41416112http://english.gov.taipei/ct.asp?xItem=138404252&ctNode=8557&mp=100002https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=574C24F23B6E7B5DA Therapeutic Journey to Beitou's Hot Springs[][][][]Taipei City Government41416100https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=52BCC4754D53A06DEast District Alley Art TourIn addition to its chic trendiness, Taipei’s east district also has a deep artistic air. Unique works by artists and designers from around the globe are on display in the many galleries found along the side streets. Drop into as many as you can during a leisurely east-side walkabout, making it an inspiring art tour!<img width="302" height="203" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Plus Belle Arts Bistro" title="Plus Belle Arts Bistro" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Plus Belle Arts Bistro.jpg" />❶ Plus Belle Arts BistroFrom the sun totem on the entrance door, to the lighting fixtures of steel, deep-blue bar, and artworks-adorned walls, this is a place of unique artistic beauty. In addition, the creative cuisine designed by a 5-star hotel chef advisor makes this spot’s great popularity. Add: 1, Aly. 4, Ln. 251, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02)2772-7273<img width="273" height="189" style="FLOAT: right" alt="MB&F M.A.D. Gallery" title="MB&F M.A.D. Gallery" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/MB&F M.A.D. Gallery.jpg" />❷ MB&F M.A.D. GALLERYMB&F M.A.D.Gallery was founded in Geneva, Switzerland. Its sole branch in Asia is in Taipei. In the distinctive black/white space, diverse innovative concepts are used in showcasing unique avant-garde watches and stunning mechanical art installations. These serve as both furnishings and playthings. The stereotype of what a gallery is is overthrown. Add: 1F, 10, Ln. 101, Sec. 1, Da’an Rd. Tel: (02)2775-2768❸ Chi-Wen GalleryChi-Wen gallery was one of the earliest focused on the development of Taiwan new-media art. It cooperates with numerous important Taiwanese contemporary artists, and invites many world-caliber video artists to exhibit their creations. Though not large, the gallery showcases high-caliber artworks, discovering first-rate efforts by many emerging artists. Add: 3F, 19, Ln. 252, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd. Tel: (02)8771-3372❹ Gallery100 Promoting contemporary art, showcasing well-known artists from both Taiwan and abroad, staging exhibits on varying themes. Energetically introducing their works on the international stage, it also serves as a platform for the introduction of world-class creations to the local audience, and for new-generation artists to show off their talent. Add: 13, Ln. 252, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd. Tel: (02)2731-0876<img width="267" height="201" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Cha Cha Thé" title="Cha Cha Thé" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Cha Cha Thé.jpg" />❺ Cha Cha Thé A concept tea lounge/bar opened by well-known fashion house Shiatzy Chen, the styling here is minimalist chic, the air cultured. The walls of Pu-erh tea brick are visually compelling. Cooperating with premium local farms, a wide range of delicate Chinese- and Western-style teas, tea drinks, and tea snacks are offered. Add: 23, Ln. 219, Sec. 1, Fuxing S. Rd. Tel: (02)8773-1818<img width="209" height="293" style="FLOAT: right" alt="Bluerider ART Gallery; papabubble" title="Bluerider ART Gallery; papabubble" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Bluerider ART Gallery; papabubble.jpg" />❻ Bluerider ART Gallery The name of this art space comes from The Blue Rider, an artist group founded by Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky. It showcases European and American works in photography, installation art, graphic art, and other genres. Add: 9F, 25-1, Sec. 4, Ren’ai Rd. Tel: (02)2752-2238❼ papabubble This cute shop sells handmade Spanish-style sweets. All made on-the-spot, the range is thrilling, the colors dazzling, tickling visitors with endless surprises. Add: 15, Ln. 49, Sec. 1, Anhe Rd. Tel: (02)8773-0955<img width="298" height="203" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Nou Gallery" title="Nou Gallery" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Nou Gallery.jpg" />❽ Nou Gallery The focus here is on interdisciplinary, cross-cultural modern art, with a diverse range of genres explored, including paper sculptures, visual works, and new formed paintings. Add: 232, Sec. 4, Ren’ai Rd. Tel: (02)2700-0239[][][][]Taipei City Government41416092http://english.gov.taipei/ct.asp?xItem=113370282&ctNode=8557&mp=100002https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=A582EF231D15ABC9A Hipster Tour Through an Old Urban District[][][][]Taipei City Government41416080https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=B313E54B2AD57889Taipei's Beautiful Mountains--Exploring the City's Hilly Surroundings<img width="361" height="242" style="FLOAT: right" alt="This city has mountains on all sides; to enjoy Taipei’s abundant natural delights, simply hop on the metro system. (Photo courtesy of Lin Hiroshi)" title="This city has mountains on all sides; to enjoy Taipei’s abundant natural delights, simply hop on the metro system. (Photo courtesy of Lin Hiroshi)" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/2015 Hilly_1.jpg" />The city of Taipei is surrounded by mountains, and nature sits right on its doorstep, easily accessible via public transport. This has made the hilly environs one of the city’s key attractions. North from Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) and south to the area of Zhinan Temple (指南宮) and Maokong (貓空) on Erge Mountain (二格山), there are five mountain ranges around the city – the Datun Mountain Range (大屯山系), Qixing Mountain Range (七星山系), Wuzhi Mountain Range (五指山系), Nangang Mountain Range (南港山系), and Erge Mountain Range. To enable hikers to experience the full range of Taipei’s mountain beauty, the city government has established a network of 20 hiking trails.Taipei’s Backyard Garden – Yangmingshan National ParkYangmingshan, or Yangming Mountain, was originally called Caoshan (草山), or Grass Mountain. Back when the Japanese controlled Taiwan, they planted black pine, Taiwan acacia, and Taiwan sweetgum trees throughout the area and developed the local hot springs, opening up Yangmingshan for tourism. Its original name was changed in 1950 to honor the Ming Dynasty (明朝) scholar Wang Yangming (王陽明), and in 1985 Yangmingshan National Park was established. Its beauty and easy accessibility has made the park a much-loved leisure and recreation destination, affectionately dubbed “Taipei’s backyard garden.”Yangmingshan is rich in flora and fauna. The annual Yangmingshan Flower Festival is a great visual feast, the exuberantly colorful azaleas, Taiwan cherry blossoms, and Zhuzihu (竹子湖) calla lilies delighting visitors. Come October, huge swathes of white-flowered silver grass sway with the breezes, and the branches of the late-fall maple trees ripple with red leaves. Winter is a time of cold and drizzle, the Yangmingshan world becoming one of cloud and mist. The differing characters of the seasons make it a unique place to enjoy both flowers and hot springs.The First Hiking Route – Guizikeng Hiking TrailGuizikeng Hiking Trail (貴子坑親山步道), in the Datun Mountain Range, was the first hiking trail developed by the Taipei City Government, and features a first-rate rest and leisure area with camping facilities, the Water and Soil Conservation Education Park, and a loop trail up the mountain above. The two camping areas, the “100 Terrace” (100平臺) and the “110 Terrace” (110平臺), offer a distinctive leisure experience. According to Shia Shiantung (夏賢統), section chief of the Industrial and Trail Section (道路步道科) at the Geotechnical Engineering Office (大地工程處) in the city’s Public Works Department (工務局), by visiting the Guizikeng Water and Soil Conservation Education Park (貴子坑水土保持教學園區) you can see the oldest geological stratum in the Taipei area, the “Wuzhi Mountain Stratum” (五指山層), as well as an attractive pond in which the lush greenery of the surrounding trees is reflected. As you stroll in this peaceful mountain setting you may well encounter bamboo partridge, Chinese bulbul, and other birds, including the occasional eagle hovering high in the blue sky.<img width="378" height="191" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Rich in different flora and fauna, Yangmingshan is affectionately called "Taipei’s backyard garden."/Wuzhi Mountain Stratum Geological Observation Boardwalk." title="Rich in different flora and fauna, Yangmingshan is affectionately called "Taipei’s backyard garden."/Wuzhi Mountain Stratum Geological Observation Boardwalk." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/2015 Hilly_2.jpg" />Fun in Tianmu – Old Tianmu Hiking TrailTianmu (天母) is an international enclave that draws many travelers. Many come especially to try the Old Tianmu Hiking Trail (天母古道親山步道), on the foothills of the Qixing Mountain Range. Many are also surprised that Tianmu still has such a radiant and unspoilt natural landscape. Also called the Shuiguan Road Trail (水管路步道), it was developed during the Japanese era (1895-1945) as a conduit to bring spring water from the 3rd Water Source Zone down to Tianmu and Shilin. Declared an official city heritage site in 2004, this is Tianmu’s premier heritage attraction and also Taiwan’s first “water supply system heritage site”. Built over 80 years ago, it was completed in 1932, and although the flow from the water source has lessened over the years and there is no way to increase the supply, the facility continues to provide a portion of Tianmu’s water. The trail is bordered on both sides by dense foliage and shade, and the large, black water pipe beside it, made of high-pressure cast iron, is 647 meters long. Walkers often lean up close to the pipe to listen to the gurgling spring water inside. The distinctive pipe, pleasant forest cover, and attractive trailside plant life such as ferns and giant elephant’s ear make for a soothing walk, but also an introduction to Taipei’s water-resources.<img width="405" height="186" style="FLOAT: right" alt="Yangmingshan’s Zhuzihu Industrial Road bursts with brilliant clusters of cherry blossoms./There are two camping sites along the Guizikeng Hiking Trail, named the “100 Terrace” and “110 Terrace.”" title="Yangmingshan’s Zhuzihu Industrial Road bursts with brilliant clusters of cherry blossoms./There are two camping sites along the Guizikeng Hiking Trail, named the “100 Terrace” and “110 Terrace.”" