Taipei
Yangmingshan & Hot Springs — Taipei's Volcanic Mountain Park
Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園 — the volcanic national park immediately north of Taipei city, accessible by bus from the Jiantan MRT station in approximately 30-40 minutes — Taiwan's most accessible mountain park): Yangmingshan is the only active volcanic zone in Taiwan, with numerous fumaroles (volcanic steam vents), sulfur deposits, and hot springs (溫泉 — wēnquán) that have made the area north of Taipei (particularly the Beitou (北投) district) one of the finest hot spring resort areas in Asia.
Zhongshan & Songshan — Taipei's Creative and Design Districts
Zhongshan District (中山區 — the commercial and cultural district of central Taipei, centred on Zhongshan North Road (中山北路)) and the adjacent Songshan District (松山區 — particularly the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區 — the former tobacco factory (1937-1998) converted into a creative industry hub and cultural events space)): together, these two districts constitute the creative and arts centre of modern Taipei, with the highest concentration of design studios, concept stores, art galleries, and independently operated cafes in the city.
National Palace Museum — The World's Greatest Collection of Chinese Art
National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院 — the museum in the Shilin district of northern Taipei housing the world's largest collection of Chinese imperial art — approximately 700,000 artefacts spanning 8,000 years of Chinese civilization, the collection originally assembled by the Chinese imperial court and brought to Taiwan in 1948-1949 when the Nationalist government retreated from mainland China): the collection includes jade, ceramics, bronzes, calligraphy, paintings, and the imperial treasures of the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
Tamsui, Bali & the North Coast — Taipei's Golden Sunset District
Tamsui (淡水 — the historic town at the mouth of the Tamsui River, where it meets the Taiwan Strait, at the northern tip of New Taipei City, accessible by MRT from Taipei Main Station in approximately 40 minutes (the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line)): Tamsui is the most popular sunset destination from Taipei, its riverside promenade (the 'Fisherman's Wharf' and the Tamsui Old Street) famous for the extraordinary sunsets over the Taiwan Strait (the body of water between Taiwan and mainland China — the most politically and geographically significant strait in Asia).
Jiufen — The Hillside Village That Inspired Spirited Away
Jiufen (九份 — the hillside village in the Ruifang District of New Taipei City, approximately 50 km northeast of Taipei (1 hour by bus or taxi from Taipei Main Station) — the former gold mining town that became famous internationally when Miyazaki Hayao cited it as one of the inspirations for the setting of his animated film 'Spirited Away' (千と千尋の神隠し — Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, 2001, winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature 2003)): Jiufen is now one of the most visited day-trip destinations from Taipei, famous for its narrow stone-stepped lanes, traditional tea houses, and the view over the Pacific Ocean coast.
Maokong Tea Culture, Pinglin & the Oolong Tea Heartland of Taiwan
Taiwan is one of the world's great tea-producing nations, responsible for some of the finest oolong teas in the world (the high-mountain oolongs of Alishan, Li Shan, and Da Yu Ling are among the most sought-after teas globally): Maokong (the tea-growing hillside district above Taipei, famous for its Tieguanyin and Wenshan Pouchong oolongs) and Pinglin (the tea-growing valley 40 km southeast of Taipei, the source of the finest Wenshan Pouchong in Taiwan) are the two principal tea tourism destinations from Taipei.
Longshan Temple, Wanhua & Taipei's Historic Old Town
Wanhua (萬華 — the oldest district of Taipei, the centre of settlement from the 18th century and the historic heart of the city): Longshan Temple (龍山寺 — the most important temple in Taipei, founded 1738) and the surrounding Wanhua district preserve the oldest urban fabric in Taipei, including the Snake Alley entertainment district, the Herb Market (the largest traditional Chinese medicine market in Taipei), and the Ximending youth culture district.
Taipei Night Markets — Shilin, Raohe & the Taiwanese Street Food Universe
Taipei's night markets (夜市 — yèshì — the outdoor markets that open in the evening and are the primary social and culinary space of Taiwanese urban life): with approximately 30 night markets scattered across the city (Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia, Huaxi Street, Tonghua, Linjiang), Taipei has the finest and most diverse concentration of night market culture in Asia.
Taipei 101 & Xinyi — The City's Vertical Icon and Financial Heart
Taipei (台北 — the capital and largest city of Taiwan (officially the Republic of China), population approximately 2.7 million city / 7 million metropolitan area — the economic, political, and cultural centre of Taiwan, a city of night markets, hot springs, Buddhist temples, and the world-famous Taipei 101 skyscraper): Taipei 101 and the Xinyi district represent the modern face of one of Asia's most dynamic cities.