I spent
my year-end and new-year holidays in Taiwan. It was my first visit there in
about 20 years.
Taipei’s
development in the last two decades is remarkable (just like other major cities
in East Asia).
Skyscrapers
and modern buildings have been built. The towns have been cleaner. Taiwan’s
national flags are displayed in Songjian Street and many main streets.
Ximen
district, which used to be an old commercial district, has converted into
modern fashion town.
Nearly
10 subways have been open after 1996. Operation information of the trains is provided
properly in the displays in the platform. People’s manner is good.
I found
various goods from Japan, Korea, China and other Asian countries in convenience
stores (Seven Eleven, Family Mart, Hi Life and other stores). It showed the
integration of regional economy.
The city
is spreading outward. New residential areas are being developed in Muzha
district, south east outskirt of Taipei.
Old and
traditional life remains. Motorbikes are everywhere. Roadsides of Zhongxiao Streets,
Zhongshan Street, both locate in the very center of the city, and many other
streets are used for parking spaces of bikes.
There
are hundreds of open air markets. Some of them, including central Taipei’s Zhongzheng
market, remain old atmosphere. Some markets have been renovated.
Several markets
are open in the night and attract not only local people but also foreign
tourists.
I
visited Shilin’s night market in the northwest district of the city. It is
Taipei’s largest night market. Hundreds of shops and restaurants were there.
The streets and buildings were very crowded. I enjoyed teppanyaki, a grill made on an iron plate.
People
in shops and restaurants were working very hard.
People
mainly celebrate a lunar new year (in February this year) in Taiwan. But some
small celebrations were made on January 1st.
Many
people were gathering in Longshan Temple and Xingtian Temple. New-tear lanterns
are decorated over Siping market.
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