Taipei & North

Taipei (台北) is a city of contrasts: Skyscrapers next to temples, Michelin-star restaurants next to street stalls, high-tech culture alongside Taoist rituals — everything coexists without contradiction. 2.6 million people live in the city center, over 7 million in the greater area, and the energy of this metropolis is electrifying.

What makes Taipei special: The city is incredibly convenient to travel. The metro (MRT) is clean, punctual, and covers all attractions. 7-Eleven and FamilyMart are on every corner (over 12,000 branches in Taiwan!). Wi-Fi is free everywhere. And the friendliness of the people makes every orientation question an experience.

Taipei 101

The Taipei 101 (508 m) was the tallest building in the world until 2010 and remains Taipei's unmistakable landmark. The bamboo shape symbolizes growth and prosperity — eight stacked segments, the number eight stands for luck in Chinese. The observation deck on the 89th floor (600 TWD / 17€) offers a 360° view over the city to the mountains. Inside: a 660-ton wind damper — a yellow-painted steel ball that stabilizes the building during earthquakes and typhoons. Fascinating engineering, freely accessible on floors 87–88.

Longshan Temple

The Longshan Temple (龍山寺, 1738) in the Wanhua district is Taipei's oldest and most atmospheric temple. Here, Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religion blend in colorful ceremonies: Incense rises, believers throw crescent-shaped oracle blocks, grandmothers murmur prayers. The elaborate dragon carvings on the columns are masterpieces of stonemasonry. Especially atmospheric in the evening when the temple is illuminated. Free.

National Palace Museum

One of the world's largest museums of Chinese art — with over 700,000 objects that Chiang Kai-shek brought with him during his 1949 escape from the mainland. The collection spans 8,000 years of Chinese history: finest jade carvings, calligraphy, imperial porcelain, and the famous "Jadeite Cabbage" sculpture. Admission: 350 TWD (10€). Plan at least 3 hours. Audio guide available in German.

Xiangshan — Elephant Mountain

The best free viewpoint over Taipei: 20 minutes of stair climbing (around 400 steps) to the summit of Xiangshan, then the iconic view of Taipei 101 with the skyline in the background. Perfect at sunset when the city is bathed in golden light. Metro: Xiangshan Station (Red Line, last stop). No admission, no opening hours.

Taiwan's night markets (夜市, Yèshì) are not just food markets — they are a way of life, the pulsating heart of Taiwanese society. Every evening from 5–6 PM, streets and squares transform into steaming, sizzling, fragrant paradises. Hundreds of stalls offer everything Taiwanese cuisine has to offer — and at prices that leave Europeans speechless.

The Best Night Markets in Taipei

• Shilin Night Market (士林夜市): The largest and most famous — touristy but deservedly legendary. Two floors: clothing and games upstairs, the food court labyrinth downstairs. Must-try: XL-Chicken Cutlet (比臉大的雞排 — "bigger than your face"), Oyster Omelette, Stinky Tofu. Metro: Jiantan Station.
• Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街夜市): Compact, more authentic, less crowded than Shilin. At the entrance: the legendary Black Pepper Bun (胡椒餅) — fresh from the clay oven, crispy, with a juicy pork filling. The line is worth it! Metro: Songshan Station.
• Ningxia Night Market (寧夏夜市): THE food night market for connoisseurs. Smaller selection, but every stall at the highest level. Famous for Taro Balls, Liu Yu Zi (fried innards — bold but delicious), and the best Oyster Vermicelli in town. Metro: Shuanglian Station.
• Tonghua / Linjiang Night Market (通化/臨江街夜市): The locals' insider tip in Da'an. Hardly any tourists, best prices, authentic atmosphere. Perfect after a visit to Taipei 101 (5 min walk).

Must-Try at the Night Markets

• Bubble Tea (珍珠奶茶): Invented in Taiwan! Black milk tea with tapioca pearls. 40–60 TWD (1–2€). The best chains: 50嵐 (50 Lan), CoCo, 春水堂 (Chun Shui Tang — the inventor).
• Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐): Smells like a forgotten refrigerator, tastes fantastic. Fermented tofu, fried and crispy, with pickled cabbage and spicy sauce. THE most polarizing dish in Taiwan — courage is rewarded!
• Gua Bao (割包): Taiwan's "burger": Soft, steamed bun with braised pork belly, pickled vegetables, peanut powder, and cilantro. Brilliantly simple.
• Scallion Pancake (蔥抓餅): Crispy-fluffy dough pancake with scallions, optionally with egg, cheese, or basil. The perfect snack.
• Grilled Squid (烤魷魚): Whole squid on the grill, brushed with teriyaki sauce. Tender and flavorful.

