Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan

A complex blend of the new & the traditional

There are two facets to today’s Taipei: the modern, international east side with its up-scale malls, chic boutiques and trendy restaurants, and the west, bastion of traditional life, its narrow lanes lined with vendors’ stalls. Monuments to the past honor Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai Shek. A monument to the future is Taipei 101, the International Financial Center, one of the tallest buildings in the world.

Not to be missed is the National Palace Museum, a treasure trove of breathtaking Chinese art and artifacts. And don’t forget to eat! Restaurants are plentiful and offer every type of regional Chinese cuisine.