Our Deputy Print Editor’s Jam-Packed Four Days In Taipei
Taipei Takeover
By Natalie McGowan | 4th December 2025When the email came through asking if I wanted to join China Airlines and Taipei Tourism Bureau on a jam-packed four-day famil to Taipei, the answer was a resounding yes.
A few weeks later, bags (over)packed and passport in hand, I, along with the rest of the group, boarded a Premium Economy China Airlines flight to Taipei. It was my first time to Taiwan and my first time flying with China Airlines — one of Taiwan’s three major carriers — and I was very impressed. Spacious recliner seats, noise-cancelling headphones, slippers, surprisingly good plane food, priority boarding, and attentive service; if you feel like spoiling yourself without going all the way to Business Class, China Airlines’ Premium Economy is the sweet spot: elevated, comfortable, and still kind on the budget.
Similarly, if great shopping, an endless buffet of food options from Michelin-star restaurants to street stalls, and a city dense with culture and history sound up your alley, then Taipei should be high on your bucket list. Here’s why:
The food
I’m a firm believer that the best way to get to know a city is by eating your way through it, and in Taipei, that holds true. Braised beef noodles, steamed fish, endless Asian greens, carrot cake, steaming bowls of broth, bubble tea in every imaginable permutation… if you’re not hungry when you step out of your hotel, Taipei and all its glorious food will fix that quickly.
Upon landing, our first order of business was dumplings at Din Tai Fung. Founded in Taiwan in 1958, the husband-and-wife duo behind it began with a single shopfront and has since grown into a global institution. Xiaolongbao, drunken chicken, wontons, stir-fried greens – this pretty much set the tone for the remainder of the trip: eating, talking about what we’d just eaten, and plotting what we’d eat next.
Kicking off each day, breakfasts usually consisted of a cosy coffee shop, Taiwanese-style sandwiches, and a warm soy milk. From there, it became a smorgasbord of dishes and cuisines every day: fresh sushi at Addiction Aquatic Development, Michelin-guide plant-based dishes at Little Tree Food, tea-infused everything at The Big Teapot Restaurant, shaved mango ice on Yongkang Street — and that’s barely scratching the surface.
I love a night market — the family-run stalls, the smells and sounds, the blend of locals and tourists — and Ningxia Night Market was exactly that, complete with elite people, dog, and even pig (?) watching.
The culture
In between the many meals, we explored Taipei’s cultural side. Taiwan’s history is layered and complex, shaped by waves of migration, colonisation, and Japanese rule. You see the influences if you know to look for them: in the architecture, the diverse dining options, and the traditions. It makes the city all the more intriguing.
The National Palace Museum is the place to go for a deep dive into Chinese history. Designed in traditional Chinese architectural style, it houses around 700,000 artefacts spanning thousands of years, including the famous Jadeite Cabbage, which, sadly, was on tour at another museum during our visit.
Beitou Thermal Valley was a mystical, steaming hot sight to behold that could’ve been plucked from a Studio Ghibli movie. Nearby, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, with its old bathhouses and historical exhibits, adds fascinating context about the period of Japanese rule.
Maokong, perched high above the city, was a breath of fresh air — literally. Surrounded by greenery, tea farms, and temples, it’s home to the striking Zhinan Temple, which offers sweeping aerial views of Taipei.
And then there was Yangmingshan. Away from the bustling city, it was all misty hills, quiet streets, and a slower pace of life. Our accommodation had in-room hot springs, and the peaceful morning we spent in our rooms before heading out to sightsee was a much-needed moment to myself, watching the rain fall outside my window.
The shopping
On the shopping front, my bank account was grateful I didn’t have more free time. From independent shops to multi-level centres full of international brands, a shopaholic (read: me) could easily lose days in this city.
We stopped by YUAN for a soap-making workshop before exploring the rest of Yongkang Street, which was packed with ceramics and gift shops, where we drifted through stores and debated how many fragile items we could realistically fit in our suitcases.
Xinyi District is a non-negotiable. Home to Taipei 101 — once the tallest building in the world — the observatory offers panoramic views for anyone brave enough to look down. Bonus: the lower floors are filled with luxury fashion houses in a beautifully grand fit-out.
Across the road is Breeze Nan Shan, where you’ll find designers like Gentle Monster, Max Mara, ALLSAINTS, Acne Studios, LOEWE, and Miu Miu. We also checked out the trendier Zhongshan Shopping District during the Halloween Festival, where the streets came alive with markets, costumes, and a little bit of chaos. Beyond the festivities, the neighbouring streets were my personal heaven: second-hand stores, vintage camera shops, local labels, and curated international brands, including a Matin Kim shop (my favourite Korean brand).
The flight home
By the time we packed up to head home, those post-holiday blues started setting in, softened significantly by the fact that I was flying back on China Airlines Premium Business Class. The lounge in Taipei International Airport alone could’ve passed for a chic underground bar: exposed stone walls, wooden accents, magazine-lined displays, a Taiwanese buffet, a made-to-order noodle bar, and shower suites. It was pre-flight luxury at its finest.
As for the Premium Business Class cabin, the experience was on another level entirely – fully flat seats, a Moschino amenities kit stocked with everything you could possibly need, a personal table lamp, impeccable service, and a beautifully designed cabin filled with thoughtful touches. It’s safe to say economy class has been ruined for me forever. If I can’t have a five-course meal complete with filet mignon and a specialty cocktail in collaboration with a cool Taiwanese bar at 35,000 feet, I’m not interested.
Taipei is a city that rewards curiosity, where you’ll find something to see, eat, do, and photograph in every corner. My advice: put on your comfiest shoes and let yourself get lost.
Xie xie, Taipei. ’Til we meet again.
