Taipei: Starlux Airlines Creates New Travel Opportunities

Taipei, Taiwan as a destination for business and leisure just got easier to visit from the U.S. On the heels of its inaugural trans-Pacific flight to Los Angeles, Taiwan-base startup, Starlux Airlines, announces a strategic partnership with Alaska Airlines. Now, passengers on both airlines will have access to more routes and benefits.

The agreement gives both STARLUX and Alaska loyalty program members more opportunities to earn rewards points on flights operates by each carrier. Once fully implements, the partnership will allow customers of both airlines to book connecting flights on a single ticket, making check-in and luggage transfer faster and easier. 

The partnership will greatly expand STARLUX’s reach into the U.S., with customers accessing Alaska Airlines’ vast domestic and international network, connecting at Alaska’s Los Angeles gateway. It will also increase travel choices for Alaska customers looking to travel to Asia who will now have access to 16 top destinations, with an easy transfer in Taipei. 

New Taipei

The new Taipei – Los Angeles flights are manages on Airbus A350 aircraft and feature four seats in First, 26 in Business, 36 in Premium Economy and 240 in Economy. Flights depart Los Angeles for Taipei on Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday at 00:50 hours. Flights depart Taipei for Los Angeles on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday at 23:40 hours. Starting From June 1, STARLUX will operate daily flights between Los Angeles and Taipei. 

Launched in 2020, STARLUX is a luxury airline base in Taipei serving 16 Asian destinations: Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Macau, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, Manila, and Cebu. 

Sixteen Things to Do in Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is home to some of the best natural beauty, cityscapes, cultural events, and night markets in the Asia Pacific area. Taiwan is a stunning subtropical island locates in the Pacific Ocean. Taipei, Taiwan’s northernmost city, offers a wide range of activities, including sampling the many delectable snacks at night markets, learning more about Taiwanese culture and history, or just taking a leisurely stroll through a park. 

The best months to visit Taipei are either March through May or September through December, before or after the summer’s sweltering temperatures. Because this subtropical city has frequent rain, be sure to buy an umbrella. But don’t worry, the rain won’t prevent you from taking advantage of all Taipei has to offer. 

TAIPEI 101

The distinguishing element and landmark of Taipei’s skyline is Taipei 101. When Taipei 101 first stood, in 2004, it was the tallest structure in the world until the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, overtook it in 2009. Even though Taipei 101 is no longer the tallest structure in the world, it is still the tallest structure in Taiwan. It was constructed utilizing eight separate parts, simulating a pagoda or perhaps bamboo in its design. Standing half a mile high, the Taipei 101 Observatory on the 89th floor offers spectacular 360-degree views of Taipei. There is a large shopping mall with several well-known brands at Taipei 101’s base.

ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN: Taipei

Elephant Mountain, the final stop on the red line, is close to Taipei 101. Just under a mile of stairs must climb to reach the summit of the mountain, therefore bring water. The viewing platform is 183 meters (600 feet) tall, providing breathtaking vistas and photo opportunities with Taipei 101 and the entire city in the background.

FOREST PARK IN DAAN: Taipei

A public park call Daan Forest Park can find in Taipei’s Da’an District close to Taipei 101, eateries, and cafes. Two ponds, several pavilions, walking routes, and cultural recreational facilities like an amphitheater, a playground, a running loop, and an ice skating rink are all locates inside the park. You can enjoy a pleasant picnic in one of the numerous grassy spaces, stroll beneath banyan trees, or observe egrets and ducks at the pond. 

JIANGUO FLOWER AND JADE MARKET

The Jianguo Flower and Jade Market, open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm, is right next to Daan Forest Park. The Flower Market and the Jade Market locates on each side of a junction that divides the marketplaces, which are locates underneath a motorway. With a variety of cultural goods available, including jade bracelets, sculptures, teapots, and tea bowls (cha wan), it’s an excellent spot to seek for gifts or souvenirs. 

FREEDOM SQUARE (CHIANG-KAI SHEK MEMORIAL HALL)

Freedom Square, formerly known as Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall (the name change is due to Chiang-Kai Shek’s violent and imperialistic rule), is a national monument created to commemorate Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Both the red and green lines pass by it, and the green line can change to the red line here. It is located in the Zhongzheng district. The monument is a striking structure and an excellent location for photos, with its white walls and blue tile roof. Freedom Square, which is home to a lovely park with immaculate lawns, ponds, and the National Theater and Concert Hall, surrounds the Memorial Hall.

NIGHT MARKET ON RAOHE STREET: Taipei

In the 1950s, Taiwanese night markets first appears in large cities close to temples or other significant crossroads, led by migrant workers from the countryside who wants to sell the food from their hometowns. Raohe, one of Taipei’s oldest night markets, is an illustration of a traditional night market because it was built next to the lavish Ciyou Temple, which is situate at the eastern end of the night market outside Songshan Station. 

Oyster vermicelli, spare ribs simmers in herbal soup, the renown hot pepper meat buns, duck meat, and of course Taiwan’s stinky tofu are some of the specialty foods and snacks. Raohe is the ideal family-friendly location since, like any night market, it offers a wide selection of cuisine to eat as well as drinks like boba tea and fresh fruit smoothies, fun carnival games, and tiny stores with clothing, shoes, accessories for electronics, and more. 

