The Huashan 1914 Creative Park is a 20th century winery-turned-cultural hub. Old warehouses host live music, pop-up stores and art exhibitions, plus plenty of food outlets. Similarly, the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, built around a former tobacco factory, acts as an incubator for the local arts community.

Taipei offers glorious hiking trails in its surrounding peaks. A short hike up Elephant Mountain delivers panoramic views of the city and Taipei 101, or complete the whole Si Shou Shan (Four Beasts) hike, and summit Tiger, Leopard and Lion peaks too.

The city’s most famous skyscraper, Taipei 101, stands over 500 metres tall. It was once the world’s tallest building (usurped by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010) and remains the towering symbol of Taipei. Shop, dine, relax - and enjoy stunning city views.

Visiting night markets are among the best things to do in Taiwan China. Shilin Market is one of the biggest and best-known, with street food and arcade games. Raohe Night Market, one of the city’s oldest markets, is another foodie paradise. Delicacies include black pepper buns and the hard-to-miss stinky tofu.

Maokong is an area famed for its tea, with rolling clouds, lush vegetation and the ideal landscape for a relaxing cuppa. Or visit Taipei’s oldest tea house, Wistaria – once a gathering place for political activists and artists, with an extensive list of local teas and snacks.

Taipei isn’t all high-rise buildings and busy streets – it’s also home to a number of historic temples. Longshan Temple is an 18th century building that pays tribute to both the Buddhist faith and Chinese deities. And to the north, Baoan Temple has received a Unesco award for its culture heritage conservation.

You can't travel to Taipei without enjoying its most famous dish. Consistently rated as one of the city's best offerings, Lao Shandong Homemade Noodles has been serving heady bowls of aromatic broth filled with hand-cut noodles and slow cooked beef since 1949.

Wufenpu is a maze of narrow streets and alleys, each filled to the brim with stalls and shops selling the latest trends in fashions and accessories. It’s the perfect place to bag a bargain or completely revamp your wardrobe without destroying your wallet.

To visit the National Palace Museum is to take a tour through 8,000 years of Chinese history. The museum holds around 700,000 pieces, a combination of artworks and artefacts, painting and calligraphy, books and jade. Follow the crowds to see the revered ‘Jadeite Cabbage’ and ‘Meat-shaped Stone’.

Din Tai Fung has become a global chain, but the original location on Xinyi Road remains simple, rustic and a popular refuelling station for those who travel to Taipei. Of course, you’ll find all the classic draws including those legendary xiaolongbao and the open view of the dumpling-makers at work.

If you’re a foodie, make sure Addiction Aquatic Development is high on your itinerary. This complex is a celebration of seafood that’s part wet market, part supermarket, part sushi restaurant and part bar, with plenty of al fresco seating to enjoy your catch of the day.

Follow the smell of sulphur to reach Beitou, an area on the northern outskirts of the city that’s rich in hot springs. With more than 70 springs, plus numerous hotels with their own private thermal baths, it has become a relaxing retreat for locals and tourists alike.