Tiger Tales

Taipei

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September 2011 | Words SCARLET MA

• INSIDER TIP

  Convenience stores

  Taiwan has the world’s densest distribution of convenience stores – exceeding even Japan. There are more than 10,000 such stores in Taiwan and the number is growing.

• SHOP TALK

  Wufenpu

  There’s no better place to shop for clothes than Wufenpu district, located at Houshanpi Station. With hundreds of small boutiques, Taiwan’s biggest wholesale garment market has just about every item imaginable and at very low prices. Be prepared to bargain.

• CHEAP EATS

  Hot Place

  Yakitori restaurant Hot Place serves the city’s best grilled meat on skewers. Must-tries include its grilled wild rice stems, whose texture is similar to bamboo shoots but which taste fresher and sweeter.

• TOP TABLES

  Yu Shan Ge

  Yu Shan Ge rivals the best Japanese kaiseki (multi-course dinner) spots but with one difference: it’s a vegetarian eatery. That said, even meat lovers will be charmed by the mushroom steak.

• AT YOUR LEISURE

  Yangmingshan National Park

  October is the best time to hike in Yangmingshan National Park. Start at Hsiaoyukeng and head for the gas fumaroles, then hike up Mount Chihsing, Taipei’s highest peak. The views are spectacular.

• LATE & LIVELY

  Underworld

  Underworld is one of the oldest and edgiest live music venues in Taipei and plays host to local alternative and indie-rock bands. Located in a college area, it’s popular with the cool kids.

• OVERNIGHT

  Home Hotel

  Soft launched already and with its official opening set for October, Home Hotel prides itself on being a truly made-in-Taiwan accommodation. Every visitor is offered an orientation session on Taiwan's culture and attractions and can attend weekly culture workshops.