23 Jun 2023

Taiwan's Timeless Traditions and Culture

In the early morning Heritage Adventurer arrived at Keelung City, Taiwan, a bustling international commercial port known for its naval and fishery activities. Once we received clearance, we disembarked, ready for a full day of exploration in Taipei City. The morning greeted us with warm temperatures of 25°C  although showers were expected later. Despite being an urban jungle with a population of over 2.7 million, Taipei City boasts an impressive 52% of its area designated as green space. As Taiwan is known for its mountainous landscape, we were thrilled to discover the island's natural wonders in the coming days.

Our first stop was a local bakery where we had hands-on experience making our own DIY Pineapple Cakes. These traditional Taiwanese sweet pastries, filled with pineapple jam or slices, are iconic snacks associated with Taiwan. They symbolise good wishes and are often given as engagement gifts for a large and prosperous family.

Next, we visited the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine, built in 1969 as a tribute to the 390,000 who sacrificed their lives during the revolution and the Sino-Japanese and Chinese Civil wars.

Before lunch at Silks Palace restaurant, we were treated to ringside seats to witness the preliminary finals of the annual Dragon Boat Festival-an authentic local experience. In the afternoon, we visited the National Palace Museum, a short walk from our lunch venue. The museum houses one of the world's largest collections of ancient Chinese artifacts, calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain, all brought over from the mainland in the late 1940s. Dominating the city's skyline, Taipei 101, an impressive engineering marvel reaching a height of 509 metres, was a central attraction. Some of us took the opportunity to travel in a 60 kilometres/hour elevator to the top of the building and explore the observation tower, while others enjoyed the extensive shopping centre and food court on the lower levels.

We concluded the day with a visit to the Keelung Miaokou Night Markets, bustling with vibrant food stands offering a variety of exotic meal options. It was a delightful way to bid farewell to Taipei City.

Image (c) by: F.Wardle