72 Hours in Taipei: The All-rounder A 3-day whirlwind tour of the capital city of the island formerly known as Formosa; Taipei, Taiwan. If you're on the fence between a city trip and experiencing some nature and outdoors exploration, this is the guide for you. Taipei is a small city surrounded by mountains and so offers an ideal opportunity for both types of trips. World famous for its food (just google Esquire Taipei), its natural hot springs, and increasingly on the radar as one of the coffee capitals of the world, tourists are fast waking up to what Taipei has to offer. The guide breaks your holiday down into a busy three days meaning you'll get to see the best of what Taipei has to offer, in terms of food, coffee, entertainment, culture, relaxation, hot springs, and stunning natural beauty. There'll also be photographic opportunities noted, as well as some of the best bars to boot (and more importantly when to go to them). Who is your Taipei tour guide? Sam Cooke has lived in, and fallen for, this petite capital city for one year so this is a guide loaded with all the secrets has has acquired to date. What will Sam take you to see in Taipei? - Maokong Gondola and teahouses - Wulai Natural Hot Springs and Waterfall Hike - Night markets, shopping tips, and hidden speakeasy bars - Elephant Mountain and Taipei 101 (fastest lift in the world, and the second tallest building) - Where to find the best dumplings (shuǐjiǎo), dan bing (or egg pancake, a mouth-watering, classic Taiwanese breakfast meal), and other local cuisine highlights. (Note: The tones are VERY important, or this can sound as if you're talking about sleeping, not dumplings. This guide includes a brief introduction to the different tones and pronunciations.) - Taipei Zoo - Huashan 1914 Cultural and Creative Park; i.e. the best place to eat ice cream, drink coffee outside, and dog watch in Taipei - Fortune telling, foot massages, and snake alley What does your itinerary include? - Maps, prices, and photos aplenty. - A basic Chinese phrasebook. - Links to some of the most useful English language sites for the newcomer to Taipei. - Sam's contact details, should you have any questions during your stay! Are you right for this itinerary? This guide is mainly aimed at travellers in their 20s and 30s (solo, couples, or groups of friends) for 3 reasons: 1. It's busy so it'll be tiring if you stick to it religiously*, 2. It focuses on how to travel Taipei on a budget, and 3. It has little