Taipei, Taiwan’s crowded capital has a unique personality. Both old and new are represented within the city limits. While old neighborhoods, on one side of the city, sport narrow alleyways and traditional Chinese architecture, Taipei’s other half is littered with malls and office complexes. In between are the hectic roadways and nonstop commerce of this vibrant city.

Sightseeing in Taipei can be a 24 hour proposition. At sunrise, many Taiwanese head to the nearest park to practice Tai Chi, the slow moving exercise meant to enhance both body and mind by moving chi (a kind of life energy) throughout the body. 2-28 Peace Park and the area around the Sun Yat Sen Memorial are good places to watch this practice, or even join in.

The National Palace Museum has one of the largest collections of Chinese historical artifacts in the world. The exhibits often rotate, so there’s always something to see, even if it’s not one’s first time in Taipei. The gardens that are housed on the National Palace Museum’s compound are also worth a visit. They are groomed in the style that was popular in old China, and stroll through the grounds matches well with the ancient art on display inside the museum. There is a separate entrance fee for the garden.

Nature lovers can head to Yangmingshan Park or the less crowded Maokong area, both just outside Taipei, to enjoy the fresh air. Maokong has several notable teahouses, and Yangmingshan is where visitors can soak in a hot spring at one of several locations. Both these natural places can be reached from Taipei’s city center in well under an hour.

Of course, Taipei has one of the world’s tallest buildings. It’s actually a bit expensive to gain access to the tower’s upper floor observation deck, but, I’m told, it is well worth it to see the entire city from above. The building also contains shopping malls and a food court worth writing home about.

The Taipei Zoo is one of the grandest zoos in the world. It is huge and contains representation of different climate zones as well as numerous gardens. There is also a train tour for those who do not wish to walk the entire distance. The mountainous area nearby the zoo, Wenshan, is home to many tea plantations. The Maokong area, mentioned above, is also near the zoo.

Shopping can be an experience at one of Taipei’s futuristic malls, while older boutiques can be found along they alleyways near Zhongshao Road provide a quieter experience. Aside from Taipei 101’s mall, the Breeze Center and Warner Village offer anything a shopper could want in terms of choices.

Taipei being one of the safer cities in Asia, visitors can feel comfortable experiencing Taipei at night. Overall, Taipei has a distinctive atmosphere that makes a visit worthwhile.