First stop: Mengjia Longshan Temple
Mengjia Longshan Temple is in Wanhua District. The temple itself was put up in 1738 by settlers from Fujian. It served not only as a place of worship, but also as a community gathering place. As such, a lot of early Taipei civic identity may owe itself to this temple, and the area immediately surrounding it. Like most Taiwanese temples, this one is devoted to a mix of deities from Chinese folk religion and Buddhism, including Guan Yu, Mazu and Guanyin.
Ximending is a shopping district and neighborhood in the Wanhua District. It was the first designated pedestrian zone in Taiwan. Ximending is also a major flashpoint (the major flashpoint, perhaps) for Taiwan street fashion and various other subcultures. There are a lot of people here window-shopping for their Japanese pop culture fix. Plenty of clubs and bars in the area for when you need to sit down with a brew.
Third Stop: The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum might be the top tourist destination in Taipei. It houses many Chinese artifacts, most brought from Beijing by the Nationalist Government during the Sino-Japanese wars. When the Nationalists lost the Chinese civil war, the artifacts never found their way back to Beijing.
A visit to the museum is a good way for Taipei first-timers to understand Taiwanese culture and history. The entrance fee is 160 NTD at time of writing, and 80 NTD for students with IDs. The museum is in Shilin District.
Fourth Stop: Shilin Night Market
Perhaps the most famous shopping area in the city, Shilin Night Market is a one-stop shop for tourists. From souvenir items, to clothes and shoes, to Taiwanese food and novelty eats – you want to check it out at least once.
Milk tea shops are ubiquitous, and massage parlors aren’t spread far apart, so tourists who are tired of shopping have spots available to relax. The prices in most shops are not fixed so haggling is a skill that will be useful here.
Fifth Stop: A Hot Spring in Beitou
Tired of walking around Taipei? Make a break for the hot springs in Beitou District to unwind. With over thirty resorts in the area, the district is a place where locals and tourists both come to relax.