Taipei

The Taipei landmark, Chiang Kai-Shek National Memorial Hall, was constructed in memory of Chiang Kai-Shek, former president of R.O.C. The large area is dominated by the colours of the national flag: blue, white and red. These colours symbolise independence, universal love and equality.

Taipei 101 was ranked officially as the world’s tallest building from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. The building stands at a height of 508m/1,667 ft. This Taipei landmark was designed in eight sections, since the Chinese lucky number is just that. The building has 101 floors with some of the fastest elevators in the world, travelling at a speed of almost 61 kilometres per hour. The first 5 floors are occupied by upscale stores and boutiques.

Part of the Golden River Bank (Tamsui Jinse Shui'an Biking Trails), this is a well-maintained path running from Tamsui MRT to the Hongshulin MRT. Beautiful scenery and access to one of the region's few remaining mangrove swamps. Before you rent a bike and begin your journey at Tamsui MRT, try the iron eggs, fish balls, and Tamsui Agei (stuffed deep-fried tofu pockets) at the snacks stalls.

The Yangmingshan National Park provides the backdrop while you hike away the strain of a hard day’s city sightseeing. The park is located just to the north of Taipei and is Taipei's closest national park. This is a very beautiful site and a must see.

Taipei Zoo is a very nice place for families with children, there are lots of things to see and a wide variety of animals to admire. The zoo is very big with plenty of room for the animals, and you can easily wander around the whole day. Taipei Zoo is, in fact, one of Asia's largest zoos.

Take a cable car ride in a glass bottom gondola all the way up to the top of the mountain from Taipei Zoo Station to Maokong Station, where you can enjoy stunning views of the city. At the top you will find food stands, tea shops and some paths for hiking. The ride takes about 20 minutes.

The Beitou area of Taipei is renowned for its high concentration of thermal spa centres. There are establishments to fit any budget, from the low-priced open-air Public Hot Spring (modest swimwear required) to private hotels and resorts uphill, all offering hot spring baths at various price points. One option most resorts offer is renting a private room with a large bath that can be filled with hot spring water. The Spring City Resort in Beitou is a great mid-range option. A session here includes access to about a dozen thermal pools of varying water temperature (from seemingly boiling-hot to rather chilly), plus robe, towel, and slipper rental. They even offer a free shuttle bus to the metro station. For a luxurious spa treatment, look into the offerings of Hotel Regent Taipei, for example. Wellspring Spa offers a wide range of relaxing treatments including massages, body wraps, skin polishing and facials. Take the elevator to the top floor and unwind at this urban sanctuary.

Xingtian Temple, also called Hsing Tian Kong, is a large Taiwanese temple where locals pray and conduct religious rituals. This temple might not be as popular as Longshan, but it is a very peaceful and beautiful place nonetheless.