Xinyi

Taiwan's capital in the north of the island blends Qing-era temples, colonial architecture, and the 509-meter-tall skyscraper Taipei 101 with a vibrant night market culture. Taipei is the perfect starting point for any trip: This is where you land, where you'll find exceptionally good and affordable food, and where mountains with hot springs are right on the city's doorstep.In the west, around Wanhua and Dadaocheng, the 1738-founded Longshan Temple and the shops of Dihua Street reflect the city's 19th-century trading past. To the east, shopping districts and skyscrapers define the Xinyi area. The National Palace Museum houses one of the world's largest collections of ancient Chinese art, and to the north, the city borders Yangmingshan National Park, home to extinct volcanoes and hot springs.

Da'an District is Taipei's green, well-kept residential and university neighborhood. Right by Dongmen metro station begins Yongkang Street, not a night market alley, but a street full of good restaurants, tea shops, and small stores, known for mango shaved ice and beef noodle soup.A few minutes' walk away is Da'an Forest Park, the city's green lung, and further south, National Taiwan University.

Zhongzheng is Taipei's political and historical heart. On Liberty Square are the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the National Theater and the Concert Hall; here, 1990 student protests paved the way for democracy. The Taipei Main Station area forms the city's main transport hub.In the district's east, the former 1914 distillery has become the Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a cultural complex with exhibitions, cafes, a cinema, and pop-up shops.

Zhongshan is Taipei's district for a stroll: Around Zhongshan MRT Station, a green strip of park stretches, lined with boutiques, department stores, and cafés. In the alleys west of it lies Chifeng Street, where old car repair shops and hardware stores now stand alongside vintage shops and small cafés.Further north, things get cultural: The Municipal Art Museum and the Expo Park are located on Zhongshan North Road, and at Xingtian Temple, you'll experience one of the city's most vibrant religious centers.

Dadaocheng on the Tamsui River was Taipei's wealthiest commercial district from the 1850s. In the old shophouses of Dihua Street, merchants still sell dried goods, herbs, and tea, interspersed with cafés, bookstores, and design shops.The Xiahai City God Temple from 1859 is the district's focal point; in the evenings, people gather at Dadaocheng Pier on the river or at the Ningxia Night Market.