HIGHLIGHTS OF TAIPEI
Our entire and exciting 12 Day Taiwan Travel Itinerary had been meticulously planned around arriving into the Taiwan capital city of Taipei by the 15th Day of the Lunar New Year.
This was to experience the The Taiwan Lantern Festival – an ancient cultural festival – which was being held in Taipei for the very first time in twenty-three years.
This year’s theme was to celebrate the Year of The Rabbit and the festival was completely free to attend.
The backpacking husband and I had arrived in Taiwan a week earlier.
And, from Taipei Main Station, we’d immediately headed south by (THSR) Taiwan High Speed Rail ‘Bullet’ train.
First, to explore the mid-point city of Taichung, staying for three nights.
Then, to continue south to the port city of Kaohsiung.
Table of Contents
- HIGHLIGHTS OF TAIPEI
- NORTHBOUND TO TAIPEI
- LIGHT UP THE FUTURE
- DAY ONE IN TAIPEI
- TAIPEI 101 TOWER:
- MICHELIN STAR STREET FOOD:
- DAY TWO IN TAIPEI
- ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN:
- DAY THREE IN TAIPEI
- THE LANTERN FESTIVAL
NORTHBOUND TO TAIPEI
Then, after another three-night stay, we’d returned north along the whole THSR route back to Taipei on the bullet train.
To stay for four nights in the capital city centre.
We stayed at a hotel that we booked using (affiliate link) Booking Dotcom called Inhouse Hotel.
The Inhouse Hotel is in a great central location in the Wanhua District. Just a short walk from Xining MRT Metro station.
Our four nights stay cost USD $378.
After our three nights in each of Taichung City and Kaohsiung City and four nights in Taipei, we spent our very last night in Taiwan at the Air Sky airport hotel at a cost of USD $72 as we had a morning flight from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.
Over the four nights and five days in Taipei – we explored the city extensively using our easy card on public transport – metro trains and buses – and also by doing lots of walking.
And, of course, we attended The Lantern Festival.
A festival which promised to ‘Light Up The World and Present a Fresh Attitude’.
Our amazing trip to Taiwan would culminate with this extravaganza of lanterns.
How fantastic!
LIGHT UP THE FUTURE
Taiwan Scene says the theme of the festival is to ‘Light Up The Future‘ and describes the event as “‘Disneyland without roller coasters’ as the festival sites are filled with fun and vibrant installations featuring innovative lighting technology integrated harmoniously with traditional lantern art and culture”.
Travel with me to experience the Highlights of Taiwan’s fabulous Capital City of Taipei!
HIGHLIGHTS OF TAIPEI
DAY ONE IN TAIPEI
TAIPEI 101 TOWER:
I absolutely love a city tower. So visiting the Taipei 101 Tower – which was the world’s tallest building when it first opened in 2004 – was a highlight of Taipei trip.
And, during the Lantern Festival, seeing The Taipei 101 Tower lit up and animated with bouncing pink rabbits in keeping with the theme of The Year of The Rabbit was also a spectacular sight!
Watch my video as we go up the tower for the views of the city below us and to check out the impressive giant gold coloured sphere on display that acts an an earthquake dampener to protect the tower in the event of a tremor!
MICHELIN STAR STREET FOOD:
In this post, come with us on a food fest in search of delicious Michelin Star street food at one of the most famous street food markets in Taiwan – The Ningxia Market.
This market is home to no less than FIVE Michelin starred Bib Gourmand street food stalls selling amazing food for just a few $NTD!
DAY TWO IN TAIPEI
ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN:
Otherwise known as Xiangshan, this mountain is one of Taipei’s most popular hiking destinations for tourists and locals alike.
It was wonderful to take a leisurely walk out to Elephant Mountain and then a steady climb all 600 steps for a breath taking and panoramic view of Taipei City at the top.
Yes, it was worth it!
DAY THREE IN TAIPEI
THE LANTERN FESTIVAL:
The main event was, of course, the Lantern Festival.
The festival is held in the centre of the city in two main areas: The National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Taipei City Hall Square.
These feature the Main Lantern – which is of course The Brilliant Light of the Jade Hare – and for the first time the main lantern is using robot technology which is to pay ‘homage to Taiwan’s achievements in the semiconductor industry’.
The Secondary Lantern is The Spiral Dragon which brings prosperity and blessings and is inspired by Chinese folk tales.
The lantern is ‘animated vividly every 30 minutes.’
The star of the Third Lantern is a family of giant Taiwanese blue magpies perched on a colourful tree.
This heart-warming display is also animated with light and sound every 30 minutes.
There are also Six Themed Zones.
The International Friendship Lantern Area invites you to travel around the world with captivating lanterns from Japan and other countries.
Lights of the Future represents beacons of light and a futuristic spirit, vibrant culture and future technologies, including ‘projection mapping’ which will produce cute colourful animated rabbits jumping and running up and down the Taipei 101 Tower. I could hardly wait!
I was so excited for this lantern festival in which many of the ‘lanterns’ were actually what I would describe as ‘festival floats’ as they are huge moulded constructions each lit up to represent different aspects of the Lunar Year and Taiwan’s own cultural celebrations.
I was particularly looking forward to watching the animated displays and light projections.
So don’t miss this special post from Taipei’s Lantern Festival in which we perused the event park in the daytime and then went back after dark to experience the full light show extravaganza!
See my Travel Guide to Taiwan and the highlights of our fabulous entire 12 Night Taiwan Itinerary.
Are you planning a trip to Taiwan?
Will you be travelling to Taichung?
Were my highlights of Taichung helpful to you?
Let me know – I’d love to hear from you!
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