[ 60 ] A Plus + August 2009

Sharing close economic and cultural ties, Taipei is quite a familiar place for Hong Kong business travellers,

many of whom spend a good deal of their time in the city’s commercial district of Shin Yi.

The district is home to the world’s tallest completed skyscraper, Taipei 101, which houses many international companies, and Neihu Technology Park, where top technology companies

like BenQ Corp., Foxconn Electronics and Compal Electronics are stationed.

When the workday is over, there is plenty to see outside of Shin Yi. One of the greatest advantages of travelling in Taiwan is that it is a small island with a multicultural heritage ranging from Chinese, Taiwanese aboriginals, and Japanese to Dutch. It also has varied natural landscapes; you can spend half a day up in the Yangmingshan mountains

and be nestled on a beach along the city’s northeast coast within an hour. Food lovers can rest assure that the city has its share of taste-bud friendly cuisines.

Crisscrossing through TaipeiThe Mass Rapid Transit is the most convenient public transportation system in Taipei. Buy a refundable Easy Card (available at the MRT stations) and use it for travel on the

Food, culture, Taipei… Honnus Cheung, CFO of Travelzoo’s Asia Pacific region, on how to enjoy your business travels to Taipei

Travel

August 2009 + A Plus [ 61 ]

+61

MRT, bus and selected railway trains. For those with limited time, stops along two major MRT lines will keep you well entertained.

Between Zhongxiao Fuxing and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall stations along the blue Banqiao Nangang line is a crowded shopping and dining area filled with fashion boutiques, department stores, high-end hair and spa salons, restaurants and bars. Make

sure to stroll through the smaller lanes adjacent to the main street, as you are likely to find more stores.

Also along the blue line is Longshan Temple, a 271-year-old temple famous for its benevolent deities, known to grant the many wishes of worshippers. Locals love to worship and foreigners go there to admire the ancient architecture.

Moving onto the red Danshui line, Shilin at Chientan station is Taipei’s biggest and most crowded night market. Find bargain deals at shops and street vendors and enjoy numerous snacks including oyster omelette, stinky tofu, spicy bean curd, Japanese tempura, pearl milk tea, fried buns, shaved ice with toppings and face-sized fried chicken cutlets.

Farther north are two of my favourite stations: Xinbeitou and Danshui. Xinbeitou is a quiet Japanese-style neighbourhood abundant with thermal springs. Spoil yourself in luxurious hotels like Spring Resort Villa 32 or Pacific Spa, enjoy the thermal springs, a healthy meal, then take a nap or hike around the beautiful hills. Danshui is a historical port where the Dutch and Spanish were stationed. Head there at four or five o’clock when it is cooler, stroll along the river bank and enjoy the view and music from street performers. Near the end of the pedestrian walk, past the bustling street vendors and game stalls, you’ll find exquisite cafes offering a sunset view overlooking the river.

If you have some extra time, Taichung on the west coast is only a 40-minute ride on the Taiwan High Speed Train. Jinming First Street is a well-organized marketplace where you can find famous pearl milk tea. Tung Hai Art Street also offers excellent shopping, while the area around Jin Kuo Green Path has museums, galleries, boutique shops and beautiful trees. Check out the National Museum

of Natural Science and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, and be sure to visit Eslite Books, which made headlines recently over its large planted building – colourful plants cover most of the building’s surface from its second-floor basement to the fourth floor.

AccommodationThe Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei, which is managed by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, was ranked 14th in Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2007 “Top 50 Hotels in Asia.” The hotel has a classy shopping mall and a City’super. There are also a number of restaurants and bars around the neighbourhood. Among them is Wind, a stylish restaurant serving modern Chinese food opposite the hotel. People, a chic bar and restaurant with a fusion of Zen and modern design, is hidden behind a bamboo path and has an iron-built door that requires you to push a hidden sensor before you can enter.

The Grand Regent Taipei is another luxury hotel surrounded by shopping, entertainment and culture. With an elegantly designed wooden interior, the hotel caters mostly to Japanese and other foreign business travellers. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with sofas, a working table and a daily plate of fresh fruit. Within walking distance of the hotel is Spot Taipei film house and cafe – a historical landmark that was once the U.S ambassador’s residence – as well as the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Mitsukoshi Department Stores and Gucci and Louis Vuitton flagship stores.

Taipei Fullerton Hotel’s five-star services are impressive; guests can expect in-room fax machines, Internet access and designer toiletries. The hotel’s location is also convenient, being adjacent to Shin Yi district, Neihu Technology Park, Nankang Software Park, Taipei Songshan Airport and near the Zhongxiao shopping district.

[ 62 ] A Plus + August 2009

Must-dos• Thermal springs: Thanks to its geographic

location, Taiwan is a thermal spring heaven. In addition to Xinbeitou, you can also go to Tien Lai Spring Resort, The Landis Resort Yangmingshan and Spring Park Hotel for a soothing bath and mountain views.

