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During the 1960s, when Taiwan wasn't quite yet the economic superpower that it is today, there was only one way to describe Taipei: depressing. The streets were dirty and potholed, pollution hovered above the city, and the architecture was random and unimpressive. A few decades later, though, the city has undergone a radical transformation, coinciding with the country's rise as one of the region's wealthiest.

Today, Taipei is considered as one of Asia's most energetic and comfortable capitals. It is a place of technology, careful city planning, good governance, environmental concern, and lush parks. Not to mention that it has been able to achieve a balance between development and culture - amid modern marvels like the Taipei 101 lie historical buildings such as the Lungshan Temple.

Computer Savvy

What stand out most about Taipei is its forward thinking and willingness to embrace the modern age. Few places in the world have more laptops, cell phones, and internet connections than the city. In fact, it is considered to have the society with the most computer know-how in Asia.

Technology is all the rage here - not only with computers, but also with infrastructure. It is home to one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, which is the Taipei 101. Standing 508 meters tall, it's not only the height that impresses, but the logistics required to build one in an earthquake-prone country as well. In recent years, Taipei has become fashionable too, overseeing the construction of new boutique hotels and chic hang-outs.

Gourmet Paradise

Taipei is widely regarded to have some of the densest population in the world, not only of people, but also restaurants. Taiwanese cuisine is very diverse, with influences coming in from its neighbors, like China, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. Of course, Chinese cooking is the most dominant of these. It's almost impossible to walk down a Taipei street or alleyway without seeing some kind of restaurant or eatery.

West Taipei is generally considered to have the cheaper and more homely eating accommodations, while East Taipei is the haunt of the rich and famous. A different approach may be to try out the street food, which are popular in the city's Shilin Night Market.

Taipei photography

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