Discover Hidden Travel Routes in Taipei – 6 Celebrities Share Their Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences

▲ Ryou Café. (Photo / from the Facebook page of hi, Ryou Café)

By Chen Rui-zhong, Taipei

To uncover unique ways to experience Taipei and allow more people to explore the city’s charm, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism launched the “Create Your Own New Way to Experience the City” campaign on February 25. The initiative called on creative individuals to design a one-day itinerary that showcases the best of Taipei. The event also featured sharing sessions with nature writer Liu Kexiang, cellist Chang Cheng-chieh, and HAO Days founding editor Huang Weirong, who revealed their favorite hidden spots in the city. Chang Cheng-chieh also performed a segment of Bach’s unaccompanied cello suites on-site, using music to express Taipei’s vibrancy and energy.

▲ (From left) Liu Kexiang, Taipei City Tourism Bureau Director-General Chien Yu-yan, Chang Cheng-chieh, and Huang Weirong share their favorite hidden spots in Taipei. (Photo / by reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

During the event, Liu Kexiang shared his recommended one-day itinerary along Zhongshan North Road in Taipei. He recalled how he once took Ko Wen-je on an exploration of Shuanglian Market and the eateries and shops around Zhongshan MRT Station, as well as the creative and Japanese-style goods stores within the area — all of which left a deep impression on Ko. Liu also noted that local specialties such as braised pork rice, round dumpling soup, and sliced noodles at Shuanglian Market, along with Japanese-style shops and izakayas along Kujiu Street, offer a unique glimpse into the old city district of Taipei.

Huang Weirong recommended that visitors head to Taipei’s southern districts to experience its bohemian-style coffee culture. Notable spots include Ryou Café near Taipei Electric Power Building MRT Station, Jizhouan on Tong’an Street, and second-hand bookstores along Roosevelt Road — all of which exude a literary atmosphere and allow visitors to immerse themselves in Taipei’s hipster lifestyle through their decor, collections, and ambiance.

▲ Chang Cheng-chieh uses Bach’s unaccompanied cello suites to convey his impression of Taipei.

Having just returned from Vienna, Chang Cheng-chieh said that when he first came back to Taiwan 25 years ago, Taipei felt chaotic and polluted. But as the city has developed, it has transformed into a wonderful place. Chang used music to describe different aspects of Taipei: the early morning atmosphere at the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall feels as fresh as Grieg’s “Morning Mood” from Peer Gynt; Yongle Market resembles the lively overture of Johann Strauss II’s “The Gypsy Baron”; scenes around Longshan Temple and Xingtian Temple are akin to Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”; listening to Bach’s D minor Toccata for organ at the National Concert Hall is a breathtaking sonic experience; and the hot springs of Beitou and Yangmingshan, just 30 minutes from downtown, offer a serene, Mendelssohn-like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” serenity. All these experiences allow visitors to explore Taipei through the lens of music.

According to the Department of Information and Tourism, aside from the three celebrity speakers, the event will also feature travel bloggers, food writers, and tree experts including Gong Tou Jian, Wen Shikai, and Chen Jianyi, who will share their unique perspectives on Taipei from six themes: love, food, urban life, music, culture, and ecology. The first phase of the “Create Your Own New Way to Experience the City” campaign invites the public to submit their own exclusive Taipei travel stories from now until March 19, with voting open from March 25 to April 6. Participants who share their unique journeys stand a chance to win an iPhone 6. Through the inspiration of these experts, the campaign aims to encourage both locals and international visitors to explore the city and discover its surprising and moving hidden facets.