Your essential guide to Taipei

EXPLORE

Centuries of treasures are on display at the National Palace Museum, from priceless ceramics and bronze temple bells to sweeping, Song Dynasty landscapes. Don’t miss its unlikely sounding masterpieces: the Qing Dynasty ‘meat-shaped stone’, artfully carved from jasper, and a beautifully-detailed bok choy cabbage sculpted from a single piece of jadeite.

DINE

Every detail is exquisite at Ya Ge, the hotel’s Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant. It’s an elegant showcase for chef Cheung Kwok Hung’s take on Cantonese classics: braised black truffle, morels and bean curd. Come lunchtime, the dim sum is presented with innovative ideas and superb craftsmanship to showcase a contemporary and elegant culinary aesthetic.

SEE

In a city full of temples, perhaps the most famous is Longshan, founded in 1738. Dragons writhe above its red-tiled swallowtail roofs, while its scarlet and gold interior is wreathed with incense. It’s presided over by a statue of the Buddhist bodhisattva Guanyin, who survived a wartime Allied air strike, emerging from the flames unscathed.

DRINK

After dark, head for the Da’an District’s bars. Draft Land is famed for serving cocktails on tap – though connoisseurs head to its testing room for boldly conceptual mixes. At nearby Bar Mood, the cocktail list riffs on local flavours and botanicals – such as the gin-based Call of Gabriel, laced with Jin Xuan tea.

FEAST

Take your pick from the city’s thronged night markets, lined with light-strung stalls. By Ciyou Temple, Raohe is one of the best. Join the queue for sensational pork buns at Fuzhou Black Pepper Bun, then eat your way around its traders, sampling chili-sprinkled squid, beef noodle soup, or – for the brave – stinky tofu.

VISIT

Formerly a sake distillery, Huashan 1914 Creative Park is now a sprawling creative space. Design shops, galleries and laidback cafés occupy its brick warehouses, along with an arthouse cinema, while weekends bring live music and street performers.

TASTE

Taiwan is synonymous with tea – not least its exquisite oolongs, grown on the central mountain ranges. Stock up at Wang Tea, founded in 1890, where the tea is still roasted over charcoal. Should you wish to learn more, the hotel’s concierge can arrange expert-led masterclasses for Fans of M.O.

STROLL

Join the locals in Da’an Forest Park, the city’s answer to Central Park. It spans 26 green and lovely hectares, dotted with camphor trees, banyans and bamboos. Spot turtles and herons in its tranquil pond, head for the slide-filled playground, or bring a picnic: just watch out for the cheeky squirrels.

SHOP

Not far from the hotel, stroll tree-lined Fujin Street, withs its cluster of cafés and boutiques, and Japanese-Scandi vibes. Head to Tokyo-born Beams for achingly cool streetwear or sip a latte at Pausa. On a side alley Fun Fun Town stocks beautifully curated homeware, from Japanese rice-bran candles to origami-like lights.

EAT

For some of the best sushi outside Japan, Taipei is the place. The Michelin-starred Sushi Ryu is a standout, thanks to chef-owner Yonglong Yang’s omakase menus, which might run from sea-urchin nigiri to Hokkaido scallop with mullet roe. Every detail is perfect, from the opening pickles to the delicate, seasonal desserts.

SOAK

In the north of the city, close to Yangmingshan National Park, Beitou’s sulphur-rich hot springs make for a relaxing day trip. Luxuriate in the geothermal pools at its bathhouses and spas, with views across the rainforest. Post-plunge, hike up the valley, with its scalding, emerald-green pools (too hot for bathing) and atmospheric clouds of steam.

SEE

The National Center of Photography and Images is a delight, starting with the airy first-floor café and shop. Scan the QR code for a smartphone audio guide, then take in two floors of ever-changing exhibitions, from a collection that runs from hand-tinted 40s portraits to contemporary photo-reportage.

On Dihua Street, the city’s oldest road, Taipei Xiahai City God Temple draws locals and travellers alike, hoping to find ‘the one’. Its deities include Yue Lao, the god of love, and scores of hopefuls pass through every day to request his assistance in finding their soulmate. Those who are successful are asked to return with wedding cookies. Judging by the stash of boxes, plenty of prayers have been answered.

- The concierge team at Mandarin Oriental, Taipei.