TAIPEI ZOO. The largest city zoo in Asia and home to Yuan Zai the panda. The zoo was originally founded in 1914 by a Japanese citizen as a private zoological garden, and after the ROC relocation to Taiwan became a public zoo under the Taipei City government. YuanZai is the first giant panda cub born on Taiwan.
MAOKONG. Widely known as the most scenic spot in Taipei to drink quality, locally grown tea, Maokong is a quaint village located at the top of a mountain providing breathtaking views of Taipei City. Tea aficionados will enjoy Maokong for its wide variety of teahouses and high quality selection, while others looking for a relaxing break from the busy city can sit back with a cup of tea and nice dinner, all while taking in the beautiful views of Taipei.
RAOHE NIGHT MARKET. One of the oldest night markets in Taipei, it is the epitome of a traditional Taiwanese night market, this 600 metre path along Raohe Street in Songshan District is packed with fun and interesting night foods and snacks, quaint shops and stalls, and carnival games with prizes.
Day Two (Nov 19)
YEHLIU GEOPARK. Yehliu Geological Park resides within a cape 1.7km long and is home to some of the most famous eroded rock formations in the world. Both a museum and scenic attraction, the Geopark offers extensive information on the natural geological processes that created these rock formations. Many formations have been given names representing their shapes, such as the “Mushroom Rocks”, “Sea Candles”, and “Fairy Shoe”. The most iconic rock is the “Queen's Head”, which, true to any noble monarch, only reveals its majesty when viewed from the proper angle.
BEITOU. Beitou is a mountainous district in the north of Taipei City, Taiwan. It’s known for its hot springs and natural green spaces. The Beitou Hot Spring Park is home to open-air hot springs of varying temperatures. In the park, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, the site of the former public bathhouse, is built in a Euro-Japanese style. Thermal Valley's basin of steamy, sulfurous waters can be viewed from observation decks
SHILIN NIGHT MARKET. Shilin Night Market is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan, and is often considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city.
Day Three (Nov 20)
ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN. Elephant Mountain is the most popular spot for the stunning views of Taipei, especially Taipei 101. The hike up Elephant Mountain (at least to the rocks and second overlook) is quite steep, but there are stairs the whole way and the view is definitely worth it. Once you reach the six rocks, you can climb up on them and see stunning views of Taipei 101 and the rest of the city.
TAIPEI 101. Formerly known as Taipei World Financial Center is a landmarksupertall skyscraper in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building was officially classified as the world's tallest in 2004, and remained such until the completion of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. In 2011, the building was awarded the LEED platinum certification, the highest award according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and became the tallest and largest green building in the world.
TAIPEI MAIN STATION. Originally opened as Taipei Railway Station in 1891, the complex is one of the most popular meeting places in Taipei City. The area surrounding the station is primarily a commercial district very popular with tourists, students, and commuters as Taipei Main Station is the primary interchange station for the city.
