escape
D
Revel in Taipei’s newfound urban culture as the city celebrates its centennial year.
eep, dark, and mysterious,
the sensuality of Taipei exists not in the elusive way it has reinvented itself, but with the charms of its urbannature dichotomy. For a city once known for cheap electronics, it has now embraced it’s urban destiny, arching itself high with skyscrapers and a sultry dynamism in the language of its streets. As the city celebrates its centennial year, let’s revisit our favorite spots.
1.
Taipei 101 Much of the city, and its adjoining districts, references itself to Taipei 101—room values are computed against the view of the skyscraper, each new building adjusts to be able to catch a glimpse of this once tallest building in the world (now the 2nd). With commercial
stores at the podium level and offices midway, there’s a certain thrill in the air as you step inside the lift that goes zooming from the fifth floor to the 89th floor in just 37 seconds.
2.
Fine cuisine Taipei is
starting to be known as a food city, offering delicacies from stalls in night markets to Michelin-worthy fine dining restaurants. One such place is YEN Chinese Restaurant on the 31st floor of W Taipei where classic Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes are served in its snazzy interiors. With high ceilings and French-style windows that overlook the streetscape, the transparent compartment at the middle complements all design elements to enhance the dining experience.
3.
Food haven
Check out Din Tai Fung, the legendary xiaolongbao (steamed dumplings) that started with a small store in Xinyi Road, which is still in existence today. Now with branches in over 10 countries including the United States and Australia, there’s nothing like
186
METRO / october 2011
10 things
we love about
Taipei
What was once a place known for cheap electronics is now a sensual, vibrant city that fuses nature with modern life Text and photographs by Geolette Esguerra trying out these dumplings in the place where it all began. Ming Fu in Zongshan district is another such gem, and with just six tables, the line outside stretches far for locals who want to savor their famous “monk jumps over the wall” consommé, sautéed fish with onions, and red crab fried rice. For the adventurous, visit the small stands in front of the Longshan Temple that sell minced pork rice cake, ginger flavored braised lamb
soup, or savory and sweet pancakes unique to the city.
4.
Art If you yearn for art and culture, you must see Taipei’s National Palace Museum located in Shilin District. The collections are at par with those of the Louvre, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, earning its place as one of the four best museums of the world with its 677,687 pieces of ancient
october 2011 / METRO
187
escape
Chinese artifacts and artworks that span more than 8,000 years of Chinese history.
5.
Even after sunset, Taipei’s city streets become a bustling haven for late night shopping or a quick night cap.
Streetscapes Much his-
tory is hinged on specific streets, like Xinyi road that houses not only Taipei 101 and Din Tai Fung, but also the new icon of cosmopolitan Taiwan—W Taipei Hotel. Opening just this February, this design, music, and fashioncentric hotel from the Starwood Group chain is the largest luxury hotel in the city, decorating the skyline of Taipei with its contemporary design that fuses nature with urbanity. This centrality in merging modern life with nature or ‘nature electrified’ is the narrative of W Hotel as expressed in artworks such as The Chain, a stainless steel chain installation at the main entrance to symbolize the anchoring of the property to the city, Purple Target which represents the hotel’s locale right in the heart of Xinyi, and our favorite, To Light You Fade, which is a panel of dancing lights that mimic your movement.
6.
Night market If you
think you’ve seen most of what night markets can offer, you’ll be surprised at the bells and whistles that come with the 10 or so night markets in Taipei alone. The market in Raohe, built beside the Ciyou Temple in Songshan district, has more than a hundred
7.
Subculture
A quick exit from the metro would take you to the pedestrianized streets of the Ximending district, and right then and there you’ll find yourself among a sea of people—mostly young, hip, and raring to seek out the next exciting thing—amidst the magicians taking in volunteers, jugglers performing with blades, dancers and traditional singers beltExhibit at ing their heart out. It’s Huashan Creative Park. an experience unlike any other, especially since this district has been touted the “Harajuku [or] food stands with clothing stalls Shibuya of Taipei.” on the side for variety. On the other hand, a trip down Hwahsi street market is a bravery test as Creative parks Hisyou get to see a fare of snakes (yes torical preservation meets it’s legal to eat snakes here), turtle contemporary art is the theme blood, and more. Another popular for Huashan Creative Park, market is the one in Shilin which which was once part of a winery is considered the biggest in the built in 1916. As the winery city with hundreds of food court complex changed functions (from stalls, side streets, and alleys lined office building to workplace), it with store fronts. was turned into a cultural and
Fly Away to Taipei
8.
creative park that offered artists and writers venue to develop their creations.
9.
Cafés and bookstores You don’t have
to count sheep to cure your insomnia with one of Eslite Bookstore’s branches that’s open 24 hours a day. This shop, located in Dunhua South Road in Daan district, has become a sanctuary for the young and hip. Another hip hangout place is the black and white interiors of PPAPER Café, located right next to the PPEPER Shop, the homestore of a local magazine.
10.
Nightlife While partying in Taipei might not be as frenetic as what we’re used to in Manila, the idea is to ‘see and be seen’ around in lounge bars, such as Woo Bar in the W Hotel—a stylish lounge by day and a pulsating club at night. Marvel at the steel sculptures by German artist Hans Schule dangling over your head as you sit in their plush sofas, lychee cosmopolitan in one hand, and what used to be a Woojito on the table.
Cebu Pacific flies daily from Manila to Taipei for the lowest year-round fare of P1,999, up to 78 percent lower than other Philippine carriers. Cebu Pacific offers the lowest fares in all the destinations it flies to. Passengers from Taipei can avail of these trademark low fares and connect from Manila to 33 other domestic destinations, including Boracay, Puerto Princesa and Cebu. Aside from Taipei, Cebu Pacific also operates to 15 other international destinations, including Beijing, Busan, Shanghai, Osaka, Bangkok, Brunei, and Jakarta. It has the most extensive route network in the country, and is the only Philippine low-cost carrier to fly to all three major North Asian countries of South Korea, Japan, and China. For bookings and inquiries, go to www. cebupacificair.com or funtours.cebupacificair.com or call (02) 702-0888.
188
METRO / october 2011