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Taipei Travel

TAIPEI Spring 2020 Vol.19

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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!
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