Taipei in 48 hours
If there is a city in Asia that will keep you entertained and exhausted with fun at the end of the day, it’s Taipei. Singaporeans may do away with the language barrier which might be eminent in Hong Kong, but at the same time, if you do not understand Mandarin, it is just as easy to plough through the streets and alleys of great food and activities. A trip there from Singapore is around SGD$600 for a round trip ticket. And as for hotel recommendation, we would always stay in Rainbow Hotel located right in the middle of Xi Men Ding, Taipei’s hottest shopping district. In this article, we experience the nightlife, food, culture and hot springs of Taipei. So join us, and start exploring Asia.
Next stop: Taipei – the other side of China.
Saturday
1 p.m.
Cloud 9
If a dormant volcano is your kind of thing, then a trip to Yang Ming Shan is a must! Gently sloping and overlooking beautiful and breathtaking scenery of Taipei, you will fall in love once again. Located here are a number of cafes, hot springs and even a visitors’ centre to help prepare you for a good walking trail experience or just a relaxing day within the cotton-candy clouds at the tallest peak of 1120 metres!
5 p.m.
Love is All Around
Just before approaching the iconic Taipei 101 building, at the foot of the building, you would see a lovely and passionate sculpture. Arriving in a whole block of red awesomeness, Robert Indiana’s LOVE Sculpture greets you. A picture perfect piece, be it for your loved ones or your significant other, do remember to capture your memories here. And all of these ideas come free – Just because love is all around.
5.30 p.m.
Light Up my Life
And so, you would be a better person just because you visited Taipei 101. Head into the building and immerse yourself in the most modern happenings of Taipei. Some locals even say that from the windows of the plane, you can sight this tall building and the next moment, they would feel so at home. The building houses some great brands such as Armani and Louis Vuitton and also an observation floor to view some amazing sights of Taipei. At festivals, you may witness the stunning fireworks sprouting out from the edges of the building. A high-speed elevator would mean the start of your journey to unparalleled views. Experience standing in the clouds, literally and soak in the lights.
8 p.m.
Monstrous Treats
If you loved the shaved ice in Singapore, try the original store in Taiwan. Ice Monster is located at the corner of Yongkang Street, near to Din Tai Feng. And since, we love sweet stuff just before a meal, try the very popular, fresh mango shaved ice. Yummy!
9 p.m.
Packaged with Love
Din Tai Feng is definitely not a name that is unfamiliar to you. With so many branches in Singapore, we are sure you want to see the first shop in this huge chain. It is none other than the one standing strong at 194 Xinyi Road Section 2. The crowd is overwhelming so if you decide to head there for dinner or any other meal of the day, be prepared to head there early to queue. Patrons are handed out with numbers and you just have to patiently wait for your turn. Recommended menu include the legendary xiao long bao and herbal chicken soup noodles. The meal is approximately NT300 per person, but it is definitely money well-spent!
8 a.m.
Sweet Tooth
Walking down Xi Men Ding in the morning is a pleasure. No crowded walkways, no queues and lots of great shops and food to experience. As a typical Singaporean, we are sure you would want to buy some nice gifts back for your friends and family members. Therefore, we would say, why not bring a small sweet part of Taipei back with you? Delicately wrapped in fancy papers, the candy shop called Sophisca Candy & Gift is the answer. Be wowed by malt candy in a syringe-like container in different flavours or even apples dipped in candy. Take your pick.
3 p.m.
Sulphur Delight
There are different kinds of hot springs in Taipei, namely those that smell of sulphur or those that does not (which obviously does not contain sulphur). Also, another decision to make is whether to experience the public hot springs or the private ones where you get to enjoy the experience in the comfort of your own room. Public ones are cheaper but of course, you still get to be separated, for example, guys and girls are in different rooms. Go on, try it. We know you will feel very relaxed after.
7 p.m.
Ancient Paths
Walking down the rows and rows of shops at Dan Shui, why not take a plunge and try Taiwan’s famous Ah Gei, fishballs and pork buns. The special thing here is Ah Gei – A toufu served in a somewhat sweet sauce with glass vermicelli wrapped within the toufu. Continue walking down this path and you will see ice cream stalls serving very unique flavours and local goodies like traditional cakes. If time permits, you can even plan a short trip down to Fisherman’s Wharf and visit the Valentine’s Bridge. Now all you need is a little street knowledge of getting to the bus terminal and hop on the right bus that brings you right there.
10 p.m.
The Night is Still Young
Your trip to Taipei isn’t complete without a walk down the bustling streets of the Shilin Night Market. Of all the night markets in the city, the most popular one is Shilin as it has goods, wares and food that attract customers of all ages. Recommended eats include fried chicken fillet, buns, Ah Chung Mian Xian, Tian Bu La, and a ton of tasty desserts. Immerse in the nightlife and also, the unique, young and vibrant culture of Taiwan’s teenagers.
8 a.m.
Queen for a Day
Head down to Yeliu, and into the Geopark for a chance to witness a rock that looks like a Queen’s head. The rock formation was almost magical in a sense that if you do not visit it real soon, you might actually miss the chance to view this phenomenon. Apparently, every year, due to natural weather conditions, the neck of the head (the thinnest part of the rock) is reduced further. One day, it might just feel that it is not able to hold on anymore and give way. So, to be queen for a day, do hurry and visit this part of Taiwan.
9 a.m.
Ten Points
When in Shi Fen, literally translated as ten points, you should head to see the scenic waterfall which links to the Keelung River. Make a small and worthwhile detour to Jiu Fen and visit the old post office, also, if you are a daredevil, walk along the isolated train tracks and see the world beneath you. Beware of the working train tracks as we do not want you to meet with any accidents. Along the many shops you pass by, you are able to keep a souvenir of the place by stamping the unique old rubber stamps of the post office onto a notebook or paper of yours.
11 a.m.
Grandma’s Warmth
To end off your Taipei trip, pay a visit to a grandma located near Shi Fen. Her shop name, you may ask. It is none other than “Ah Ma De Tian Deng”, aptly named in our opinion, which means grandma’s sky lantern. Note down your wishes on the coloured paper on the lantern. Also, do note that different colours represent different aspects of life. We chose the yellow one as we wished for more money! Grandma will help you to get it inflated, take a photo for you and let go! Up, up, up into the sky with all your wishes and hopefully, someone above will receive it and fulfil it for you.
1 p.m.
Taoyuan Airport
Home sweet home.
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