Taipei In A Day

Taipei in a Day is a very informative, modern travel guide for not just Taipei, but also the entire island of Taiwan. It is a 240 page paperback, published in May of 2008, and weighs 12.8 ounces. At 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches, the guide is small enough to carry with you everywhere while visiting Taipei, but also comprehensive enough to be of real value.

In addition to the standard dining and hotel guidance, the book contains relevant vocabulary and phrases that travelers to Taiwan should know. In fact, it contains an entire section on local culture and customs, called “Taiwan from A to Z.” Using these tips will enable the reader to blend in better with the locals and look less like a gawking tourist.

The book has easy to read, well-designed maps, and provides honest reviews of Taipei lodgings, restaurants, marketplaces and clubs, as well as locations and reviews of popular tourist sites like temples, parks and ancient relics. Just like modern computer map software, many of the maps are superimposed over aerial views.

The book is written in English, but also provides the names and addresses of the local attractions in Chinese. This feature is extremely helpful when giving instructions to a cab driver or looking up at a sign at a shop or restaurant.

The book is a travel guide, not a coffee-table photo exhibition book; don’t expect large fold-out glossies of the sights. However, the included photos are color, and adequately give you an idea of what the particular tourist site is about. They are useful in deciding what to see and what to skip, depending upon your interests.