A Travel Agent’s Guide to Taipei

One of our agents recently experienced an awesome Familiarisation trip to Taipei, Taiwan and has put together some recommendations for must-dos in this city.

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and an off-the-beaten-path hotspot of East Asia. I recently experienced a Familiarisation trip to Taipei with China Airlines, and travelled to the city on board the modern and wide-bodied Airbus A350 aircraft which provided us with a pleasant flight experience and lots of room to relax.

Taipei’s Top Attractions

Yehliu Geopark

During our trip we visited the Yehliu Geopark, which is home to an incredible rock formation that is said to resemble Queen Elizabeth. I would personally recommend this attraction for visitors; it’s really interesting as the rocks portray millions of years of history and the site’s geological department has been maintaining and preserving the rocks. There are some tea & coffee shops in the park where you can enjoy some refreshments.

 
Tamsui Lover’s Bridge

This famous cross-harbour bridge is situated at the Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf. The bridge is renowned for its romantic appeal, having opened on Valentine’s Day in 2003; it’s a perfect spot for couples with beautiful sunset views. To walk across the bridge it only takes around 3 minutes. The architectural design of the Tamsui Lover’s Bridge is impressive with colourful tile work and lights.

 
Heping Island Park

Located in North Taiwan, Heping Island Park is a historic landmark that formerly was the site of trade activities across Southeast Asia. It has developed into a coastal park complete with a beach, pools, and tourism centre, and is ideal for families between the summer months of April-June. The park is renowned for it diving and sea fishing opportunities.

 
Shifen Waterfall

Situated on the Keelung River, the Shifen Waterfall is Taiwan’s broadest waterfall, nicknamed as the Little Niagara of Taiwan. There’s not only the waterfall to visit here, but also souvenir stores, coffee and juice shops, and traditional restaurants. I’d recommend spending at least 2-3 hours at Shifen Waterfall.

 
Chiang Kai-shek – Memorial Hall

The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the country’s top landmarks, devoted to former president of Republic China Kai-shek with a series of artefacts, photos, and documents across a library and museum. The site also houses a bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek, and has a changing of guards ceremony every hour that is definitely worth witnessing.

 
Taipei 101

This impressive skyscraper building features a height of 508m, and is the tallest building in Taipei with Chinese-style architecture. Visitors to Taipei 101 can head to the 91st floor of the building and enjoy incredible views of the entire city, and the attraction is also home to many top branded shops and high quality restaurants.

 
Bangka Lungshan Temple

The Bangka Lungshan Temple is a famous historic landmark that was built during the Qing Rule of Taipei in 1738 and served as a gathering spot for Chinese settlers. The temple has been through multiple renovations after earthquakes and fires hit the area through the decades. Bangka Lungshan has a unique architectural structure and it’s a sacred spot considered to make pilgrim’s wishes come true.

 
Overall, I had an excellent travel experience in Taipei and was glad to tick this beautiful capital city and its top-class attractions off my bucket list.