Taipei - Asia's popular destination

Taipei 101 / Courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau

By Kim Jae-heun

TAIPEI ― Taipei is a rising tourist destination in Asia.

In 2015, the city ranked 10th on the most popular tourist cities by MasterCard.

A total of 7.4 million people visited the city, edging over other tourist destinations such as Bali, Shanghai and Sydney.

The city nowadays attracts tourists mostly from Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea in that order.

The 101-floor landmark skyscraper Taipei 101 is Taiwan's No.1 tourist attraction.

The former Taipei World Financial Center stands 509.2 meters tall in the popular business district of Xinyi.

It was the world's tallest building until 2010, when the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was completed.

Taipei 101's observation decks are visited by many tourists who look at the spectacular views of the city. Its outdoor observatory is 8.4 meters taller than the indoor deck.

“The building glows in light of seven colors in the evening. The colors coincide with the days of the week. For example, on Mondays, the color is red. On Tuesdays, the color is orange. On Wednesdays, the color is yellow. Today, the building glows blue, so it's Friday,” said Paul Ou, a Taipei resident who has been living in the country for over 30 years.

The Longshan Temple / Courtesy of Taiwan Tourism Bureau

The Longshan Temple is a must-visit destination for Buddhists.

Located in the city's Wanhua District, the venue is the oldest and the most visited temple in Taipei. It was built in 1738.

One interesting scene in the temple is people throwing two long wooden sticks and two small pieces of wood in the air.

Worshipers ask a question to God in their mind and throw them.

Then, they receive a paper according to the number written on the wooden sticks and bring it to the interpreter there, who will explain their fortune, or God's answer.

“You have to ask a specific question to receive a precise answer. For example, if you ask when you will be able to meet your future wife or husband, the interpreter will not answer. You have to ask a question like if the person you are meeting currently is the right one to marry,” Ou said.

Another historical site is Bopiliao Historical Block nearby the Longshan Temple.

The place is home to some of Taipei's oldest buildings.

“Some of the buildings in Taipei have been influenced by Japanese architectural design. Taiwan has fewer bad feelings about Japan than Korea does, despite Japan's colonization of Taiwan during the 19th century. We believe Japan has helped us push out the Qing Dynasty and modernized our country,” Ou said.

Hiking ― beloved activity

Riding a bike or jogging around the city's parks are definitely popular outdoor activities for Taiwanese.

Hiking is perhaps the most-beloved activity that many locals and tourists enjoy.

Xiangshan, better known as “Elephant Mountain” in English, is the most-visited site for hiking in Taipei.

The mountain is only a 15-minute-walk from the country's landmark, Taipei 101, in addition to the city’s largest five-star hotel, Grand Hyatt Taipei.

Many residents and tourists in the city visit the mountain due to its close proximity to their homes and hotels.

The mountain is also only 183 meters high, and its hiking trail is about 1.5 kilometers long.

It does not give any pressure or burden on people who do not want to waste too much energy or time hiking.

“Many people hike Elephant Mountain because of its close proximity to the city. Also, the course is short, so people can enjoy hiking it comfortably,” said Paul Ou, who has been living in Taipei for more than 30 years.

“I often hike with my son on my days off. It takes only 20 minutes to reach the top.”

The mountain is a popular tourist attraction for foreigners as it provides great views of Taipei 101 and downtown.

Watching the sunset in the evening from the top of the mountain is a mesmerizing experience too, according to Ou.

The name Xiangshan comes from the mountain's elephant trunk-like shape.

It is one of the four “Beast Mountains” along with Lion, Leopard and Tiger mountains that comprise the Nangang Mountain System.

“Taipei is surrounded by mountains. We like to hike. It is a great place to look at the beauty of our nature,” Ou said.

Tourists can either walk or take the city's subway to get to hiking trails.