Taipei is notoriously hectic, versatile, not cheap but charismatic. More than seven million people live in Taiwan's capital, attracted by the allure of the city always on the move. Taipei is teeming with people, cars and smog and is a veritable concentration of liveliness. It is not a relaxing place but the food is great, the people are friendly and there are many interesting things to see. What's more, it is a perfect crossroads between Chinese, Japanese and generally South-East Asian culture with great influences and legacies from the American one. A melting pot, in short, of habits and trends all to be discovered. At first impact, the uncontrolled urban development can be intimidating, but with a little time and patience, the logic behind the city's layout will become understandable. Those unable to read Chinese characters may have difficulty, however, as the alphabetical transcription system (called the 'Wade-Giles' method in English-speaking countries) would disorient anyone.
What to see and do in Taipei
Taipei is a veritable open-air museum, with 300 years of history to discover. There are Taoist temples, the National Palace Museum with its 5,000 years behind it to visit during a city tour. But it is also a place that has found its culinary vocation in street food. Eating out here is a real experience. And not only for visitors but also for locals, who often do not have (or at least do not use) home cooking in favour of lunches and dinners in typical restaurants. It is cheap and tasty, which is why the cuisine in Taipei is so famous.