Okay, so here’s an unpopular opinion, Elephant Mountain, it gives you a good view of Taipei, is not the best hike around Taipei city.
The Jiantan hiking trail gives you some of the most amazing views of Taipei you’ll get, and at a fraction of the effort, in comparison to getting to the top of elephant mountain.
Since this trail is not as popular as its peer at the end of the red line on the Taipei metro, you won’t see that many tourists/foreigners, it’s mostly visited by local Taiwanese who enjoy hiking.
You will get a good view of one of the most iconic buildings in Taipei, I’m talking about the Grand hotel, that red Chinese looking building in the pic below.
You will also get a perfect view of Taipei city. You’ll be able to see what Taipei is really like, a concrete jungle surrounded by mountains that are green all year long.
But, can You see 101 from here? The answer is YES!!!!!
You’ll see 101 in all of its splendor and more. Right in front of it you’ll see Songshan airport.
If you’re a good photographer you can get a pic of an airplane landing or taking off with the 101 as the background.
I wasn’t able to get that shot, but it was still an amazing view.
How Do You Get to Jiantan Hiking Trail?
It’s actually very simple, just head over to Jiantan station on the red line, this is the same station people get off at when they’re going to visit Shilin Night Market.
Instead of taking the exit towards Shilin Night market, take the opposite one. Get to the corner on your left and cross towards the left, once on the other side of the road make a right and walk until you reach the trailhead.
There’s a big sign that marks the beginning of the Jiantan hiking trail, you won’t miss it.
As usual, the best thing to do is follow Google maps, that’s how I get anywhere.
If you’re looking for a more challenging climb then you might be interested in reading about the Highest mountain in Taipei, Qixing Mountain!!
If you’re looking for Japanese food there’s one area in all of Taipei I’d 100% recommend you to go, Zhongshan.
In the area surrounding Zhongshan station, you’ll find many Japanese restaurants, ranging from Ramen only restaurants to full sushi and sashimi service.
Linsen North Road, not far from Zhongshan station, on lane 119 and others around it you’ll also find many Japanese restaurants. Why are there so many Japanese restaurants around here?
Well, Zhongshan, and more specifically Linsen north road, is full of Japanese businessmen that, after working hours, go out to drink and dine. You’ll even find Japanese High Dining at the Okura Prestidge Hotel.
But why did I choose Mijian as the best Japanese Restaurant in Taipei? Well, it’s because of the different concept they offer.
All you have to do is make a reservation, get there, sit down and enjoy the food.
As it’s mentioned in the video there’s no menu available, so if you have allergies to something or have some condition such as celiac disease I’d recommend you check with them before going there.
You can use Facebook to get in touch with them.
I was there in, October 2019 and at the time they only accepted cash, the price per person is 1,200 NTD.
If you want to take your own bottle of wine you can, all you have to do is pay 100 NTD to get a glass.
They don’t have a big selection of alcoholic drinks, you can pretty much get Sake or juice, a glass of Sake will cost you 200 NTD.
So, what’s the address of the best Japanese Restaurant in Taipei?
Address: 中山北路一段140巷3號1樓Taipei, Taiwan 104
All in English would be, Zhongshan North Road, Section 1, lane 140, number 3, floor 1.
Other Recommended Japanese Restaurants in Taipei
Chu Sui Izakaya
You should come to this restaurant especially if you’re looking for a traditional Japanese Omelet.
The exact address is Zhongshan District, Nanjing East Road, Section 1, No 44. This restaurant is within walking distance from Zhongshan station.
Look for the big white lanterns. If you’d like the idea of sitting outside and enjoy some good Japanese BBQ with a glass of beer or Sake then this might be a good choice for you.
They also have indoor sitting. This is the address, No. 35號, Lane 135, Section 1, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, 10491
Linsen North Road, Lane 119
This one is not a specific restaurant but a specific area, go to Linsen North Road, which is near Zhongshan station, go to Lane 119 and adjacent ones and take a look at all the restaurants there are.
You’ll find many Japanese restaurants, take a look at their menu and choose the one you like best.
From Taipei city, there are different ways to get to Jiufen. The most convenient one would be to take a bus.
First, go to Songshan metro station at the end of the green line, get out of the station and take bus number 1062.
From Songshan station to Jiufen old street takes approximately 50 minutes.
Heres Jiufen on the map, just click on it and follow Google map’s directions on how to get there.
About Jiufen, Taiwan.
Jiufen is a seaside mountain area in Ruifang District, New Taipei city. During the times of the Qing dynasty, it used to be an isolated village consisting of only nine families.
In 1893 a rich concentration of gold was discovered sending the small village into full town development as everybody wanted to be there to get some of the gold.
Gold mining activities started declining around in the late ’60s and the mine was finally shut off in 1971 and for a while became a forgotten town.
In 1989 a City of Sadness -filmed in Jiufen- put Jiufen back in the spotlight as the film was acclaimed around the world.
Year 2001, spirited away by Ghibli Studio was released, its downtown scenery resembles a lot that of Jiufen, making the old gold mining town a must-visit for Japanese tourists.
At Jiufen you’ll find countless stores selling all sorts of souvenirs, drinks, traditional food, gift boxes, clothes, tea and also many hotels and restaurants.
You’ll also get to see one of the most beautiful sea views in Taiwan. Also many beautiful lanterns all over the place.
Here are some photos that for sure will make you want to visit Jiufen ASAP.
Is Visiting Jiufen Expensive?
Doing a one day trip to Jiufen is not expensive at all. By taking public transportation you’ll spend around 130 NTD going there and 130 NTD coming back to town.
Having something like a mango smoothy will cost around 100 NTD. Having lunch, something like fried rice will cost you between 150 NTD to 300 NTD depending on the restaurant you decide to go into.
