Ben's Guide to Taipei and Taiwan

Toys R Us Xinsheng Branch 台北新生店 地址： 台北市新生北路二段28號1樓(長春路口) Taipei city, Xin Sheng N. Rd, Sec. 2, No 28 1F

I don't spend much time in Xinzhu, but I'll add useful information as I find it. B&Q Hardware Stores (特力屋 té lì wū) Xinzhu City, Gongdao 5th Road, Sec. 2, No. 469 No.469, Sec. 2, Gong Dao 5th Rd., Hsinchu City 30069 30069新竹市公道五路二段469號2樓 Hsinchu Science Park: http://eweb.sipa.gov.tw/en/dispatch.jsp?disp_to=2:15 City Website with Chinese/English street names

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.

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

IKEA B&Q Hardware Stores Costco Warehouse Stores Shopping Malls: Asiaworld Plaza Breeze Center The Living Mall The Miramar T aipei 101 Hypermarkets: Carrefour & RT Mart Computers & Home Appliances Grocery Stores & Supermarkets

The Miramar (美麗華 Měi L ì Hu ā ) is most notable for it's Ferris Wheel. Besides all of the shopping attractions the Miramar has regular movies, Imax, and Imax 3D movies . Movie and Ferris Wheel combos are available. There is a Wellcome Supermarket in the basement which has a better selection than most, it has offerings similar to what can be found in Wellcome's premium supermarket chain, Jason's . The food court has many different options. For casual western dining there is a Le blé d'or Brewery Restaurant and a TGIFriday's . Located North of the the river from central Taipei in Neihu District. No. 20, Jingye 3rd Rd./ 敬業三路20號 / J ì ng Y è Sān Lù, 20 hào Links: Official Website Tourism Bureau Taipei Site Seeing Index

BREEZE CENTER 復興南路1段39號,市民大道口 Fùxīng Nán Lù Shìmín Dàdào at the intersection of Civic Boulevard (Shiming Dadao) and Fuxing South Road No. 39, Sec. 1, Fuxing S. Rd., Taipei 台北市復興南路一段39號 Take MRT to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, then walk 10-min or take Breeze shuttle bus to Breeze Center. http://www.breezecenter.com.tw/ Bellini Tokyo Italian Cafe: This is expensive relative to the quality of the food, which I didn't care for. The food seemed to be Asianed up a bit to suit local tastes so I hope they like it, but I won't be back. They have other branches in Taipei as well.

Living Mall Bade Road, Sec. 4, No. 138, on the North-west corner of Civic Blvd. (Shiming Dadao) 台北市105松山區八德路四段138號 Official Website in English: http://web01.livingmall.com.tw/about.asp?pgid=en0101 map with bus routes: http://web01.livingmall.com.tw/about.asp?pgid=en0109 Restaurant List: http://web01.livingmall.com.tw/about.asp?pgid=en0105 Yakiniku House This is a Japanese barbeque. It is very good as long as you don't mind cooking for yourself. 11 F Bird Taipei Very good Thai restaurant. 11F Lawry's The Prime Rib 12 F, Lawry's is good but it is over priced and over rated. Coyote This is a mediocre nightclub featuring mediocre live music that no one dances to. They do have their own group of dancers that give a performance later in the evening. Cinemark Theater : http://www.cinemark.com.tw/cmspecial.asp Most of the movies shown are English with Chinese subtitles. Their website is in Chine...

Cafe Grazie is a reasonably priced Italian restaurant with reasonalby good food. They have a group special which is ideal for four people. Everyone can choose one entree, 2 appetizers, and either desert or 2 glasses of beer. Total cost is $1430. The branch I went to is located at Linsen N. Road, Sec. 2, No. 247 inside of the Shin Shin Dept. Store. 林森北路, 2 段 , 247 號 Línsēn Běi Lù, èr duàn, 247 hào. This is within walking distance of the Zhongshan MRT.

Taipei 101 and the Surrounding Area For a brief moment in time this is the world’s tallest building . Taipei 101 houses a large upscale shopping mall . Besides the observatory , highlights include the Page One bookstore on the fifth floor. It has one of Taipei’s largest selection of books in English. There is a large food court in the basement which has something for everyone, if you can find a seat. Nearby is a Theater (Formerly Warner Village). This is a large multiplex theater and shopping complex. There are also many other shops and department stores including New York New York, which features a replica of the Statue of Liberty. This is Taipei’s most pedestrian friendly area and doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the city. There are several blocks of pedestrian thoroughfares, and it is one of the few places where scooters and vendors are kept off the sidewalks. This may be because this area is trying to present an upscale image or maybe it’s because it’s next door to Taipei Ci...