EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Un día en Taipéi te acercará a la rica tradición y la cultura antigua que impregnan

Following a scenic drive from Keelung to Taipei, you’ll tour the city and visit some of its most iconic sights.

Visit the renowned National Palace Museum, housing an astounding selection of Chinese Imperial Art. This extraordinary collection began during the 10th century, when Chinese Emperors seized art treasures for their own pleasure. Moved in crates from city to city to escape invading armies in the 20th century, the collection finally ended its journey in Taiwan. Today, the museum holds over 650,000 items, including jade, bronze, porcelain and lacquer pieces, as well as tapestry and embroidery, many dating back over 4,000 years.

Dedicated to the people who sacrificed their lives fighting for the Republic of China, the National Revolutionary Martyr's Shrine is an excellent example of classical Ming Dynasty architecture. You'll be able to admire this majestic complex during your visit.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, before proceeding with your sightseeing and visits.

You'll also visit the Sun Yet-Sun Memorial Hall completed in 1972. It's dedicated to the Republic of China's National Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The grand and beautiful building's architecture is inspired by that of Chinese palaces and it is surrounded by a large garden park area where the locals enjoy daily activities.

Before departing Taipei, drive to the spectacular Taipei 101 skyscraper for a photo stop. Once the tallest building in the world with 101 floors and topped by a 197-foot spire, is still an impressive landmark. Constructed of steel, concrete and glass, the building houses a shopping mall, offices for 12,000 people, and the Taiwan stock exchange.

Taipéi, rodeada de montañas y surcada por los ríos, es el centro del gobierno, de la economía y de la cultura de Taiwán (República de China). On this half-day tour, discover Taipei, a modern and cosmopolitan city infused with ancient culture and traditions. You will begin with a one-hour drive from the busy port of Keelung to dynamic Taipei.

Visit the prestigious National Palace Museum, boasting one of the world's most important art collections, originally housed in Beijing's Forbidden City. This extraordinary collection began during the 10th century, when Chinese Emperors seized art treasures for their own pleasure. Moved in crates from city to city to escape invading armies in the 20th century, the collection finally ended its journey in Taiwan. Today, the museum holds over 650,000 items, including jade, bronze, porcelain and lacquer pieces, as well as tapestry and embroidery, many dating back over 4,000 years.

Your scenic city drive takes you on to the heart of Taiwan with a visit to the remarkable National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. A Taiwanese national monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. The roofs are decorated with deep-blue glass as part of the reflection of blue sky and bright sun and the garden is planted with red flowers. As a whole, the colors of blue, white and red express the National Flag and the spirit of freedom, equality and brotherhood.

Spend the day much like a Taipei local by biking along the Keelung River, shopping at a market and visiting a temple. As you pedal along the river, you will surely be among other bikers, as bicycling is a popular and convenient way to get around town. Once you reach the Dongmen Market, you will mingle shoppers as they select ingredients for the day’s meals and engage in friendly haggling for the best prices and highest-quality items. The market will present an enlightening cross-section of residents, as will your lunch venue. After dining at a cook shop on local favorites that may include a beef-noodle dish or pork fried rice, you will drop by the 18th-century Longshan Temple, one of the oldest temples in Taiwan. Chances are, locals will playing board games and conversing on the exterior benches and tables. While inside, you will see others praying to Buddhist and Taoist deities for good health and good fortune.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Get a great feel of life in Taipei by spending the day much like locals do.
• Bicycle along the river, dine in a lively cook shop and browse the market for fresh produce.
• Spend time in Longshan Temple among locals who come to worship and meet friends.

Participate in a beach clean-up on Heping Island and browse a museum whose goal is to promote respect for the seas and improve their sustainability. On the way to the island, you will learn about the wind and ocean currents that continually deposit debris along the coast. Paper goods and plastic bottles are just a few of the items that can affect the quality of the water, endanger wildlife and negatively impact the natural beauty. Some of the items wash up on the shore; beach-goers thoughtlessly leave other debris behind. Over the course of an hour or so, you will collect non-biodegradable items with a special trash-picker tool. You will discover more about the ocean’s environmental challenges at the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, which occupies a former thermal power station. The enlightening exhibits cover topics as wide-ranging as conservation, marine ecosystems and ship construction.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Help clean up the beach on Heping Island, which lies just off Keelung.
• Feel a sense of satisfaction and achievement for participating in the clean-up.
• Delve into different aspects of the sea by browsing a marine science museum.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Ubicada cerca del extremo norte de Taiwán, Keelung fue la base de los piratas japoneses del siglo 16, y más tarde fue invadida por españoles, holandeses, franceses y japoneses. En este tour de medio día, descubre los paisajes de Keelung, uno de los puertos marítimos internacionales y centros de transporte más ajetreados de la isla.

Drive to Chung Cheng Park, an eclectic combination amusement park and Buddhist holy site. With excellent views of the city and harbor, Chung Cheng Park is the location of the massive 74-foot statue of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy.