As for souvenirs and other products, well, there are so many that it all depends on how much you want to spend. You can spend 50 NTD on a simple fridge magnet or 2,000 NTD on a piece of Jade.
Can I Book a Hotel in Jiufen?
Definitely, and I think is something worth doing. During the day you don’t get to see all the lanterns lit up.
If you ask me which is the best hotel to stay at, I’d say that’s Chiu Chu Dint B&B. The location is perfect, you’ll be right at the center of the old street and you’ll have an amazing view.
Hope you enjoyed this post, below I’ll leave some links that might be of interest to you.
If you’re in Taipei and you’re thinking about going for a Hike, then what’s better than Qixing mountain, the highest mountain in Taipei. In a sunny day, you’ll have an amazing view of the city from the top of the mountain.
There are different ways to get to Qixing mountain and do the mt. qixing hike from the center of Taipei city, I’ll talk a little bit about each one and I’ll focus on the way how I did it, which I recommend.
I first made a one hour long walk through Yangminghshan Park before getting to the entrance of the Qixing Mountain trail, from there it took me another hour to get to the top of the mountain.
This is perfect for a half day trip, if you get up early enough you can be done with all of it before noon. If you still have the energy you could go to the hot springs.
First let me show you a gallery of photos of Yangmingshan and then one of Qixing Mountain, just to completely convince you that you have to go.
Photos of Yangmingshan
Swipe left or right
Photos of Qixing Mountain, Taipei, Taiwan
How to Go to Go to Qixing Mountain?
There are a couple of ways, I’ll give you 3 options
From Jiantan Station to Qixing Mountain
You can make your way to Jiantan station and take bus S15.
In Jiantan station take exit 1 and walk to the bus stop on the left side
Go to Jiantan station and take exit 1 ( You can get here from Taipei Main Station)
Get on the right side and walk straight, cross the street and keep on walking straight on the right side until you find a zebra line to get to the other side, the one on your right.
Cross, you’ll be in front of Ming Chuan Univerity
The bus stops will be on your right-hand side, walk to the furthest one
Take bus Express 223
Get off at Yangmingshan Bus Terminal
The ride from Mingchuan University to Yangmingshan bus terminal will take 30 minutes
From Yangmingshan bus terminal to the main peak of mount Qixing it’ll take you 2 hours.
Crossing over to Mingchuan University
Which is the Best Way to Go?
If you take the short bus ride then you’ll have to walk for almost 2 hours or a little bit less depending on how fast you move. To me, this option was perfect as I like to walk among woods and really anywhere with a lot of green and flowers around.
If you go to Qixing mountain following the same route I did then you’ll have a good time walking for an hour in Yangmingshan park, take a look at the Yangmingshan clock and rejoice on mountain views.
You’ll eventually hit the entrance of the Qixing mountain trail.
If you’re worried about getting lost don’t worry, just follow Google maps, that’s what I did, the minute I got off the bus I followed Google map’s instructions all the way to the top of Qixing main peak, the cellphone reception is great.
Going to Yangmingshan and Qixing mountain are great half-day activities for anyone who loves outdoor activities. There are different ways to get here, some of them require long bus rides and short walks and others the opposite.
There’s no entry fee for Yangmingshan nor Qixing mountain. Don’t forget to take some water with you and some fruits.
If you’re in Taipei and you’re looking for a fun hike near the city then look no further, just make your way towards Elephant Mountain, one of Taipei’s most visited mountains.
Take a look at the 6 minutes video I put together for you.
How to get to Elephant Mountain, Taipei?
Well that’s super easy, just get on the MRT and go to Xiangshan station, is the last stop on the red line opposite to Tamsui station.
Take exit number 2 and as soon as you walk out of it you’ll see signs directing you towards Elephant mountain.
As you can see in the video, the iconic 101 building of Taipei is super close to Elephant Mountain, so if you happen to be staying somewhere near the 101 area then this is perfect, it will take you no time to get there.
No matter in which part of Taipei city you are, if you take the metro it won’t cost you more than 45 NTD.
How Much Do I Have to Pay?
You don’t have to pay a single penny, that’s good right, no one likes to pay to go sweat their heart out, because ….that’s right you’re gonna sweat a lot.
The climb is very steep at points and Taiwan’s weather is usually hot and humid, so yeah you’ll sweat.
You can go up and down as many times as you want and no one will stop you. You can even take your pet with you if you want to, and as you saw in the video, you can even climb in a reverse four legs position and no one will say a word.
Make sure you take a bottle of water with you as water fountains are not present as often as you’ll need them in case you forget to take water with you.
What is the Best Time to Go to Elephant Mountain?
If you want to stay away from the crowds then try going on a day from Monday to Friday. If you want to see the sunset and the city lights coming to life then go on an evening from Monday to Friday.
Why avoid Saturday and Sunday? well because that’s when all the families and rest of people who are not working decide to go to Elephant Mountain, and it can get really crowded.
Once you make it to the top of Elephant mountain, you’ll see some other trails, the longest one is the one leading to Jiuwu peak, it would take you around 2 hours to get there.
Most people just climb to the top of Elephant mountain, they stay at one of the viewing platforms and that’s it. If you decide to do the Jiuwu trail then it will definitely be more of a peaceful hike as there won’t be many people around.
Conclusion
Elephant Mountain is perfect for a half-day trip from anywhere in the city. The mountain is easy to get to by metro and there is no entry fee of any kind.
If you want to avoid the crowds is best to go on a day from Monday to Friday when most people are working.
Once you make it to the top of elephant mountain you can just chill there and then head back down, or you can continue on one the connecting hiking trails such as Jiuwu.
