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Taipei, Taiwan

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Taipei is the largest and most populous city on the island of Taiwan. As a metropolis, the streets are characteristically lined with shopping malls, theaters, night clubs, bars, restaurants and high rises. However, even with all the action in this densely populated city, visitors will be able to see tranquil temples, bathe in a natural hot spring or hike on a forested trail. The city proper is divided into thirteen separate districts, each with its own unique characteristics to experience.

There are several cultural attractions in Taipei that are worth a visit. Museum buffs will be pleased with the National Palace Museum, ranked as one of the top four museums in the world with over 700,000 historical artifacts. With such a large quantity of items and limited space to display them, the museum changes its exhibits every three months. The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall houses relics of the former ruler and is surrounded by several well manicured gardens. Temples are located throughout the city, the oldest being the Lungshan Temple built by the original Chinese settlers.

Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the Bei Tou district in northern Taipei. Natural hot spring resorts, remnants of Japan's former occupation, dot the landscape and are a perfect place to unwind with a hot bath. The Hell Valley nature preserve is home to various endangered species and several amazing sulfur springs, but be aware that the water in the springs is too dangerously hot to enter. At the Yang Ming Mountain and surrounding Yang Ming Shan National Park you can see beautiful flowers and trees full of fragrant cherry blossoms. The park maintains abundant hiking trails and traditional teahouses.

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Dining in Taipei is one of the most exciting things to do because of the immense diversity of cuisine available. There are a myriad of Chinese restaurants in Taipei, with specialties ranging from Peking to Sezchuan style cuisine. If Chinese is not what you're craving, Indian, French, German, Swiss, American, Greek, Mexican, Indonesian, Thai and Korean food are all well represented throughout the city. For a good value, look for buffets around teatime, lunch or dinner at various hotels. The major shopping centers in Taipei feature food courts for that important meal in the midst of a shopping day. Cafes are a good place for a simple dining experience and offer inexpensive set meals around lunchtime with coffees and teas.

Taipei's nightlife is centered on Zhong Xiao East Road, home to several bars, pubs and restaurants. Bars located in hotels offer a more elegant after-dinner experience and provide you with an opportunity to socialize with local businessmen. Australian, Japanese, British, Irish and American bars are available for those seeking a place with a more familiar style. For a blast from the past, stop at one of the Disco halls near the National Taiwan University for drinks, dancing and music.

The night markets are a unique feature of Taipei, reminiscent of swap meets with imitation brand name products, cheap jewelry and open-air food stalls. Shi Lin night market is the largest and operates from the late afternoon until the early hours of the morning. Zhong Xiao East Road and the Xi Men Ding area are good places to find clothing shops, shoe stores and boutiques. Large Japanese department stores such as Sogo and Mitsukoshi are available for one-stop shopping and the expansive Asiaworld Shopping Center features dozens of shops to browse.

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Visitors to Taipei will be treated to a truly metropolitan experience full of fantastic dining options, lively clubs and contemporary shopping centers. As a pleasant contrast to the activities in the city, quiet parks, hiking trails and hot springs are located a short distance away for an outdoor adventure. Everyone visiting Taipei will surely find something to enjoy in this culturally diverse and fascinating community.