Taipei lacks conventional, historical sites and top-class musical and theatrical entertainment. That said, visitors will find a good day's worth of sites spread throughout the city. After a mandatory visit to Taipei's famed National Palace Museum in the northern suburb of Waishuangxi, take a short trip to the Martyr's Shrine in Dazhi coupled with the nearby Grand Hotel, with its imperial Chinese architecture. This can be followed up by downtown attractions, such as the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and nearby National Theatre and Concert Hall, a quick trip to the Presidential Palace, Botanical Gardens, History Museum and the 2-28 Memorial.

Those interested in temples can head out to Wanhua, the original centre of Taipei, to see the Long Shan Temple. Two other options are the Xintian Templeon Minchuan and Songjiang roads or the Confucian temple in northwest Taipei.

Culture vultures still pining for venues can head to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall near the City Hall in the eastern district of Taipei, or visit Chiang Kai-shek's summerhouse in the northern suburb of Shilin. A few other noteworthy historic buildings constructed during the Japanese occupation lie in close proximity to the Presidential Palace. The remaining gates from Taipei's former city walls are small, unimpressive and difficult to access since they are surrounded by busy roads. If modern art is your thing, check out the Fine Arts Museum. Stop for coffee and lunch at the nearby Taipei Story House (Zhongshan Road, Section 3, No 181-1 (Tel: 886 2 2596-1898). The restaurant is set within the gardens of an old Victorian mansion.