Best Buddha Temples in Asia. There is something quite mystical about Asia. I guess it’s got to do with how religious people are on this side of the world.
It’s almost impossible to visit an East Asian country without seeing some display of religion on the streets from time to time.
And just like churches on the west side of the world, people here have temples.
Some of them are modest, some of them are big and some have beautiful and impressive Buddha statues.
Here’s a list of the – according to me – Best Buddha Temples in Asia
1 Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum.
Location: Kaosiung, Taiwan
The southern city of Kaohsiung on the beautiful island of Formosa, is home to one of the most amazing Buddha monasteries you’ll see in your life, I can guarantee that.
The monastery belongs to Fo Guang Shan. This is an international Chinese Buddhist monastic group based in Taiwan. This organization is also one of the biggest charities in the country.
The monastery was founded in 1967. The order of this monastery promotes Humanistic Buddhism, which aims to put more emphasis on the living rather than the dead.
They integrate traditional Buddhism into modern everyday life.
There was a time when this monastery was closed to public access. Only monks living in the monastery were allowed in. At the end of 2000, it reopened its doors.
The Fo Guang Shan order is also known for making use of the latest technology and keeping temples well furnished.
Oh and if you’re lucky enough be in Taiwan during Chinese new year celebrations, you might want to go down south to the temple and see the fireworks.
It’s still too early to know exactly when the next celebration will be.
But I’ll try to update the information right here in this post as the date approaches.
How to get to Fo Guang Shan?
Well, chances are that you’ll land in Taipei -as the international airport is located in near the capital- from Taipei Main Station you can either
Take a bus – 4 hours ride- to Kaohsiung, or take the high-Speed rail which will take around one hour and a half.
If you take the high-speed rail you have to get off at Xin Zuoying station. From there take bus E02, it’ll take you other 30 minutes to finally get to the monastery.
Entry fee: No entry fee, you’re welcome to donate and you also have the choice to buy souvenirs if you wish.
2 Buddha Park, Xieng Khuan
Location: Vientiane, Laos.
This is an open air sculpture park. Don’t forget your sunscreen, this place has an ancient look and feel, and it might also feel a little bit scary.
The main statue or at least one of the statues that stands out the most is a 120 meters reclining Buddha. You’ll also find other statues belonging to Hindu gods and demons.
The park is not as old as it may look. Bunleua Sulila founded it in 1958. He was a monk who practiced both religions.
There is a spot in the park where you can catch a good look of the whole area. All you have to do is enter the Pumpkin of HELL!!!!
Near the entrance of the park, you’ll find a pumpkin like structure. You can go inside through the mouth of a demon on one of the sides of the pumpkin. Once inside you can climb your way up to the top.
Inside the Pumpkin, there are 3 levels which represent hell, earth, and heaven.
Xieng Khuan means spirit city.
How to get to the Buddha Park of Vientiane?
It’s very simple, take a tuk-tuk. The place is not that far from the center of Vientiane. It’s very convenient and affordable, and it’ll give you the chance to see more of Vientiane.
The park is located near the border with Thailand, is perfect for those travelers who are making their way to the beautiful country of Thailand.
You can also take public transportation. If you’d like to read more about Vientiane and other ways to get to this park please click here Old Gods in Vientiane
Entry fee: To enter the park you must pay 5000 KIP, which is around 0.58 USD. To have the right to use a professional camera inside the park you’ll have to pay extra 3000 KIP
3 Temple of the Emerald Buddha | Grand Palace
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
The bustling city of Bangkok is more recognized by its vibrant nightlife, nightclub, street food, night markets, and floating markets.
But something some people don’t realize is that this city is house to some really beautiful temples.
The official name is Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram. It’s regarded as the most sacred temple of all in Thailand. When you visit this place you must wear long pants and cover your shoulders or they won’t let you in.
In this temple you’ll find the statue of the Emerald Buddha.
Thais believe that the safety of the nation relies on this Emerald statue. The 66 centimeters tall statue supposedly made its way to Bangkok all the way from India.
It was placed in its current location in 1782, the year in which the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand, which still holds the Kingdom, came into power.
from wikipedia.org
The Emerald Buddha temple is actually a complex with many buildings, statues, pagoda-like structures, halls, and paintings. The Emerald Buddha is located in the main building of course.
When you enter the building where the Emerald Buddha is you have to take off your shoes.
Sit in a crossed leg position -feet must NOT face the statue- and you can not take pictures of the statue.
This statue is so sacred that only the king can touch it 3 times a year to change the cloak around it.
Oh, and one more thing, they call it Emerald Buddha because but, for Thais, Emerald simply means deep green color. In reality, the statue is made out of Jade.
How to get to The Emerald Buddha?
From the center of the city, you can take a tuk-tuk or grab (Kind of like Uber). This is really the easiest and most convenient way to get there.
If you’re feeling adventurous you could take a bus. Buses number 508, 2 and 25 will drop you off really close. Just check your Google maps and find which one is more convenient for you.
It’s also possible to reach the temple by boat. You could take the BTS Silom line, get off at Saphan Taksin station, walk towards Sathorn Pier and get on a boat. It’ll drop you off 4 minutes away from the temple.
Entry Fee: 500 Bahts, this also includes access to the grand palace area.
Let’s continue with this list of Best Buddha Temples in Asia
4 Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Yet another Buddha temple in Bangkok. This temple was founded even before Bangkok became the capital of the Kingdom. People believe this temple came into existence around 1688-1703.
Wat Pho is considered to be one of the six royal temples of Thailand. Its close proximity to the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha temple helped it gain the status of Royal monastery.
In this complex there are approximately 100 Buddha images, the biggest statue is the golden reclining Buddha.
