Taipei, Taiwan, 2019

Travel Dates: April 29th – May 2nd & May 9th – May 11th, 2019

This is the first in a new travel post series all about Taiwan. While in Taiwan, we stayed in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Juafien, and back to Taipei again.

Our first stop in Taiwan was Taipei. Highlights included hiking Elephant mountain, the Taipei zoo, eating scallion pancakes from Tianjing Chong Zhua Pancake, eating soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung, eating traditional Taiwanese breakfast at Yong He Soy Milk King and one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life thus far: the Maokong gondola line.

Across the street from Elephant mountain staircase entrance – Taipei, Taiwan

Elephant mountain staircase entrance – Taipei, Taiwan

Flowers along the hike up Elephant Mountain – Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei 101 as viewed from Elephant mountain

Climbing Elephant mountain’s stairs to the next viewing platform

Taipei skyline as viewed from Elephant mountain

Step marker, Elephant mountain, Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei 101 as viewed from Elephant mountain – through trees, Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei 101 as viewed from Elephant mountain, Taipei, Taiwan

Elephant mountain stamp marker, Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei 101 reflected in happy face reflective ball

Taipei 101

Din Tai Fung Taipei 101 location – Taipei, Taiwan

Enjoying tea at Din Tai Fung, Taipei, Taiwan

Street views outside Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan

Boa’an Temple

The Boa’an temple is the first temple we experienced in Taipei. The ornateness and overall presence feel significant — bordering on overwhelming.

Boa’an Temple Lanterns & details- Taipei, Taiwan

Birds in flight above Boa’an Temple – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: bike and coffee – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: temple & prayer – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: food market stalls – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: food buffet – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: layers of people – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: fruit stand – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: dumpling stall – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: meat in the window – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: corner market fruit – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: market food stall – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: Shilin night market entrance – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: morning time – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: motorist & lantern – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views: boxes of dancing light – Taipei, Taiwan

Yong He Soy Milk King

Soy Milk King, eh? The Taiwanese are serious about their breakfasts. We enjoyed warm soy milk with all the fixings: egg, pork floss, and fried dough.

Taking orders. Rolling out and frying the dough. Yong He Soy Milk King – Taipei, Taiwan.

Warm soy milk with egg and pork floss. Yong He Soy Milk King – Taipei, Taiwan.

All mixed together – Warm soy milk with egg and pork floss. Yong He Soy Milk King – Taipei, Taiwan.

Flaky flatbread fried Chinese cruller, sou bing you tiao, Yong He Soy Milk King – Taipei, Taiwan.

This was all a hearty and heavy meal to prepare us for a long day at the Taipei Zoo and hiking around the Maokong Tea Village.

Taipei Zoo

I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited zoos around the world — mostly around the United States, but of all of those I have visited, Taipei has one of the best. Not only is it expansive, but it’s also diverse in its animals — to my knowledge not many zoos have both Asian and African elephants. Orangutans are a species I have not been seen in person until Taipei — what beautiful, quirky, muppet-like creatures they are. Below are some of my favorite captures from the zoo.

Panda eating bamboo at Taipei Zoo, Taipei, Taiwan

Asian elephants at Taipei Zoo, Taipei, Taiwan

Orangutan at Taipei Zoo, Taipei, Taiwan — looks like a muppet

Chimpanzee at Taipei Zoo, Taipei, Taiwan

Some type of bird at Taipei Zoo, Taipei, Taiwan

African elephant at Taipei Zoo, Taipei, Taiwan

Maokong Tea Village

The gondola ride from the Taipei Zoo to Maokong is incredible and one of the most breathtaking and amazing experiences I’ve had. The sun was just starting to set as we made our way back to Taipei from Maokong. The mixture of light and fog was absolutely perfect.

Lanterns outside Yao-Yue tea in Makong, Taiwan

Taipei grand trail hiking in Makong, Taiwan

Stairs leading up hiking in Makong, Taiwan

Petals from a tung blossom tree (April snow) beautifully cover the stairway leading us upward. Hiking in Maokong, Taiwan

Views from Maokong gondola line, Maokong -> Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei 101 views from Maokong gondola line, Maokong -> Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei night walking tour

We found some well-reviewed free walking tours in Taipei by a company called TourMeAway. We joined the Longshan Temple Tour. Overall, it was well worth the ~3 hours. Below are some captures from our experience.

Medicine market, Taipei, Taiwan – Taipei Walking Tours

Longshan Temple, Taipei, Taiwan – Taipei Walking Tours

Lantern inside Longshan Temple, Taipei, Taiwan – Taipei Walking Tours

Taipei Tourist night market, Taipei, Taiwan – Taipei Walking Tours

Lanterns outside the oldest hotel in the red light district in Taipei, Taiwan – Taipei Walking Tours

Poster outside the oldest hotel in the red light district in Taipei, Taiwan – Taipei Walking Tours

Exploring Taipei

Flowers dripping with rain, Taipei, Taiwan

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall & Square

Chiang Kai-shek memorial hall honors Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China. The entire venue houses the Memorial Hall, Memorial Square, National Theater, and National Concert Hall.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial & Square, Taipei, Taiwan

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial exterior, Taipei, Taiwan

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial interior, Taipei, Taiwan

Chiang Kai-shek memorial square, National Theater, Taipei, Taiwan

Topiary tree at Chiang Kai-shek memorial, Taipei, Taiwan

Tianjing Chong Zhua Pancake (scallion pancakes)

These scallion pancakes are absolutely delicious. While in Taipei we enjoyed variations on their scallion pancakes several times — with egg and cheese, with egg only, and plain. Each was delicious, cost-effective, and they filled us up. The cooking and crafting process is fascinating in its rhythmic and well-honed workflow.

Making pancakes at Tianjing Chong Zhua Pancake (scallion pancakes) Taipei, Taiwan

Pancakes are served at Tianjing Chong Zhua Pancake (scallion pancakes) Taipei, Taiwan

Exploring Taipei at night

Illuminated lanterns & street views – Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei Taiwan neon sign – Taipei, Taiwan

Nighttime street views: all the meats – Taipei, Taiwan

Street views, lanterns, and bears, oh my! – Taipei, Taiwan

Nighttime illuminated lantern street views – Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan train station. Next stop: Kaohsiung

Taipei extras - last days of the trip

We ended our trip by going back to Taipei for three nights before flying back to Minneapolis.

Illuminated nighttime views Taipei, Taiwan

Shopping district gate entrance, Taipei, Taiwan

Shopping district street views, Taipei, Taiwan

The historic Red House Theater exterior, Taipei, Taiwan

Eating a ridiculous mound of Mango Snowflake Ice with Sorbet & Taro Balls at Smoothie House, Taipei, Taiwan.

Eating Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle, Taipei, Taiwan

Coco has delicious passion fruit jelly bubble tea, Taipei, Taiwan.

Roahe night market

Roahe night market views, Taipei, Taiwan.

Fuzhou Pepper Buns (pork pepper buns) stand at Roahe night market, Taipei, Taiwan.

Eating Fuzhou Pepper Buns (pork pepper buns) at Roahe night market, Taipei, Taiwan. These were absolutely unbelievably delicious and one of our favorite food items of the entire trip.

Roahe night market lanterns, Taipei, Taiwan.

In closing

Taipei is an incredible city housed inside a friendly and beautiful country. This will not be our only trip to Taipei. Next time we will visit Taipei and other cities in Taiwan.