Hyatt hotel

101 & HYATT
Originally uploaded by dans.photo.

Hyatt is the choice for a tad more conventional traveller. Hyatt can be reached easily and it is surrounded by the most prominent shopping district in Taipei. No need to worry though because crossing the street to neighbouring block will take you into more traditional surroundings and street vendors' realm.

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel
Originally uploaded by Shenghung Lin.

Taipei the capital of Taiwan has numerous hotels where you can stay while visiting Taiwan. The Grand Hotel is perhaps not the most convenient place to stay but it can give you an instant feeling of something orient. After you get yourself climatized you can venture deeper in to Taiwanese and Chinese culture.

Not just natural attractions

Shin Kong Hualien Ranch 新光兆豐農場
Originally uploaded by Mandycheng.

Taiwan's tourism industry is heavily emphasizing local tourism. These are the people to whom various services are created. International tourists in Taiwan also benefit from these services.

As you can see, Taiwanese appreciate natural beauty, but it is not just natural, also accomodation becomes an experience worth remembering.

Taiwan, Switzerland of Asia

南澳 Nanao, a small and beautiful village in eastern Taiwan, June 2004.
Originally uploaded by avant1997.

As you can see, Taiwan is an island of contrasts.

Beautiful natural spots

March On, Swan Lake
Originally uploaded by stevegan.

Distances in Taiwan are very short. This means that it is quite easy to reach any tourist spot on the island. Therefore many natural attraction locations have well-developed tourist services. Taiwan is especially good place for older tourists, because of this convenience.

Natural beauty

HDR
Originally uploaded by 詠潔.

This picture has what makes Taiwan such a special place. This tiny island has huge cities, sea, mountains and forests. You can get up in the morning in city center hotel, have your lunch by beach and spend the evening on the mountains, listening to the insects.

Markets

IMG_0652
Originally uploaded by jfk2pvg.

Taiwan is full of shopping streets that do not have any particular organization. These streets just come to life by organic development - somebody has a shop and then competitor opens up just next door. This process then continues until everybody knows that if you want to buy cheap fashion products you should go... where?

Street side restaurants

中和南勢角 Chunhe NanXhih Jiao
Originally uploaded by Hedger Wang.

Here is a typical scene from Taipei. Restaurant bursts out to the street during the opening hours. Next to the restaurant can be scooter repair shops, small retail shops, temples or dentist's office. As night falls, tables and chairs gather back to the shelter of the building. Next day repeats the cycle and on and on it goes.

Taiwan technology shoppers' paradise

DSC01438.JPG
Originally uploaded by goudaman.

Street level shops are full of various gadgets. Western traveller is often in situation, which one doesn't know what all these technical miracles are for.

Normal traveller will notice that prices seem to vary a lot, but that is just for show. Every vendor is willing to cut their price to make a sale, but you have to be cunningly clever while digging out the real price level.