The Reclining Buddha statue in Bangkok and the chapel that houses it were both built in 1832, it’s one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand.
The reclining position means the passing of Buddha to nirvana.
A state of total liberation and happiness, the moment when we’ll no longer reincarnate, live, suffer, die again, reincarnate again and repeat.
How to get to Wat Pho?
If you’re already at the Emeral Buddha location you can just walk, Wat Pho will be just 6 minutes away.
Otherwise, you can follow the same instructions I gave you to reach the Emerald Buddha temple.
Take a tuk-tuk, a grab, or take the long and more scenic route through the river.
Entry Fee: 100 bahts, and it includes free water.
If you go during summertime you’ll need that water, last time I was there my skin was burning.
I had to take out an umbrella, just like a Korean girl taking care of her skin ha!
5 Tian Tan Buddha
Location: Lantau Island, Hong Kong
The mountains around it, the fresh air and the cable car ride above blue waters. This is one of my favorite Buddha temples.
The Buddha statue in this temple was completed in 1993. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and faith. This is one of the largest sitting Buddha statues in the world.
Once you make it to the top of the hill, which is a little bit challenging, you’ll see all the beautiful details. The statue of Buddha is sitting on top of a huge bronze lotus flower.
All around it, there are 6 smaller statues known as the offerings of the six devas that symbolize the 6 perfections, Generosity, Morality, Patience, Zeal, Meditation and Wisdom.
In this area- near the statue of Buddha- you’ll also find a little village full of restaurants and many souvenir shops. You’ll also find the Po Lin monastery.
How to get to Tian Tan Buddha?
It’s quite simple, take the metro to Tung Chung station, get off and walk towards the cable car station and get a ticket to Ngong Ping Village.
Once you’re there you’ll only have to walk for around 10 minutes to reach the statue of Tian Tan Buddha.
Entry Fee: The area around the Buddha, walking upstairs and take a close look is free of charge.
But if you want to go inside the Buddha statue you have to pay a fee of 78 HKD
6 Leshan Giant Buddha
Location: Sichuan, China
The Dad of all Buddha statues. This is the biggest Buddha statue in the world, at least among the ones that are carved out of stone.
This is definitely my favorite one in this Best Buddha Temples in Asia list.
This statue is 71 meters tall and was built between 713 and 803. The construction was started by a Chinese monk named Hai Tong. It was finished 70 years later by his disciples.
Why carve a huge Buddha out of a cliff? Well, as you can see the Leshan Giant Buddha is sitting facing a river, which back then was very difficult to navigate due to strong currents and many ships were sunk.
Building the Buddha statue was the solution the monk thought of at the time. It was supposed to calm the turbulent waters, and even though he did not live to see his masterpiece done.
The purpose was accomplished.
Apparently, due to all the rocks and stones being carved out of the cliff and falling into the river, the waters did become calm.
The statue was originally covered by a 13 floors wooden structure to protect it from the rain and the sun.
Unfortunately, such a structure was destroyed by the Mongols when they invaded China.
How to get to the Leshan Giant Buddha?
China is huge, so the first thing you have to do is take a flight to Chengdu Shuangliu international airport. This is the major airport serving Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.
Directly at the airport, you can take the high-speed train to Leshan. It will take you only around 50 minutes to get there.
Once you’re there take bus number 3 and you’ll reach the entrance of the scenic Leshan Giant Buddha area in around 40 minutes.
Entry fee: 90 yuan.
7 Chin Prathanporn Buddha
Location: Kanchanaburi, Thailand
This majestic statue is located in Wat Tham Sua Kanchanaburi , is one of the most famous temples of Kanchanaburi.
Kanchanaburi is a rural area close to the border with Myanmar. Tourists usually visit this place to do activities like hiking, caving, and rafting.
2 major tourist attractions are the Death Railways and the Allied War Cemetery.
The temple is located about 12 kilometers away from Kanchanaburi town and to visit it you’ll have to pay a tuk-tuk or visit on your own if you’re driving. There is no public transportation.
The first thing you’ll notice when you’re approaching the area is the 18 meters tall Golden Buddha statue.
To see it up close you’ll have to climb some steps or pay for a short cable car ride.
The Buddha statue was built in 1973. The temple and the statue were built with the purpose of locals having a place to pay their respects to Buddha.
How to get to Wat Tham Sua Kanchanaburi?
It’s easy to get here from Bangkok. There are many tour companies offering day tours to Kanchanaburi.
But if that’s not how you roll then you can just simply take the train.
You can catch the train from Thonburi station in Bangkok. It’ll take you 2 hours and a half or 3 hours to get there. It’s really the best way to see the countryside of Thailand.
This temple is a mix of traditional Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. It also goes by the name of Yonghe Temple or Yonghe Lamasery.
The construction of this temple began in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. It was when prince Yong took the throne that half of the building was turned into a Tibetan monastery.
Eventually, the monastery became the home of many Tibetan Buddhist monks from Mongolia and Tibet.
After 1949 the temple was declared a national monument and access was closed for 32 years.
It reopened its doors to the public in 1981, now it works as a temple and tourist attraction.
Inside one the buildings, you’ll find a huge statue of Buddha Maitreya. This is the biggest wooden Buddha statue in the world, it was carved out of a single white sandalwood log.
The body of the statue is 26 meters tall and 8 meters wide. It was gifted to emperor Qianglong by the seventh Dalai Lam in 1750.
You’ll be glad to know that is very simple and convenient. There are 2 metro lines – Subway Line 2 and Line 5 – in the Beijing metro system that stop at Yonghe Temple Station.
Take exit c and walk south for around 400 meters, you’ll find the temple on the east side of the road.
Entry fee: 25 Yuan, you can also rent an audio guide.
