Taipei, Capital city in northern Taiwan.
Taipei is the capital in northern Taiwan, lying in a basin surrounded by low mountains and crossed by rivers that meet at its western edge. Twelve districts make up the administrative structure, with high-rise apartment blocks, temples and low shophouses lining busy avenues and narrow lanes.
The settlement grew into a trading post during the 18th century, attracting merchants and settlers from the mainland. In 1887 the Qing administration chose it as the seat of government for Taiwan Province, and after 1949 it became the capital of the Republic of China.
Street markets fill with crowds each evening, where vendors serve sticky rice balls, fermented tofu and steamed dumplings from open kitchens. Local families gather on low stools to eat, chatting while traffic passes and neon signs flicker overhead.
The metro system links all twelve districts through five color-coded lines, carrying over two million passengers daily across the metropolitan area. Taxis are available throughout, and most signs in the center show both Chinese characters and Latin script.
The Taipei 101 tower holds a 730-ton sphere suspended near the top, acting as a pendulum that sways to counteract wind and earthquake movement. Visitors can watch the mechanism from a viewing platform as it shifts gently during storms or tremors.
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