See the True Taiwan: an insiders guide

Shrimping is one of those Taiwanese past times that draws a cult following of locals much like bowling does in the west. People who do it regularly love it, bring their own equipment, and have an entire social network centered around the activity. Many of the shrimp shacks are open around the clock all year round and run a restaurant in addition to the pools of massive shrimp. It's not uncommon to see big groups of young Taiwanese folks having a giant meal, a rack full of giant beers, and plate after plate of fresh grilled shrimp. Tourists who have done some research on Taiwan might have stumbled across shrimping as an activity and not paid it much mind. The reality is shrimping is easily in the top ten things you must do when you're in Taiwan. If you have not been to a shrimping stand and think you've gotten local, it's time to think again. For an average price of 300 NT per hour you get a rented pole, some bait, and a seat around a murky pool of water. The staff r...

Tainan has become one of the most popular weekend spots in Taiwan, and for good reason. The city is not only full of incredibly diverse cultural sites, but a staggeringly large proportion of good food and scrumptious eats. One of the foods that every visitor needs to get in Tainan is BaWan - said in Taiwanese and written 肉圓 - a delicious and versatile food eaten by locals any time of the day. Despite its shapeless squishy and completely unassuming appearance this food is a legitimate tourist attraction unto itself. These 肉圓 came from the Wumiao Bawan 武廟肉圓 store. Famous and tasty! Bawan come served in a shallow bowl covered in a mild orange-brown sauce which each store brews up using secret recipies. The general trend is a lightly sweet overture which gives way to the dumpling's flavors, finishing with a a garlic and sour medley that dances in your palate long after you swallow. The dumplings themselves are made from rice which has been soaked and pressed toget...

Nanfangao is only a bus ride away from Taipei city and is a perfect location for a day trip. It's a small fishing town which hosts a port and some naval hardware. Taiwanese folks seem to like to come here because it is only about 2 hours from Taipei but feels like you are much much farther away. The town is full of fresh fish, epic scenery, and a few memorable temples. The most comfortable way to get here from Taipei is to take the KuoKuang bus 1879 which usually features seat back televisions and starts its run at Yuanshan MRT station. It stops a few times along the way in the city, notably at the Nangang railroad station and also at the Nangang exhibition center MRT. The final stop is just outside the Nanfangao visitors center and is a great place to grab maps of the area. Be careful though, because the bus stop before Nanfangao is in Su'Ao which is the closest railroad station to the port, and is also where you'll be able to find scooters, cheap local food,...