9 Bongeunsa Temple
Location: Seoul, South Korea
The last one on this Best Buddha Temples in Asia list.
During Winter Months
This is another temple that has been around for a while. Its origins can be traced back to 794 when all there was around in Seoul were open fields, trees, and villages.
Just like Korean people, this temple, unfortunately, has had to withstand the horrors of war. During the Korean war, many of its buildings were destroyed by fire.
The current temple we see today is actually a product of many renovations that took place between 1941 and 1982.
The main attraction of the temple is a 28 meter tall standing Buddha statue. It’s the representation of the future Buddha named Maitreya.
What is the future Buddha?
According to Buddhist traditions, the Maitreya or future Buddha is someone who will appear in this world sometime in the future.
This entity will be a Buddhist who is on his/her way to full enlightenment and will teach the pure Dharma.
Dharma is a concept that refers to behaviors that are in full accordance with the natural order of things and the “right way of living”
The future Buddha is supposed to appear once humankind has lost its way.
What I really like about this temple is that is close to the city, but in an interesting way is very calm and peaceful.
You can walk uphill behind the statue and see the back of it with buildings in the background, is quite a nice view.
During Summer Months
How to get to Bongeunsa Temple?
Getting here is simple, cheap and convenient, all you have to do is get in the subway and make your way towards it.
You can get off at Samseong Station on the green line and from there you’ll walk for around 13 minutes.
Entry fee: Free of Charge
Conclusion, Best Buddha Temples in Asia
East Asia is full of beautiful countries with a lot to offer, one of those things being the many Buddha temples that attract and surprise with their beauty and history.
Hope you guys have the chance to visit some of these spots.
If there is any other Buddha temple you want me to add to the Best Buddha Temples in Asia list please let me know in the comments.
Okay, let’s go now, getting there is super simple and honestly, it doesn’t take that long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYgKayWI2cA
What is the National Palace Museum?
Is one of the museums with the largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts, almost 700,000. Why are these relics in Taiwan and not in Mainland China?
In 1949 when the national government fell to communism, they decided to flee to Taiwan. They took with them a huge cargo of Chinese antiques that were in the National Museum of Beijing.
Step Number 1 – Get to the closest MRT station
In order to reach the National Palace Museum from the center of the city -Taipei- you’ll have to first get to Shilin MRT Station. This station is on the red line.
Since I live in Zhongshan area, I simply went to Zhongshan station and took the subway towards Tamsui.
Shilin station is on the way.
Depending on where you’re staying you’ll have to transfer lines to get to Shilin station.
Or who knows maybe you are already near this station and can just walk over there, or maybe for you is more convenient to take a bus.
Here’s the exact location of Shilin station, simply click on it and check -using Google maps- how to get there.
Step Number 2- Get off at Shilin Station
Assuming you’re using the metro, once you reach Shilin Station, take exit 1, zhongzhen Road.
Go down and you’ll see some signs directing you to the bus stop you need to go to.
Luckily for you, I took some pictures, but to be honest you won’t even need them.
All you gotta do is go downstairs -Exit 1- pay your fare and out of the station and walk straight until you reach the road.
Once you’re there just turn to your right and you’ll see the bus stop
Step Number 3 – Switch to a Bus
There are a couple of buses that will take you to the National Palace Museum. I took R30 (the same as 紅30) and it took around 15 minutes to get there.
The bus stop you’ll get off at is The National Palace museum stop, so it’s really difficult to get lost.
Step Number 4 Get off the bus and walk into the Museum
The bus R30 will drop you off inside the premises of the National Palace Museum.
As you’re riding the bus, if you take a look at your left side you’ll see when you’re reaching the palace.
The bus will turn and enter the palace premises and drop you off in front of a souvenir store, in a basement area, not in front of all the steps you’re seeing in the picture.
All you gotta do now is enter the building and go upstairs to pay for your tickets.
You can go to the right or left and line up to buy the ticket. Then you have to line up to pay for the audio tour device (optional), and finally, there is a lockers area where you have to put your bags.
Right after that, you’re ready to go through security and enter the gallery area.
How much is the ticket?
NTD 350, regular entrance for adults, after you enter the gallery and they tear your ticket, you can still go out and enter again.
Just make sure they put a stamp on your hand so they know you already paid for the ticket.
They have different collections showing on different days. You can check more details here the official website of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.
Here are some pictures I took of what caught my attention the most
Are there restaurants inside the National Palace Museum?
Yes, there are, there is a cafe near the area where you pay for your tickets, and there are other 2 outside, still inside the premises of the museum but on a different building.
For lunch, I and my friend went to a restaurant in the basement, you can see it in the video.
I must say the food was okay, not really good but not bad either, I do think is overpriced, for some spring rolls, a lunch set menu, noodles bowl, a Tainan toast and two can drinks it was almost 2,000 NTD.
Here’s an image with the map of the National Palace Museum, it might be useful.
Conclusion
If you care about art and history you’ll like this place. Getting there on your own is no problem at all, the staff overall is very helpful.
There are restaurant options inside the National Palace Museum, at least the one restaurant I went to was okay in terms of food quality, a bit overpriced though.
The food at this place is fantastic. The quality of the presentation of the food plus the taste makes you instantly say OH MY GOD!!! I seriously don’t know what is it they do in the kitchen but it’s definitely unique.
The owner and Chef -Alan who is half Spanish and half French- is very friendly, and really cares about providing his clients with the best customer experience.
His wife -Alice- also works there taking orders, interacting with customers and overall just making sure you have a good time.
Their menu is really unique. There are things you can always find on their menu and others that are not always there because they’re seasonal.
Or just not there because they couldn’t get the fresh ingredients for it on that day.