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/2015 Hilly_3.jpg" />Mountains and Scenic Beauty – Jiantanshan Hiking TrailThe Grand Hotel (圓山大飯店), with its resplendent Chinese palace-style exterior, has been in operation for over 60 years. Among its many celebrity guests over the years have been international film stars Elizabeth Taylor and Alain Delon and US President Dwight Eisenhower. The hotel’s own star continues to shine bright on the international stage. Splendid views of the beautiful hotel can be had from on high by walking the Jiantanshan Hiking Trail (劍潭山親山步道), which starts at the bottom of the hillside behind. This is one of the most popular trails in the Wuzhi Mountain Range, with a well-preserved natural ecology. Traversing what was once a military control zone, another major feature is a number of abandoned military facilities. Up on the crest, the scenery is splendid, with expansive views over the Grand Hotel, nearby riverside parks, and the Miramar Ferris Wheel (美麗華摩天輪). The best-known facility along the trail is the Old Place Plane-Spotting Platform (老地方觀機平臺), presenting a thrilling panorama of aircraft taking off and landing at Taipei Songshan Airport (臺北松山機場).A Restful City Idyll – Nature Walks by Hushan StreamIf you’ve ever enjoyed the views over Taipei from Xiangshan (象山), be sure to try the Hushan Hiking Trail (虎山生態步道), also in the Nangang Mountain Range. In April and May each year fireflies put on a show around the area’s Hushan Stream (虎山溪). Beside Songshan Zhenshan Temple (松山鎮山宮) is a special butter fly viewing area with a boardwalk and two observation platforms, from which there are great views of Taipei 101 and the Miramar Ferris Wheel as well. On clear evenings during firefly season the scenery here is breathtaking.<img width="241" height="284" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Tianmu’s Shuiguan Road Trail is Taiwan’s first “water supply system heritage site.”" title="Tianmu’s Shuiguan Road Trail is Taiwan’s first “water supply system heritage site.”" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/2015 Hilly_4.jpg" />The Popular Erge Mountain System Route – Zhinan Temple Maokong Hiking TrailBetween Taipei Zoo Station (動物園站) and Zhinan Temple Station on the Maokong Gondola (貓空纜車) system is the Zhinangong Maokong Hiking Trail (指南宮貓空親山步道), divided into three routes. The Zhinangong trail (指南宮步道) was constructed during the Japanese era. The stone lanterns set up along the way give it a strong Japanese feel. The stairway trail brings you up from valley floor to the mountainside temple, where the magnificent architecture is a major attraction. Also well worth seeing is the lovely “May Snow” seen along the Dacheng Hall Trail (大成殿步道) when the tung trees bloom each year. Along the Tea Promotion Center Trail (茶展中心步道) are stream views, tea plantations, terraced fields, and other scenic beauties. A special attraction are the pot holes; the name “Maokong” literally means “cat’s hollows,” because the pot holes in the stream-bed rocks reminded people long ago of imprints left by cats with their paws.<table width="200" border="0"> <tr> <th scope="col">Information</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Yangmingshan National Park Administration Headquarters 陽明山國家公園管理處 Add: 1-20, Zhuzihu Rd., Yangmingshan (陽明山竹子湖路1之20號) Tel: (02)2861-3601 Website: http://english.ymsnp.gov.tw/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&gp=0&Itemid=104</td> </tr></table>Pink Cherry Blossom Greets the Returning Spring in Taipei’s Mountain Regions<img width="373" height="273" style="FLOAT: right" alt="The lush surrounding greenery is reflected in the quiet pond in Guizikeng Water and Soil Conservation Education Park./Bishanyan Trail offer beautiful scenery and popular for hiking and viewing flowers." title="The lush surrounding greenery is reflected in the quiet pond in Guizikeng Water and Soil Conservation Education Park./Bishanyan Trail offer beautiful scenery and popular for hiking and viewing flowers." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/2015 Hilly_5.jpg" />As flowers start to open in the returning warmth of spring, in addition to the above-described trails, says the city government’s Shia Shiantung, there are numerous other trails very popular with locals for viewing cherry blossoms, notably Beitou District’s Fengwei Trail (風尾步道) and newly opened Baigong Shanzhuang Trail (白宮山莊步道), which has three routes, Zhulin Trail (竹林步道) in Shilin District, and Bishanyan Trail (碧山巖步道) in Neihu District. While visiting Taipei, head to the hills, and one or more of these favorite mountain spots. Whether for sightseeing or exercise, natural pleasures are guaranteed.<table width="742" border="0"> <tr> <th colspan="2" scope="col">Transportation:</th> </tr> <tr> <td width="414">Hushan Hiking Trail 虎山生態步道 Take MRT Bannan Line (捷運板南線) and get off at Houshanpi Station (後山埤站), then walk along Zhongpo S. Rd. (中坡南路) to Fude St. (福德街), reaching the trailhead by Cihui Temple (慈惠堂) on Ln. 251, Fude St. (福德街251巷) in about 20 minutes.</td> <td width="318">Guizikeng Hiking Trail 貴子坑親山步道 Take MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line (捷運淡水信義線) to Fuxinggang Station (復興崗站). On exiting, turn right and follow the signs to enter the MRT green corridor, then walk to the trailhead. Alternatively, take bus 216 or 218 and get off at MRT Fuxinggang Station or the Xiushan Road intersection stop (秀山路口站).</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Zhinangong Maokong Hiking Trail 指南宮貓空親山步道 Take MRT Wenhu Line (捷運文湖線) to Taipei Zoo Station (動物園站), transfer to bus 236 or 237, get off at National Chengchi University stop (政治大學站), walk in direction of Zhinan Rd. (指南路). After passing NCCU campus entrance, the trailhead is found at Ln. 33, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd. To return, an option is to walk from the Taipei Tea Promotion Center for Tieguanyin and Baozhong (臺北市鐵觀音包種茶研發推廣中心) to the cable-car station beside Sanxuan Temple (三玄宮), riding the Maokong Gondola (貓空纜車) down to MRT Taipei Zoo Station (動物園站).</td> <td>Old Tianmu Hiking Trail 天母古道親山步道 Take MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line to Jiantan Station (劍潭站), transfer to bus Red 5 or 260, get off at Shanzaihou stop (山仔后站), and walk to upper trailhead on Aifu 3rd Street (愛富三街). Alternatively, take bus 220 or 224 to Tianmu stop (天母站), then walk in direction of Tianmu Police Station (天母派出所) to end of Sec. 7, Zhongshan N. Rd. (中山北路7段).</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td>Jiantanshan Hiking Trail 劍潭山親山步道 Take MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line to Jiantan Station and walk to trailhead, or take public bus 203 or 218 and get off at Jiantan stop.</td> </tr></table> [][][][]Taipei City Government41416070https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=279BC0C59C649F93Taipei Walking Tour – How to Read a CityThink you can un<img width="337" height="228" style="FLOAT: left" alt="The guides take visitors to experience true temple culture and the old lifestyles of Taipei." title="The guides take visitors to experience true temple culture and the old lifestyles of Taipei." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/how to read a city_2.jpg" />derstand Taipei after a quick visit to Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, and a night market or two? Not a chance! This big city, founded well over a hundred years ago, has a rich historical and cultural tapestry that demands time to appreciate it properly. Even deeper understanding comes with a professional guide, who can reveal a treasure trove of interesting tales. A good example is a tour of the Dadaocheng community, an area brimming with historical sites and traditional architecture. Its famed Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple (台北霞海城隍廟) is a spot that is sacred for people seeking to find their true love, and during the year a rich repertoire of traditional religious celebrations and other activities is staged, notably raojing (遶境), community inspection processions by deities. To help give foreign visitors a deeper understanding of the Dadaocheng culture, a group of local folk and culturehistory guides set up the Taipei Walking Tour (台北城市導覽) service, and in cooperation with the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government, staged what were called Bump Into Taipei (走讀老台北) guided tours from May through June, with the temple’s raojing as the key focus. The guides also took people through the community’s old streets, to Taipei Confucius Temple, Dalongdong Baoan Temple (大龍峒保安宮), and other attractions. They were a big hit with tourists. Following positive feedback, Taipei Walking Tour has trained more than 20 guides to give tours in Chinese, English, and Japanese. These tours are a continuation of the original program, and have launched in July. The guided tours will be given each Saturday, and will set out from set locations at set times. Participants will be taken through the old quarters of Dadaocheng and adjoining Dalongdong. In addition to an introduction to local religious culture and historical architecture, foreign visitors will enjoy a firsthand look at traditional life and business in old Taipei. The Taipei Walking Tour team is also planning to expand its tours to Zhongshan District, Wanhua District, Qingtian Street (青田街), Yongkang Street (永康街), Xinyi Planning District, and other locations, and will at the same time expand the <img width="337" height="228" style="FLOAT: right" alt="The guides take visitors to experience true temple culture and the old lifestyles of Taipei." title="The guides take visitors to experience true temple culture and the old lifestyles of Taipei." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/how to read a city_1.jpg" />range of tour themes. The guides will also incorporate their own living environments into the design of their tours, creating one-of-a-kind tour itineraries, giving foreign visitors a uniquely personal look at their guide’s home turf. Foreign residents living in Taipei are welcome to join up and receive training as guides; visit the official website for details. The city of Taipei is a huge, living museum. Let’s throw open the doors and step right in, for a good look at “the real Taipei.”