If you’re planning a trip to Taiwan, don’t just stay in Taipei.

This day, we traveled from Chiayi to Taipei and experienced local breakfast, deep history, iconic landmarks, and mountain tea culture—all in one day.

👉 Perfect for both first-time visitors and repeat travelers.

✈️ Table of Contents

• Chiayi → Taipei by High-Speed Rail

• First Impressions of Taipei

• Traditional Taiwanese Breakfast

• Sun Yat-sen & the Presidential Office

• The February 28 Incident

• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall & Democracy

• Xiao Long Bao Lunch

• Maokong Cable Car & Tea Mountains

• Tea House Experience

• Final Thoughts

🚄 From Chiayi to Taipei

We took the Taiwan High Speed Rail at 8 AM.

• Fast

• Comfortable

• Very easy to use

It felt similar to the Shinkansen in Japan—smooth and stress-free.

👉 In just about 1.5 hours, the scenery completely changed.

🏙 First Impressions of Taipei

Compared to Chiayi, Taipei feels much more urban.

• Tall buildings everywhere

• Dense streets and advertisements

• Lots of convenience stores and shopping areas

👉 You immediately feel like you’ve arrived in a major city.

🥢 Breakfast at Yong He Soy Milk King

One of the most iconic Taiwanese breakfast spots.

We tried:

• Savory soy milk soup

• Fried dough sticks

• Sweet soy milk drinks

Also:

• Turnip cake

• Egg crepes (danbing)

👉 Everything was soft, chewy, and perfectly paired with soy sauce.

Taiwanese soy sauce is interesting—

slightly thick, slightly sweet, and full of depth.

🏛 Visiting Sun Yat-sen & the Presidential Office

We stopped by the Presidential Office Building.

It actually reminded me of Tokyo Station.

That’s because:

• Designed by Moriyama Matsunosuke

• A student of Kingo Tatsuno

• Built in the “Tatsuno style” (red brick + stone)

👉 A fascinating connection between Taiwan and Japan.

📚 Understanding Taiwan at 228 Memorial Museum

We learned about the February 28 Incident.

After WWII, tensions rose under new governance.

A small conflict escalated into a nationwide uprising.

• Thousands were killed

• Martial law lasted until 1987

The museum shows:

• Both victims and government perspectives

• Realistic exhibits, including hidden shelters

👉 It was a heavy but important experience.

🕊 Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall — A Must-Visit (Even If You’ve Been Before)

I almost skipped this… but I’m so glad I didn’t.

There was a special exhibition about:

👉 Taiwan’s journey to democracy

Key facts:

• Martial law ended in 1987

• First direct presidential election in 1996

👉 That’s surprisingly recent.

One phrase stayed with me:

“Freedom is not free.”

Also:

• The traditional guard ceremony has changed

• Now replaced with outdoor marching

👉 Reflecting shifts in political values.

🥟 Lunch at Huang Long Zhuang

One of the best meals of the trip.

• Handmade Xiao Long Bao

• Rich sesame noodles

👉 The balance of sweetness and soy sauce was incredible.

🚠 Maokong Cable Car to the Tea Mountains

We headed to Maokong.

Fun fact:

👉 The name doesn’t come from cats

👉 It comes from the land formation (erosion patterns)

🌄 The Views

• Sunset over tea fields

👉 Absolutely breathtaking

⛩ Temples in the Mountains

Seeing large temples high in the mountains was surprising.

Reason:

• Feng shui

• Closer to the sky = spiritually significant

🍃 Tea Culture in Maokong

Maokong is famous for:

• Tieguanyin tea

• History dating back to the Qing Dynasty

• Recognition during the Japanese era

👉 One of Taipei’s most important tea regions.

🍵 Tea Experience at Yao Yue Teahouse

This place was incredible.

• Clear instructions on how to brew tea

• Unique and traditional teaware

• Unlimited tea as long as you stay

👉 Yes… unlimited.

Even more:

• Open 24 hours

• People relaxing, playing board games

• Staff incredibly kind (they even offered us umbrellas when it rained)

• Charging spots available

👉 Truly unforgettable hospitality.

🌙 Final Thoughts

This day showed me a different side of Taiwan:

• Deep history

• Complex political past

• Incredible food culture

• Beautiful natural landscapes

👉 Taiwan is more than just a destination—it’s a story.

💡 Travel Tips

• Don’t skip Chiayi

• Visit historical sites in Taipei

• Go to Maokong for a unique experience

❤️ Ending

This made me fall in love with Taiwan even more.

Tomorrow, we’ll explore more of Taipei at a slower pace.