Sometimes you can even get abalone, also goat cheese and foie gras.
This is really the place to go if you’re looking for a party for your taste buds, and the drinks here are also great. Wine, Rum or cocktails, they don’t disappoint.
If you go to this restaurant I’m pretty sure you’ll have a good time. The place is elegant and cozy at the same time. Music is good and people are always having fun in here.
This restaurant is located in Da An district, this is the exact address No. 4號1樓, Lane 109, Section 1, Anhe Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106
is it pricey? it’s all relative really, the quality of this place as a whole is great and you need to pay for what you get.
The price of their tapas will vary depending on what you order. It might go from NTD 150 TO NTD 350 for 1pc. You can take a look at their tapas menu here
They don’t serve Paella
1 litter of sangria will cost you $1,100 NTD, you can see their drinks menu here
La Caja de Música
This is another amazing restaurant, totally different from Ole. It has a whole different concept that truly sets it apart from the rest of Spanish restaurants in Taipei.
When you visit this restaurant you’ll feel like you’re having dinner at home but with good quality food that most of us can not make ourselves.
The place has a certain charm, is definitely not what you would refer to as fancy, but the hell with that they don’t need it.
The owners – Ramses and Luis- are two very friendly Spanish guys that have been living in Taipei for a while now.
They truly make an effort to give their customers the best possible experience.
This place has tapas and also regular size dishes that will make you full.
Very good selection of tapas and they also serve paella for 2 or more people. Take a look at some pictures.
Overall the quality of the food is good, very good, if I had to recommend something to you I would say, don’t leave without trying their mushrooms and cheesecake, they’re pretty unique.
They also have a very good selection of cocktails, wine and sparkling wine. This restaurant is more affordable than the first one I mentioned, and I guarantee you’ll have an amazing meal here.
Something that makes La Caja de Música even more awesome is that they have live performances from time to time, sometimes they have flamenco nights and others they have something else.
The location of this restaurant is a little bit odd, it is definitely in the center of the city, reachable from zhongshan station and Taipei main station, but is a little bit hidden in a random lane.
This is the exact address, No. 18, Alley 3, Lane 138, Chang’an West Road, Datong District, Taipei City, 103
So don’t worry if you’re making your way to this restaurant and you feel as if you’re getting lost, you’re not, just follow Google maps and you’ll get there.
My last recommendation for Spanish food in Taipei
Tapas and Wine Yasaiya
Okay, so maybe some people will say that this is not authentic Spanish food, because the owners are not from Spain and the cooking staff is not Spanish either.
A friend of mine even refers to this restaurant as Japanese tapas, the owners and part of the staff are Japanese.
When I asked a Spanish chef about this restaurant, he told me he doesn’t think it is authentic Spanish food, but even if that’s the case, I must say that their food is okay, and they have a couple of dishes is worth going for.
Like their mussels in white wine
And I also like that in their menu they have Paella for one, they don’t cook the Paella in the traditional way most of us are used to seeing, instead they have this sort of oven where they cook portions upon orders.
Something I really like about this restaurant is its location, it’s reachable from Zhongshan Station or Songjiang Nanjing station, is located on one of the lanes next to Linsen north road (The red district of Taipei).
The area around Linsen north road is full of Japanese restaurants, KTV’s, street food, and different bars, it makes for a very interesting part of the city to go out to for dinner, especially if you’re a tourist.
Here’s the exact address of this restaurant, out of the three restaurants I’ve mentioned in this post this is the most affordable one.
In their menu they also offer things that you wouldn’t normally see in most Spanish restaurants, like Pastas and flat bread.
林森北路119巷60號, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, 10491
Conclusion
In no way I intend to make a comparison among these 3 restaurants, they’re all different, each has a different concept and they all have something unique, these are not 3 apples you can compare.
Whichever you choose to go to, I can assure you food will be good and the service will be great. There are other Spanish restaurants in Taipei, I’ve been to almost all of them, but these 3 are the ones I keep going back to.
Are you in the mood for something other than Chinese food while in Taipei? Do you fancy some really good Indian food? Then let me tell you where the best Indian Restaurants in Taipei are
After 3 years in Taipei, and because I really really like Indian food, I think I can make a decent blog entry about this, and I know you can always turn to Google for restaurants recommendations, but who knows maybe someone will take my recommendations into account.
Let’s get to what you want to hear, THE BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT IS
Safron 46
Safron has two branches, one in Tianmu and another one in Xinyi.
The new Saffron branch-Saffron 46- is in the new Nanshan Plaza building on the 46th floor, the food is amazing, and to top it all off is one of the restaurants with the best view of the city.
The incredible view and bar of this restaurant is what, in my opinion, set it apart from the rest.
Perfect for lunch and dinner
Let’s take a look at some pictures
Dessert in Safron 46
Something I really recommend everyone to order is their ice cream
Please believe me on this one, you won’t regret it.
The exact address is : 110, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Songzhi Road, 17號
Or simply look for this building -very close to 101- and go to the 46th floor.
Is it expensive?
I would say yes, a full meal with drinks and/or wine included will be around $2,500 NTD per person.
The food at the other Saffron restaurant in Tianmu is also very good, they also serve their magnificent ice cream, the location is not really central but is worth going there.
In terms of price, is not as expensive as Saffron 46 near 101 but I wouldn’t call it cheap either.
My second recommendation for Indian food is
Mayur Indian Kitchen Restaurant Bar and MIK 6 live music bar
Well that’s a long name right?
I love this place because the food is very tasty -make sure you order their butter chicken curry and the chilli garlic naan- and the restaurant itself is very lively, the decoration is a bit over the top but it doesn’t bother me at all.