[][][][]Taipei City Government41416060https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=B1499C52AF4C1F55Down Shady Lanes--A Leisurely Tour of the Minsheng Community and Fujin Street Area<img width="320" height="216" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Minsheng Community" title="Minsheng Community" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/lane_1.jpg" />Taipei is a city that, at first sight, seems like a forest of tall buildings. Dip into areas behind, however, and you'll find many a small, thriving community. One of these is especially interesting; located in Songshan District (松山區), the Minsheng Community/Fujin Street area (民生、富錦街區) boasts 20 parks, leaf-shaded arteries, stylish restaurants, creative boutiques, and a noticeably slower, quality-oriented cosmopolitan approach to living. And it's all available at the most reasonable prices, making this a cultured urban oasis that calls out for exploration by the budget traveler in the warming days of early spring.A Leafy Street Ramble – A Gentle Start to a New Day A ride on the MRT Wenhu Line starts our day. Get off at Songshan Airport Station and walk along Dunhua Nor th Road (敦化北路) , then turn onto quiet, tree - lined Fujin Street You'll immediately notice that your new surroundings have the calm and cozy ambiance of a small town in Europe, and that this is a place where creative souls have free rein to let their visions blossom. Designe r s and adve r tisi ng studios have flocked here, setting up shop, and a steady stream of film and TV-drama crews come for location shoots. The Minsheng Community (民生社區) originally took shape as a planned residential quarter built by the U.S. militar y, and there's parkland and other green spaces aplenty. Life slows down and spirits calm in this enclave, as you'll quickly find while meandering along the tree-shaded streets. The f rag rance of the th ick fol iage and hea lth - boosting phytoncids awaken and invigorate the senses. Drop in at Fujin Sreet No. 108 (富錦街No.108) for a hearty alfresco American, French or Chinese-style breakfast, in the secluded, leafy courtyard.After breakfast, a pleasant round of art appreciation is in the offing at two quality local galleries. Caves Art Center (敦煌藝術中心) stages oil paintings and DJ Art Gallery (典匠藝廊) focuses on Chinese ink paintings by Taiwan artists, sculptures and ceramics by artists from mainland China and Taiwan; the artwork on display is changed atirregular intervals.<img width="320" height="196" style="FLOAT: right" alt="The leafy courtyard at Fujin Street No.108 offers fulfilling breakfasts./Works from the artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait featured at Caves Art Gallery." title="The leafy courtyard at Fujin Street No.108 offers fulfilling breakfasts./Works from the artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait featured at Caves Art Gallery." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/lane_2.jpg" />Browse Xinzhong Street’s Specialty Shops – WarmHospitality, Contemporary LivingMany of the shops on Fujin Street open toward the afternoon, so if it's still early, a good idea is a stroll toward Xinzhong Street (新中街) , home to anotherfine collection of shops of unique style.<img width="320" height="208" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Sonnentor Café has many modern artworks on display, and the menu can also be said to be a work of art." title="Sonnentor Café has many modern artworks on display, and the menu can also be said to be a work of art." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/lane_4.jpg" />Fen Casa sells daily-use articles, tea, and organic food sourced from around the world, and alsooccasionally offers cooking classes. The name "Fen Casa" is a combination of the name of the proprietessand the Italian word for "home/household." Stepinto Bonjour (朋廚烘焙坊) next door, and you enteran aromatic "bread heaven," the sight of the glossygolden-brown creations emerging fresh from the oveninstantly causes happy pangs of hunger. Among thisbakery's numerous other "hot" sellers are Cannele deBordeaux, Kouign-Amann, and Sea Salt French Balls.Debut (初試啼聲花坊), close to Xinzhong Street, sellsspecial floriculture items and unusual plants, and boththe merchandise and the boutique itself are showcasesof the owner's design ingenuity and the rich creativeenergy that defines the Fujin Street neighborhood.More Fujin Street Originality –Rich in InspirationNoon is now fast approaching, and the healthy meals at laid-back Sonnentor Café (日光大道) beckon. The " Sonnentor" name has its origins as an Austrian organic food and beverage brand, but in Taiwan has morphed into an innovative space blending chic and eco-friendly concepts with a focus on fine foods and modern art. The interior is set up much like an art gallery, with works by contemporary artists on display, and the kitchen provides a wide-ranging and innovative continental European menu that changes with the seasons. Topping things off are colorful sales stands ofthe freshest local Taiwan fruits and vegetables.After lunch head across the street to Xinzhong Park (新中公園) for a postprandial constitutional, soaking in the spring warmth amidst landscaped flower beds and shade-offering trees, watching other folk taking their own constitutionals or going about their leisurely daily business on a bicycle. Another fine choice at lunchtime (or anytime) is nearby Otaru Syphon Coffee (小樽手作咖啡). This café has attractive timber tables and seats, soft lamplight, and a tasty menu that includes a lip-smacking chocolate marshmallow latte, hand-made cookies and biscuits made daily, and a cheesecake that is delectably special. Happiness, you'll find, is found on the way to the bottom of a steaming, aromatic, mellowcup of premium Java.<img width="320" height="212" style="FLOAT: right" alt="Otaru Syphon Coffee provides a great atmosphere for relaxing and drinking coffee./Lane & Trip is a mini-paradise for lovers of bicycling" title="Otaru Syphon Coffee provides a great atmosphere for relaxing and drinking coffee./Lane & Trip is a mini-paradise for lovers of bicycling" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/lane_5.jpg" />The creative shops along Fujin Street begin to open after lunch. Lane & Trip (輪粹生活), a premier choice among local cycling enthusiasts, stocks premium-brand bicycles and accessories from England, Germany, the USA, and elsewhere. Located on the first floor of a former apartment building is Daughter's Café (朵兒咖啡館), the setting for a popular local feature film; movie fans come here in number, as do lovers of coffee. The unusually named 3,co (3,co當代瓷器傢飾) is a place for Taiwan's ceramics artists to show off their creative talent; the wares on show are both works of art and functional items. funfuntown sells smart-looking retro household furnishings, lighting, and objects d'art. funfuntown is a marvelous emporium filled with goodies from many countries; perhaps its most interesting attraction is how it finds new, innovative, and sometimes quite surprising decorative uses for vintageitems laden with history.A Neighborhood that Stays Up Late – Minsheng Community’sFine Foods, Fine StreetscapesAs the sun starts to set, walk by Fujin No. 3 Park (富錦三號公園), enjoying the site of playing kids and this community's happy vitality. It's time now to sit down for a good dinner, and Chieh Yun Hsuan (介云軒), a well-known home-style Shanghainese restaurant, is a great choice. The menu features old-style Jiangzhe (江浙) culinary classics, and the quaint, rustic display cabinets are filled with nostalgia-inducing appetizers. The combination of elegant wooden antiques, warm hospitality, the elegant appetizers, and the friendly atmosphere makes you feel as though you've stepped back into Shanghai in <img width="320" height="210" style="FLOAT: left" alt="Among the ceramic wares at 3,co are superb expressions of minimalist chic./funfuntown sells smart-looking retro household furnishings, lighting, and small design objects." title="Among the ceramic wares at 3,co are superb expressions of minimalist chic./funfuntown sells smart-looking retro household furnishings, lighting, and small design objects." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/lane_7.jpg" />its golden years. The end of the day is nigh, but before heading home there are still a couple of things to do. First, head over to SunnyHills, down Lane 36 of Minsheng East Road, Section 5 (see page 30), to pick up some of their yummy pineapple cakes; these great snack treats are also favorite gifts with the "true taste of Taiwan" packed inside. Then walk over to the 180-degree view deck at Taipei Songshan Airport (臺北松山機場),inaugurated last year, where the attractive seating looks more like sculpture and actually glows at night.From here there are thrilling up-close views of planeslanding and taking off and of the coruscating lights ofthe city beyond.Time to head home now, wherever home might be atthe moment, and savor the day's adventures, your newlystored-away memories – and probably the pineapplecakes you've just bought as "gifts" for others.[][][][]Department of Information Technology, Taipei City Government41416050https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=916A7D5B25E9C19AA Trip Down Clever-Design Lanes<img width="187" height="251" style="FLOAT: left" alt="In the hands of masters, strips of sweet colors are transformed into rainbow-delicious lollipops." title="In the hands of masters, strips of sweet colors are transformed into rainbow-delicious lollipops." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Clever_6.png" />Walk along the streets of the chic-conscious East District of Taipei and people come toward you in endless variation, each man and woman showing off his/her own self-defining style. Their styles declare their needs and desires to the world, with each person a unique personality—as are the personalities of the area's shops, boutiques, and other businesses, where the East District's penchant for creative flair is on full vibrant display. Explore beyond the big venues of the upcoming 2011 Taipei World Design Expo, wandering the east's cozy lanes and alleys in search of the "small venues"—the many intimate shops with their one-of-akind design originality!World Design Expo + Fine Foods = Feast for Body and SpiritIf you want to learn about Taipei life, start with a Taipei breakfast. A simple salad and fried eggs accompany Chinese-style radish cake and/or Westernstyle toast, washed down with a glass of silky smooth pearl milk tea. There—you are ready to start the day! Chun Shui Tang, a teahouse located before Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, is a place with a tranquil Eastern ambiance perfect for enjoying breakfast and the early sun's journey skyward. After your morning meal is done, head into the park to check out the expo displays. The focus at this venue is professional design from around the globe, and there are six showcase areas, including the "In Bliss" Theme Exhibition, International Industrial Design Exhibition, and Interdisciplinary Creative Works on Asia's Cultural Creativity Exhibition. You'll find the creative sparks bursting with abandon at what is billed as the "World's 1st Crossover Design Expo." <IMG width="442" height="134" style="FLOAT: right" alt="Enter Figure 21 and you immediately know this is a place of upscale designer leather goods." title="Enter Figure 21 and you immediately know this is a place of upscale designer leather goods." