Bicycle Trekking in Taipei…What a fun day

Bicycle trekking anywhere can make for a fun day. Taipei is no exception. There is so much to do and see. On a bike you are out in nature and not closed up in a car. It is easy to see everything! You can quickly move to the side. It is easy to stop and take pictures. Just make sure you get completely off the road. There are beach paths for cyclists as you go around different areas of the island. There are mountains to pedal and villages to visit. You do not need to venture far from the city, to see a new world. There are monkeys and parrots to see. Bicycle trekking is the way to see Taiwan for those with the energy.

In Taiwan there are many museums and national monuments. Bicycle trekking makes them easy to get to. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei Taiwan is a must see. The grounds are beautiful, the view excellent, and if you are there at the right time…..watch the changing of the guard. What a fun experience. Lock your bike and climb the stairs…….it is an experience of a life time.

Continue your bicycle trekking to Taipei 101. Take the elevator up to the top for the most amazing view. I do know what you can not see! It was the most fascinating view. It seemed almost like you saw half of the island. The city of Taipei from that many stories in the air is beyond fantastic. Stop by for desert in the restaurant. The food was amazing! The service excellent. The atmosphere was out of this world.

The next stop in your bicycle trekking experience is really close by. Xiang Shan or Elephant Mountain has hiking and bike trails that will not disappoint. The trail is well-marked in Chinese and English. It is always busy. It is easy to follow others. It will take 15-20 minutes to climb the stairs that lead to the first viewing platform. They can be moderately steep. If you happen to arrive in the evening, you are in for a surprise. What an amazing night view of Taipei city.

Maokong Gondola is another amazing spot over Taipei. You will want to continue your bicycle trekking and maybe make a brief stop at the Taipei Zoo. The zoo has some of the best aviaries around. From there it is about a 30 minute ride to the Gondola terminal. The ride can be exciting and scary at times. You go so high and then descends so sharply. The view is absolutely astonishing. While on the mountain why not have tea and read a good book?

While in Taipei be sure to visit the National Palace Museum. It is a perfect next stop on your bicycle trekking tour. Be warned, it is a busy Museum. The whole city seems to be there most days. These treasures were brought out of China before the cultural revolution. What an amazing variety of artifacts. No pictures are allowed and cameras must remain in their bag. This is one of the best museums in Asia. There are huge Chinese collections and Taiwanese artifacts.

Be sure to begin each day at a morning market and end it at a night market. There you will experience the culture of the island. The food is amazing! The people some of the friendliest. So what are you waiting for? Pack up your bike or rent one there. The choice is yours. Taiwan adventure is waiting in Taipei. What an excellent place to begin your bicycling trekking experience.

Published on steemit.com@exploretraveler April 30, 2017 at:

https://steemit.com/travel/@exploretraveler/bicycle-trekking-in-taipei-what-a-fun-day

Taipei, Taiwan: “Good Feng Shui Rotates,”

Taipei, Taiwan is the city of change. There is a Chinese proverb that says:”Good Feng Shui Rotates.” This is true of Taipei, as the best of the city seems to change each time you arrive. There is so much to do in and around Taipei! It is good to plan several days and then you will just scratch the service.

Almost a constant for first place is the Lungshan Temple. It is located near the Danshui River west of the city. The building is over three centuries old and accommodates several Buddhist gods, including the goddess of mercy. Rich and poor come here to pray for protection and wellbeing. The temple is seldom empty, but on the 1st and 15th of every lunar month it is extremely busy. Be sure and notice the intricate hand carved details on this building. The temple has been restored and is a historical building in Taiwan. Fill your plate with Taiwanese history at the Lungshan Temple.

Be sure to take a walk along the underground shopping street in the Lungshan Temple MRT station. There are many quaint shops on this lower level shopping area. You will also see many fortune-tellers along the street. Temples and fortune tellers play a large role in Taiwan. Both the temples and the fortune tellers shape the culture of this island nation. In Taipei you will notice that every district has its own temple on the coroner.

In the same area is Snake Alley. You will find it on Huaxi Street. This is one of the strangest of the night markets. It is a very unique market with lots of living history. Snake meat, snake soup, and shots of snake blood are sold here. You might want to be careful what you buy! Years ago it was the location of the famous red light district and a place for gangsters. Now it is a modern night market and a tourist destination.

The Taipei 101 is always a top tourist location. Taipei 101 has 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. The architecture of the building is modern and has much symbolism. It has one of the best views in the city. It is in the Xinyi District of Taiwan. There is an awesome restaurant in the building. It has the best desert bar and it is so good. Taipei 101 is a tourist’s delight! Check out an earlier article on Taipei 101. http://explore1.wpengine.com/taipei-101-taiwan/

Eat local while in Taiwan. A personal favorite is the Beef Noodle Soup. You will find it all over Taiwan in every night market. There is also many variations of a Vegetable Soup. It is delicious! Another awesome dish is the Hot Pot! You can choose what you want in it and it is cooked at your table. Many people seem to like the bowls of Vermicelli Noodle Soup with oysters or braised pork intestines. It is topped with black vinegar, garlic and coriander. It also can be found in any night market. I personally did not try this local delicacy, but from the looks of the lines, it is a favorite.

Here is an earlier article on the Hot pot. http://explore1.wpengine.com/hotpot-taiwanese-style/?doing_wp_cron=1421945819.0956850051879882812500

For a look at the Night Market: http://explore1.wpengine.com/taiwan-night-markets/?doing_wp_cron=1421946505.9046499729156494140625

For ease of movement in Taipei, there are bikes for rent all over the city. Check out the website for more information. www.youbike.com.tw The MRT Train will get you most places you need to go and there are also city buses. https://guidetotaipei.com/article/taipei-mrt-rapid-transit-subway-%E5%8F%B0%E5%8C%97%E6%8D%B7%E9%81%8B

That is todays top five things to do in Taipei. But things rotate in Taipei and tomorrows list would be different. There is so much to see and do in Taipei. Make this the year you discover Taipei. Pack your bags and grab your passport. There is excitement waiting in Taipei, Taiwan.

Exploretraveler.com