10D9N Taiwan Travelogue – (Part 2): Day 1 @ 西門町 Ximending

In my Part 1 blog on our Taiwan travelogue, I shared on 10 tips when planning a trip to Taiwan. I hope it’s useful to you. Knowledge is power. Even a small saving can go a long way to maximize your mileage to make your trip more enjoyable.

AND OFF WE GO

Our trip to Taiwan was specially meaningful because this time, we were travelling with our extended family. Due to our work commitments, we had to travel first to Taipei while awaiting for them to arrive few days later. We are fans of Scoot and we find its cabin spacious and clean. So, needless to say, we booked Scoot!

It was Big and Small M maiden trip to Taiwan. They were already fascinated by Taiwan when we were planning our itinerary.

ARRIVAL

It was evening time when we reached Taoyuan International Airport. Thanks to the free airport transfer tickets we received from Taiwan Visitor Association Office, we hopped into a coach to head for Taipei Main Station.

The bus ride was about 40 mins. We were quite awake during the bus journey because we were peering out of the windows viewing the streets of Taipei. Big and Small M were obviously amused even before our adventure started! We alighted at Taipei Main Station and Ximending is just one MRT stop away. We were carrying our luggages and we just want to check into our hotel ASAP.

So instead of taking the train, we hopped into a cab to bring us to Via Hotel at Ximending. The cost? NTD $100 🙂

Alright, we could hardly contained our excitement when we landed at Ximending 西門町.

  

VIA HOTEL XIMEN @ TAIPEI

How can we not stay in 西門町 Ximending, the ‘Harajuku and Shibuya of Taipei”? Every tourist who visit Ximending will definitely include this place in their itinerary. Thanks to Via Hotel, we were hosted to stay with them. The big bonus is that Via Hotel is located right smack in the heart of Ximending!

Read our blog review on Via Hotel here. We were so so so impressed by its facilities. I love its 24 hour complimentary snack bar where I can chill and drink my coffee. We received many positive comments of Via Hotel and some of our friends even booked it for their family trip to Taipei.

  

西門町 XIMENDING

西門町 Ximending is similar to Singapore’s Orchard Road. Over here, it’s where all the action is. I would say Ximending never sleeps! The streets were busy during the day. However, when night comes, it gets even busier. Food-carts assembled near to Via Hotel and just like magnets, you will find yourself attracted to buy snacks and satisfy your hunger pangs.

 

 

Throngs of people crowded the streets at Ximending. Shop till you drop!

We settled for our dinner in this ramen store.

Before we head back to Via Hotel to rest, we walked around Ximending. If you are familiar with what’s popular in Taipei, you will want to try Ay-Chung Flour Noodles the next time you come.

If you have served NS, you will not forget this…chicken chop!

  

Apart from food-carts, you will not be surprised to see push-carts selling apparels and accessories.

It was almost near to 11pm. Look at the crowd!

How good is it to pass the night enjoying the performance of street buskers.

That’s all for our Day 1 in 西門町 Ximending and while heading back to our hotel, we spotted the pride of our nation, JJ Lin 🙂

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