Through the Kaleidoscope Lens of Taiwan
It’s easy to overlook Taiwan.
A nation bordered by tourism powerhouses Japan, South Korea, China, and the Philippines, I’ve often found my fingers pacing over this relatively tiny island when I’m checking out a map. Funnily enough, Taiwan is also the country I completely blanked on when I participated in a game of Pinoy Henyo, a popular Filipino guessing game, on national TV way back (P.S. please don’t try to look for the video clip of that).
But when Taiwan presented itself in the form of lifting its visa policy on a number of Southeast Asia countries for a year, our family immediately went to the drawing board to make plans. This was our first time planning a trip abroad to usher in a new year.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the idea of spending New Year’s in Taiwan, especially since I had little to no expectations of it. Taiwan didn’t have Disneyland, nor anime, nor K-Pop, nor snow, I could go on. We could have chosen any of the other countries I’ve mentioned in the previous paragraph, but I understood that this was the practical way to go. I couldn’t complain though, because as much as I didn’t think much of Taiwan, it was another opportunity to travel and explore a new culture, and I’m sold enough on that end.
Attractions
Taipei 101
If there’s one thing I know about Taiwan, it’s Taipei 101, the 11th tallest building in the world to date. Standing at a whopping 1,671 feet beside the city’s administrative centers, the building used to be the tallest skyscraper from 2004 until 2010 when the Burj Khalifa in Dubai finished production.
At the base of Taipei 101 is the Taipei 101 Mall, housing various international luxury and streetwear brands, restaurants, a food court, and of course, Taiwan’s beloved Din Tai Fung. Littered around the skyscraper are some of Taiwan’s biggest malls, showcasing an economic of both local and foreign brands. Standing as the 22nd best economy in the world, Taipei 101 symbolizes the economic progressiveness of the nation, a continued upward trending dating all the way back to the ’60’s. Speaking of symbolisms, the Taipei 101 also stands for liberty and freeness, shown through a daily change of color emitted by the eight stacked Asian pagodas at night, with each day of the week corresponding to a color in the rainbow.
Taipei 101 was our first big destination in Taiwan, and at the best time too at New Year’s Eve where the building is a monumental staple shown on news outlets every time it’s Taiwan’s turn to ring in the new year.
Ximending
At the heart of Taipei lies Ximending, and for the Taiwanese, nothing gets more urban in Taiwan than Ximending. Dubbed as “Taiwan’s Shibuya”, local shops and familiar international fast fashion and sneaker brands line the streets of Ximending. A prominent figure in the art, youth, and LGBTQ+ scene in Taipei, the famous Red House Theater established in the Japanese occupation also lies here. Most of Taiwan’s famous eats can be found here, but I digress because Taiwan’s food scene deserves a standalone section.
Personally, Ximending is my favorite location in Taipei brought by its vibrant nightlife which I never expected coming in. I have always thought of Taiwan as a pretty quaint place, but seeing as the action here in Ximending bodes close to that of Hong Kong’s was quite refreshing.
Longshan Temple
In the historic Wanhua District rests one of Taiwan’s busiest temples, the Longshan Temple. As a nation of heavy Chinese and Japanese influence, Buddhism and Taoism reign supreme as Taiwan’s religion, although the nation is very open to a multitude of religious and spiritual beliefs. You can stop by Longshan Temple to revel at the classic Chinese architecture and all its culture.
National Chung Cheng University
If you grew up eagerly waiting for the weekly episodes of Meteor Garden, Chung Cheng University must be in your Taiwan itinerary, provided if you are willing to spend at least half of a day to travel back and forth to Chiayi County, about three hours off Taipei. CCU, one of Taiwan’s leading STEM institutions, was the filming site of Meteor Garden, the beloved Taiwanese drama that starred Barbie Hsu as Shan Cai, and Jerry Yan as Dao Ming Si.
Yehliu Geopark
One of Taiwan’s strongest selling points is its nature scene, and Yehliu Geopark leads the nation in that department. A cape off the coast of Northern Taiwan, Yehliu is home to some of the most magnificent rock formations, the most iconic of which is the Queen’s Head, an elongated rock formation named after Queen Elizabeth I for its resemblance to her.
Jiufen and Shifen
Jiufen and Shifen, two historic mountainous areas in the outskirts of Taipei, are some of the most fascinating destinations in Taiwan as it serves as a peek to the Taiwan of old.
The Jiufen Old Street, the most popular tourist destinations in the area, is a cornucopia of iconic local produce, be it food, souvenirs, and clothing. Jiufen’s prosperity can be attributed to the gold rush in the late 19th century when gold was first discovered in the area, making it a famous mining ground and was a key economic player in the Japanese-occupied Taiwan.
Almost complementary to Jiufen is Shifen. The Shifen Waterfalls is a known natural wonder in Taiwan due to its picturesque environment. Apart from that, the area is also lined with even more local shops offering fresh produce. Deep in Shifen is the iconic old railroad tracks where tourists flock to release sky lanterns. Wishes are written on the four sides of a red lantern using a Chinese brush before releasing it high up to a dramatic view of the Taiwan skies in a ritualistic display of hope.
Food
The only thing bigger than the Taipei 101 in Taiwan is the nation’s food scene. Taiwan has the reputation as one of the best culinary destinations in Asia, and rightfully so.
For us Asians, bubble milk tea is all the rave, and what better place to have a sip than its nation of origin. Xing Fu Tang, arguably Taiwan’s biggest milk tea place, boasts long lines everyday, no matter if it’s day or night. Their classic brown sugar milk tea is unmatched, and makes drinking milk tea here in the Philippines seem so futile. Just across Xing Fu Tang is also Taiwan’s very own Hot Star, home to the biggest chicken chop you’ll ever have, which I’d say, is a perfect meal if you partner it with some Xing Fu Tang.
In the depths of Ximending’s many alleyways is the hotpot craze, which is also big in Taiwan. Local restaurants such as Risotto, an adorable dog-themed cafe, and JSP, a wallet-friendly breakfast heaven, provide authentic Taiwanese cuisine with their own twist.
Shilin Night Market, aside from affordable shopping, also has a street food scene for the books. The combined aroma of stinky tofu, takoyaki, potato balls, and oyster omelettes will not only stick to your clothes, but also your heart.
Culture
Urbanized areas can always bring the worst in people brought about by the smoke, noise, lights, pressure, and all that comes with a city, but the sprawling metropolis that is Taipei hasn’t removed its warm smile despite being one of the busier economies in the world. Taiwanese people are some of the friendliest people I have met, and even with that, their efficiency in their daily work and lives is amiable.
Taiwan, particularly Taipei, has a laid back feel to it and has got to be one of the most livable cities in the world if not for its relatively higher prices in foreign brands and some local products. Standing back and just spacing out at times, I’ve observed that everyday life here has the faint feel of an anime, given the heavy influence of the Japanese with a hint of Korean.
Amidst the festive feel sandwiched between Christmas season and Chinese New Year is also election season for Taiwan. Taiwan’s biggest geopolitical challenge, its sovereignty and democracy from cross-strait neighbor China, has always been a cause of tension in the economic and political scene of the nation. Taiwan is caught up in a battle of David and Goliath, but it’s managed to still remain as one of Asia’s biggest tigers fueled by the people and all their democratic power. Expressing support for the Hong Kong protests, being the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, among others: Taiwan is definitely doing it right. While it is still true that Taiwan doesn’t have Disneyland, nor anime, nor K-Pop, nor snow, what it does have is an irrevocable and electric identity unique to that of its Asian neighbors.
It’s easy to overlook Taiwan, but the thing with Taiwan is that it prides itself off of being overlooked.
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