• Eat out: Taiwan is a gourmet paradise, and Taipei is the best place on earth to taste a full range of cuisines from mainland China, as well as some local delicacies.

• Join in the celebrations for one of many festivals taking place in the capital, and gain an insight into the island’s culture. The Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival are all colourful affairs that really bring the streets to life.

• Attend a glove puppet show: these shows, which feature finely wrought puppets with gorgeous costumes, are popular with all ages, and great to break the language barrier.

• Soak in a hot spring: Taiwan’s volcanic past has left abundant reserves of geothermal energy all over the island, and there are over 100 hot mineral springs scattered around the island, many of which are in the Datun Mountains of the Yangmingshan National Park.

• Gawp at jars of pickled snakes and demonstrations with live pythons at Taipei’s Huahsi Night Market, known locally as Snake Alley.

• Dive or snorkel in the waters around Green Island, off the southeast coast: there are splendid forests of corals to admire, and, what’s more, visibility is good all-year-round here.

• Try paragliding: Taiwan’s precipitous terrain and steady winds offer perfect opportunities for hang-gliding and paragliding at all skill levels. Green Bay on the North Shore and the Luye Plateau in Taitung County in the southeast offer inspiring scenery to boot.

• Hike in one of Taiwan’s many national parks, or climb Yu Shan (Jade Mountain), at 3,952m (12,966ft), the highest peak in North-East Asia. It is the symbol of Taiwan’s spirit and a favourite target for mountain climbers.

• Shop for unusual souvenirs: malls and markets alike have plenty of exciting goods on offer, among them bamboo wares, paper umbrellas, aboriginal handicrafts, glass art, candied fruit and, of course, tea.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

© 2006 Columbus Travel Publishing Ltd. Disclaimer

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