Taipei is one of China’s most visited destinations. It is the home of Taipei 101, once considered as the tallest building in the world. The tower alone and its 101 stores are more than enough reason to visit Taipei, but there are lots of reasons why you must include this dynamic destination in your must-see list.
If you can’t afford to spend a lot of money shopping in those luxury stores in Taipei 101, don’t worry. There are lots of affordable places in Taipei where you can stretch your vacation budget, as well as budget hotels in Taipei where you can have everything you need without blowing out all your money.
• Night markets
If you are looking for cheap food and cheap shopping, then you should visit the various night markets that Taipei has to offer. One of the most popular night markets is the Shihlin Night Market, where lots of tourists go to have their fill of affordable but delicious Chinese chow as well as stuff they can bring to their friends back home. Another excellent night market is Keelung, known for its wide selection of cheap but yummy food products.
• Cheng Pin Bookstore
Book lovers will surely love Cheng Pin Bookstore, which sells different books from all over the world. You can relax in one of the store’s chairs and spend the whole night reading a great book. The book store is open 24 hours a day.
• Jiu Fen
This town, located at the top of the mountain, was used as a backdrop for the Maggi Cheung-Tony Leung hit movie. Situated on the outskirts of Taipei, it used to be a mining town and can only be accessed by riding the only bus that goes into the place. Jiu Fen has lots of charming tea houses where you can sit, relax, and tell stories. The experience of drinking tea high up the mountains is definitely worth your time and effort to go to Jiu Fen.
• Karaoke Lounges
If you are up for a night of singing and good food, then you must visit some of Taipei’s karaoke lounges. There are lots of them surrounding the hotels in Taipei, so finding one won’t be a problem.