Take a look at some photos
The staff is very helpful and responsive, there are buzzers on the tables which you can use to call for service, or to get the bill.
The Indian staff speaks fluent English so no worries if you don’t speak Chinese.
A very interesting characteristic of this restaurant is that it closes at 3 am in the morning, which is awesome since many restaurants in Taipei have their last orders at 9 pm.
You can also smoke Hookahs here.
This restaurant belongs to a big group of Indian restaurants in Taipei, altogether they have 7 branches, some of them focus on specific markets like vegetarians.
The specific address of the restaurant I just showed you in the pictures is No. 1, Songjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
If you’re planning on going there on a Friday night around 8 pm please make a reservation as the place gets crowded when they have the performances, for details on the menu, prices, and performances please click here
My third choice for Indian food in Taipei is
Ali BaBa’s Indian Kitchen
In this restaurant you will not have an amazing view of the city, neither a full performance taking place as you eat your dinner, but what you’ll get for sure is a very nice Indian meal at a more affordable price.
They have an all you can eat buffet lunch on Saturdays and Sundays , the price is 600 NTD, and you can also order a la carte, in my opinion, the best aspect of this restaurant is its location.
The restaurant is near Sonjiang Nanjing station, this station is in an interception of the green and orange line of the subway system of Taipei, is also walking distance from zhongshan station on the red line, the walk is a bit longer though.
The exact address is No. 56號, Section 2, Nanjing East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City.
Conclusion
So those are my three picks for Indian food in Taipei, one is very luxurious and targets a high-end crowd, the second one is very lively and festive and the third one is convenient and a more affordable option.
Let me know in the comments if you agree with me. Thank you for reading.
Healthy food, fruit shops everywhere, ease of working out, the convenience of transportation, parks, and more.
All of this makes Taipei a city where people can easily start getting in shape, it makes it The Healthiest City in Asia.
So if you’re thinking about an Asian city to move to for work or study, and health is an important deciding factor, then Taipei should be on the top of your list.
Let me tell you why.
Scenery Parks – Go Run
In Taipei there are many parks where you can go for a walk or a run, some are bigger than others, and some are definitely more scenic, those would be the ones that are next to a river.
Tamsui Riverside Park
Guting Riverside Park
Dajia Riverside Park
Guanshan Riverside Park
These parks are located alongside the river, which makes for a very good running or biking track, you’ll get some nice views of the city and also some gentle breeze on your face.
Along these riverside parks you’ll usually find basketball and tennis courts where you’ll see groups of young Taiwanese having fun.
You’ll also find elderly men and women doing aerobic classes or practicing tai chi, especially in the early morning.
There are other parks which are big enough to go for a run and that have a more centric location in the city.
You can check
Daan Park, Taipei
Da’an forest park is located in Da’an district and it occupies 26 hectares, perfect to go for a run.
Another park that has a very centric location is 228 peace memorial park, is near Taipei main station, but is way smaller than Da’an forest park.
It’s only 7 hectares in size, and is also a memorial site that was built to commemorate those who died in the events of February 28 of 1947, is also the oldest park in Taipei.
If doing cardio outdoors is not your thing and you prefer a treadmill or elliptical machine then you’ll want to know that going to the gym in Taipei is convenient and cheap.
You burn around 700 calories running during 1 hour
Working out
In Taipei city and New Taipei city there are around 12 Sports centers altogether.
The name in Chinese is 運動中心 ( Yùndòng zhōngxīn),
These are buildings that contain different areas for working out.
In each one you”ll find at least, 1 gym, 1 pool, 1 badminton court and some other studio rooms used for zumba classes or yoga classes.
You don’t have to pay a membership, you pay as you go. I go to the gym 5 times a week, and the fare for 1 hour and 10 minutes is only 50NTD, only 1.64 USD.
Right outside the gym area you’ll find lockers where you can put your stuff, the fare to use a locker is 10NTD, you’ll also see shelves where you can just put your bag and go work out.
I must say I’ve never had anything stolen, so feel safe to just put your bag on the shelf.
You’ll also find showers you can use after working out, they’re not the nicest ones in town, but they’re decent, good enough to take a shower after an early work out and before going to work in case you don’t have the time to go back home and shower.
The fare to use the swimming pool is 110 NTD, and you can be there for as long as you want.
When you pay to use the pool area you’ll also have the right to use the steam rooms, and the hydrotherapy pools.
Here’s some info for you to know more about where each one of the sports centers is located.
Address: No. 2號, Lane 44, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, 104
Taipei Nangang Sports Center (臺北市南港運動中心)
Website: https://ngsc.cyc.org.tw/
Address: No. 69號, Yucheng Street, Nangang District, Taipei City, 11
Taipei Wanhua Sports Center (臺北市萬華運動中心)
Website: http://whsc.com.tw/
Address: No. 6-1號, Xining Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108
More Sport centers in Taipei City
Taipei Datong Sports Center
Wen Shan Sports Center
Shilin Sports Center
Taipei City Beitou Sports Center
Sports Center in New Taipei City
Sanchong Civil Sports Center
Yonghe Sports Center
Zhonghe Sports Center
Tamsui Civil Sports Center
Xinzhuang Civil Sports Center
So as you can see, there are sports center all over the place in Taipei City and some more in New Taipei city area, so there is no excuse for you not to work out.
With so many cheap venues to work out I think you can agree with me that Taipei is one The Healthiest City in Asia
Important Gym Information
Just like in any gym, these places tend to be crowded after 6 pm from Monday to Friday, and from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Although the gym is pretty safe, they still remind you to take care of your stuff, especially in the shower rooms as there are no cameras in there.
The best time to go is early morning, right before going to work or to school, as the amount of people is few.
