Taipei 臺北

TAIPEI nickname 'The City of Azaleas' !!

First time for me to arrive into Taipei City Center... Many expectation runs in my mind : crowded with people like other major metropolis, perfect infrastructure and public transport, clean, safe and organize city and the list goes on and on....

The first stop arriving the city either by bus or train or high speed train is definitely the Taiwan Railway Station 台北車站 building. The building has a large hall area which has ticket counter and waiting area.


The 6 levels surface building look grand and big but the fun begin when enter into underground level. There are total of 4 basements level which each level cater for different mode of transport. B1 is underground street market, B2 High speed train THSR and local train TRA, B3 and B4 are MRT line. The underground level are huge and crowded all the time, if without any signage or directory one will easily get lost in the labyrinth with hundred of different exits. 

Today whole day is reserve for visiting National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院 or short as 故宮. All the artifact are shipped by Kuomintang from mainland China during the Chinese Civil War. Some of the famous collection are jade cabbage, pork belly jade, and passenger boat carved from an olive pit.

p/s: Take red Tamsui 淡水 line and get down at Shilin 士林 station. Then take bus number 304 terminates at the museum, while bus numbers 255 and 小18 both make stops at the museum.

 

Photograph are not allow inside so there isn't any photo of those artifact. The museum are huge with different level cater for different exhibits such as: Nature and Human in Unison, The Bell and Cauldron Inscription, Art in Quest of Heaven and Truth, The mystery of Bronzes, Rituals Cast in Brilliance, Compassion and Wisdom and many others exhibits. Spare at least half day or best the full day tour this huge museum. There are free locker provided for bags and camera.

Outside the museum there is a small park which can be visit. There are many tourist hanging around feeding fishes or tortoises at the pond. Not much of local activities going on like playing Chinese chess or local chatting.

One must not miss the Shihlin night market 士林夜市, vote as one of the largest night market in Taipei. It is one of the must visit for every tourist to Taiwan. Since the museum MRT station is Shihlin so make sure to stop-by the night market after a tired day of walking in the museum. Get yourself some Taiwan famous snacks and not forget bubble milk tea!

p/s: beware it can get very very crowded during weekend!

Its getting late after visiting night market, so head back to city center and to Taipei 101 臺北 101. Its raining and the temperature is 13cels and strong wind.

p/s: Take Red line south back to Taipei Main Station and change to Blue line west to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Station 南港展覽館站 and get down at Taipei City Hall 市政府.

Walk straight to taipei 101, expecting that i will be able to see it once i step out of MRT station but it was no where to be found. Due to many high rise building around it so i have no chance of seeing it even if i look up. No choice but to take out map and search for direction. Sadly Taipei 101 doesn't look as high as it claim due to many high rise building surround it. It had somehow as par as other building and not dwarfed other building. Where else, in Malaysia Petronas Twin Tower look much higher because it is surrounded by city park and man made lake.  

Some facts about taipei 101:

1. Officially known as the Taipei International Financial Center (臺北國際金融大樓), this 101-floor, 508-meter high skyscraper 
2. second tallest skyscraper in the world. 
3. the tower resemble bamboo as the symbol of growth and flexibility 
4. the tower is divided into 8 section associate with prosperity 
5. it has one of the fastest elevator in the world

Since it's the season of Christmas the surrounding building and walkway are decorated with lights and christmas tree. 

Route:

MRT Taipei Train Station BL7 - MRT Shinlin R20 - National Palace Museum - MRT Shinlin R20 - MRT Taipei Train Station BL7 - MRT Taipei City Hall BL13 - Taipei 101