Gua Bao, and crispy fried chicken from Shi Yun for dinner. If you’re still hungry, look to Lao Tian Tian for homemade desserts like grass jelly.
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Day 3 and 4: Old Taipei – Wanhua and Datong
Get your culture fix at Dalongdong
Image credit: Kabacchi, of the Confucius Temple
Your third day begins with an exploration of the Dalongdong Cultural and Historical District. Visit the Confucius Temple or the strikingly elaborate Bao’an Temple, located just opposite it. You’ll find stone lions, dragon columns and clay carvings adorning the Taiwanese folk religion temple.
Shop till you drop at Ximending, then rejuvenate yourself with more street food
Image credit: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
Just a few streets away, you’ll find a completely different scene: the bustling Ximending shopping district, dubbed the “Shibuya of Taipei”. Here, you can get fashionable wearables at very reasonable prices.
Image credit: 50 Lan
Pick up a Tea Latte or an Oolong Milk Tea with mini-pearls from 50 Lan to sip on or try some of the irresistible street food at Ximending. An absolute must-try here is the famous mee sua from Ah Zong Mian Xian, topped with oysters and pork intestines. For desserts, go for the soft, gooey Okinawa-style grilled mochi sold on Emei Street, paired best with a matcha or black sesame sauce.
Image credit: Jonathan Lin (left); Jirka Matousek (right)
Take a trip through Old Taipei
Image credit: lienyuan lee
Walk off your food paunch at Bopiliao Street, Taipei’s historical and cultural district, and visit the Heritage and Culture Education Center to learn more about the area’s history.
Image credit: Bernard Gagnon
You’ll also pass one of the “Big Three” temples in the area, the exquisitely-decorated and colourful Longshan Temple. Though it was originally a Buddhist temple, hundreds of other Taoist and Confucian deities are now worshipped here too. There’s also an underground bazaar selling apparel and snacks if you’re not done with shopping!
Have snake soup and a foot massage at Huaxi Street Market
Image credit: Larry Koester
The entrance to Huaxi Street Market is located nearby, marked by a red palace-styled archway. Once known as “Snake Alley”, huge glass cases of live snakes snacking on mice could be found along the entire street. The snakes would be slaughtered in front of customers paying to consume their (apparently enriching) fresh meat and bodily fluids in a “snake soup”.
Image credit: Guillaume Paumier
While snake slaughter has since fallen out of favour with the public, other exotic local delicacies can still be found here, including stinky tofu and softshell turtle soup.
If you’re not feeling too adventurous, enjoy a foot massage at one of the specialised massage parlours, get your fortune read in a bookstore, or try the traditional ‘daisy noodles’ from Changhong Noodle instead.
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Day 5: Northern Taipei – Shilin
Visit the world’s largest collection of Chinese artifacts at the National Palace Museum
Image credit: National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum houses about 700,000 pieces of imperial Chinese artifacts in its permanent collection, but perhaps the most famous one is the 7.4-inch Jadeite Cabbage. It’s scarcely larger than the human hand, but has been dubbed the “most famous masterpiece” of the entire museum. Another interesting work is a meat-shaped sculpture, a piece of jasper carved to resemble braised pork belly. You can even get your own replicas in the gift shop!
Go on a gastronomic journey at Shilin Night Market
Image credit: 黃 zero
As one of the largest and most popular night markets in Taipei, Shilin Night Market is an essential stop. There are plenty of souvenir and clothing stores but its claim to fame is the huge variety of local delicacies available. Sample the oyster omelette from different street stores or try the infamous stinky tofu here.
Image credit: Kimberly Vardeman (cropped)
For dessert, go for xue hua bing (snowflake ice), a cold and creamy dessert made from shaved ice and topped with fruits and syrups.
Day 6 and 7: Commercial Taipei – Songshan and Xinyi
Explore Taipei’s best brunch spots
Image credit: bryan (cropped)
Shopping opportunities are aplenty in Taiwan but nowhere more so than in the shopping capital Xinyi. While waiting for the malls to open, head to Kyushu Pancake Café on trendy Fujin Street for a warm, fluffy pancake stack made from seven different grains sourced from Kyushu. Fujin Tree 353 Café is another great option for a solid morning cuppa and a croissant.
Bargain-hunting at Wufenpu
Image credit: Sengkang
Head over to the Wufenpu shopping district for your next shopping spree. It’s rumoured to be the best place for finding amazing bargains with ever-changing collections of clothing. Most stores restock on a Monday, so visit on a Tuesday to be the first to peruse new products, or a Sunday to catch spectacular last-minute discounts!
Warm yourself up with Taiwanese hotpot
Image credit: 12 Hotpot
Hotpot experts would be able to distinguish the Taiwanese variety from its siblings originating from other regions. A great place to try Taiwanese hotpot is 12 Hotpot located near Wufenpu, where you can choose between four types of broth to cook your meats and vegetables in.
And if you haven’t yet managed to try gua bao (Taiwanese pork buns), you have another great opportunity to grab one at Song Shan Gua Bao.
Tea time in Eslite Spectrum Department Store
Image credit: Essolo
The Eslite Spectrum Department Store has a whole level dedicated to “Tea With Books”, and you’ll find the entire third floor stacked floor to ceiling with over 10 million books.
Image credit: Wing1990hk (left); Chun Shui Tang (right)
It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon browsing and reading in the Eslite Spectrum Bookstore; embark on your literary expedition with a cup of Pearl Milk Tea from Chun Shui Tang, the supposed “inventor” of bubble tea!
Image credit: Wu Pao Chun
If you’re a bread lover”, don’t leave without visiting the Wu Pao Chun bakery in the basement. Sample their top products, like the “Taiwan Longan with Red Wine” and “Taiwan Litchi Rose Champion” breads, or take home one of their artisanal jams.
Get a panoramic view of the city from Taiwan’s tallest building
Image credit: 中岑 范姜
We’ve saved the best for last. You’d no doubt have seen the Taipei 101 skyscraper countless times as you toured the city, peeking out from the sea of high-rise buildings. Head over there on your last evening and shoot up to the Observation Deck on one of the world’s fastest elevators, to catch a 360-degree panoramic view of the sunset.
Taipei 101 Shopping Mall, located on the lower floors of the building, is also the place to find luxury fashion brands like Dior and Prada.
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Chow down on xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung
Image credit: Din Tai Fung
As the birthplace of Din Tai Fung, it’s impossible to leave Taiwan without tasting its award-winning, hand-crafted xiao long bao (soup dumplings). The original branch is located at Xinyi Street but its branch in the basement of Taipei 101 is a little less crowded but just as good.
Image credit: Din Tai Fung
Order a few rounds of xiao long bao with the restaurant’s Noodles with Minced Pork Sauce, and Stir-Fried Amaranth Greens for a delicious, satisfying final meal. You deserve it, after all that walking!
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Get ready to eat, shop, sleep and repeat – Taipei is really the ultimate destination for every foodie and shopaholic!
Brought to you by HSBC.
