One of the best alternatives for an amazing trip is Taipei, the capital of the Republic of China, or Taiwan. This city is ideal to enjoy the wonderful charm that characterizes all the peoples of Asia, a combination of modern and ancient that does not leave those who visit indifferent.
Located in the extreme north of the island of Taiwan, Taipei is a city with a very humid and subtropical climate divided into twelve districts, which was founded at the beginning of the 18th century, and which has an interesting tourist proposal thanks to its cultural, political movements, economic and industrial. In addition to its traditions, breath-taking landscapes and dishes that will make your mouth water, although we cannot forget its exotic night markets, picturesque monuments and temples of great beauty and meaning.
For all it has to offer, we could say that Taipei has something for every traveller and is connected to nearby cities thanks to high-speed trains, highways, bus lines, and flights from Songshan Airport.
However, to know this cityyou must first understand it, as it has a little-known history, which begins with the founding of the Republic of China in 1912. From then until 1949, it was what we know as the People’s Republic of China and for many years it was governed by the Nationalist Party or Kuomintang. But in 1927 the ruling Nationalist Party and the Communist Party of China would start constant clashes that would detonate in the Chinese civil war.
This war would reach its maximum in 1946 when both parties would unite to face the Japanese invasion during the Second World War, although the war continued, in 1949 the Nationalist Party would take refuge on the island of Taiwan after losing the Chinese civil war. Thus giving rise to the separation of territories on the one hand the Republic of China currently called Taiwan and on the other the People’s Republic of China currently known by the name of China.
Despite the divisions and having no political power over it, the People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan as one more province of the country, while Taiwan, in its constitution, also considers China as part of its territory. In addition to this historical background, it should be added that Taipei is also a Chinese city with a marked Japanese influence that we can see in every corner of the city, since Taiwan lived 50 years of Japanese occupation from 1895 to 1945.
If you decide to venture into this metropolis, don’t miss a gastronomic tour, make sure you know absolutely all of its typical dishes, and try to enjoy one of the great festivals. In addition, you must visit must-see places such as Taipei101 (the tallest building in Taiwan at 508 meters high), Longshan Temple, the National Palace Museum, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Shilin night market and the Yanmingshan National Park, all of them destinations that will transport you to the city’s past.
Instead, if you want to delve into its history, head to Qidong Street, in the Zhongzheng District, which is where a large part of Japanese historical houses is located. In ancient times, this district was an essential part of transporting rice from the Taipei Basin to the bays.
In addition, a must-see site during your visit will be the wall and gates of Taipei, whose construction was completed in 1884. However, during the first years of Japanese domination, a large part of it was destroyed, with the purpose of restructuring the city.
The cultural proposals that Taipei offers range from museums, art galleries, theatre, monuments and temples of all kinds. In 1908, the National Museum of Taiwan was inaugurated, which is the oldest in the entire city and includes collections that contain everything from native animals to plants and cultural objects.
In 1983, the Taipei Museum of Fine Arts was opened, which allows tourists and locals to appreciate the diverse artistic manifestations, as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA). In addition, following the line of museums, it is necessary to speak of the National Palace Museum, which has more than 670,000 pieces of all kinds, and which is currently one of the most visited museums around the world.
As it should be supposed, religion is also an important part of Taipei’s culture, and if you are interested in getting to know it, you cannot miss visiting the Xinsheng South Road, where the vast majority of the temples of the city are gathered, like Hsing Tian Kong.
Taipei is definitely a city with a lot of life, with a thousand things to do and many places to see and discover. So, in one way or another, the important thing on your visit is to enjoy its culture, traditions and stories and expand your horizons in a way you never imagined.
ALFA