IFASS 2017
Discover Taipei
The cultural kaleidoscope of Taiwan's capital city pulses wherever you go. Incense-veiled temples dating back to dynastic times blend seamlessly with a neon street life of a decidedly more modern era. Taipei has dozens of world-class restaurants where gourmets can sample the best regional Chinese cuisines; and for the gourmand, there are plenty of night markets serving up scrumptious evening snacks in an environment of chaotic excitement and fun.
National Palace Museum
The polarities of Taipei are vividly present with the joining of the urban and natural worlds. Just a few minutes away from the heart of the city you can soak away the cares of the world in mineral-rich hot springs nestled in the lush mountain foothills ringing the Taipei Basin. And throughout the city there are plenty of trails, parks, and other oases of tranquility to lift and invigorate your spirits.
The National Palace Museum (NPM) houses a wealth of artifacts made throughout Chinese history. They not only serve the purpose of verifying the legitimacy of Chinese history, but are also a treasure to the art and cultural histories of mankind. Bearing the responsibility of preserving and transmitting 7,000 years of Chinese artifacts and culture, the NPM continues to improve and upgrade its operations so that they can be successfully transmitted to future generations. In addition, the NPM is devoted to promoting the origin of Chinese traditions and elevating the art literacy of the public so that Chinese history and culture can be spread around the world.
Transportation
Beitou Hot Springs Area
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Take the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line to the Shilin Station and take bus R30 (Red 30 - Low-floor bus) to the National Palace Museum. Other routes that will take you to and near the Museum plaza are buses 255, 304, 815 (Sanchung – NPM Line), Minibus 18 and Minibus 19.
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It takes about 16 minutes from the Grand Hotel to the National Palace Museum by Taxi.
Adults Audio Guide
With the small-sized and lightweight audio hand-held devices visitors can now enjoy personalized tours by choosing what they want to listen to during their visit in the galleries. The audio touring system provided by the NPM, available in Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, Cantonese, and Sign Language for the cost of NT$100 per rental. Visitors who wish to rent the audio players can inquire at the audio tour information desk.
Taipei 101 Official Website
NPM Dining and Souvenir Services
No.221, Sec. 2, Zhishan Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City
You can see the cloud-piercing Taipei 101 building from every corner in Taipei. Taipei 101 is the most dazzling landmark in Taipei. Standing tall at 508 meters, Taipei 101 was completed in 2004 and was the tallest building in the world at that time. In 2011, Taipei 101 received the LEED Green Building Platinum Certification, which has made it the tallest green building in the world.
Don’t you think that the shape of Taipei 101 looks like bamboo, which symbolizes "success after success?" Don’t you think that the structure of the building from top to bottom looks like funnel-shaped gold blocks stacked on top of each other? For that reason, the building is meant to symbolize "inexhaustible wealth." When you are here, apart from taking pictures, shopping, and enjoying the delicious food in the sky restaurant on the 85th floor, please don’t forget to visit the Observatory on the 89th floor to enjoy a spectacular view of the city.
First, purchase tickets at the shopping center on the 5th floor for a high-speed elevator ride that will take you to the Observatory on the 89th floor in a short 37 seconds. Once there, you can see the huge “tuned mass damper”—the first of its kind to be shown to the public—which is a massive golden yellow ball that can effectively reduce the degree of shaking during earthquakes or strong high-altitude winds.
NPM Official Website
Address
Picture source: Beitou Hot Spring Museum
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesday–Sunday)
Taipei City's northernmost district, Beitou began to rise as a hot spring destination in 1896. Three distinct types of spring can be found here, including green sulfur, white sulfur, and iron sulfur. Bathing facilities are equally varied, with everything from traditional bathhouses to fashionably modern spas catering to day-trip and overnight visitors. Apart from the springs, there are plenty of other attractions in Xinbeitou to reward repeat visitors.
Hot springs, old streets, and history join with delicious local cuisine to create Xinbeitou's distinctive visitor appeal. In recent years, upscale hotels have added a new face to this historic mountain getaway just minutes from downtown Taipei.
For more information about Beitou Hot Spring Museum please click here.
Millennium Hot Spring (Swimwear is required)
Thermal Valley
Transportation
Take the Danshui (red) MRT Line to Beitou Station, then transfer to the Xinbeitou Branch Line and get off at Xinbeitou Station.
Taipei 101
picture source: 小工友
picture source: C K Leung
Transportation
MRT Red Line (Xin-Yi Line) TAIPEI 101 Station, Exit No.4
Military Family Village 44 South
Military Family Village 44 South was the first Military Family Villages in Taipei Region founded by employees and their dependents of the 44th Arsenal, welch moved to Taiwan from Qingdao City in Mainland China in 1948. In consequence of land development and reconstruction of military family village (MFV) in Xinyi Project Area, all habitants in Military Family Village 44 South (MFV44S.) moved out in 1999. The constructions they left behind were facing the former habitants and dignities from cultural societies provoked a reservation movement for The Village, hence MFV44S. Culture and History Studio was set up. The Village was listed as “Historic Construction”, in which there were four constructions in symmetry would be preserved and planned. Finally, on October 25, 2003, Xinyi Citizen Meeting Houses and Cultural Park was presented with new charm. The base amasses about 137.2 acres with construction floorage about 23.8 acres including Special Exhibition House, Exhibition Hall for Military Family Villages, Display House and Community Hall, Central Square and Culture Park.
For more information about Military Family Village 44 South please click here.
Transportation
MRT Taipei 101 / World Trade Center Station Exit 2, turn left and walk about 50 meters.
Shilin Night Market
The Shilin Night Market is one of the well-organized and most popular night markets. It is separated into two major sections. One sector covers the streets surrounding the traditional Yangming Theatre and stretching to the Chicheng Temple on Danan Rd. The other sector is a centralized food court serving a wide variety of snacks that attract large crowds. At the Shilin Night Market, visitors can shop from store to store and have a large selection of clothes and accessories.
MRT Jiantan Station Exit 1
For more information about Taipei please click here.
For customized travel plan please click here:
http://en.liontravel.com/taiwantravelservice/
https://www.settour.com.tw/act/taiwan_tours/en_us/
http://www.travel4u.com.tw/project/rm_eng/
Transportation
Picture source: National Palace Museum