The first stop on your Taipei night tour is the iconic landmark, Taipei 101. This shining skyscraper was once the tallest building in the world. The building has 101 stories, with an observatory deck on the 89th floor (ticket is not included), where the visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Taipei City. Not only that, it has one of the top 3 fastest lifts in the world; from the 5th to the 89th floor, it only takes 37 seconds.
The skyscraper is adjoined by a multilevel shopping centre—Taipei 101 Mall. The mall houses hundreds of fashionable stores and restaurants, along with a food court and a supermarket.
After that, it’s time enjoy a delectable Xiaolongbao dinner at the Michelin Bib Gourmand selected, world-renowned restaurant chain—Din Tai Fung.
Din Tai Fung was founded in Taiwan in 1958, initially a cooking oil retailer, and then transformed to a restaurant serving Xiaolongbao in 1972. Today, the restaurant is renowned for its juicy and savoury Xiaolongbao (steamed pork dumplings) that are wrapped with paper-thin dough wrappers and folded exquisitely with 18 perfect folds.
In addition to Xiaolongbao, a number of its signature dishes will be served.
After dinner, you will visit the bustling Raohe Street Tourist Night Market. If you still have room for dessert or snack after dinner, the dazzling array of food stalls in the night market won’t let you down! Black pepper bun, oyster vermicelli, spare ribs stewed in herbal soup, iced sweet glutinous rice dumplings and many more, will make you eat direct.
After a food adventure at the night market, you can take a walk across the Rainbow Bridge nearby. The red-painted bridge spans Keelung River, which can be accessed by foot and by bicycle. Strolling on the bridge, you enjoy the city lights over the other side of the river.
Before the end of the tour, you will visit Songshan Ciyou Temple. The temple was built in 1753, dedicated to “Black Faced Mazu”. The rooftop is richly decorated with Chinese traditional ornaments, such as flying dragons and the figures of deities, featuring the Chinese myths. The stone lions at the main gate are worth taking a look at, too. The male lion is portrayed with an open mouth, and female lion with a closed mouth, symbolising “yin and yang” in Taoist metaphysics. The interior of the temple is just as amazing, that you will come to find out.
Your tour ends with a drop-off at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station.