Taipei

We spent Christmas in Taipei. The Grand Hotel Taipei was decorated for the occasion.

The National Palace Museum houses many Chinese artifacts the Kuomintang took with them from the mainland.

A representation of the Dutch made during the Qing Dynasty in 1667.

The Eight Treasures motif of Chinese art are: The Wish Granting Pearl, Double Lozenges, the Stone Chime, a pair of Rhino horns, double coins, a gold or silver ingot, and a wish-granting scepter.

The Meat-shaped Stone is the highlight of the museum. This piece of jasper carved into the shape of a Dongpo pork is far more popular than the thousand year old prints and sculptures the museum houses.

A thousand year old wine vessel

There are Din Tai Fungs all over its home city of Taipei. We ate at one in the bottom of a department store, and it was delicious.

A view of the Taipei 101 from our hotel

There are scooters and motorcycles all over the city.

The night markers have some interesting street food, like quail eggs, but also sell a lot of cheap junk (or treasures!).

A temple in the center of the Shilin night market.

Hard to pass up fresh seafood at the night market

Fresh prawns

The Grand Hotel Taipei peaking up above the jungle

The Chaing Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a prominent Taipei landmark. Its museum is more circumspect than I would have thought.