Ben's Guide to Taipei and Taiwan

Taroko National Park / 太魯閣國家公園 / Tàilǔgé gúojiā gōngyuán Taroko is one of the must see sites in Taiwan. Winding along a mountain pass on one side the cliff goes straight down to the river and on the other side straight up. This is definitely at minimum a weekend trip, but a long weekend would be more realistic. Free camping was available, although this may have changed. In 2005 sites were available with parking, wooden tent platforms, and toilet facilities. The only thing missing was hot water. Also in 2005 the hotsprings were closed indefinitely after falling rocks killed and injured visitors. Taroko is an excellent site to drive if you have a car. If you are more adventurous, you can take the train and then rent a motor scooter. Depending on which shop you go to, you may or may not have a problem renting without a Taiwan driver's license. The closest larger city is Hualian. This is where many people stay and do day trips into Taroko. They have all of the necessities and luxuries

The Asiaworld Plaza is on the north-east corner of Dunhua N. Rd. and Nanjing E. Rd. (敦化北路南京東路口). Shops include IKEA Le blé d'or Brewery / Restaurant The Outback Steak House Located nearby: Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill The Shannon Silver Spoon Thai Restaurant Municipal Stadium Nanjing East Road MRT Station

Carrefour (家樂福 jiā lè fú) has many locations throughout Taipei and Taiwan. Partial List of Locations (Tealit) Partial List of Locations (Forumosa) Official site in Chinese Locations: Song Shan District , San Min Rd. No. 160, Near the Minquan East Rd. intersection / 三民路160號, 民權東路口 Sānmín Lù 160 Hào, Mínquán Dōng Lù Kǒu Tian Mu , Shi Lin District, De Xing West Rd, No. 47, Near the Fu Guo Rd. intersection / 德行西路47號, 福國路口 / Dé Xíng Xī Lù 47 Hào, Fúguó Lù Kǒu RT Mart is another hypermarket found throughout Taiwan.

Dan Ryan’s Grill serves western food. The service and quality is ok, but the food is nothing special and it is more expensive than average. I found Dan Ryan's to be very comfortable but not memorable. The closest MRT Station is Nanjing East Road MRT Station on the Brown-Muzha Line. Go East on Nanjing Road and then turn right (South) on Dunhua Rd. It is about a ten minute walk. It is next door to The Shannon and across the street from Asiaworld Plaza and the Municipal Stadium. They have bar and restaurant seating. Location: Dunhua North Rd., No. 8 / 敦化北路8號 / Dūnhuà Běi Lù, 8 hào just South of the Nanjing East Rd. intersection Map (see the Shannon) Go to main Pub listing page

Costco: Neihu Branch Taipei City, Neihu District, Jiu Zong Road, Sec. 1, No. 168 / 台北市, 內湖區, 舊宗路, 一段, 268號 Directions from Central Taipei: Going East on Minquan East Road, cross the Minquan Bridge and turn right. There is a gas station at this corner. Take the second right and you will see Costco on the right hand side. Telephone: (02) 8791-1030 ext. 2 (English) Costco: Zhonghe City, Taipei County Branch This is on Zhongshan Rd. near the intersection with Banan Rd. Website (in English) Map and Address Longer List of Locations Maps to Costco

B&Q Hardware Stores (特力屋 té lì wū) are located throughout Taipei and Taiwan. They have most any tool or material you will need for home improvement projects. If you have 220 volt electronics from another country you should be able to find power transformers here. Official Website (Chinese Only) Store Locator with Maps (Chinese Only) Longer list of Locations B&Q Hardware Store, Neihu Branch: Taipei City, Xin Hu 3rd Road, No. 23, B1 / 台北市, 新湖三路, 23號 B1 F / Xīnhú Sān Lù 23 Hào B1 Directions from Central Taipei: Going East on Minquan East Road, cross the Minquan Bridge and turn right. There is a gas station at this corner. Take the second right and you will see B&Q on the left hand side. Telephone: (02) 8791-1030 ext. 2 (English) B&Q Hardware Store: Tianmu/Shilin Branch: Taipei City, Shilin District, Jihe Road, No. 258 / 台北市士林區基河路258號 Telephone: (02) 2889-1000 ext. 2 (English) Edit 9/2007: List of B&Q locations island wide provided by B&Q: Region

IKEA is located in the Asiaworld Plaza on the north-east corner of Dunhua N. Rd. and Nanjing E. Rd. (敦化北路南京東路口). Delivery is also available through Ikea. In case you have been living in a cave IKEA sells semi-disposable furniture and kitchenware. There is another IKEA branch in Xinzhuang City, Taipei County. It is on the riverside just across the Dahan Bridge from Banqiao. The cafeteria here is very nice with a view of the river.