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Clever_4.jpg" />After feasting on the cutting-edge creative design ideas from bright minds around the world, head back out and walk toward MRT Zhongxiao Dunhua Station for about 10 minutes, then head down one of the busy local alleys for a visit to Paddington Garden for lunch. This cozy spot, tucked away in a lane/alley grid with a strong community feel, was opened by three young Japanese entrepreneurs who wanted a strong international-crossover feel. Have your traditional English pancakes, which in extraordinary fashion comes with the chef's special cheese sauce made with three cheeses and salted butter, and also comes with fresh lettuce and chicken breast meat atop. If you have room, the crispy Japanese-style fried pork chop is also recommended, accompanied by a special-recipe fruit milkshake. This is a happy place that blissfully travels the world ofcreativity without rein, as you shall see.<IMG width="209" height="273" style="FLOAT: left" alt="In the morning, have a tasty, authentic Taiwan breakfast at Chun Shui Tang." title="In the morning, have a tasty, authentic Taiwan breakfast at Chun Shui Tang." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Clever_1.jpg" />Back Alley Treasure Hunts–Looking for One-of-a-Kind Designs After lunch, wander the cozy lanes in search of serendipity. The East District brims with fashionable boutiques and shops, and Zhongxiao East Road's Alley 29, Lane 205, Sec. 4 has been dubbed "Handicrafts Alley" because of its many spots offering eye-tickling handiwork creations found nowhere else.Walk into Figure 21 and you are greeted with the heady fragrance of finely worked leather, the two designer-creators with heads down hard at work at their stations, premises overflowing with handmade leather items in seemingly endless range. Nearby McVing is both a shop and a brand, created by a local who returned home to start something new after time in London studying design, producing handcrafted bags that are both of distinctive character and ecofriendly, and especially popular with the youth set. AtWill is the dream-come-true of two young designers working as a tightly-knit team, with the style spotlight here on rock-and-roll, retro, and ornateness, and you can have your own personalized jewelry made.Just off Handicrafts Alley are a number of shops decorated in chic international and retro style. At 70s Vintage, you can happily immerse yourself in secondhand '70s hippy clothing and accessories, and you'll be joined by a regular corps of devoted vintage-treasure hunters. Opposite is Chaos Punk, a shop open over 10 years now that is fixated on classic UK, US, and Japanese punk and rock. Take your time combing through the rich trove here for that perfect punk-aesthetics trinket that declares "This Is Me!" to the world.Sweet Dreams of Handmade Happiness <img width="202" height="413" style="FLOAT: right" alt="The Eslite Bookstore Dunhua S. Branch sells all sorts of clever small items and artistic wall stickers from around the world./At N.Y. Pizza Kitchen you are indeed presented with authentic Big Apple-style pizza that is generous in both flavor and ingredient quantity." title="The Eslite Bookstore Dunhua S. Branch sells all sorts of clever small items and artistic wall stickers from around the world./At N.Y. Pizza Kitchen you are indeed presented with authentic Big Apple-style pizza that is generous in both flavor and ingredient quantity." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Clever_8.png" />Head over to Zhongxiao E. Rd.'s Lane 216, getting close to Ren'ai Rd., and you come to Au.Dot, which searches diligently around Taiwan and overseas for the best originality from the most creative designers. You'll find innovative household items, artsy merchandise, and much else, with artistic vision attractively brought to the small and useful things needed for everyday living. Two other small outlets are specialists in another sort of sweet thing. The owners at Papabubble are a br ight and sweet sister team who, on their road to making their dream reality, went to study the art of making candy by hand at Spain's famed Papabubble and then returned to Taipei to open their own shop, adding their design flair to create sweets even more novel and cutesy to best match local tastes. They even offer customers custom-made personalized candy treats. At Merry Melody is a warm and inviti<img width="330" height="220" alt="Au.Dot sources creative designs from bright and innovative minds around Taiwan and around the world." title="Au.Dot sources creative designs from bright and innovative minds around Taiwan and around the world." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Clever_7.jpg" />ng place bursting with dolls and toys of wood, specializing in Germanmade wood figures and DIY handmade music boxes. For the music boxes, you pick whichever type of music you like best, the box and base, and the style, creating a rotating, melodious "real" version of the sweet memories you've long stored in your heart.The evening sky is now sneaking up on the horizon, so it's time to head over to N.Y. Pizza Kitchen at the corner of Ren'ai and Anhe Roads for some authentic Big Apple-style pizza. Tuck into one of the big 16-inch editions loaded up with toppings, munching down in the casual American style, and don't forget that you can custom-create your own pizza art, choosing what you desire from the list of cheeses and many other ingredients.<img width="320" height="214" style="FLOAT: left" alt="At Paddington Garden, the Strawberry & Yogurt Iced Milk Shake and Cheese Pot Pancake are among the most popular items" title="At Paddington Garden, the Strawberry & Yogurt Iced Milk Shake and Cheese Pot Pancake are among the most popular items" src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Clever_3.jpg" />After your repast, there is still more rambling discovery ahead. The Eslite Bookstore Dunhua S. Branch is in sight and just steps away, famed among local book-lovers for opening 24H. On the second floor, you can dig into books on design from around the globe, and on the first underground level are a number of shops specializing in handmade designs. There's Treasure Art, a world of home decor by bright designers from Germany, England, France, and Taiwan; there're colorful dolls from the US, handmade pillows from Nepal, India, and at the adorable LanDoLL, and a full range of PD&C Precious Moments DIY decoration materials for handmade books and ceramics—everythingneeded to create your own precious little things. <img width="330" height="220" alt="Merry Melody creates custom-made sweetheart music boxes, both romantic and charming." title="Merry Melody creates custom-made sweetheart music boxes, both romantic and charming." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/Clever_5.jpg" />You've been hard at work playing at leisure all day, and you've earned a good rest. Where should you stay? Hop on the MRT and zip to Taipei City Hall Station, where it's a short walk to the W Hotel, "hand-crafted" by the London design team G.A. Design International, or to Le Meridien Taipei, where contemporary art is the theme and over 700 outstanding works of installation arts are on display. Room designs in both are cutting-edge modernistic, and in your room you can kick back, relax, and pore over the wonderful little trove of novel-design treasures you've collected during the day, experiencing anew the creativity of a city that never ceases finding new ways to enchant the traveler.<table border="0"> <tr> <th colspan="3" scope="col">Information</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Chun Shui Tang (Guangfu outlet) Add: 4, Lane 180, Guangfu S. Rd. Tel: (02) 8773-4501</td> <td>70s Vintage Add: 3, Alley 29, Lane 205, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02) 2711-0385</td> <td>N.Y. Pizza Kitchen Add: 53, Sec. 1, Anhe Rd. Tel: (02) 2775-1582</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Paddington Garden Add: 48, Lane 187, Sec.1, Dunhua S. Rd. Tel: (02) 8771-0967</td> <td>Chaos Punk Add: 2, Alley 29, Lane 205, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02) 8771-0636</td> <td>Eslite Bookstore Dunhua S. Branch (Treasure Art, LanDoLL, PD&C DIY arts and crafts) Add: B1, 245, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd. Tel: (02) 2775-5977</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Figure 21 Add: 1-6, Alley 29, Lane 205, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02) 8771-4498</td> <td>Au.Dot (Taipei Ren'ai flagship store) Add: 9, Alley 2, Lane 345, Sec. 4, Ren'ai Rd. Tel: (02) 8773-7724</td> <td>W Hotel Add: 10, Sec. 5, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02) 7703-8888</td> </tr> <tr> <td>McVing Add: 5, Alley 29, Lane 205, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02) 2559-6402</td> <td>Papabubble Add: 12, Lane 151, Sec. 4, Ren'ai Rd. Tel: (02) 8773-0955</td> <td>Le Meridien Taipei Add: 38 Songren Rd. Tel: (02) 6622-8000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>AtWill Add: 7-6, Alley 29, Lane 205, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02) 2711-4609</td> <td>Merry Melody Add: 19, Lane 170, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd. Tel: (02) 8773-3913</td> <td> </td> </tr></table>[][][][]Taipei City Government41416040https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=D0349603C4038051Taipei’s Blue Highway Tours<IMG style="FLOAT: left" alt="1.You can keep the good-fortune pouch from the Old Man Under the Moon on your person. 2.Bring good fortune to others by fulfilling your vow to bring bridal cake upon your own wishes being granted." title="1.You can keep the good-fortune pouch from the Old Man Under the Moon on your person. 2.Bring good fortune to others by fulfilling your vow to bring bridal cake upon your own wishes being granted." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch66_p6_01.jpg" width="220"/>In legend, Qixi or Chinese Valentine’s Day is the one day of the year when the young Cowherd and Weaver Girl can be together.This is also the day when the God of Love, the Old Man Under the Moon, is at his most powerful. Taiwan folk believe it is fate that brings lovers together, and naturally flock to the Old Man on Valentine’s Day to beseech him to grant a happy fate. Today in Taipei, the Old Man at the Xiahai City God Temple is most renowned and sought out, even bringing overseas travelers to the hopeful goings-on. Xiahai is one of the few local temples to have on-site information in English and Japanese to guide the wondering foreign guests. </<style type="text/css"></style><img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/78_38_01.jpg" alt="Taipei's Blue Highway Tours" title="Taipei's Blue Highway Tours" width="600" height="138" border="0" usemap="#Map" /> <map name="Map"> <area shape="rect" coords="48,32,182,125" href="#" alt="The junk at Dadaocheng is a model of the type of craft used in the commercial trade in imperial days."> <area shape="rect" coords="187,20,309,120" href="#" alt="Ferry is a good way to take in some of the enticing scenery of the rivers."> <area shape="rect" coords="314,2,599,132" href="#" alt="You can bring your bicycle on the touring yacht, then pedal along the riverbank after disembarking on aleisurely tour of nature's bounty at Guandu Nature Park."> </map>Like the Seine is to Paris, and the Thames is toLondon, the Tamsui and Keelung rivers are of equalimportance to Taipei. In the days of sail, the Tamsui wasthe lifeline to the world for Dadaocheng , thekey river port, with trading crafts bringing the region’sspecialty products to the globe’s four corners. TheKeelung, a key Tamsui River tributary, was an importanthighway for the carrying of tea leaves and paddy ricefrom the hinterland. Before the establishment of a landgrid, these were the key commercial arteries.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/78_38_02.jpg" alt="Minle Swordfish Rice Noodles,beside Yongle Market, and the agei and baozi treats found along Tamsui Old Street." title="Minle Swordfish Rice Noodles,beside Yongle Market, and the agei and baozi treats found along Tamsui Old Street." width="200"" height="152" border="0" style="float:left; width="404 />As the web of roads slowly took shape, the two riversslowly lost their practical function. As has happenedwith the emergence of many international cities, theirmain duty has become the satisfaction of an aestheticfunction. To make the fullest possible use of these rivers’beauty and to add another attractive leisure functionthe city govt. works with private boating companies torun two“Blue Highway” cruises, which runbetween the city and surrounding Taipei County, givingtravelers a decidedly different and breezy, unobstructedview of the local scenery. The Tamsui River Blue Highway Tour Yongle Market area (breakfast) →Walking tour of DihuaSt. →Dadaocheng Wharf→Embarkation on Tamsui BlueHighway tour→Guandu Nature Park→Tamsui Old Street(dinner)→Taipei return via MRT With an early start in the old Taipei neighbourhoodof Dadaocheng, the first thing to do is get a goodbreakfast. And that should be at“Minle Swordfish RiceNoodles”, beside Yongle Market, where the hearty signature dish is in fact served asa soup. For those unaccustomed to a breakfast quiteso exotic, Western fare is also available beside YongleMarket at APPLE 203, which serves up a fusion of thedelicate sophistication brought to the Japanesebreakfast with the abundance of the Western approach. Seems contradictory, but a visit will prove it’s true, andthe selection is also copious. After your repast, headout along Dihua St.to admire the heritageBaroque facades of the old shophouses and to linger inthe imperial-days mix of Chinese medicine shops, teashops, and traditional dried-food shops. Back at theYongle Market, the scores of fabric outlets specialize intraditional Taiwan floral patterns. After soaking up theheady old-time ambiance, it’s time to head over to thenearby Dadaocheng Wharf to launch our Blue Highwayexcursion.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/78_38_03.jpg" alt="A trip along the Keelung River after embarking at Dajia Wharf gives you the sparkling lights of the bright Taipei night." title="A trip along the Keelung River after embarking at Dajia Wharf gives you the sparkling lights of the bright Taipei night." width="600" height="264" border="0" /> As soon as you can see the wharf, you’ll also see amagnificent junk at the site. This is a scale model of thehardy merchant vessels that sailed the open seas to andfrom this bustling river port in days of yore. Try to imaginethe days when such crafts swarmed to this spot like beesreturning to a hive. The Tamsui Blue Highway Routeplies the same river course that the goods-hauling junksdid when headed out to blue waters and points in Chinaand elsewhere in Asia, today pulling up in Taipei Countyat two locations, the wharf at Tamsui Old Street and atFisherman’s Wharf, on the way dropping in atthe Guandu Wharf and Guandu Nature Park, site of Taipei’s richest wetlands. The service runs atregular times on weekends.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/78_38_04.jpg" alt="Taipei's Blue Highway Tours" title="Taipei's Blue Highway Tours" width="200" height="349" border="0" usemap="#Map2" style="float:left;height=" alt6.="alt6." works="Works" created="created" during="during" the="the" hands-on="hands-on" paper-carving="Paper-Carving" colored="Colored" mirrors="Mirrors" aesthetic-experience="aesthetic-experience" activity268="activity268" /> <map name="Map2"> <area shape="rect" coords="1,6,187,133" href="#" alt="The Dajia Wharf embarkation point for Blue Highway tours adjoins Dajia Riverside Park."> <area shape="rect" coords="37,148,185,336" href="#" alt="The expansive green carpet of Dajia Riverside Park draws many city denizens for recreational fun." title="The expansive green carpet of Dajia Riverside Park draws many city denizens for recreational fun."> </map> When taking the ferry into Guandu, you’ll go by atimber bridge and a scene of quaint beauty beforereaching a spic-and-span wharf bracketed by greenhills. Rent a bike at one of the rental shops here andhead off into the wetlands for some intimacy with thenatural world. There are three main foci at the park,managed by the Wild Bird Society of Taipei —waterfowl, wetlands, and insect life—with trainedguides giving tours according to theme. Located at thejunction of the Keelung and Tamsui rivers, the wetlandshere are listed internationally as an important habitat for wildlife, and many bird-lovers make special trips fromoverseas each year. Just less an hour from the core ofa pulsating metropolis and you’ll find yourself lost in thewonders of nature. Also, take special note that untilSept. 26 you can also enjoy the beauties that come withthe popular Guandu International Outdoor SculptureFestival.After touring the wetlands, a fast trip further downthe river to Tamsui Old Street from Guandu Wharf isrecommended. Here you’ll find a smorgasbord of shopspresenting old-style snacking treats. There’s a-gei or deep-fried tofu stuffed with crystal noodles, friedshrimp rolls, fried quail eggs, iron (preserved) eggs, plum soup, and a whole lot of other little Taiwantreasures you’ve likely never heard of before. OnZhongzheng Rd. is“Tamsui Tasty Fish Balls”, which specializes in baozi and fishball soup. They’ve been in business half a century,growing up with countless Tamsui denizens. After takinga whirlwind tour of Tamsui’s traditional food treats forsupper, take the MRT back into the city from the handynearby station.The Keelung River Blue Highway Tour Dajia Wharf→Dazhi Bridge→Dazhi Riverside→Miramar Entertainment Park→Neihu Technology Park→Return For this easygoing meander up and then back downthe lazy Keelung River, travelers embark at Dajia Wharf by Dajia Riverside Park. Because ofconstruction work in the area now going on for the upcomingTaipei International Flora Exposition in the autumn, outings arecurrently charter excursions only. On one memorable occasion,the British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei booked a yachtand had a floating party for 80 people—putting that muchmore flair into the lives of some of the foreign residents of Taipei. The expanses along this river section are very wide and thescenery quite compelling, the tableaux worlds apart daytimeand night-time. Along the route you get close-up views ofsuch well-known sights as the resplendent Grand Hotel and the Fountain of Hope in Dajia RiversidePark, you get thrilling encounters with planes shooting up fromTaipei Songshan Airport with the sky-scraping Taipei 101 towerin behind, and you see the giant ferris wheel atop MiramarEntertainment Park slowly turning high in the air. Thenight-time outings are especially fun, for the city sparkles andglistens with lights and life, and a sense of adventure andromance seems to float along the fresh river breezes.As another complement to the Flora Expo, the Dajia andMeiti wharves will be joined by the Xikou Wharf at the mouth of Raohe St. in October, connectingup the Flora Expo zones with Raohe St. and the commercialdistrict surrounding Miramar Entertainment Park in the Dazhi district. During the Flora Expo, the two sides of the river will befestooned with light-sculpture art, brilliant fluorescent paintings,digital water curtains, and installation art on bridges, bringinga dazzling new look to the Taipei of the night. In October, eightsleek new yachts all dressed up in Flora Expo colors will take tothese waters, add a rainbow of hues to the sweet blues of theBlue Highway.The waters of the Keelung River are quite calm, and a riverouting provides great looks at a sizeable number of importantTaipei sights from a unique angle. Even though the regularschedule has been put temporarily on hold for the Flora Expo,do not forget this option for an unusual way to travel the city instyle down the road.