Explore the astonishing Yeliu Park, a promontory stretching over a mile into the sea, revealing an amazing variety of rock formations. Wave erosion, wind, rain and the action of the earth's crust combined to create fantastic natural sandstone and rock sculptures, known as dissolved basins, mushroom rocks, bean curd rocks, beehive rocks and potholes. Among the most spectacular and famous formations at Yeliu are the Queen's Head Rock, Fairy Shoe, and Candlestick Rock.

Experience the spiritual side of Taiwan by meditating at a renowned Buddhist retreat, followed by an exploration of Taiwanese artistry at the esteemed Juming Museum.

Enjoy a leisurely drive to northeastern Taiwan, where you'll find famed Dharma Drum Mountain, with a collection of Buddhist monasteries and educational centers. Founded by Master Sheng Yen in 1978 to uplift the character of humanity and build a pure land on earth, the spiritual complex is an inspiring setting. While here, you'll spend approximately 1-hour meditating in a way that encourages spiritual enlightenment. You'll also learn about the teachings of the late Master Sheng Yen, who wrote more than 100 books and traveled the world spreading the doctrines of Buddhism in a highly relevant manner.

Drive to a local restaurant where you'll enjoy a lunch featuring traditional Taiwanese cuisine.

Visit the Juming Museum, named for the celebrated Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming. The country's only outdoor sculpture museum, it offers a wonderfully natural, mountainside setting where much of the artist's modern work is displayed. There are also interior spaces devoted to Ju Ming's art and works by his teachers and other artists, such as Picasso and Warhol. Although originally a woodcarver, Ju Ming later developed his skills even further and applied them to other medias. He funded the museum himself and was also intimately involved in designing its architecture and landscaping.

Discover the natural beauty of Taiwan by walking through revered Yangmingshan National Park and then enjoy the relaxing hot springs at a coastal resort.

Drive inland to Yangmingshan National Park, an emerald-green wonderland of dense forests, volcanically formed mountains and natural hot springs. Unspoiled and protected, it offers a welcome respite from the metropolitan areas nearby. Formerly known as Grass Mountain, this area has long attracted nature lovers, but it wasn't until 1985 that the park was officially established. You'll spend approximately 1 ½ hours at the park, and depending on where you walk, you may see towering bamboo, fruit trees in bloom, placid ponds and steam rising from the numerous volcanic springs. You may also catch sight of or hear the loud cackle of a Formosan Blue Magpie, a species of bird only found on Taiwan.

Make your way to a local restaurant where you can enjoy a traditional Taiwanese lunch before driving on to the Cal La Young Garden Resort in the Jinshan District. There are more hot springs here than in any other coastal district in Taiwan, and you'll have nearly two hours to enjoy the therapeutic effects of the mineral-rich waters. It's an immensely relaxing experience that has been delighting the Taiwanese for centuries. While you soak in one of the springs at the resort, afternoon tea will be prepared for your enjoyment.

Behold the natural beauty of Shifen Waterfall on the upper reaches of the Keelung River and then write a personal wish on a paper lantern and watch it rise into the sky to be answered.

Settle in for a one hour drive inland to Shifen Waterfall, the broadest waterfall in Taiwan. Known as Little Niagara because of its horseshoe shape, the waterfall cascades into a wide pool at the bottom. Although not the highest of waterfalls, Shifen is certainly one of the most majestic.

A different sort of phenomenon awaits you near the train depot at Shifen Station. You will notice that many of the surrounding shops sell colorful sky lanterns, which are biodegradable rice paper lanterns illuminated by a candle in the bottom. Each year Shifen Station hosts a large festival where literally thousands of these lanterns are lighted and released into the air, where they rise like hot-air balloons. People write personal wishes, messages or prayers on the lanterns and according to tradition, as the lanterns ascend heavenward their requests will be fulfilled. You'll have the opportunity to write your own thoughts on a sky lantern and release it. Powered by the candle, it should continue to rise for nearly 10 minutes, time enough for the lantern to disappear from sight and your wish hopefully to be answered. Enjoy a bit of free time at the station to get that last minute souvenir or browse the many shops.

Tour modern Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and a revered temple and then enjoy a pampering foot massage that will leave you feeling relaxed and invigorated.

Take a leisurely one hour drive inland to Taipei City, the robust capital of Taiwan. The energy is almost palpable in this modern metropolis whose skyline is crowned by Taipei 101, which was once the world's tallest building. Despite the booming development, the city still reveres its past and former leaders such as Chiang Kai-shek.

Stop for a visit of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, an octagonal building that reflects the fact that the number eight is considered a symbol of fortune and wealth in China. The 88 steps leading into the hall are also symbolic as the president was 88 when he died. See statues of Chiang, his personal memorabilia and perhaps the bulletproof Cadillac that he used as an official state car.

You'll also visit Longshan Temple, which was founded in 1738 and dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. Although rebuilt numerous times in the wake of natural disasters, the temple is still an architectural treasure. Be sure to notice its sweeping roof decorated with mythical creatures.

And what better way to end your tour than with a foot massage? After about 45 minutes in the hands of an accomplished masseuse, your feet will be refreshed and ready for the evening.