Taipei Travel

TAIPEI — A CITY FULL OF FAMILY FUN We’re a fortunate bunch, those of us who call Taipei home. Though the capital is every bit a sprawling, urban metropolis, it somehow retains the spirit of a family-friendly little burgh. From the public transportation network allowing quick and easy travel to every corner of the city, to kid-friendly restaurants, to everyday life itself, there’s hardly anywhere you can’t take the whole gang. And for this family-themed issue, we could think of no one better than popular blogger Kathy Cheng (Tricky Taipei) to share her top picks for family-oriented activities in our beloved hometown (or home away from home, as the case may be). Also, in case it wasn’t obvious enough from the heat, summer is here! Some may be scrambling for anywhere with air conditioning, but why limit yourself to the indoors when there is so much to do outside? From temple visits to tea tastings, and parks to museums, we’ve got family-fun day trips for days in the pages ahead, leaving the adults spiritually satisfied, and the kids wonderfully spent. Summer doesn’t just mean skyrocketing temperatures. It also means it’s time for one of the most visually spectacular and gastronomically fulfilling holidays of the year — Dragon Boat Festival. Not only is this the time to watch the dramatic and colorful dragon boat races, but it’s also the holiday when one of Taiwan’s most beloved treats, zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, are enjoyed by the ton. Also, speaking of things enjoyed by many, why not check out our feature on Taiwan’s traditional toys? Whether you’re looking to try out the diabolo, or wanting to try your hand at making your own D.I.Y. bamboo gun, this informative and fun-filled piece is for you. During this season of family togetherness (the kids are out of school, after all), it’s a great time to be reminded that there are many in Taipei for whom family is their highest priority. We’ve spent the lead-up to the hottest months of the year getting to know some of the hottest trendsetters when it comes to fashion, literature, and traditional folk arts. We’ll bring their stories of how family has influenced them in their varied pursuits to you in our features on Maison Temps-Rêves, a store specializing in picture books, the Shadow Legends Drama Group, who keep the tradition of shadow puppetry alive, and Ángeles Studio and Shop, a boutique with one-of-a-kind designs for children (and parents) of all tastes and types. All this running around the city will no doubt work up an appetite. Whether you’re a true gourmand or just looking for something the kids won’t turn up their noses at, flip through to our story on Taipei’s best family-friendly restaurants, places where the food is fresh, activities for the kids are aplenty, and the prices are more than fair. Be sure to leave room for dessert, too, as our guide to the top desserts of the summer season will leave you salivating. So, as you can see, Taipei is a city that welcomes visitors of all ages. And whether you’re a kid, or just a kid at heart, this is a place that will always take you in with open arms.

Notes from a Taipei Spring Spring has sprung in Taipei, a time of constant change and renewal. For this issue, celebrating the fairest of all seasons in the Taiwanese capital, we here at TAIPEI are showcasing the rich diversity of our city, a quality that can be experienced in innumerable ways by those who pass through our quaint back alleys and bustling thoroughfares. For the travel section, we’ve designed five specially-themed tours curated to let you experience Taipei in several different ways. With themes like food, outdoors, relaxing, LGBTQ-friendly, and culture, visitors can appreciate this unique place from a myriad of perspectives. For flower afficionados, the spread on flower viewing in spring — prime time for those who like to literally stop and smell the azaleas (or calla lilies and hydrangeas) — is your guide to the best gardens, mountainside vistas, and parks for experiencing the floral magic of Taipei. For cyclists, we present a few different bike tours that will have you checking out the different districts on two wheels. Retail therapy fans, take warning — our feature on shopping in the glitzy East District may test your credit card limit. Spring is also the season of religious festivals, when the many temples of Taipei abound with the joy of polytheistic revelry, and we’ve got your guide to a few of the main godly shindigs happening around town. Moreover, traditional acrobatic performances are often a big part of those celebrations, so we also sat down with some key figures from the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe to get a behind-the-scenes look at how this storied artform continues to amaze in modern times. Diversity in Taipei also means fostering an inclusive society, where people from around the world of any race, faith, and sexual orientation feel completely at home and at ease. TAIPEI spoke with NGOs working toward achieving such an environment for the tens of thousands of Southeast Asian migrant workers in the capital, an Imam who has witnessed the history of the Islamic faith in the capital, and a loving couple, two dads, who recently celebrated the first anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. And finally, everyone knows Taipei is a paradise for food and drink lovers. So, we’ve put together a roundup of the best and brightest from the beverage scene, above and beyond the usual bubble tea. What’s more, we’ve secured the services of a renowned chef, who will provide all the culinary secrets to success in making some of Taiwan’s most treasured dishes — featuring spring ingredients, of course! Bon appetit, and welcome to spring!