NIGHTMARKET IN SHILIN: Taipei

This market, which is the biggest and most well-known in Taipei, boasts a great selection of delectable snacks and beverages that wind through Shilin’s narrow lanes. You can have one of Shilin’s renowns grill sausages, crisp scallion pancakes, refreshing almond tea, or other tasty treats at the Shilin night market. Numerous clothes kiosks in the market offer more cheap clothing options along with well-known apparel labels like Nike, Adidas, and others. A short distance away is the red line MRT Jiantan station stop.

YANGMING MOUNTAIN

One of Taiwan’s nine national parks, Yangming Mountain National Park was formerly known as “Grass Mountain” during the Qing Dynasty. The rich sulfur reserves on the mountainside were the source of the name given by Qing Dynasty officials, who frequently set fire to the mountain to prevent trees from growing, fearing that criminals would steal the sulfur. In addition to green plains, Yangming Mountain features active volcanic sites like hot-air vents that you may observe while remaining safe.

MUSEUM OF THE NATIONAL PALACE

A permanent collection of almost 700,000 Chinese artifacts and pieces of art may be found at the National Palace Museum. After losing to the Communists in 1949, the Nationalists fled to Taiwan, bringing many of these artifacts with them. The actual museum structure was constructs between March 1964 and August 1965. The National Palace Museum is the ideal location for learning about Chinese and Taiwanese history because of its extensive collection, which spans 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic to the Modern era. The Jade Cabbage and the Meat Shaped Stone are two noteworthy objects. Replicas are available in the museum gift shop. As a tribute to emperor Kangxi from a Mongolian tribe, the Meat Shaped Stone was carved from carnelian to resemble meat. 

SHUNG YE MUSEUM OF FORMOSAN ABORIGINES 

The Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines is an ethnological museum, displaying the contrasts between the numerous Aboriginal groups in Taiwan in terms of their art, beliefs, eating utensils, and dress. It is simple and handy to visit both the National Palace Museum and the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines on the same day because they are located diagonally across from one another. In order to educate the public and preserve the oral history of Taiwan’s Aboriginal peoples, this museum aims to demonstrate the enormous diversity of Taiwan’s native culture by gathering information and showcasing artifacts relating to Taiwan’s Aborigines.

MAOKONG GONDOLA

Maokong Gondola offers a leisurely journey up to the top of the mountain with wonderful views of Taipei city. It situate on the southernmost point of Taipei City, directly near to the Taipei Zoo. Visitors can sample the many various teas grown on the mountain at tea farms or tea houses at the top. The Taipei Zoo Station, Taipei Zoo South Station, Zhinan Temple Station, and Maokong Station are the four stops that make up the Maokong Gondola’s circle. 

THE DIHUA STREET

One of the oldest streets in Taiwan, Dihua street served as Taipei’s primary commercial and trading hub during the late Qing period. This charming old street is lines with businesses housed in brick Japanese-style structures. These stores provide a wide variety of fantastic gifts, including tea, Chinese herbal medicines, teapots, woven and wooden goods, fabric, lanterns, pottery, confectionery, dried fruits, and nuts, as well as apparel and shoes. 

Beyond the Taipei Xiahai City God Temple, one of Taiwan’s oldest temples, food and beverage carts are lining the street. The temple is decorated with stunning and brilliant hanging lanterns for Lunar New Year. You may also find a ton of New Year’s goods here prior to the Lunar New Year, but be aware that it will be extremely busy. After shopping, spend 15 to 20 minutes at Da Dao Cheng Wharf enjoying a good cold drink and some food.

DADAOCHENG WHARF

Thereafter Dadaocheng Wharf, which locates on the Tamsui River’s bank, is a great place to experience Taipei’s nightlife. Prior to Japanese occupation, the wharf serves as a hub for trade along the river, bringing in commercial firms from around the globe to transact in goods including tea, cotton, and silk fabrics. Da Dao Cheng Wharf fell into disrepair after Tainan replaces Taipei as the trading center during Japanese colonialism. 

However, the wharf has been given a second life as a fun nightlife spot that cannot be missed, featuring bars and restaurants made from brightly painted storage containers, complete with seating on the top of each storage container and string lights decorating the walkway. Subsequently visitors can take boat trips on the Tamsui River from the Wharf over walk to Da Dao Cheng for shopping and dining.

BEITOU HOT SPRINGS

If you want to truly relax and decompress, look no further than the Beitou hot springs. Beitou has numerous hot spring resorts base on your price range, so you can soak your stress away without breaking your budget. Keep in mind many resorts are close on Monday.

TAIPEI FINE ARTS MUSEUM 

The Taipei Fine Arts Museum is in the Taipei Expo Park in Zhongshan District and opens on August 8, 1983, at the former site of the United States Taiwan Defense Command. Moreover It is the first museum in Taiwan built for contemporary art exhibitions. 

JINMIAN MOUNTAIN HIKING TRAIL

Finally the mountain stands at only 846 feet above sea level, and even though it is not nearly as tall as other mountains, it still gives great views of Taipei 101 and the city skyline. The trails are clearly marks and well tend. The Jinmian Mountain Trail is only about a 40-minute hike and should manageable for most.