Tropical island Taiwan with a high standard of living has always attracted thousands of tourists who dream of the exotic. Unique sights, untouched nature, modern buildings - all this makes this paradise attractive in the eyes of travelers. Interestingly, several decades ago it was considered a real backwater, until the Chinese elite fled here from the communists in 1949, turning the island into a prosperous trading center in Asia, whose independence China does not recognize.
Taipei (Taiwan): description of the city
The history of the metropolis began in the 18th century, when immigrants from the Chinese province of Fujian settled in the territory. Scattered settlements in a hundred years turned into a single administrative center. After the government of the Republic of China settled on the island 67 years ago, its economy began to actively develop due to foreign investment. Vibrant Taipei was home to many industries, and today Taiwan's original gem is recognized as a major center for the production of electronic equipment and high technology.
In the city, which is the capital of the island, and to be quite precise, the capital of the Republic of China (not to be confused with China), there are the main banking and trading establishments.
Features of the metropolis
Modern Taipei (Taiwan), where life is seething even at night, cannot be called a popular place among tourists, although recently interest in the young metropolis has begun to increase. The densely populated capital surprises with an unusual combination of Orthodox churches and Taoist temples, and the cathedral mosque is recognized as the main attraction of the city, which mixes different cultures and traditions.
Residents are hospitable and friendly to all foreigners. For fifty years the town has been occupied by Japan, but no one feels any hostility towards this country.
The city of Taipei (Taiwan), which is described in the article, is famous for its colorful music performances and festivals.
Ethnic cuisine and tea ceremony
Speaking about the peculiarities of the city, one cannot fail to mention the national cuisine, which has absorbed both Chinese and Japanese recipes. Tourists who visited Taipei (Taiwan) admit that they saw a real gastronomic variety with many unusual dishes. The main products are rice, fish, oysters, vegetables, sweet potatoes, noodles.
Recently, dishes that use tea and flowers are gaining popularity, which is very surprising for Europeans. For example, in restaurants you can try deliciously delicious shrimp served with olive flowers,herbal soups or unusual rose petal salad. But tea is what the meal begins and ends with. Products made for export began to be sold domestically about 35 years ago, and at the same time the first specialized establishments were opened to promote the culture of drinking tea.
Now the city of Taipei (Taiwan) is famous for the fact that in local shops you can buy incredible varieties of the drink, recognized as the hallmark of the island. The most fragrant oolong is grown in mountainous regions, which cannot be cheap. Tourists are warned about the possibility of fake tea, so if the drink is sold at a low price, then this means that they are trying to slip you a fake from Vietnam.
Taipei 101 Main Skyscraper
A bustling metropolis with virtually no high-rise buildings boasts a main skyscraper that attracts the attention of all tourists. The giant structure was built in an active seismic zone, and all the characteristics of the terrain were taken into account when designing the facility. The opening of the skyscraper, inside which there is a multi-ton ball that does not allow the structure to fall in strong winds, took place on New Year's Eve 12 years ago.
High-speed elevators will take tourists to the upper floors, and from there guests will admire the wonderful sight of the city at night, illuminated by colorful lights. In a 101-storey skyscraper with a height of 509 meters, there are shopping centers, office space, luxury restaurants, entertainment clubs, in a word, everythingwhat Taipei is famous for is the capital. Taiwan, whose sights are truly unique, did not skimp on the construction of a skyscraper that became an exact copy of the Tower of Babel and a symbol of the city.
Kaishi Memorial
Residents of the metropolis are incredibly reverent towards the founder of the Republic of China, politician Chiang Kai-shek. To perpetuate the memory of the Generalissimo, a memorial was built with a huge area of 250 thousand square kilometers. Taiwan, always trying to surpass China in its achievements, was guided by the Beijing Temple of Heaven.
The towering memorial, made of white marble and shimmering blue tiles in the sun, looks solemn and elegant. Next to the erected bronze monument to the great commander, the guard is changed every four hours, and a crowd of foreign guests with bated breath follows the refined movements of soldiers with aloof faces. There is also a curious exposition dedicated to the life of Kaisha.
Funicular
For those who are ready to tickle their nerves and want to explore the surroundings of the city, a funicular has opened in the Maokong area. Not a single person will be indifferent to the four-kilometer-long cable car and transparent cabins, through which the capital of Taiwan, which lives in a stormy rhythm, is perfectly visible. Taipei, seen from a bird's eye view, fascinates with its bright and unusual beauty, and the funicular ride will be remembered for a long time.
Interesting facts
- The dynamically developing city has wildly popular night markets. The most famous of them is Shilin, sharpened for tourists, where you can buy not only clothes, but also various delicacies, the aromas of which are in the air. Visitors and noisy companies of local youth roam here.
- Taipei (Taiwan) is called the city of mopeds, and a special zone is allocated for them, where pedestrians are closed.
- The developed metro system confuses those who find themselves in the metropolis for the first time. Trains running throughout the city run not only underground, but also on street overpasses.
- The local population loves cute pandas and is trying to reach the hearts of other people, conveying the idea that these animals need to be protected. In the center of Taipei, there are paper sculptures of charming animals, and there are exactly as many images as there are left in wildlife - 1600.
- Megapolis is adored by all the shopaholics of the world. There are boutiques with expensive and affordable brands on every corner here, and many fashionistas come here only for shopping.
- Taipei (Taiwan) has long been famous for local ceramics - an important heritage of Chinese culture, so not a single tourist leaves without handicrafts of talented craftsmen who create real works of art.
The mysterious island shrouded in legends has already become a favorite among many foreigners. According to researchers, in 2016 the exotic corner will receive more than 10 million tourists from all over the globe. Well, start your journeyrecommended from a colorful capital that can amaze with contrasts and a special atmosphere.
