Taipei is one of the newest major cities as only a century ago there were none of the commercial and governmental buildings seen today, only paddies of rice and plots of vegetables.   Today an amazing 11 million people live within the urban sprawl.

It is not for the average tourist unless you are pretty fluent in Mandarin or Putonghua.  It is packed to the gills with people and vehicles of all descriptions.  Here you can see entire families packed together on the pillion of motorcycles barely able to take the driver and when the lights turn green close your eyes.  They will avoid you but then you shouldn't drive in this very polluted and congested city.  BUT ... the food is excellent and the people are friendly.

The street lights of the inner city are a sight to behold advertising everything from seafood restaurants to love hotels.  The monument to Chiang Kai-shek who rules Taiwan from 1949 until 1975 is worth a visit but the most stunning place of all is the National Museum which houses much sought after Chinese treasures from almost all  dynasties.  Do not confuse the Grand Hotel with an ancient palace as one could easily be mistaken.