Northern Taiwan

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

Taiwan's "economic miracle" has modernized Taipei, but the city still maintains traditional lifestyles, making it a fascinating destination for visitors.

Taipei's National Palace Museum has the world's largest collection of oriental art treasures, spanning over five millennia of history. Much of the immense collection of jade, porcelain, paintings, and bronzes is regularly rotated, so each visit is unique. The museum has regular English-language guided tours that begin daily at 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Self-guided tape tours in English and Japanese are also available.

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei is the island's most impressive monument to the late president. The massive marble memorial hall dominates beautiful gardens, graceful pavilions, and placid ponds. A Ming-style arch at the main entrance is flanked by two buildings: the National Theater and the National Concert Hall.

The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is another impressive building. Completed in 1976 and designed by the famous architect Wang Da-wei, it is one of Taipei City's most well known landmarks.

To appreciate the vitality and striking ornamentation of one of Taiwan's oldest and most famous temples, Lungshan Temple is highly recommended. Stone columns, with figures dancing on the backs of intricately carved dragons, support a heavily-ornamented roof.

The World of Yesterday offers visitors displays of mythology, ancient toys, games, and handicrafts. Traditional operas, craft demonstrations, and folk arts are presented on Sundays and holidays. The World of Yesterday is located on Jhongshan North Road across from the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, which hosts exhibitions by both international and domestic artists.

The Lin Family Mansion and Garden at Banciao is Taiwan's best example of Ching dynasty architecture and gardens. Originally a Fuchien merchant's house, the garden is landscaped with exquisite pavilions, towers, cottages, bridges, artificial mountains, and placid pools, offering views of distant mountains.

North of Taipei is Yangmingshan National Park, where visitors can find waterfalls, volcanic craters, lakes, steaming hot springs, and springtime cherry and azalea blossoms. Well-maintained walkways and trails lead to the park's main scenic spots, which offer picnic and recreation areas.

Other areas of northern Taiwan beyond the borders of Taipei City are also rich in country beauty. At Yeliou, or "wild willows," on the northern coast west of Keelung, wind and water have carved the rocks into a variety of unusual shapes.

The coastline east of Keelung, set aside as the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area, is one of the loveliest regions on the island. A notable feature of this area is the magnificent sandstone promontory that rises from the sea at Longdong. Farther down the coast, pure white sand and azure waters make the Fulong Seaside Park one of Taiwan's best beaches. Next to Fulong is the Yanliao Seaside Park, whose scenic area maintains a Ching dynasty footpath. Sailing, surfing, camping, and fishing equipment can also be rented.

Taiwan's largest camping area was opened in 1991 at the most beautiful part of the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area. Longmen Riverside Camping Resort, a short distance from Yanliao and Fulong, provides sightseeing, water sports, camping, and bicycling.

A historical fort, fresh seafood, and beautiful sunsets make the quaint seaside town of Danshuei a popular day trip from Taipei. Old-fashioned shops along the main road give visitors a feel for the town's history. Oxford College and Mackay Hospital, which were both built in the late 1800s by Western missionaries, are still in operation. Fort San Domingo, known as the "Red-haired Fort", was built by the Spanish in 1629, occupied by the Dutch in 1642, leased to the British in 1867, and bombarded by the French in 1884.

Danshuei has many seafood restaurants, with large selections of fresh delicacies on display. Some of the restaurants are built along the Danshuei River to provide diners with a riverside view of Danshuei's sunset.

Wulai, just south of Taipei, is an aboriginal enclave where visitors can enjoy hot springs, witness the traditional dances and ceremonies of Taiwan's Atayal tribe, and view a powerful waterfall cascading through lush vegetation.

Just an hour south of Taipei, visitors can take a one-stop tour of China's Great Wall, Beijing's Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. Window on China displays 130 of the best-known structures in both Taiwan and China in miniature, and an added section features famous buildings from all over the world. With careful attention to detail, thousands of living trees and shrubs are shaped and grown to sizes proportional to the various buildings. Window on China also has a garden, restaurants, snack bars, a tea house, an amusement park, and souvenir shops.

Ancient Buddhist temples, shrines, and monasteries reminiscent of times long past are perched on the cool, verdant hills of Lion's Head Mountain, which is located about halfway between Taipei and Taichung.

A short trip through the lush countryside southwest of Taipei brings visitors to the small town of Yingge, which produces hand-painted replicas of elegant Ming (1368-1644) and Ching (1644-1911) vases. Yingge is Taiwan's ceramics center, and the narrow streets are lined with shops selling an endless variety of wares ranging from simple earthenware tea sets to delicate statues. Some of the factories provide tours, allowing visitors to watch potters working the clay and artists painting vases. The information desk at the Yingge Town Hall can help arrange such tours.

For those who enjoy shopping, night markets offer fun and a lot of local color. Products include casual clothes, fruits, snacks, and novelty items. The night markets with the best bargains in food, fashions, and curios in the Taipei area include the Shihlin night market, located north of the Grand Hotel; the Gongguan night market, near National Taiwan University; the Shihda night market, on Shihda Road off of Heping East Road; the Huasi Street night market, also known as "snake Alley"; the Tonghua Street night market, near the World Trade Center; the Raohe Street night market, in the Songshan district; and the Cingguang market, which is off of Jhongshan North Road.