<table width="600" align="center" cellpadding="10" style=" float:left"> <tr> <td colspan="4" align="center" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Blue Highway Tour Information</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50">River </td> <td width="115">Route (Wharves visited)</td> <td width="99">Schedule</td> <td width="92">Ticket Prices</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3">Tamsui</td> <td>Dadaocheng - Guandu (schedule depends on tides, phone for confirmation)</td> <td>Holidays: 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00</td> <td>Adult ticket NT$150 Preferential ticket NT$120</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Guandu －Tamsui Old Street</td> <td>Holidays: 10:30~18:30 (one outing each hour)</td> <td>Adult ticket NT$110 Preferential ticket NT$55</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Tamsui Old Street— Fisherman's Wharf</td> <td>Weekdays: 10:00-21:00 (one outing each 20-30 mins) Holidays: 10:00-22:00 (one outing each 10-15 mins)</td> <td>Adult ticket NT$50 Preferential ticket NT$25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Keelung</td> <td>Dajia (temporary wharf under Dazhi Bridge) — Meiti</td> <td>Charter and tour services</td> <td>◆ Telephone in advance for charter service ◆ 8-person minimum for river tours, NT$180 per person</td> </tr></table> [][][][]Taipei City Government41416020https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=04BAB57F08C449B9New Play for the Maokong Day-Trip Adventurer<style type="text/css"></style><img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/77_40_01.jpg" alt="The wide Maokong Station plaza has a unique rest pavilion featuring elements in the shape of tea leaves." title="The wide Maokong Station plaza has a unique rest pavilion featuring elements in the shape of tea leaves." width="502" height="325" border="0" />This year, with the relaunch of Muzha's Maokong Gondola services, new appetite is being brought to local tourist tea-plantation visits by the Taipei City Government. and the area's enterprises with newly built tourist service centers, updated maps and information signages, and newly devised tours. The plan is to create a wholly new, more convenient, and much more variedMaokong sightseeing experience.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/77_40_02.jpg" alt="New Play for the Maokong Day-Trip Adventurer" title="New Play for the Maokong Day-Trip Adventurer" width="153"" height="302" border="0" usemap="#Map" style="float:right; width="206 /><map name="Map" id="Map"> <area shape="rect" coords="4,2,150,149" href="#" alt="The MRT shop stocks many MRT-theme souvenirs as well as items in the shape of the Maokong Gondola." /> <area shape="rect" coords="5,152,149,300" href="#" alt="The plaza wall is prettified with etchings copying the“potholes”for which the area is famed." /></map>The city government has built a Dancing Water Area at one stop of the gondola system, Taipei Zoo Station. Located right beside, it thrills kids with dancing water, multi-colored lights, and synchronized sound. There is a special-effects show every hour, from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm, with happy crowdsoohing and aahing in appreciation. Around the gondola station you'll also find a visitor centerand a gift shop, making this spot an one-stop shop fortransportation, entertainment, information, and souvenirshopping.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/77_40_04.jpg" alt="New Play for the Maokong Day-Trip Adventurer" title="New Play for the Maokong Day-Trip Adventurer" width="179"" height="360" border="0" usemap="#Map2" style="float:left; width="404 /><map name="Map2" id="Map2"> <area shape="rect" coords="4,2,176,116" href="#" alt="Beside the Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station is the Dancing Water Area, which at night puts on a scintillating show of dancing color." title="Beside the Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station is the Dancing Water Area, which at night puts on a scintillating show of dancing color."/> <area shape="rect" coords="4,119,176,239" href="#" alt="The visitor centers at the Maokong Gondola stations offer a broad base of useful travel information." title="The visitor centers at the Maokong Gondola stations offer a broad base of useful travel information." /> <area shape="rect" coords="5,241,175,358" href="#" alt="A Maokong mountain view of the area's famed“potholes” and of the rich local ecology." title="A Maokong mountain view of the area's famed“potholes” and of the rich local ecology." /></map>Up at the next gondola stop, Maokong Station, a wide plaza for rest and relaxation has been built just outside the exit area. This expansive concourse does wonders for easing congestion from the streams of daytrippers coming and going, and the scene is adorned with etchings on the walls mimicking the“potholes” for which the area is famed. Rocks and boulders in the valley's streambed have potholes carved in them by erosion; settlers christened them“cat's hollows,”made by cat's paws, which translates to“maokong”. The plaza is also graced with a picturesque rest pavilionfeaturing elements in the shape of tea leaves, from which sweeping vistas of the Maokong rural idyll canbe taken in. Visitors can get all the info they need fromthe visitor center here, and the city has also erected 33signages providing a wealth of detail on local scenicsights, trails, times, and other useful guidance.Four Recommended Maokong Culture Tours In days of old Maokong was the biggest teaproduction area in the Taipei region. Today the vignettes of tea being picked, tasting tea in dedicated plantation teahouses, and the coruscating night views of the big city below are the big draws, but few visitors know that Maokong is replete with such vestiges of yesteryear as swine pens, charcoal kilns, granaries, and residential complexes made of earthen walls over a century old. In keeping with the same theme of renewal seen with the Maokong Gondola, the city government has restored a number of these important relics, all irreplaceable storehouses of the area's rich culture and history. These are a key attraction in the reopening of the Camphor Tree Trail.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/77_40_05.jpg" alt="The passing world beside Camphor Tree Trail is a world of green, and hints at what farming life might have been like in pioneer days." title="The passing world beside Camphor Tree Trail is a world of green, and hints at what farming life might have been like in pioneer days." width="399"" height="238" border="0" style="float:right; width="206 />At the opening ceremony for the relaunch of the gondola Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin specially recommended four tour itineraries that each includes a prime selection of Maokong's scenic attractions. The “Maokong Nostalgic Countryside Half-Day Tour” starts off with a ride up in the gondola to such intriguing spots as a charcoal kiln, old-style earthen-wall residence, and time spent along the lovely Camphor Tree Trail heading toward a picturesque pond in the forest, the emphasis on exposure to the culture of rural living. The completely overhauled Camphor Tree Trail, featuring gentle gradients and with no steps or stairs, takes you on a trip into the ecology of a camphorwood grove. The Arcadian perfection of an enclave dedicated to tea cultivation also unveils itself to you as you meander along, a tea plantation appearing and then a garden, one af ter the other. The trail has been laid out with smooth granite, meaning easy walking while looking up , down, and all aroundrather than at your feet.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/77_40_06.jpg" alt="New Play for the Maokong Day-Trip Adventurer" title="New Play for the Maokong Day-Trip Adventurer" width="202"" height="447" border="0" usemap="#Map3" style="float:left; width="404 /> <map name="Map3" id="Map3"> <area shape="rect" coords="4,2,199,146" href="#" alt="Old earthen swine pens have been resuscitated, affording a look back at yesteryear." title="Old earthen swine pens have been resuscitated, affording a look back at yesteryear." /> <area shape="rect" coords="3,152,201,298" href="#" alt="Any tour of Maokong is replete with fine views of tea plantations and attractive teahouses for tea-tasting." title="Any tour of Maokong is replete with fine views of tea plantations and attractive teahouses for tea-tasting." /> <area shape="rect" coords="3,300,199,447" href="#" alt="Maokong's comprehensive system of guide signage serves up all the info you need for a joyful experience." title="Maokong's comprehensive system of guide signage serves up all the info you need for a joyful experience." /> </map> The other three tours are all full-day excursions, all great for plunging deeper into the Maokong experience. The names of the three are a play on words related to the pronunciation of“Mao”and the“cat”of Maokong. So we have the“Little Red Cat Tour”, the“Little Yellow Cat Tour”, and the “Little Blue Cat Tour”. Each starts from the“Zhanghu Studio”, then diverge to take you to the scenic attractions of your choice, including Zhanghu Trai l , Three Stone Teapot Museum, Apricot Tree Garden Recreation Farm, Sanxuan Temple, and Tian'en Temple. Details about all the tours are availableat the visitor centers.The city's Department of Information and Tour i sm has al so organi zed s ix different types of fun theme tours for visitors to enjoy and to get to know the Maokong way of life better. Tour names and highlights: Tasting Maokong (Drinking in the taste and history of local teas), Loving Maokong (Tea Drinking and Stargazing, Music and Water Dance), Exploring Garden Maokong (Enjoying afternoon tea in garden-setting teahouses), Hiking Green Maokong (Taking a“green shower”amidst lush foliage on pleasant hiking trails), Tracing Historical Maokong (Searching for local history down old-time pioneer trails), and Contemplating Spiritual Maokong (Visiting the area's renowned temples and understanding local religious culture). For more detail on each, visit http://www.travel.taipei/en/</a>.A Cavalcade of Special Deals and Services There are about 60 tea restaurants in Maokong, and each offers its own distinctive tea-cuisine culinary creations. The city government is setting up a“Maokong Information and Communication Technology (ICT)” that will allow visitors to pull out their Bluetooth-capable cell phones when they enter a Maokong spot and instantly access area travel maps, info on the local restaurants, and other useful details. You'll even be ableto download and print out discount coupons.The city government is also promoting the“Love Maokong – Preferential PASS”, which comes in different editions – a free basic edition, an NT$300 version, an NT$500 version, and so on. Inside are details on businesses and theme tours and a map of Maokong Itinerant Bus routes, plus an NT$400 cash voucher, an entry ticket to this year's Taipei InternationalFlora Expo, and other special deals.