I have always been fascinated by the Chinese and Taiwanese culture, it’s stunning architecture, traditional tea houses sitting on the top of a cliff/hill and it’s spiritual temples.

Here is my 3 days itinerary on how I spent my time in Taipei that perhaps could be helpful with planning your visit as well!

Day 1: March 25, 2023

🔶Arrived in Taipei’s International Airport at 5:30 AM on Saturday, March 25, 2023

🔷Stayed 3 nights at City Suites Taipei Nanx hotel

🔶Took a private day tour I booked through Viator Tour where I had the opportunity to explore a few iconic spots in Taipei, Taiwan

🔷After 40 minutes hiking up Elephant Mountain 🏔️, I’d made it to where the 6 rocks were waiting for me to climb 🧗🏾‍♀️. Here is where you can have a stunning view of the glam 💥 Taipei 101 building. It used to be the tallest building in the world then it lost it’s fame…the tallest building is now in Dubai…

🔶Because I’m so dorky and obsessive with history, I’d mentally pretended as though I was walking on the same soil as Taiwan’s 1st President/General Chiang Kai-Shek and 1st Lady Madame Soong did way back…

🔷Posed at the entrance of Liberty Square with the stunning Liberty Arch. Such architecture is savvy!

🔶In the Chiang Kai-Shek’s Memorial Hall, you can explore the below:

➡️Show your respect to the General’s enormous bronze statue

➡️Watch the changing of the guards (they change every hour from 9 AM thru 5PM)

➡️Take in the history at the museum (Chiang Kai-Shek & the 1st lady had visited Mahatma Gandhi in India)

➡️Like I, drool over the General’s cars/limousines

➡️Appreciate the bookstore

➡️Mail a postcard to a fellow traveler like I did. They have a post office on the lower level.

➡️Visited the National Palace Museum. It houses over 700,00 pieces of Chinese artifacts

🔷Attempt to see a play at the National Theater Hall

🔶Ended the evening by having bubble tea at one of the local cafes in Taipei. It’s a must to do when in Taiwan. So if you didn’t know, bubble tea was invented in Taiwan in 1980.

Day 2: March 26, 2023

🔶 Took a day trip outside of Taipei to explore the local villages…

🔷Our 1st stop was at 📌Pingxi, an old village where one can experience making a lantern from scratch and then release it into the sky as you make a wish. It’s a thing in the Chinese/Taiwanese culture especially during the lantern festival.

🔶I’d toured with a family of 4 from originally the West Coast in the USA 🇺🇸 and booked my tour through Viator.

🔷I was paired with this Taiwanese grandma to kick off the lantern process.

Everyone called her “ah ma”; that’s how you say grandma in Southern Taiwan. She’s 87 years old and had went to elementary school in Taiwan when the Japanese was ruling.

🔶 My charming Taiwanese Ah Ma (grandma)and I released a lantern we’d created together into the sky I’d temporarily purchased. 😝

In the Taiwanese/Chinese culture; a lantern symbolizes good luck, prosperity and long life.

I’d dedicated this lantern to my godly parents and brave big bro. What’s life if you don’t live it up for you and your fam bam?!!!

And also “Cheers to a great 2023” to all of you.

🔷 Our 2nd stop was at 📌 Jiufen, it’s a town where 9 families used to live in during the Qing Dynasty. I wanted to visit because I was influenced by Japanese Director’s Hiyao Miyazaki’s animated movie; Spirited Away. Lol! I learned Hiyao may have been influenced by this town. Haha!

🔶Below are a few places we’d explored in this gorgeous historical town 👇🏽

➡️ Amei Tea House; I’d particularly wanted to visit here not just because of the black tea and the experience, but because of the Colonial Era Architecture. I have a crush on this type of thing. Lol!

➡️ We’d hit up the market at 📌Jiufen where we’d mingled with the locals.

➡️Enjoyed some freshly cooked crab legs

➡️Tasted a bowl filled with red kidney beans and tarot balls made with sugar and potato served in hot soup. Best thing I’d tried in Taiwan.

➡️Tasted some honey cake. In the Taiwanese tradition, the brides and her families will be responsible for purchasing the cake for the wedding.

➡️Oh yeah, I used the last of my coins to purchase a few cheese sticks filled with too much cheese and sodium. lol!

🔷Our 3rd stop was at 📌 Ruifang District. Back in the days when the Japanese ruled Taiwan/China; they’d used this area for gold and copper mining. It sort of was like a warehouse hidden in the mountains.

🔶Today this district/town is very popular for explorers like myself to visit. The vibe here is on a next level.

🔷Below are a few of the spots we’d explored👇🏽

➡️ Golden Waterfall; the golden color was a result of the gold mining pipes and rain fall. Lots of gold was found here not too long ago though…like that’s what’s up?!!

➡️ Try climbing the Bitou Cape Trail located on the side and in the mountains ⛰️

➡️ Be open minded to take in the beauty and get lost in the incense as you enter the Qingyun Temple. It’s a 2 hour commitment based on my experience…I’d stayed back to learn and have a meal with the monks.

🔶It’s my way of doing a bit of reflection for myself and my personal life journey. I’d also wanted to highlight that the deity and the food they served in this temple is very similar to how us Hindus do things. I’m not super religious; it’s just thangs I noticed…

Day 3: March 27, 2023

🔶When I visit a new city, I totally enjoy wandering in the alleyways filled with street art, vivid murals, low profile cafes and strange puddles….😂

🔷Felt so satisfied with my visit to 📌Ximending District located in the heart of Taipei. This neighborhood is known as the center of the youth Taiwanese culture.

🔶If weird graffiti and street art strike an interest with you then I’d recommend exploring here during the daytime though if you are rolling solo…

🔷The street food scenery in 📌Ximending District is wild! The smell of the local spices, chili and sugar coming from the food stalls along the roadsides are like literally begging you to stop by and do some food soul searching….😂

🔶And it went like this 👇🏽

➡️Had Flaky Scallions Pancakes deep fried in/with REAL eggs…

➡️Had the Largest piece of fried chicken. But, it was not greasy…

🔷 And I’d ended my trip with a visit to the 📌Wanhua District. It’s a historical place filled with old temples, traditional Chinese/Taiwanese history, Buddhist stores & Japanese influences.

Below are a few places I’d visit in this district👇🏽

➡️ Longshan Temple – a very prestige & the oldest temple in Taiwan. Buddhism, Taoism and beliefs from the famous Confucius are practiced here.

➡️ Tianhou Temple – it’s a bit hidden between two local stores & it’s located on a busy street. This temple was dedicated to a Japanese Buddhist saint.

🔶My visit here was unreal at moments. I learned about these temples and beliefs in my Global history classes in school in my younger days. Lol! And to be physically exploring these places is like wow!

🔷Ended by day by having a pedi and mani cure

Thank you for virtually exploring with me.

Thank you for your taking the time to read my blog.

Let’s stay connected:

⁃ Instagram Account: @whereisgatangalie

⁃ Travel Blog: https://whereisgatangalie.com

⁃ Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=MA9Vk5kWob3xB1wRtO5qUQ&utm_source=ishare

– YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCufT2k6bSJ0PI4uvcQ4y6DA