Discover Wandering
Taipei Expo Park
The Taipei Expo Park was developed for the 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, and is has remained as a city park, comprising the Yuanshan Park, the Arts Park (around the Taipei Modern Art Museum), and Xinsheng Park.
Maji Maji Square in the park, is a long, curved, semi-outdoor food court built from containers, timber, and other reused materials. The food court offers snacks and meals, but also handicrafts, music, art items, and more. A modern, healthy, green bazaar, Maji Maji has become popular recreation spot for Taipei families.
Walking time: about 17 minutes
Distance: 1.3 km
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Eslite Bookstore
Eslite opened its first store on the Ren‘Ai Roundabout in Taipei in 1989. As eslite grew over the years, it stayed true to the founding philosophy of that original outlet: bring “Humanities, the Arts, Creativity and Life” to the people. In 2004, eslite was named “Asia’s Best bookstore” in Time Magazine’s Asia edition; while in 2011, eslite was included in the Top 100 Taiwan Brands in the cultural creative services category.
In 1995, the eslite Dunnan store relocated to its present venue, where it pioneered the 24-hour bookstore concept in 1999, offering urban residents a round-the-clock space to relax and read.
<Image Source:Tourism Bureau ,M.O.T.C. Republic of China(Taiwan) / Wu Jhih-Syue offer>
Wulai
Speaking of Wulai one must introduce the Atayal, one of Taiwan's indigenous peoples. Wulai Village comprises the Old Streets, its famous hot springs, an old railway station, a well-known waterfall surrounded by a park, street stalls and stores.
Atayal delicacies to try are roasted mountain pig, rice steamed in a bamboo tubes, and sweet millet wine, served in many of the friendly Atayal restaurants. There is also a cable car that takes you to a vantage point overlooking the scenic landscape with the waterfall.
<Image Source:Tourism Bureau ,M.O.T.C. Republic of China(Taiwan) / Wu Jhih-Syue offer>
Ximending
Ximending is Taipei’s iconic teen pop culture paradise whose pedestrian areas are always filled with throngs of people, especially at night, weekends, and holidays. The Red House Theater, Tattoo Street, Movie Street, America Street, KTV, Wannian Mansion, eslite bookstore, and a host of boutiques offer entertainment, fashion, accessories, and anything new and interesting. Foreign backpackers love it too.
Traditional dishes only to be had at Ximending include Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodles, Shanghai Laotianlu, Chengdu starfruit shaved ice (or smoothie), and Fong Da coffee. Thanks to Ximending’s old patrons and often even older shop owners, these traditional dishes and drinks can still be enjoyed by the younger generation and foreign visitors.
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Beitou Hot Spring Museum
The Beitou Hot Spring was the largest public bath house in Japanese-ruled Taiwan. The two-story brick building in English country house style features Roman pillars on the first floor and a Japanese lay-out on the second floor. The hot springs were operated in the tradition of the Izu onsen in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan. A faint spa smell still lingers there…
After falling in disused and being restored by the local people, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum is now listed as a national third-grade monument. It is a great introduction to the history of spa culture in Taiwan. Beitou offers a wide variety of hot spring houses, from simple to fancy, and often with restaurants attached.
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