Sights of Taiwan
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Colossus of Taipei
Taipei majestic Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is the island's most impressive monument to the great Chinese hero. The memorial hall's enormous marble edifice towers over landscaped gardens, graceful pavilions, and placid pond. A 25-ton bronze statue of late President Chiang Kai-shek looks out over the city from the main building; a round-level library displays photos and mementos of the late president's life.
An elegant Ming-style arch at the main entrance is flanked by two classical-style buildings: The National Theater and the National Concert Hall. The square between the two buildings is a popular gathering place on special festive days.


Cosmopolitan Fare
The National Theater and National Concert Hall are exotic venues for a region of internationally renowned performers, including Pavarotti and the Joffrey Ballet. The Theater presents Chinese and Western operas, dramas, and ballets, while the Concert Hall is the setting for instrumental and vocal concerts. Performances nearly every day offer a range of international and local talent. The two new buildings flank the entrance to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and their classical Chinese architecture enhances the memorial's beauty.


My backyard -Yangmingshan National Park
A few minutes north of Taipei, from my house, is massive Yangmingshan National Park , a mountainous area where visitors can find charming water-falls, picturesque lakes, terraced rice paddies, volcanic craters, steaming hot springs and, in the springtime, cherry and azalea blossoms. Walkways and trails lead to the park's main scenic spots, and offer ideal hiking for a couple of hours or a full day. Major scenic spots have picnic and recreation areas. The park's wildlife consists of amphibians, birds, butterflies, mammals(including monkeys) and reptiles. The Mt.Tatun-Mt. Mientien area is the park's best location for bird and butterfly watching. In winter the park can be quite cold and, rarely, snowy.


Magnificent Coast


Landscapes and seashores of enchanting beauty along with charming rural towns highlight the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area . A visit to this area, east of Keelung, is an unforgettable experience.

Among the scenic area's notable features is the magnificent sandstone promontory that rises from the sea at Lungtung. White sand and azure water make Fulung one of Taiwan's best beaches. A system of wooden pavilions and walkways lends an intensely Chinese character to the new Yenliao Seaside Park, which boasts the island's finest seashore leisure facilities. The scenic area also has reefs, steppes, sand dunes, creeks and rivers, terraced rice paddies, rolling green hills, two lighthouses, and a footpath through the hills overlooking the coast. Sailing, surfing, camping, and fishing equipment can be rented in places.



Potter's Heaven
A short trip through the lush countryside southwest of Taipei brings you to a small town that produces hand-painted replicas of elegant Ming and Ching vases like those that once graced the palaces in Peking. Yingko is Taiwan's pottery center, and the narrow streets are lined with shops selling an endless variety of reasonably priced porcelain, from simple earthenware tea sets to delicate statues. Some of the factories allow tours, and visitors can watch potters working the clay and artists painting vases, and maybe buy a sample or two. A few factories even provide English-speaking guides for drop-in visitors. Ask your travel agent for details.


Lion's Head Mountain
Buddhist temples, shrines, and monasteries-evoking the flavor of ancient China-are perched on the cool, verdant hills of Lion's Head Mountain . Many of the temples are set into shallow caves which dot the slops and, for a contribution, several of them offer vegetarian meals and simple rooms for the night.
From the old stone arch at the entrance, 1,500 steps lead up to Moon Viewing Pavilion on the top, or " head ", then a path leads down through flower scented forests and bamboo groves to Lion's Tail. With stops to inspect the ornate temples, study serene golden Buddhist images, and watch chanting monks Head Mountain is about 90 minutes by bus south of Taipei, midway to Taichung.


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