Don’t forget to take a hand towel with you as it is a requirement to enter the gym area, and a swimsuit in case you’re going to the pool.
If you forget your towel, you can buy a small one from the front desk at the gym area, they sell for around 20NTD.
In all of the Sports Centers there is usually a counter on the first floor where you pay to go to the gym or the pool, they’ll give you a card or a receipt which you’ll have to show when you enter the Gym or Pool area.
You’ll also find shops selling swimsuits and other items for swimming, some of them might be a bit pricey, so if you want to save some money better go to Carrefour and get your swim gear there.
There are also water dispensers and 7-11’s nearby, so you can take your own plastic bottle and get some free water or buy some at 7-11.
Which takes me to reason number 3 on why Taipei is one of the healthiest cities in Asia.
Convenience Store Food
Let’s explore more on why I say that Taipei is The Healthiest City in Asia
Usually, when you think of convenience store food you don’t think of it as a healthy option, at least where I come from, Nicaragua, convenience stores are full of fast food like hot dogs and a bunch of candies, cookies, snacks, sodas, and other sugary drinks.
If you wanna stay healthy you shouldn’t eat any of the things I just mentioned, but let’s face it prepping your meal for the whole week is a bit time consuming.
Sometimes you just have to go to a convenience store to get your breakfast or lunch.
Well, in Taipei you can have a full healthy meal right out of a 7-11 or Family Mart, let me show you, with pictures
I usually work out early in the morning, once I’m done working out at Zhongshan Sports Center, I take a shower, I dress up and go down to 7-11 to get 2 of these.
Onigiri, or at least a variation of Onigiri, they have different choices of filling, I only buy the one that has tuna inside, so is pretty much just that, tuna and white rice, with seaweed.
They only contain 198 calories. In Chinese the characters for calorific value are 熱量 (Rèliàng)
And even though white rice is not the healthiest option since is very low in nutrients and some experts even call it empty calories, it is still a good addition to your breakfast after working out, especially if you were lifting heavy weights.
I also buy some milk, which I use to mix with my whey protein powder.
Eating Healthy from Convenience Stores
I also get boiled eggs, yes that’s right, they have boiled eggs in Taipei’s convenience stores, now in the picture below you might notice the color of the eggs is a little dark, just a little.
Well, that’s because they boil them in black tea water, why do they do it? I’m not sure, but the taste of the eggs doesn’t really change that much, they do get a particularly strong smell, which is not that bad.
When you see them for the first time you might think something like: THAT’S GROSS, but give them a try, they’re just like regular boiled eggs, with a particular color and smell.
And also for the road, I get a little snack, a sweet potato, not all of the 7-11’s and Family Marts have these snacks full of nutrients, but most of them do.
If you get hungry during the afternoon you can go to your closest convenience store and get some nuts, fruits, salad wraps or an oatmeal drink.
You can also get fruits, guavas and bananas are my favorite, although I must say that getting fruit from convenience stores is expensive, you better get it at one of the many fruit vendors around the city, I’ll tell you a bit more about this later.
Having a healthy lunch from a convenience store is also possible, you can get a nice lean chicken breast for only 99NTD, add some salad and your lunch is ready, high in protein and low in carbs.
And you can really find fruit vendors in any corner of the city, for example, this nice lady that sells fruits on the side of a convenience store.
Or this random small fruits and vegetables set up outside a store near my office.
So as you can see, getting fruits in Taipei will be very easy, which means you’ll have no excuses to not have a healthy snack if you’re feeling hungry after or before a meal.
Isn’t that another point to call Taipei The Healthiest City in Asia?
Transportation
Taipei has a very convenient metro system that can get you to any of the important business and leisure areas of the city, or at least close enough, and if as that wasn’t enough, you have access to using UBIKES or OBIKES.
What is Ubike?
Is a bike sharing service offered by the Taipei City Department of transportation, all you need to start using one is an easy card, you can then register at any service center in any metro station or kiosks.
Ubike Kiosk
You can also rent it using an IC card.
Almost all the metro stations in Taipei have an Ubike parking area, once you’re registered you can just place your easy card on the sensor of the Ubike docks and it will be released.
If for some reason the dock doesn’t release the bike, you can take a look at whatever number it shows on the screen and read what that error message is about.
After successfully using a Ubike, find the closest Ubike parking area around your destination and return the bike, the first 30 minutes of using the bike are just 10NTD.
To read more about the costs of using an Ubike please go here
An Ubike might not be a convenient option if there is nowhere to park it near your destination, even though there are many Ubike parking areas all over the city, there is not one on every block, so you might find yourself in an area with no Ubike parking area at all.
More convenient transportation in Taipei The Healthiest City in Asia
Station less Bikes in Taipei.
OBIKES NO LONGER FUNCTION IN TAIWAN
If that’s the case, then the solution might be an Obike
If you’re not familiar with Obikes, then let me tell you a little bit about them.
The key benefit of Obikes is that you don’t need to return them to a dock, they’re stationless, all you gotta do is download the Obike App, add your credit/debit card, sign up for the service, pay a deposit and you’re ready to go.
You must have an active internet connection in your phone and turn on Bluetooth to unlock the bike, once you find an Obike -you can use the app to track one- you just scan the QR code on the Obike and if successful the lock on the rear wheel should unlock.
Once you’re done using it just manually lock the bike and make sure the end of the ride is recorded in the Obike App.
And is it safe to go around the city riding a bike? The answer is yes, don’t worry
People in Taipei ride bikes everywhere.
Conclusion
So there you have it, in Taipei, you’ll be able to eat healthily and work out without any excuses, and we all know those are the two most important things you need to start living a healthy life.
Have you lived in any Asian city which you think is The Healthiest City in Asia? Let me know in the comments please
