The political climate around the world is more serious than ever, and since Taiwan is a country that holds a special place in my heart, I pay close attention to how things are between Taiwan and China. I had the opportunity to travel to Taipei for a month in 2019 as part of a business trip. My closest Taiwanese friends, a plethora of breathtaking natural attractions, and a vibrant culture can all be found in Taipei. In this blog, I'll share with you some Taiwanese experiences that stick out in my mind the most.
Old villages
Despite being one of the most modern cities in Asia which possesses many skyscrapers such as Taipei 101, Taipei Nan Shan Plaza, Fubon Xinyi A25, etc., Taipei has kept its unique tradition across the city, especially in old villages.
Visiting Jiufen, one of the most famous old villages in Taiwan, was on top of my to-do list while in Taipei. One-hour-drive from Taipei, Jiufen is the small mountainous village which looks similar to the village in Spirited Away, arguably Hayao Miyazaki's most well-known film.
The Ruifang District of New Taipei City is home to Jiufen. Prior to the boom in gold mining, camphor harvesting, and processing constituted the majority of the local economy. Jiufen provided the camphor with 90 stoves. In a processing site, ten stoves were typically grouped together. Consequently, these transformed into nine processing sites over time. The name "Jiufen" means "nine units" or "nine sections" in Chinese.
The Jiufen Old Street shopping area is the wealthiest. The majority of the village is traversed. On the street, there are a lot of tourists. Shops selling the most well-known Jiufen country snack, a yam dish, and other regional fare line the street. Some historical items are well-guarded. The journey to Jiufen is enjoyable and delightful. Jiufen has a wide variety of lodging options offered by locals. If you weren't in a rush, you might want to choose a nice inn and stay overnight to enjoy the starry skies and fishing lights.
Some other old towns you should visit: Shifen Old Street (Pingxi), Houtong Cat Village, etc.
Night market and street foods
You must comprehend Taiwan's food culture in order to fully understand the country. And there is no better setting to accomplish that than Taiwan's thriving night markets!
In Taiwan, night markets are very important. In fact, Taiwan has more than 70 night markets, with about 30 of them located in Taipei alone.
You must visit Raohe Night Market if you want to try the best pork pepper buns Taiwan has to offer. It's a must-visit location when exploring Taipei at night because it's one of the city's oldest night markets. This place has a wide variety of food and is the best place to eat for incredibly low prices. Try the flame-torched beef cubes, luwei (braised snacks), and sweet potato balls in addition to the pepper buns!
A 3-minute walk will bring you to the Raohe Night Market in Taipei's Songshan District from the Songshan MRT Station. Just so you know, around 7-8 pm it gets really busy, so be ready to join the scrum!
Some random pictures on street vendors in Raohe Night Market
Some street foods must try:
Some other night markets for your references: Shilin (#1) is the largest, but it also attracts the most tourists. Other highly suggested markets are Raohe (#2), Ningxia (#3), and Tonghua (#4) as they are all more doable and offer amazing culinary options (including numerous Michelin-rated shops).
Pets
People often say that we should look at how a country treats its animals if we want to gauge its level of politeness. Taiwan is undoubtedly one of the best places for animals to live. People care for animals and treat them like "children". Because they adore dogs so much, Taiwan is one of the few nations in the world to have outlawed the practice of euthanizing stray animals.
I randomly took a lot of photos of lovely animals lounging on the sidewalk.
Pet ownership is becoming more and more accessible thanks to services and goods that cater to animals. Both the metro system and high-speed trains in Taipei accept animals as long as they are restrained in pet carriers. Additionally, there is a growing network of "pet buses" and bus routes that are pet-friendly.
While their animals are also welcome in a number of cafes, restaurants, and a growing number of apartment buildings, insurance companies have added pet policies as an option for Taiwanese clients. For young, educated Taiwanese, getting a pet is becoming easier and easier to sell.
I have a lot of incredible memories from Taipei, which makes me want to return someday.
Thank you for reading.
From rainy Saigon with love,
Leo