Beitou (北投) is Taipei's hot spring district — and the amazing thing is: It's only 30 minutes by metro from the city center. The entire valley literally steams: Sulfur vapors rise from the ground, hot streams flow through the area, and dozens of bathhouses invite you to soak. It smells of sulfur, the air is humid-warm, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of a Japanese onsen village — no wonder, as Beitou was developed as a spa resort during the Japanese colonial period (1895–1945).

Highlights

• Thermal Valley (地熱谷): A steaming, turquoise-green lake whose water reaches up to 100°C — far too hot for bathing, but spectacular to view and photograph. The sulfur vapors create a mystical atmosphere. Free.
• Millennium Hot Spring (千禧湯): Public outdoor bath with various pools (36–42°C), right next to Beitou Park. Admission: 40 TWD (1€!). Swimwear required, bathing caps mandatory. The best value for hot springs in all of Taiwan.
• Private Bathhouses: For more luxury: A private room with its own hot pool for 2 people, from 600–1,500 TWD (17–44€) per hour. Villa 32 and Grand View Resort are the most upscale options with sea views and spa.
• Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投溫泉博物館): A beautiful Japanese colonial building (1913) that tells the history of the hot springs. Wooden floors, tatami rooms, and a historic bathing hall. Free.
• Xinbeitou Park: The green park between the museum and Thermal Valley invites you to stroll — old trees, a stream with warm spring water, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Getting There

Metro Red Line to Beitou, transfer to the Xinbeitou branch line (1 station). From the station, all attractions are within a 5–15 minute walk.

The Spirited-Away Village

Jiufen (九份) is a former gold rush village in the mountains above the north coast, which became world-famous for its resemblance to the magical world from Hayao Miyazaki's anime film „Spirited Away". Whether Jiufen actually served as a model is disputed — but when the red lanterns light up in the narrow, steep alleys and the mist rises from the sea, it absolutely feels that way.

The history of Jiufen began in the 19th century when gold was discovered here. Thousands of fortune seekers flocked to the remote mountain village, teahouses and shops emerged. When the gold ran out, the village fell into decline — until it was rediscovered in the 1990s as a film set and tourist destination.

What to Expect

• Jishan Street (基山街): The main alley with stalls, teahouses, and souvenir shops. Narrow, steep, covered, and full of scents. Try Taro Balls (芋圓) — served in warm or cold sweet soup, Jiufen's most famous specialty. They taste best at Ah Gan Yi (阿甘姨).
• A-Mei Teahouse (阿妹茶樓): The iconic teahouse with the red lantern, allegedly serving as inspiration for the spirit world in Spirited Away. Traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony with views over the coast and sea. From 300 TWD (9€) per person, including tea and pastries. Most beautiful after dark.
• Shengping Theater (昇平戲院): Taiwan's oldest cinema (1934), lovingly restored and now used as a museum and event venue. A window into the gold rush era.

North Coast: Yehliu Geopark

30 minutes west of Jiufen lies the Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園) — a surreal rock landscape by the sea. Wind and water have eroded the sandstone over millennia into bizarre formations that look like mushrooms, candles, and the famous „Queen's Head". The Queen's Head is becoming increasingly thinner at the "neck" — geologists estimate it will break off in a few decades. Admission: 80 TWD (2.50€). Visit in the morning before the bus groups arrive.

Getting There & Tips

Bus 1062 from Taipei Main Station or Zhongxiao Fuxing (1.5h, 101 TWD / 3€). Best to go in the afternoon, enjoy the sunset over the sea, and see the illuminated lanterns in the evening. Yehliu can be included as a stop on the way to Jiufen (Bus 790 Yehliu → Jiufen). Plan a whole day for both places together.

Yangmingshan National Park — Taipei's Green Lung

Only 40 minutes by bus from the city center, the Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山) stretches over the hills north of Taipei. The park is of volcanic origin: steaming fumaroles, hot springs, sulfur scents, and lush vegetation make it the perfect day trip for nature lovers. In February/March the cherry trees bloom here, in May the hydrangeas turn the slopes into a violet-blue sea of flowers.

The main hiking trails: Qingtiangang Grassland (flat, water buffalo graze on green meadows with views of Taipei), Xiaoyoukeng (steaming volcanic fumaroles, intense sulfur smell), and the Seven Star Mountain Trail (Taipei's highest point, 1,120 m, about 2h ascent). Admission: free. Bus 260 or Red 5 from Taipei Main Station.

Wulai — Indigenous Culture & Hot Springs

The Atayal village Wulai (烏來) is located 40 minutes south of Taipei and offers a unique combination of indigenous culture, hot springs, and a spectacular waterfall. The Wulai Waterfall plunges 80 meters — a cable car takes you to a viewing platform with panoramic views. On the riverbank, there are free public hot springs where locals and tourists sit together in the warm water.

The Wulai Old Street offers indigenous specialties: wild boar sausages, mochi, bamboo rice, and millet wine. In the Atayal Museum, you can learn about the culture of Taiwan's indigenous people. Bus 849 from Xindian Metro Station (30 min).