• Food as gifts: There are numerous snacks to bring home. My favourite ones are pineapple cakes from Lee Chi cake store, beef jerky and dried meat from Black Bridge, stewed duck tongues and chicken claws from Lau Tian Lu, and Chinese tea from Ten Ren.

• Taipei 101: As long as the skyscrapers in Shanghai and Dubai are under construction, Taipei 101 is still the tallest building in the world. Take a trip to the top floor for a fantastic panoramic view of the city. Two restaurants on the 85th floor, Sin Yeh and Diamond Tony, offer amazing views and are nice for both business and romantic gatherings.

• Eslite Books Store: It offers a great reading environment and shopping experience with a range of books, music, stationeries, designer goods and coffee shops.

Travel

August 2009 + A Plus [ 63 ]

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Dining OutEating at Din Tai Fung is a must, as the restaurant is renowned for its steamed dumplings. The original store is on Shin Yi Road, but since it is always crowded, I prefer to go to the one in Zhongxiao.

Visit Tu Hsiao Yueh (also known as Slack Season), which has been open since 1895 and is famous for Taiwan’s hearty and savoury Dan-tsu noodles. They are also known for a stewed pork dish that originated in the mainland’s Fujian province, as well as traditional cuisines such as gold shrimp rolls, pig knuckles, deep fried oysters and steamed meatballs.

For those who enjoy spicy food, try out some of Taipei’s hot pots. Tai Ho Dien is a favourite restaurant among many Hong Kong celebrities; the beef is tender and succulent, especially after being dipped in spicy soup for just a few seconds. Tripod King is another popular restaurant with well-trained waiters who bow 90 degrees each time. They have a soup that is cooked in traditional Chinese tripods for 24 hours using more than 30 kinds of Chinese herbs.

Japanese food is my second favourite cuisine in Taipei. Tung Sushi is well known for its Japanese creations such as Brazilian roll (sushi rolled not with seaweed but with avocado and raw salmon) and double sushi (rice topped with urchin on romaine lettuce). Another Japanese restaurant, Mitsui, serves fresh seafood daily from the port. Morosawa, a small family-owned restaurant whose owner is from Okinawa, provides authentic Japanese flavour and atmosphere. The place has tables at best for four and all customers have to sit on tatami mats. Make sure to book in advance.

Popular Taiwanese snacks can be found in night markets and street stalls. In addition to Shilin night market, head to Shi Da Road night market, an area close to National Taiwan Normal University and famous for soy sauce braised foods and a Taiwanese version of crepes. Other street stalls can be found along Tonghua Street and Liaoning Street.

As for nightlife in the city, Brown Sugar is a fantastic club and restaurant providing live jazz music, singers and even salsa dances. Champagne II serves a full range of champagnes with a fashionable atmosphere and great service. Barcode has an eclectic interior design, with ’60s designer chairs, a modern British bar, luxurious sofas and an al fresco-style terrace. It also happens to serve unforgettably tasty cocktails!

InfoHotelsShangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel臺北遠東國際大飯店No. 201, Section 2, Tun Hwa South Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2378-8888www.shangri-la.com/en/property/taipei/fareasternplaza

Grand Formosa Regent Taipei臺北晶華酒店No. 41, Section 2, Chung Shan North Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2523-8000www.grandformosa.com.tw

Taipei Fullerton East Hotel臺北馥敦飯店（南京館）No. 32, Section 5, Nanjing East Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2763-5656www.taipeifullerton.com.tw

Spring Resort春天酒店No. 18, You Ya Road, Beitou, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2897-2345www.springresort.com.tw

BarsBrown Sugar Jazz Club and RestaurantNo. 101, Sungren Road, Shin Yi District, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 8780-1110www.brownsugarjazzclub.com/taipei/main.html

Champagne IINo. 169, Section 2, Anhe Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 6638-1880www.taiwanfun.com/north/taipei/ nightlife/0302/0302WaterHoles- ChampagneTW.htm

Barcode5F, No. 22, Songshou Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2725-3201

RestaurantsTu Hsiao Yueh (Slack Season)度小月擔仔麵Lane 8, Alley 216, No. 12, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2773-1244www.iddi.com.tw/

Tai Ho Dien太和殿麻辣火鍋No. 315, Section 4, Shin Yi Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2705-0909www.taihodien.com.tw/

Din Tai Fung鼎泰豐No. 218, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2721-7890www.dintaifung.com.tw/ch/index.asp

Tung Sushi同壽司1F, No. 22, Songshou Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2345-6879

Tripod King Spicy Hotpot (Ding Wang)鼎王麻辣火鍋No. 89, Guangfu North Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2742-2116www.tripodking.com.tw/

Museum and bookshopNational Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts國立台灣美術館No. 2, Section 1, Wu Chuan West Road, TaichungTel. +886 (4) 2372-3552www.tmoa.gov.tw/english/home.php

Eslite Books誠品書店No. 245, Section 1, Dun Hua South Road, TaipeiTel. +886 (2) 2775-5977

68 Gongyi Road, TaichungTel. +886 (4) 2328-1000www.eslite.com/index.aspx