Don'T Be A Tourist! 12 Unique Things To Do In Taipei

Published On : 02 Sep 2024

Beyond the usual tourist attractions, Taipei, the busy city of Taiwan, has a multitude of unusual events. From off-peak events highlighting the city's unique appeal to hidden jewels and cultural treasures, Taipei welcomes guests to discover its less-known side. Here are 12 unusual activities in Taipei that can enhance your trip and leave you with lifelong memories, regardless of your level of experience or just want to stray off the route.

1. Explore Huashan 1914, Creative Park

Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a dynamic center of invention and creation built inside a historic brewery complex, lies right in the middle of Taipei's Zhongzheng District. This cultural hub is a refuge for both artists and art lovers as it features independent stores, creative events, galleries, and hip cafés. Wander through its evocative hallways lined with street art and sculptures, go to a theatrical performance or art class, and let Taipei's modern art scene sink in.

2. Dine at a Modern Toilet Restaurant

Enter the eccentric universe of Modern Toilet Restaurant, where patrons eat food presented in tiny toilet bowls from toilet-shaped chairs. With multiple outlets across Taipei, this specially designed restaurant offers a funny eating experience equal in weirdness and entertainment value. Savour Taiwanese comfort cuisine like hot pot, noodles, and ice cream desserts, all served with a whimsical twist ensuring a unique dinner unlike any other.

3. Visit the Treasure Hill Artist Village

Discover the quiet calm of Treasure Hill Artist Village, a community-driven arts venue tucked away in Taipei's Gongguan District, away from the urban bustle. Originally a military dependents town, this hillside community has evolved into a refuge for artists with galleries highlighting modern artworks, vibrant murals, and art installations. Discover its meandering lanes, engage with local artists, and go to seminars honoring community spirit and innovation.

4. Take a Dip in Beitou Thermal Valley

At Taipei's Beitou District's natural hot spring, Beitou Thermal Valley, experience nature's restorative effects. Surrounded by rich vegetation and providing tourists with the chance to bathe in its therapeutic waters, this geothermal hot spring is well-known for its steaming blue waters and high sulfur concentration. Although swimming in the thermal valley itself is not allowed, surrounding public hot spring spas and resorts provide a leisurely haven where you may rest and rejuvenate among breathtaking natural surroundings.

5. Explore the Dalongdong Bao'an Temple

Enter Taipei's rich religious legacy at Dalongdong Bao'an Temple, a striking illustration of classic Taiwanese temple construction. Constructed in the 18th century, this Taoist temple honors the healing-possessed Taoist god Baosheng Dadi. Admire the complex stone sculptures on the temple grounds, colorful roof tiles covered with legendary animals, and deft wood carvings. See local worshipers performing customary rites and ceremonies to provide a window into Taipei's spiritual practices and cultural legacy.

6. Stroll Through Jianguo Weekend Flower Market

Stroll Through Jianguo Weekend Flower Market Experience Jianguo Weekend Flower Market, a hive of activity every Saturday and Sunday next to Daan Forest Park, Taipei has a rich floral legacy. Sort among aisles of booths bursting with fresh flowers, potted plants, bonsai trees, and tools for gardening. The market is a sensory thrill with its vivid displays and aromatic blooms, regardless of your level of gardening interest or just appreciation of the beauty of flowering flowers. As a keepsake of your trip, gather a bouquet of Taiwan's native orchids or unusual local flora.

7. Cycle Along Taipei's Riverside Bikeways

Riding along Taipei's picturesque riverfront bikeways can help you see the city from another angle. Rent a bike and tour paths such as the Tamsui River Bikeway or Keelung River Bikeway, which provide gorgeous views of the city skyline, verdant parks, and ancient sites along the riverbanks. Stopping at riverfront cafés and parks to unwind and absorb Taipei's peaceful surroundings, cycle by cultural sites such as Dadaocheng Wharf, Beitou Hot Springs, and Taipei's famous bridges.

8. Attend a Taiwanese Puppet Show

At a Taiwanese puppet show—a cultural event combining narrative, music, and deft puppet manipulation—immerse yourself in the ancient puppetry art of Taiwan. Puppetry Art Center of Taipei and Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company are two puppet theaters in Taipei that provide shows using vibrantly colored puppets created from bamboo, fabric, and wood. See talented puppeteers bring old stories and legends to life, therefore providing a fascinating window into Taiwan's creative talent and cultural legacy.

9. Visit the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan

At the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, an enchanted museum devoted to little art and craftsmanship, enter a universe of little marvels. This museum, which is housed in Taipei's Zhongshan District, has a large collection of painstakingly constructed tiny homes, rooms, and settings developed on a small scale. Admire exquisitely detailed copies of ancient structures, fanciful fantasy realms, and daily events faithfully and creatively depicted. The displays of the museum highlight the creativity and meticulous attention to detail defining Taiwan's small art legacy.

10. Explore the Yehliu Geopark

Venture beyond Taipei city to Yehliu Geopark, a geological paradise along Taiwan's northern shore. Yehliu Geopark, well-known for its unusual rock formations created over thousands of years by wind and sea erosion, allows visitors to marvel at natural sculptures like the famous "Queen's Head" boulder. Wander around the waterfront paths of the park to get amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and structures like the Sea Candles and Fairy Shoe.

11. Shop at Taipei's Underground Malls

Discover Taipei's large subterranean retail malls and arcades to escape the heat or rain and provide a different shopping experience away from the busy streets above. Underground retail centers like Taipei City Mall and Zhongshan Metro Mall cover large networks of linked halls dotted with stores, boutiques, and restaurants. Discover everything from stylish clothing and accessories to gadgets and Taiwanese souvenirs, all conveniently situated under Taipei's main business areas and transit centers.

12. Experience a Tea Tasting Ceremony

Experience some of the best Taiwanese teas in a calm environment by exploring Taiwan's tea culture via a customary tea-tasting ritual. See Taipei's tea houses and cultural centers, like Maokong or Jiufen, known for their tea farms tucked away among undulating hills and breathtaking scenery. Discover the craft of tea making, from methods of preparation to the cultural value of many tea varietals including green, oolong, pu-erh, and herbal tea. While learning about Taiwan's rich tea-growing legacy, savor the tastes and smells of its world-class teas.

Conclusion

Taipei calls visitors with its unique mix of creative creations, cultural customs, and natural beauties much beyond the usual attractions. Taipei has a variety of unusual experiences just waiting to be unearthed whether your interests are in avant-garde art at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, amusing cuisine at Modern Toilet Restaurant, or puppetry history of Taiwan. Go off the usual route and welcome these 12 unusual events to find the hidden treasures and energetic vibe of Taiwan's fast-paced metropolitan center. Your trip throughout Taipei seems to be an amazing experience full of natural beauty at every turn, creative inventiveness, and cultural diversity.

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