“Anything you can do Taipei, Taiwan can do it better”
Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan, which is home to 23 million people who all live on an island that just barely reaches 36,000 square kilometers.
It is home to the Taipei 101 that is known across the world, but besides that it doesn’t really stand out from the rest. Most people have heard of Taipei, but the ins and outs of this amazing city are widely unknown.
For that reason, Taipei is probably one of the most underrated destinations in the world.
***Que The Music***
There are many things that Taiwan, Taipei does better than anyone else. From its economic prestige as an electronic powerhouse, to providing a free Wi-Fi since 2011, we can all learn a lot from Taipei.
Plan your trip to Taipei, Taiwan and save 69%! Click here to see details.
Not sure if you're ready to book a trip yet? After this blog I’m sure you will have travel fever.
Here is the list of the 5 things Taipei does better than anyone else, and is why you should plan your next trip to this underrated gem of Asia.
1. Baseball is Taiwan’s Pastime
American’s like to think that baseball is their sport and since they created it, they assume they are the best. When it comes to little league baseball, Taiwan holds the record for the most Little League World Series championship titles with 17.
That nearly doubles the closest runner up that is Japan. Baseball diamonds are scattered across Taiwan and are filled with kids daily, and this has led to the nation's success.
The teams from Taipei have pretty much dominated the Little League Baseball world for almost three decades. From 1969 to 1997, Taipei dominated the Pacific and sent 21 teams to the Little League World Series.
That is only 8 years where the failed to meet the feat. They were once a dominant force, and it was considered an upset in the rare occasion that they lost.
Today they are not quite as feared in the Little League Baseball realm. They have gone over a decade without a championship, but that does not take away from the history that baseball in Taiwan holds.
Every time the Taiwan boys play, it sends a fervor through the island and serves as a symbol of national pride.
2. WiFi is Free… Everywhere!
Nowhere else in the world is WiFi offered for free on a mass scale like Taiwan. More than 5,000 hotspots spread across Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan is what makes iTaiwan the most revolutionary WiFi service in the world.
Since 2011, iTaiwan has been providing the Taiwanese people with free WiFi and it is improving every year. Now offered in four of the five largest cities, tourists have the ability to connect all of their mobile devices and stay connected for free.
As a visitor, all it requires is that you bring your passport to any of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau centers and offices in the public transportation stations. Boom, you're connected. To speed up the process you can register and activate online here.
Another easy way to get access to the WiFi is by logging into any Airport Wifi after you land, and this will take you through the registration process. It is effective for 30 days, but if you request to have it extended they can make it effective for tourists up to 90 days.
Many of these hotspots are located in prime locations, including indoor public areas, tourist attractions, transportation hubs, cultural and educational facilities, and all government offices.
It may only provide up to 1 Mbps of bandwidth, so don’t expect lightning fast speeds, but it’s free so who’s complaining.
3. Health Care For All
Most people may not know that Taiwan’s government is a democracy, and a forward thinking on at that. They have a woman president named Tsai Ing-wen and their national health coverage is considered one of the best in the world.
Legal residents can visit any specialist in the country, and doctors will be able to pull up their entire medical record electronically via smart card. You can then be consulted and prescribed with natural Chinese medicine and/or prescription drugs.
Many call it the best universal healthcare system in the world.
Any fees are reimbursed by the National Health Insurance Administration; whose administrative costs are only 2%. Citizens never see a bill and they are provided the lowest administrative cost in the world.
They created their health care system from scratch at the end of the 20th century after virtually becoming a wealthy country over a few short years. They created a system similar to Canada’s and the U.S. Medicare system, but better.
Everyone has access to specialists and there are no waiting lines, so if you wake up in the morning with a random pain or ache you can see a specialist that morning.
4. Satisfy All Your Desires at a Market or Convenience Store
If you were to ask someone who has been to Taipei what their favorite part about their trip was, nine times out of ten their answer would have something to do with the night markets.
The small Island nation is estimated to have over 300 markets you can stop by every day. You will be able to get xiao-chi, which translates to “small eats”, along with many other market goods.
Need to quench your thirst? Get a delightful bubble tea or go out on a limb and take a shot of snake blood.
Some of the most famous markets on the Island include the Tainan Flower Night Market, Luodong, and Feng Chia night markets in Yilan and Taichung. These rival any markets you could find worldwide.
Plan your trip to Taipei, Taiwan and save 69%! Click here to see details.
If you can’t find what you are looking for at one of the many markets, then stop by the closest convenience store to tie up any loose ends.
Taiwan has one of the highest per capita concentrations of Family Mart’s, 7-Eleven’s, and other convenience stores in the world.
Plus, they have everything.
When I say everything, I mean it. Need some concert tickets, dinner, a handle of Jack Daniel’s, or to pay your college tuition? Look no further than the store on the corner, that is open 24/7.
5. Pick Your Food and Your Theme
For most people it is difficult enough to pick what type of food you want to eat when you go out. In Taiwan the decision becomes even more complicated as you decide what theme you want to enjoy your food in.
Filling your belly with food and laughs is all a part of the experience that is Taiwan.
Fulfill your wildest dream to eat a well prepared meal out of or sitting on a toilet. (I couldn’t make this up if I tried) The Modern Toilet is such a famous restaurant these days that you can find endless amounts of pictures of fascinated tourists and locals experiencing this one of a kind cuisine. It may gross you out but it is all for fun and games.
Want a theme a little more proper and polite? The Hello Kitty café is the place for you. Get your burger just how you like it with a bun shaped like the adorable cat cartoon. Their food is cooked to purrrfection!
Neither of those places sound like your jam, well then consider the other restaurants based on a jail, Airbus A380, school, or even a hospital. Explore all the wild and fun themed restaurants in Taipei before you visit.
Taiwan has nothing left to prove. The nation has earned its success and has a promising future thanks to it intelligent and proud citizens.
It is a hidden gem in the world of tourism, which is another reason why it is a great place to visit as you will get a feel for the local culture. When you visit the one guarantee is that you will definitely want to come back.
Book your trip to Taipei, Taiwan and save 69%! Click here to see details.
We have barely touched the surface as to why Taiwan is so amazing, so the rest is up for you to find out for yourself.
