Hello, My husband and I are planning a 3 week trip to Taiwan in January 2005. I've never been to any part of Asia before. What are the best places in Taiwan that we should definately see? Does anyone know of any good tour groups or where I can get information on available tours? I have very broad interests - anything historic or cultural. I'm also looking for good places to shop. Where are the best markets?

I'm also curious: what are the best things to buy in Taiwan? Like is there anything that you must buy when in Taiwan? Any particular must have? Are there lots of crafts and linen type things?

Much appreciate anyone's input! I'm really looking forward to our trip!!

i think you missed the plane...jan, 2005 was 11 months ago...haha..

assume you mean 2006...

the national museum is supposed to have the greatest of the china treasurers taken there in 1949 when the nationalists left the mainland...

OK, Yes, I meant 2006.

Yes the National Museum in Tapei is spectacular.Don't miss it! Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake are interesting places to see while you are in Taiwan. Enjoy!

3 weeks? You can visit everything there is to visit. Taiwan is about the size of Maryland and Delaware combined. Not a very big country.

great choice, 3 weeks is plenty of time to visit taiwan, i agree the national palace museum in taipei is great and a must, taipei 101 the tallest building in the world 101 floors and only 35 seconds to get there great view from the lookout of thwe city of taipei but pick a good day., because it rains often in taipei ,great place to visit but pricy for shopping around, must take a tour afternoon tour will take you to palace museum, chiang kai shek memorial and sample one of the many temples and a quick visit to the coastline just gorgeous, people are friendly .Hotels can arrange this for you for about 35 $ canadian great value
MUST SEE TAROKO NATIONAL PARK one of the most beautiful scenery in the world
beats niagra falls just stupendous scenery and as the previous reply Sun moon lake which is in central taiwan.
Taiwan is quite small with only 40 % of land habitable the rest is mountanous. I have gone all around the coastline in this island and it takes about 8 hours to go from North to south but once you go through the mountains it can take forever , the east coast on the mountain side is more enjoyable great ocean views and hotels. Shopping is comparble to us or canadian prizes no real great bargains to be had if you want to buy good quality products. But you must try the night markets in Taipei great bargains cheap products but lot's of fun. Warning though be ready for the sights and sounds and in particular the smells of the local vendors cooking stinky tofu.

History and culture great place in particular visit some of the aboriginal villages at sun moon lake.

Good things to buy, lots of reasonable aboriginal products Jewelry and Jade. Be careful at some of the jade markets, go to a specialty store to make sure you don't get ripped off.Many Jade markets in Taipei, taichung.

Plenty of crafts and linen products but go to specialty places and not the night markets, the quality is much better but still reasonable.

one more thing you must go to SunYi 1.5 hours south of taipei if you enjoy wood scultures the whole village is a wood sculpture haven with great bargains and fantastic quality products you'll be amazed. Enjoy you will have a great time the culture and the people are great.

Three weeks- too much time for Taipei. I would say 1 week at most- then you should venture out to another destination- maybe Shanghai?

Everyone - Thank you so much for your responses. colletti especially thank you. I had a feeling someone might say 3 weeks was too long. I am actually spending 3 weeks in Taiwan because my husband is Taiwanese. No desire to go to Mainland China
We are going to be visiting some friends and family he hasn't seen in 15 years. My husband wanted to wait til we got there to find places to go. But if I depend on him, we won't do anything! I want to plan ahead to make sure I don't miss anything!! Pathetically enough, I have never been off the North American continent! So this is going to be a HUGE trip for me!!!

I am so excited. We are actually going to be there for the Chinese New Year! And we modified our schedule slightly so we can be there to attend a family members wedding.

I haven't been there for many years, but one of my favorite places in Taiwan is Alishan. It's a lumber-town turned resort high up in the mountains. There's a highway to get up there, but the mountain railway is a fascinating trip.

We were there two years ago for 10 days. We were on a trip with specific things to do (conference of sorts) so didn't have time to do all that I would have liked. I will definitely be back to see Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge. Just the bit of time we had in that area was great.

I enjoyed the National Palace Museum. Also Lungshan temple in Taipei. And the presidential palace. And a really unique human rights museum in Yilan.

We did get to the west coast, Taitung area, and inland a bit to see a dairy, a tea plantation and an aboriginal village. That was all lovely. We were also in Kaoshiung (lit up very pretty for Christmas, not sure if it's as pretty year-round) and we saw Tainan as well. Both were refreshing because they were hot and sunny, whereas Taipei in December was a little dreary and rainy.

I'd add hot springs to your list, we spent time in Chihpen and the hot springs were incredible, as were the mountains there.

I don't speak Taiwanese or Mandarin and had I been solo this might have been a bit of a challenge. Nice for you to have your husband with you