<table align="center" cellpadding="10" style=" float:center"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Information</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station Visitor Center <blockquote> Add: 2, Lane 10, Sec. 2, Xinguang Rd. (1F, Maokong Gondola Service Center) Tel: (02) 8661-7627 Hours: Tues-Fri 09:00~21:00 / Holidays 08:30~21:00 (closed Mon)</blockquote> Maokong Gondola Maokong Station Visitor Center <blockquote> Add: 35, Lane 38, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd. (Exit area, Maokong Station) Tel: (02) 2937-8563 Hours: Tues-Fri 09:00~18:00 / Holidays 08:30~20:00 (closed Mon) <a href="http://www.mtnrgsport.org.tw" target="_blank"></a> </blockquote> <ul> <li>Both these centers provide online information on scenic spots, transportation, food/drink and accommodations, festivals and celebrations, and package tours, plus related brochures and maps.</li> </ul> Maokong Gondola Information <blockquote><blockquote> <ul><li>Tel: (02) 218-12345</li> <li>Website: http://english.gondola.taipei/</a></li> </ul> </blockquote> </blockquote></td> </tr></table>[][][][]Taipei City Government41416010https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=183C1B8F717A4B2EDiscover the Charms of Mt. Shamao Trails<style type="text/css"></style><img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/76_46_01.jpg" alt="Discover the Charms of Mt. Shamao Trails" title="Discover the Charms of Mt. Shamao Trails" width="498" height="307" border="0" /> Liu Ke-xiang is a well-known local travel writer who is on an intimate basis with the trails of the Taipei region. Known affectionately as“birdman”, he has long been devoted to nature observation and protection endeavors, and has been a trail-blazer in the literary world, opening up an entirely new field of vision in nature writing. In his eyes, the Tianmu area is a wonderful place not only because of the cultural variety that is available because of the presence of so many expatriate residents, but because its many trails form an enchanting link between the world of the city and the world of nature. In this feature Liu specially introduces three favorite hiking trails below Mt. Shamao , all providing relaxing round-trip excursions for mind and body whileproviding exposure to both the historical and natural sides of Taipei.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/76_46_02.jpg" alt="Liu Ke-xiang: Poet, novelist, and nature observer.Has over 40 published works,including poetry, essays, novels,and nature-travel guides.Has been granted numerous awards, including the GIO's Golden Tripod Award , Wu San-lien Award for literature, and Wu Lu-qin Award for Essay Writing." title="Liu Ke-xiang: Poet, novelist, and nature observer.Has over 40 published works,including poetry, essays, novels,and nature-travel guides.Has been granted numerous awards, including the GIO's Golden Tripod Award , Wu San-lien Award for literature, and Wu Lu-qin Award for Essay Writing." width="279"" height="344" style="float:left; width="404 />Liu says the Tianmu Trail , which starts at the north end of Zhongshan N. Rd. on Sec. 7, is unquestionably the most popular nature trail nowadays with the people of Shilin District. The Cuifeng (Emerald Peak) Trail, which branches off at about the half-way point, is an excellent option though less well known. This links up with the Banling (Half Ridge) Trail , which sees even fewer people. The three pathways meander along either side of the twisting Huang Creek (Sulfur Creek), together creating a large O-shaped system filled with attractions that will pique the interest of those who have a taste forthings historical.Based on his many years of research, Liu is sure that the first trail to have taken form was Banling Trail. In the days before Yangde Blvd. came into existence, this was a primary mountain route for Han Chinese to hike up to Zhuzihu or Bamboo Lake. Today, as you move up along the stone steps you are still regaled with timeless rural scenery. The waterway meanders by, smoke slowly curls up in the distance, fields are terraced in neat pattern, and small hamlets are scattered about. In the early period of Japanese rule (1895-1945) the famous Sinologist Nakamura Okei came to live in Taipei, and took this path the first time he went up Yangmingshan (then called Caoshan or Grass Mountain) and Zhuzihu. Along the path, he was startled by the yama sakura, or mountain cherry blossoms.scenery. The waterway meanders by, smoke slowly curls up in the distance, fields are terraced in neat pattern, and small hamlets are scattered about. In the early period of Japanese rule (1895-1945) the famous Sinologist Nakamura Okei came to live in Taipei, and took this path the first time he went up Yangmingshan (then called Caoshan or Grass Mountain) and Zhuzihu. Along the path, he was startled by the yama sakura, or mountain cherry blossoms.Liu has also discovered that the daughter of the early Dadaocheng tea merchant Li Chun-sheng , the poet Li Ru-yue, frequently headed up Caoshan to revel in the mountain scenery, singing its praises in poetic form. In the year after Taiwan's Restoration in 1945, while heading back down the mountain, she composed the poem“Ode Written on the Caoshan Trail”, which was received enthusiastically. Tianmu Water Pipe Trail is commonly called the Tianmu Trail. It appeared comparatively late, in 1928, built as part of a system to bring water down from the hills. The trail zigzags down the mountainside following the right bank of the Huang Creek, partitioning the mountain valley it has carved, says Liu. A water pipe lies under the pathway, the rushing resource providing electricity generation, drinking water, and irrigation water. After moving up the trail's section of stone steps you will find a level area on the mountainside; at the end of this section is a concealed water source not normally open to the public. <img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/76_46_03.jpg" alt="The Tianmu Trail, which links up with Cuifeng Trail and Banling Trail, is the favorite nature trail of Shilin and Tianmu residents." title="The Tianmu Trail, which links up with Cuifeng Trail and Banling Trail, is the favorite nature trail of Shilin and Tianmu residents." width="388" height="294" style="float:right;height=" alt6.="alt6." works="Works" created="created" during="during" the="the" hands-on="hands-on" paper-carving="Paper-Carving" colored="Colored" mirrors="Mirrors" aesthetic-experience="aesthetic-experience" activity268="activity268" />The water is speedily carried down the mountainside via the water pipe to Sanjiaopu Power Station. Visit the Tianmu Trail and you'll see a thick black water pipe to the side of the stone steps.The Cuifeng Trail is the connecting mountain path between the other two trails, concealed within lush, verdant primeval forest. Along the way, near the Huang Creek headwaters walkers are surprised by the majesty of the Cuifeng Waterfall as it seems to burst suddenly into view, a fascinating scene both unexpected and creating the most powerful scene along the hidden trail.As Liu Ke-xiang points out, these three trails coil around on the south side of Mt. Shamao and on both sides of Huang Creek, forming an attractive walkway system on Tianmu's north side for healthy exercise. Mt. Shamao is the defining landmark for the triumvirate, used by many a hardy type to tackle the peak on foot. Mt. Shamao is perhaps the smallest mountain in the Yangmingshan region, but it is also one defined by the most unusual shape and by noticeable elegance and beauty, and is uniquely capped with a collection of ancient tombs and springs. The overall effect has been the inspiration for the most legends and stories among the area's peaks.In summing up the Mt. Shamao hiking experience, Liu summarizes what he's heard from many visitors: You can climb Mt. Datun and Mt. Qixing , but if you haven't climbed Mt. Shamao it is as though you've “dressed yourself up in your finest suit but forgotten your necklace.”This is what its neighbour, Mt. Shamao, means to Tianmu.<table align="center" cellpadding="10" style=" float:center"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Information</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Transportation: <ul> <li>Take public bus No. 220, 224, 267, 535, 601, or 685, Zhongshan trunk-line buses, or the Red 19 to the Tianmu stop, then walk five minutes toward Tianmu Police Station. </li> </ul> </td> </tr></table>[][][][]Taipei City Government41415990https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=90BDA5607E0723C3&s=D98067369EC9E7A4The Quest of Tea in Taipei A Journey through the Joys of Maokong's Tieguanyin Tea<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p8_001.jpg" alt="1-3. Each of the many teahouses lining the Muzha Tourist Tea Plantations area has its own distinctive charm and character. " title="1-3. Each of the many teahouses lining the Muzha Tourist Tea Plantations area has its own distinctive charm and character. " width="226" height="198" style="float:left;"/>An outing for a spot of tea on the verdant slopes of the Maokong area in southeast Taipei has become a favorite excursion for local folk. The term“Maokong”means“cat's hollows;”nothing at all to do with tea, but an unusual name of savory interest. The Maokong area is formed by a stream running between two high hills in the low mountains of the Muzha tea-plantation district. Over the eons, the waters have chiselled kettle holes in the boulders and stones along the stream bed, which long ago struck pioneer settlers as looking like marks left behind by cats' paws as they sauntered along.“Mao” means“cat,”and“kong” means“hollow.”The picturesque name stuck and eventually became official. You can explore the peculiar landscape yourself by taking the signposted trail directly in front of the Taipei Tea Promotion Center for Tieguanyin Tea and Baozhong Tea.<IMG src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p8_002.jpg" alt=" 4. The world of Maokong, of tea bushes and scented flowers and sweeping mountain vistas, may well bring the word“Xanadu”to mind. " title=" 4. The world of Maokong, of tea bushes and scented flowers and sweeping mountain vistas, may well bring the word“Xanadu”to mind. " width="226" height="215" style="float:right;"/>Tieguanyin Tea(Iron Goddess Tea ) was brought to the Maokong area by the tea-master Zhang Nai-miao , who passed on the secrets of the strain and the art of its cultivation to local folk. After 1960, the government of Taiwan launched energetic efforts to promote tea-plantation tourism in Muzha, bringing Maokong island-wide renown as a tea-growing rural idyll. Beyond meandering through the aromatic plantations and sitting down for a leisurely pot of fine brew complemented by fine views, there are also a number of special tea-education facilities that simmer with intellectual and hands-on sensory stimulation. These include Threestone Teapot Museum , dedicated to the famed Yixing Zisha teapots of China, and Zhang Nai-miao Memorial Hall , which introduces tea's history and tea culture.