The recent arrival of Typhoon Danas, which made landfall in southwestern Taiwan on the night of July 6–7, serves to remind everyone thinking of visiting Asia’s most enthralling island in the summertime that they should prepare for the possibility that rainfall will interfere with their itinerary.
Lots of people explore places like Tamsui and Jiufen in wet weather and have a great time… but if you’d rather not drag an umbrella around, or if the rain is simply too heavy for your liking, it’s a good idea to have some backup ideas. In this article we present some things to see or do in Taipei that are just as much fun whether it’s dry or tipping down.
Top-notch museums in the heart of the city
Museums are the most obvious solution to the ‘What can we do on a rainy day?’ problem. The National Palace Museum (NPM) is a true must-see, so there’s a chance you’ve already toured its spectacular collection. Fortunately there are at least two more museums that are well worth visiting. Both are quite central and neither gets as crowded as the rightfully world-famous NPM.
A flag given by Japanese forces to a Paiwan chief in 1874 to show he was on their side.
The National Taiwan Museum (NTM), the oldest true museum on the island, was established during the 1895-1945 period of Japanese colonial rule to glorify the achievements of officials appointed by Tokyo. After World War II, the statues of these men were removed from their pedestals and hidden away, only to reappear decades later when the political winds were blowing in a different direction. The NTM has since expanded to four locations in the heart of the capital. Between them, they present exceptional amounts of natural history and indigenous culture, as well as information about the postwar economy and the development of Taiwan’s rail network.
Among the most fascinating objects displayed within the NTM’s main building are three flags. The oldest dates from 1874; it was presented to an indigenous chief who cooperated with the Japanese during a military expedition in what’s now Pingtung County. The second is an emblem of the short-lived republic founded in 1895 by Taiwanese unwilling to submit to Japanese rule. The third is a Republic of China (Nationalist China) flag smeared with bloody fingerprints by Communist Chinese soldiers who were taken prisoner during the Korean War and demanded to be sent to Taiwan rather than repatriated to the Chinese mainland.
A tricolour statue from China now preserved in Taipei’s National Museum of History.
Treasures from near and afar
Because you’re unlikely to have enough time to give every branch the attention it deserves, it pays to visit the NTM’s website ahead of time and plan your visit. Like almost every museum in Taiwan, its informative multilingual website details current and upcoming exhibitions as well as opening hours and ticket prices.
Almost everything in NTM is from Taiwan. The opposite is true at the National Museum of History (NMH). The latter’s history mirrors that of the National Palace Museum. Whereas the core of the NPM’s collection used to be the personal property of the pre-1911 emperors who ruled from Beijing, the NMH displays treasures that were originally preserved at Henan Museum in central China. Just as the NPM evacuated its finest artefacts southwards to keep them out of Japanese hands, during the late 1930s Henan Museum’s most valuable items were packed up and sent away as Japan expanded its control of northern and eastern China. There are some truly ancient objects inside the NMH, which is very close to Taipei’s delightful botanical gardens. Amid the jade carvings and coins more than 3,000 years old, there are ceremonial vessels made of bronze, oracle bones, and colourful religious statues.
Shop ‘til you drop… then soak!
If you’d rather browse shops and enjoy bustle than quietly admire the achievements of previous generations, the extensive underground malls around Taipei Main Station are sure to appeal to you. Taipei City Mall (aka Y Zone) is the largest of these, offering a wide range of shops, from clothing and daily necessities to handicrafts and local snacks. It also sells electronics, anime figurines, and videogames.
Zhongshan Metro Mall (R Zone) shadows the Red Line of the Taipei Metro, connecting Taipei Main Station with the Zhongshan, Shuanglian, and Minsheng West Road stations. If you’d rather walk than squeeze yourself into a commuter-filled train, it’s a useful option in poor weather. En route from the main station to the National Taiwan Museum, you might want to walk through the Station Front Metro Mall (Z Zone). Another cluster of underground shops can be found in one of the swankiest parts of Daan District: East Metro Mall (E Zone) links the Zhongxiao Fuxing and Zhongxiao Dunhua metro stations and is popular for fashions and cosmetics.
Picking out ‘sorts’ at Ri Xing Type Foundry.
Summer visitors don’t usually think about Taiwan’s delightful hot springs, but if you find the drizzle is dampening your spirits, consider booking a private room in a luxurious hot-spring hotel and spending a blissful couple of hours with your significant other. There are plenty of options in Greater Taipei: Xinbeitou in the city proper has more than a score of soaking venues, while Wulai and Yangmingshan just outside it offer dozens more. If you’d rather keep your clothes on, go for a foot massage. Your hotel or guide should be able to recommend a good establishment.
Perhaps you can’t quite relax until you’ve bought some special gifts for loved ones back home. If that’s the case, Ri Xing Type Foundry may be just the place. (Even if it’s not what you’re looking for, it still makes for a fun detour.) Said to be the only traditional moveable-type business still active in Taiwan, this small enterprise manufactures and sells individual ‘sorts’ bearing Chinese characters or Latin letters. The shop’s thousands of ideographs are a sight in their own right — but consider coming here with personalised messages for your friends that you can convey to them typeset in metal!
Taipei is a city of 2.6 million people with at least as many again in the suburbs, so these are just a few of the possibilities to keep you entertained when the weather isn’t cooperating. Our guides are highly experienced and knowledgeable; like everyone connected to Life of Taiwan, they want you to have a perfect journey. So don’t hesitate, before and during your private guided tour of Taiwan, to express your goals, whims, and preferences. We’re here to make the trip of a lifetime happen!