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.
In the video above, you’ll find 10 minutes of Shilin Night Market footage that will give you a good sense of what this market is all about, food, drinks, fruits, clothes, souvenirs, games and a lot more.
Even though some stores and cafes in this market open as early as 7 a.m to serve breakfast to people going to the office, the best time to visit Shilin Night Market is after 5:30 p.m.
After 5:30 p.m is when all stores open and people flock the streets to eat and shop with friends or family.
Some Information About Shilin Night Market
The Night Market is composed of many street food vendors and small restaurants and clothes stores
There are also many adjacent businesses such as Samsung stores or massage places.
There is an underground food court. It’s located under the Shilin Night Market neon sign, minute 9:42 in the video B1美食區
The market is the most crowded from 8 to 9 p.m.
Many stores and restaurants close past midnight
There are many fair like games, if you score many points you’ll get a prize.
The origin of the market goes as far back as 1909 when agricultural products from nearby farms were sold here.
The night market was officially opened in 1913 and many food vendors decided to settle here to take advantage of the affluence f people.
Is It Easy to Get Here?
It’s super easy. This is a very popular area in Taipei city, there are many buses that stop nearby and Jiantan metro station is the closest to the market.
Jiantan metro station on the red line is located right across the street, just take exit 1.
Interestingly Shilin metro station, which is the next station after Jiantan (Going from Xiangshan to Tamsui) is not the closest station to Shilin night market.
Some tourists make the mistake to get off at that station and then have to walk 15 minutes to reach the market.
Something I believe people should talk more about when talking about this amazing night market is the temple in it.
Right in the middle of the market, you’ll find Shilin Cixian temple. If you visit the market during the day, you can take some really nice pictures as it will be quite empty.
Once the market starts working at full capacity, this place of apparent peace and tranquility becomes one with the market and its people.
After 4 p.m. food vendors start setting up outside. They also set up chairs and tables for people to eat, and people also use the stairs in the front of the temple to sit down, eat and drink.
Conclusion
Shilin Night market is a must-see place in Taipei. It’s very easy and convenient to get there as there is a metro station right in front of it.
The choices of food and drinks are endless. There is also a really nice temple right in the middle of the market that will add to the cultural experience of visiting one of the healthiest cities in Asia.
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.
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.
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