<h4>Muzha Tourist Tea Plantations</h4><img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p08_03.jpg" alt="5. Foreign expats and travelers are a frequent sight at Maokong, admiring the sights and the brews." title="5. Foreign expats and travelers are a frequent sight at Maokong, admiring the sights and the brews." width="220" height="213"/ style="float:left;">The Muzha Tourist Tea Plantations is along Sec. 3 of Zhinan Rd. in the city's Wenshan District. The enterprises now cover over 100 hectares, and yearly production surpasses 30,000 kilograms of leaf. This is Taiwan's prime source of Tieguanyin Tea, and was also the city's first designated area for agricultural tourism. There are now 90 tourist plantations in operation, most dedicated to the cultivation of Tieguanyin Tea.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p08_01.jpg" alt="5. Foreign expats and travelers are a frequent sight at Maokong, admiring the sights and the brews." title="5. Foreign expats and travelers are a frequent sight at Maokong, admiring the sights and the brews." width="226" height="162"/ style="float:right;">Tieguanyin leaf at the Muzha plantations is half-fermented, with the spring and winter harvests highest in quality. As you move up into the hills along Zhinan Rd. from Chengchi University, you are regaled with row upon neat row of tea bushes along the road's sections 2 and 3, stretching right from the crest down to mid-slope on the mountainside. Each dedicated plantation teahouse, whether courtyard or open-air style, has its own unique personality. Along the uphill journey, you'll enjoy a feast of the senses, greens tickling the eye and fragrances of leaf and blossom teasing the nose. The palate sensations begin once you have made your teahouse determination. It's an abrupt change from the big-city noise you've left mere minutes ago, and as a sense of peace and serenity wrap you up as though in a warm blanket, you might well think this is the feeling a traveler might experience upon stumbling into Shangri-La.<img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p08_02.jpg" alt="5. Foreign expats and travelers are a frequent sight at Maokong, admiring the sights and the brews." title="5. Foreign expats and travelers are a frequent sight at Maokong, admiring the sights and the brews." width="225" height="212"/ style="float:left;">The area is open year-round, with no such thing as a general admission—you're free to roam about. Each teahouse will of course charge for food and drink, however. Most of the teahouses open around noon each day and go into the wee hours. If you'd like a tour, booking ahead is advised. At these establishments, you can buy packaged teas from the respective plantation, sit down for some fresh-brew tea, and enjoy the area's prized tea cuisine. Most of the tea-cuisine foods, notably the popular range chicken, come from the plantation itself or nearby growers. The area is a huge draw for families and friends to sit down for hearty food and delicate drink while enjoying the pristine views. Especially at night, when the breezes float up, and the city beyond turns into a sparkling crystal.<h4>Threestone Teapot Museum</h4><img src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p10_01.jpg" alt="6-9. The Threestone Teapot Museum has a permanent exhibit of coveted, precious ceramic teapots, 400 pieces on display at any time." title="6-9. The Threestone Teapot Museum has a permanent exhibit of coveted, precious ceramic teapots, 400 pieces on display at any time." width="224" height="222" style="float:left;"/><IMG src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p10_02.jpg" alt="10. The recently opened“Camphor Tree”Trail, which starts before the Threestone Teapot Museum." title="10. The recently opened“Camphor Tree”Trail, which starts before the Threestone Teapot Museum." width="226" height="220" style="float:right;"/>The curator of the Threestone Teapot Museum, an attractive three-story facility located on Zhinan Rd., is Zhang Kun-hong , from the ninth generation of a clan of local tea cultivators. The family's plantation, in fact, is right across the road. There's nothing that Zhang loves better than doing some picking himself during the winter and spring harvests. He has long had a love for the pick of the crop in the Chinese world of teapots, Yixing Zisha teapots, and has been diligently collecting the best over the past 30-plus years. Zhang has now made his large teapot trove available for public appreciation and edification at Threestone, which is the former family-plantation teahouse overhauled and given new duty. Yixing teapots are made from Zisha (purple clay) found only around Yixing in China's Jiangsu province; it is believed this clay is best at bringing out the best in tea leaves, the pots becoming even better with maturity. The collection is large, at over 1,000 teapots, about 400 of these zisha treasures, and so selected groupings are displayed in irregular rotation. There are also regular and specialty exhibits on teapot art. The museum also hosts special“Tiger Nose Master” tasting activities to educate members of the public about the character and nuances of Maokong tea leaf. The emphasis is on fun: Zhang says that five types of tea are made and used to fill ten cups that are placed before a visitor. The taste-tester then has to match the two cups of each variety. The task is in fact not so very difficult, for each tea of different maturity, from raw to fully ripened, has a noticeably different color, and the character variation becomes even more evident once nose and taste bud are brought into play. Experts are also on hand to give explanation, making these pleasant gatherings quite popular. As a result, registration is required three days in advance.In February this year (2009), the city government completed the wonderful new Zhangshu (Camphor Tree) Trail, which starts before the museum and stretchesfrom the Maokong Gondola Station to Zhangshan (Camphor Tree Mountain) Temple , allowing visitors to saunter freely through the pastoral beauties of the plantations and immerse yourself in an idyllic view.<h4>Zhang Nai-miao Memorial Hall</h4>This cozy facility honors a man who gave much of his life to fostering the cultivation of quality Tieguanyin Tea in the Muzha community. Both plant and technique for Tieguanyin and the area's other star, Wenshan Baozhong Tea , were transplanted across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China during Taiwan's pioneer days. Zhang, who had studied the art since childhood, brought Tieguanyin plants over from Fujian Province in 1895, replanting them at Muzha's Camphor-Tree Lake Mountain. During the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945) Zhang entered <IMG src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p11_01.jpg" alt="11-12. There are six themed displays on the second floor of the Zhang Nai-miao Memorial Hall." title="11-12. There are six themed displays on the second floor of the Zhang Nai-miao Memorial Hall." width="229" height="221" style="float:left;"/>the imperial competition for Baozhong Tea, taking the Taiwan governor-general's gold prize. The youngest tea master to ever win such an honor, he was appointed inspector-general for tea in Taipei prefecture and thereafter benefited the entire region by passing on his deeply cultivated warehouse of knowledge in the tea-making arts. (Note: Baozhong Tea does not indicate a different leaf variety; it is leaf processed with minimum rolling/drying and a resulting larger leaf that having undergone only slight oxidation).<IMG alt="13. The paper-carving art of the hall's director, along with bookmarks decorated by a Beijing artist telling the history of tea." title="13. The paper-carving art of the hall's director, along with bookmarks decorated by a Beijing artist telling the history of tea." src="http://www-ws.gov.taipei/001/Upload/public/MMO/TCGENG/ch71_p11_02.jpg" style="float:right;" width="226"/>The memorial hall is run by Zhang Wei-yi , a furniture designer by training, representing the third generation of the family. Decades of research and collecting have gone into the displays you will be enjoying, journeying through the life, relics, and concepts of the patriarchal tea master. Models of the various types of machinery and instruments are also on display, along with photographs, which are used to explain the different production processes for the many types of teas. The hall's mission is to both preserve and help the timeless tea culture to flourish, says Zhang, and the hall itself is partitioned thus: the first floor has poetry on the glories of tea and educational materials on its historical development; the second floor has major displays divided in accordance with six major themes, with guides on hand with explanation in English and Chinese.The multi-talented Zhang has also spent many years studying the art of paper-carving, and the numerous original works on hand provide you insight into another world of horizons. Finally, there is a fine collection of mementoes and keepsakes to wade through, including bookmarkers depicting the history of tea by Beijing painting talent, books on tea history, small ceramic works, and much more - all fine additions to your own home collection, perhaps started with these very purchases.<table style="width:100%; float:left"> <tr> <td width="360" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Information</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Muzha Tourist Tea Plantation Community Development Association (provides information on each tea plantation) Tel: (02) 2938-3797 Add: 36, Lane 34, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd. Hours: Open year-round Threestone Teapot Museum Tel: (02) 2938-3797 Add: 36, Lane 34, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd. Hours: Tues - Sun 10:00 - 18:00 Admission: NT$80 Zhang Nai-miao Memorial Hall Tel: (02) 2938-2579 Add: 53-2, Lane 34, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd. Hours: Mon - Sat 08:00 - 16:00 (closed Sun) Admission: NT$150 (includes guided tour and tea tastetesting) </td> </tr></table>[][][][]Department of Information Technology, Taipei City Government