Trip - Taiwan Day 2 - Taipei (video)

Today, we visited the northern part of Taipei city and saw the following places:

The Grand Hotel - one of the world's tallest Chinese classical buildings

 National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) - we spent about 2.5 hours here.  There were 3 main pieces that's quite famous:  cauldron of Duke Mao, jadeite cabbage and meat shaped stone.  Too bad we didn't get a pic of the last one.

Yangminshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) - there is supposedly an awesome view of Taipei at this park but it was really cloudy so the view was only so-so

The Top Restaurant - the driver took us to this restaurant for lunch.  It's supposedly a really popular romantic dining place on the mountain. We had to eat inside a hut which cost $3000 NTD (or eat outside in the rain with no minimum charge).  In order to reach the minimum charge, we ordered way so much food it filled the entire table and had to order even more to take home.

Beitou Thermal Valley (地熱谷) - a volcanic crater filled with steaming natural sulfuric hot spring water.  The temperatures of the water can reach up to 100 deg C, so it's not suitable for bathing.  Lots of steam around the area.

Beitou Quanyan Park foot bath park - this is popular spot where locals hang out dipping their feet into natural spring water...for free!  There's an area to wash your feet before you get in and rinse after you are done.  It was pretty busy when we got there but managed to squeeze ourselves in.