It’s hot! Introducing recommended sightseeing spots in Taipei, the central city of Taiwan, in midsummer

This time, we would like to introduce Taiwan's central city, Taipei. When you think of Taipei, you may strongly associate it with shopping and gourmet food, but there are recommended spots to enjoy in every season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter! In this article, we’ll focus on places and events you can enjoy during the summer.

1. ICE MONSTER

The first spot we’ll introduce is ICE MONSTER, a store where you can enjoy delicious mango shaved ice during the summer.

Taiwan produces a large quantity of mangoes with various varieties. In the 2000s, a mango shaved ice boom swept across Taiwan, and many specialty shaved ice shops opened. Among them, ICE MONSTER is a very famous store. Its predecessor, “Bingguan,” originally came up with the idea of mango shaved ice and became explosively popular before being revamped into ICE MONSTER. You can eat there year-round, and there’s usually a line, but having a bowl of icy shaved ice on a hot summer day in peak mango season (June–July) is absolutely delicious!

2. The Okura Prestige Taipei

Speaking of summer, water activities like swimming in the sea or playing in pools come to mind. Unfortunately, while there are coastal areas in the suburbs, there are no beaches within Taipei City. So instead of the ocean, we’d like to introduce a pool where you can enjoy breathtaking views.

Though there are no large outdoor pool facilities in Taipei City, some hotels have pools on their rooftops. Among them, we recommend “The Okura Prestige Taipei.” It has an outdoor pool on the rooftop of its 20-story building, offering a panoramic view of Taipei. If you stay at the hotel, you can also use the fitness center, sauna, and other amenities for free. Staying at the conveniently located Okura Prestige Taipei and enjoying a relaxing time at the pool is highly recommended.

3. Taiwan Gourmet Festival

The Taiwan Gourmet Festival is the largest gourmet festival in Taiwan, held every July at the World Trade Center. If you're planning a trip during this time, you should definitely check it out. The festival mainly exhibits items related to “ingredients,” “cuisine,” and “tableware.”

During the event, in addition to sampling traditional Taiwanese dishes, there are fun and delicious activities like international cooking contests with chefs from around the world. The venue is so spacious that you can enjoy it for an entire day. But be careful not to overdo it on the samples, no matter how delicious they are!

4. Chinese Professional Baseball League

How about enjoying a cold beer while watching a baseball game in the summer?

The “Chinese Professional Baseball League” is Taiwan's professional baseball league. Although the number of teams isn’t as many, it's still one of the most popular sports in Taiwan. The season runs from March to October. There are no domed stadiums in Taiwan, so you can watch games comfortably without worrying about the cold—especially recommended in summer. Tickets cost around 700 to 1,200 yen (as of August 2017), making them a great value!

◎ Summary

So far, we've introduced things you can especially enjoy during the summer in Taipei—how was it? Summer usually brings to mind the beach, fireworks, and BBQs, but it looks like you can enjoy some uniquely Taipei-style sightseeing.

Above all, the main attraction of summer in Taipei is "food." In addition to the mango shaved ice we introduced, there are plenty of delicious foods. Taiwan is easily accessible, so be sure to visit!

It’s hot! Introducing recommended sightseeing spots in Taipei, the central city of Taiwan, in midsummer