Must-visit places in Taipai and surrounding areas (off off Tokyo): Dec 30, 2013- Jan. 2, 2014

I saw the life of Taiwanese people and the faces of towns during my walks in Taipei (see Life and Town of Taipei). I also visited must-visit places for tourists.

Presidential Office and other government buildings gather in the center of the city. 228 Peace Park locates in the same district.

Taiwan’s complicated history lies behind such facilities. They include the conflict with mainland China (under Communist Party), the Chinese Nationalist Party's takeover of the island in 1949, and  the Party's suppression against local Taiwanese in 1947.

The National Palace Museum, north from central Taipei, shows ceramics, writings, art crafts and other collections from the Forbidden City in Beijing. They were originally the collected by the emperors of Qing dynasty. The Nationalist Party brought them from Beijing to Taipei when they fled from the mainland.

Maokong in the southeasten Taipei is a nature-rich mountain. A ropeway links the bottom and top of the mountain. 

Hiking footways run around the mountain.

Taipei Zoo has collections of butterflies along with many other animals and birds.

Jiufen is about 30 kilometers east from Taipei. It is one of the most famous tourism spot in the suburb of Taipei. It was an old mining town flourished in the early 20^th century, and became a deserted town when the gold was exhausted. It became famous after a famous movie “A City of Sadness” was taken here in 1989.

The village’s small street was over crowded with tourist.