PORTS OF CALL - Asia
Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan
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Taipei is a city of opposites. There are ancient temples and neon-laden clubs. The world's tallest building and tiniest markets. The bustle of millions of people and the peace of botanical gardens. And if you are a gourmet, Taipei offers the greatest variety of Chinese food in the world. This city is one destination that is sure to make you leave feeling a more fulfilled person.
Don’t Miss
Taipei 101 is currently the tallest building in the world with 101 above-ground stories. (But be sure to say "I saw it when…", as it will only carry this distinction until the completion of the Burj Dubai in 2008.) It was built to withstand earthquakes above a seven on the Richter scale and is considered by many to be the world's most technologically advanced skyscraper. Make sure you visit the world's highest outdoor observatory, which you can access by taking one of two elevators that will get you from the main floor to the 89th floor in under 39 seconds.
Local Flavours
Since Taiwan is surrounded by the ocean, seafood is central to the Taiwanese diet. Oyster, smoked squid and stir-fried crabs abound. Fruits are prominent in Taiwanese desserts, such as the famous mango shaved ice. The Chinese tea houses on the surrounding mountains offer a nice change of pace, offering a wide range of locally grown teas and breathtaking views of Taipei below.
Shopping for Bargains
The cash-only night markets offer clothing, gifts, souvenirs and a wide selection of handicrafts at great prices. If you're looking for electronic gadgets, computers and software, the place to visit is the Kuanghua Market.
Currency
Taiwan's unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$), which has five denominations in paper money (NT$2000, NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200 and NT$100) and five denominations in coins (NT$50, NT$20, NT$10, NT$5 and NT$1). The official English word for the currency is dollar; in Mandarin it's known as yuan. Subdivisions of a yuan are rarely used, since almost all products on the consumer market are sold at whole units of yuan.