All Hypermarkets such as Carrefour and RT Mart have a grocery section. In general these are the best balance between convenience and finding what you want. Wellcome Supermarkets are found throughout Taipei, and will have certain staples but the selection is not impressive. The exception is the branch at the Miramar in Neihu. This branch has more imports and a better selection in general. There are some specialty grocery stores. Most well known is Jason's Market with a branch in the basement of the Taipei 101 shopping center. They have another branch in Tianmu in the basement of Dayeh Takashimaya Dept. Store, Zhongcheng Rd., Sec. 2, No. 55 忠誠路二 段 55 號 . They have probably the best selection of hard to find western food items. Needless to say, some of their products are expensive. They also have a decent selection of wine and beer . There is a small specialty grocery store in Zhonghe. Another specialty grocery store is the City Super located on Dunhua S. Rd. near the Fareas

3C 燦坤 (càn kūn) This chain sells computers and consumer appliances. They are found throughout Taipei and can be distinguished by their yellow sign with black lettering. Their website is in Chinese only: http://www.tkec.com.tw

There are probably places in Taipei City where you can find specialty foods, but if you live in Yonghe or Zhonghe then this will be an option for you. Near the Yongan Market MRT and the Zhonghe park there is a small grocery store selling specialty items including spices, liquors, and Mexican ingredients such as tortillas, sour cream, salsa, and jalapeno peppers. Some items have clearly come from Costco but there are other items you will not find elsewhere. 中和市 宜安路118巷14號 Zhonghe City, Yi-an Rd, Lane 118, No. 14 Zhōng hé Shì, Yí-ān Lù, 118 Xiàng, 14 Hào

Located in northern Taipei with easy access from the MRT. Take the Danshui-Red line to Jiantan Station. The Shilin Night Market is one of the bigger night markets in Taipei, It will have a lot more selection and variety but it is often extremely crowded. See also: Wikipedia

This night market is on Linjiang Street (臨江街 Línjiāng Jiē) which connects with Keelung Rd. near the Keelung Rd. / Guangfu S. Rd. intersection . It is not the biggest night market, but has everything you expect to find at one.

One of Taiwan's international chains for western comfort food. You know what to expect, but that's the idea. The official site for Taiwan (in Chinese only) They have several locations in Taipei county as well as locations in Taichung (Taizhong) and Hsinchu (Xinzhu). Taipei City Branches: Dunhua Branch Dunhua N. Rd, No. 150 台北市敦化北路 150 號 營業時間：週日至週四 11:30 ～ 24:00 (Sunday through Thursday) 週五至週六 11:30 ～ 01:00 (Friday and Saturday) See Map Zhongxiao Branch Zhongxiao E. Rd. Sec. 4, Lane 49, No. 2 台北市忠孝東路四段 49 巷 2 號 營業時間：週日至週四 11:30 ～ 24:00 (Sunday through Thursday) 週五至週六 11:30 ～ 01:00 (Friday and Saturday) World Trade Branch Keelung (Jileng) Rd, Sec. 2, No. 7 台北市基隆路二段 7 號 open from 11:30 until 24:00 daily Chung Ching Branch 台北市重慶南路一段 94 號 open from 11:30 until 23:30 daily Ximen Branch 台北市武昌街二段 72 號 2 樓 open from 11:30 until 24:00 daily Miramar Branch 台北市敬業三路22號2樓 (美麗華百樂園購物中心2F) open from 11:00 until 24:00 daily Yong Chun Branch Zhongxiao E. Rd. Sec. 5, No. 297, 2F 台北

Grandma Nitti's tastes so shitty. This place is a trap for Shi Da students who don't want to wander to far off the campus. The food was not that good and was expensive by local standards. I would have been better off at one of the local breakfast shops. Grandma Nitti's Kitchen is located on Shi-Da Road, Lane 93, #8 . The telephone number is 2369-9751-2. They are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. see also: http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=4382

Night markets are a great place to try some of the truly local dishes. You can pick up cheap clothes, DVDs, and just about anything else. Here are just a few of the night markets you can find in Taipei: Hwahsi Night Market (Snake Alley) Linjiang Night Market South of Xinyi Rd on Keelung Rd. near the Guangfu South Rd. intersection . Shilin Night Market North Taipei with easy access to the MRT. Ximen Night Market