Si520 - Week9 - Hw8 - Hometown Taipei

and appreciate a good meal with family and friends, and the evidence is clear in the quantity and quality of restaurants in the city. The local love of food aside, Taipei's culinary scene has benefited from its place as a magnet for immigrants from nearly every region of China. While the local Taiwanese cuisine is heavily influenced by the diet of Fujian province, from which many of the old-time city residents hail, the newer mainland arrivals have brought to Taipei the secrets of every major regional Chinese cuisine. So whether you're craving spicy Sichuan or exotic Cantonese cuisine, expect dishes meeting the highest standards of authenticity when dining out in Taipei. The final ingredient making Taipei such an eaters' paradise is the ready availability of farm and sea fresh ingredients of every imaginable type. Tropical fruits and high mountain veggies all thrive in the fertile soil and sunny climate of Taiwan, producing a harvest of top-quality

ingredients for equally first-rate cuisine. Many of Taipei's top restaurants are conveniently located in major tourist hotels, but make sure also to venture further afield to fully appreciate the city's food attractions. Traditional Taiwanese breakfasts served with fresh-made soymilk, exotic wildgrown vegetables savored at a scenic mountainside restaurant, night market snacks, spicy hot pots and riverside seafood restaurants are just a few of the many mouthwatering experiences that await you in Taipei.

Recreation Taipei has many night markets, the most famous of which is the Shilin Night Market in the Shilin District of the city. The surrounding streets by Shilin Night Market get extremely crowded during the evening. Ximending has been a famous area for shopping and entertainment since the 1930s. Historic structures include a concert hall and a historic cinema.

Modern structures house karaoke businesses, art film cinemas, widerelease movie cinemas, electronic stores, and a wide variety of restaurants and fashion clothing stores. The pedestrian area is especially popular with teens. The Xinyi District is popular with tourists and locals alike for its many entertainment and shopping venues, as well as being the home of the Taipei 101 building, a prime tourist attraction famous for being the world’s tallest building. Malls in the area include the sprawling Shin Kong Mitsukoshi complex, Taipei 101 mall, Eslite Bookstore’s flagship store, The Living Mall, and New York New York shopping mall. The thriving shopping area around Taipei Main Station includes the Taipei Underground Market and the original Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store at Shin Kong Life Tower. Other popular shopping destinations include the Zhongshan Metro Mall,

Dihua Street, the Guanghua Bazaar, and the Core Pacific City. Yangmingshan, famous for its cherry blossoms, hot springs, sulfur deposits is the home of famous writer Lin Yutang, the summer residence of Chiang Kai-shek, residences of foreign diplomats, the Chinese Culture University, and the Kuomintang Party Archives. The Taipei Zoo was founded in 1914 and covers an area of 165 hectares for animal sanctuary. Bitan is known for boating and water sports. Danshui is a popular seaside resort town. Ocean beaches are accessible in several directions from Taipei.

Discover the heart of Asia in beautiful Taipei!

Taipei Profile Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan. It is situated on the Danshui River, almost at the northern tip of the island, about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean. The Formosan blue magpie, Taipei’s city bird, is an attractive bird that has a scratchy voice. Endemic to Taiwan, the bird has been elected as city bird by Taipei citizens. The bird lives in broadleaf or secondary forests at elevations between 300 and 1,200 meters. The bird travels in flocks with its long, blue and white tail trailing gracefully behind. The azalea, Taipei’s city flower, is a vigorous plant that thrives in sun or shade and tolerates both dry and wet conditions. It resists pollution and is therefore particularly suitable for urban areas. The fuzzy hair on the leaves not only regulates water flow but also catches dust.

snacks in an environment of chaotic excitement and fun. The polarities of Taipei are vividly present as well in the joining of the urban and natural. Just a few minutes 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. Whether you're just stopping over en route to another Asian destination, or planning a longer stay, Taipei is a many-faceted treasure that will call you back again and again.

Taipei Image

Dining Culturally, food occupies such a central place in Chinese society that the people commonly greet each other at mealtime by asking, "Have you eaten yet?" Even in the fast-paced life of Taipei, people find time to slow down

Taipei City Government »» 11108, 4F, No.1, Shifu Rd »» 886-2-27208889 »» http://www.taipeitravel.net

The cultural kaleidoscope of Taiwan's capital city pulses wherever you go. Incense-veiled temples dating back to dynastic times blend seamlessly with a neoned street life of a decidedly more modern era. Taipei has dozens of world-class restaurants where gourmets can sample the best regional Chinese cuisine; and for the gourmand, there are plenty night markets serving up scrumptious evening