A
short hop across the East
China Sea leads you to the
cosmopolitan and culinary
mecca of Taipei, a perfect
spot for a family getaway. A 90 minute
flight from Hong Kong, the route is
serviced by four different airlines with
flight and hotel options to suit all budgets.
Access is also helped by the lack of visa
restrictions for many foreign nationals.
The best time to visit Taipei is between
September and November, where warm
temperatures make for comfortable
sightseeing. The monsoon season
stretches from June to August and is
probably best avoided.
Here’s how my daughters (ages seven
and four) and I filled the perfect 48 hours
in Taipei over a long weekend in May.
Saturday
Whilst the short flight to Taipei’s Taoyuan
International Airport was a breeze,
the subsequent one-hour queue in
immigration wiped the smiles off our
faces (we weren’t the only ones taking
advantage of the public holiday!). Luckily
the Central Business District was only 25
minutes by taxi from the airport. We were
soon ensconced in the welcoming luxury
of the Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza
Hotel. I had chosen the hotel for several
reasons: fond memories from a romantic
minibreak about nine years ago, and the
rooftop pool and jacuzzi. A swimming
pool is always a great tool to bribe your
kids into doing some sightseeing!
Our room was spacious and modern
with stunning views over the city.
Dominating the skyline is the gargantuan
Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in
the world standing at 508 metres. After
a quick swim (clocking up the bribery
points), we ventured out into the city
and hopped on the Taipei Metro (MRT).
The MRT is cheap, clean, efficient and
signposted in English. We were headed
to the Southeast area of the city,
home to Taipei Zoo and the Maokong
Gondola. Having had our fill of pandas
in Ocean Park and Chengdu (another
recommendation for a weekend away),
we decided to miss the zoo and head
into the hills. At over 4km in length, the
Maokong gondola is the most fun way
to access the Muzha tea plantations. To
avoid queues, ride the gondola in the
late afternoon and forgo paying extra for
the glass bottomed gondola. Once at
the top, the atmosphere is tranquil and
the scenery beautiful. Winding paths
lead you to wooden teahouses nestled
amongst the trees. We loved the food
carts that lined the roads offering up
countless tasty local snacks. There are
opportunities for hiking, but with young
kids in tow and a sudden downpour, we
cut short our visit and headed back into
the city.
Taipei is famous for its night markets
and street food, and that night we
chose Lingjian Street Market, as it was
the closest to our hotel. We feasted on
local sausage, dumplings, fried chicken
and refreshing shaved ice, only to be
dragged back to the hotel by two tired
little girls demanding their beds.
Sunday
After a scrumptious buffet breakfast
at the hotel, we took a taxi to the
Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall. This is an
impressive monument to Taiwan’s former
President. Be sure to time your visit for
the hourly changing of the guards in the
Memorial Hall, an amazing exercise in
precision footwork!
We then jumped into another taxi to
the beautiful Longshan Temple. Founded
in 1738 by Han immigrants from Fujian, the
temple has survived countless typhoons
and bombings. Walking through the
complex is a colourful experience,
observing worshippers and admiring
offerings shrouded in wafts of incense.
Taipei Expo Park, in the northern
part of the city, is home to the Fine Arts
Museum. Although there is an admission
fee for the main part of the museum,
the Children’s Art Education Centre
on the basement floor is free. This is a
fun, interactive space with intriguing
exhibits to stimulate young minds. A short
walking distance from the Arts Museum
is the Taipei Children’s Amusement
Park. The cheap rides, free playground
September 2016
69
