father of the nation, which will reopen following a major renovation at the end of 2026. For fantastic views, it’s hard to beat the easy-going


Elephant Trail, weaving up the side of Elephant Mountain. It’s short (just over half a mile), but advise clients to allow an hour to hike the route, lined with numerous viewpoints. Suggest they combine it with a visit to 6CKRGK|


, a


15-minute walk from the trail’s start point. The tower lost its status as the world’s tallest building in 2010, but is still a ëiVÌ>VÕl>À ÃkÞÃVÀ>«iÀ° oÃÌ ÛiÃiÌoÀà hi>` voÀ Ìhi n9Ìh-yooÀ observatory, but it’s also fascinating to see the world’s biggest damper, a 660-tonne ball that reduces swaying.


WHERE TO DINE


Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung is famous for its xiaolongbao (steamed dumplings) and at the Taipei 101 y>}Ãhi« ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ>nÌ] }l>Ãà Ü>llà `iÛi`i Ìhi kiÌVhin vÀom Ìhi ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ>nÌ yooÀ] Ão VÕÃÌomiÀà V>n Ü>ÌVh Ìhi Vhivà «Ài«>Ài the baos (each one has 18 folds and weighs 21 grams). Taipei is also amassing a growing number of Michelin-


starred restaurants, including Mandarin Oriental, Taipei’s Ya Ge, where chefs put unexpected twists on much-loved classics, such as Taiwanese ribs with aged tangerine peel. ƂnoÌhiÀ }Ài>Ì wni-`inin} ëoÌ ià >½>n½Ã


iVhilin Õi`i-


listed Mume (Latin for ‘plum blossom’), where Nordic inyÕinVià Ãh>«i `iÃhià m>`i ÜiÌh />iÜ>niÃi in}Ài`iinÌð And to wash it down? Taipei’s cocktail scene is equally innovative, and its drinking venues regularly appear in the 50 Best Bars lists. We recommend toasting Taipei in Zhongshan’s speakeasy-style Mud Bar, whose focus is on loV>l in}Ài`iinÌð /ÀÞ Ìhi }in-L>Ãi` Õkin} in 7on`iÀl>n`] made with yuzu gin, Jin Xuan tea and starfruit.


BOOK IT: Abercrombie & Kent offers a five-day tailor-made trip to Taiwan from £3,995 per person, based on two sharing, with three nights at Capella Taipei. The price includes international flights, private


transfers, sightseeing and accommodation on a B&B basis. ABERCROMBIEKENT.COM


iÜ 9i>À½Ã Ûi wÀiÜoÀk ViliLÀ>Ìionà vÀom />i«ii £ä£


42 ASPIRE JANUARY 2026


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


Taipei


CREDIT: Tourism Administration/MOTC/Republic of China (Taiwan)


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