Efficient trains, incense-filled temples, neon streets, and breakfasts that change the way you think about mornings. This is how Taipei introduced itself to me.

In Taipei, food is more than nourishment — it’s how the city breathes, connects, and welcomes. From soy milk breakfasts to neon night markets, every meal is an invitation to belong.

Taipei’s architecture is a biography written in stone, steel, and incense smoke. From centuries-old temples to the sweeping arches of Freedom Square, from lived-in apartment blocks to futuristic glass towers and the iconic Taipei 101, the city is a patchwork of history and ambition. Walking its streets feels like turning the pages of a living history book where no chapter has been erased.

Taipei doesn’t sleep when the sun sets — it transforms. From the intimacy of Huaxi Night Market to neon-lit shopping districts, from claw machine arcades to lantern-glowing temples, from the grandeur of Liberty Square to the beacon of Taipei 101, the city’s layers shine brightest after dark.

Taipei’s culture isn’t found only in its landmarks — it’s lived in everyday gestures. From a stranger sharing his plate of steamed clams, to worshippers lighting incense, to students filling neon shopping streets or friends working in a convenience store, the city’s warmth is everywhere.

Taipei is a city of numbers: 2.6M people in 272 km², 2M daily MRT riders, 300+ night markets, 11K convenience stores. But behind every stat is a lived moment — flavors, kindness, connection.