Taipei: A blend of high-tech and natural beauty
Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Taipei
Famous for its agricultural products back in the 1970s, Taiwan has emerged as a country famous for its advanced technology, particularly in computer-related equipment, just three decades later.
Before I went to Taiwan, all my friends here said I should buy Taiwanese IT products, which are said to be much cheaper than in Glodok, West Jakarta. Others said I should buy them souvenirs from F4, a group of four young men that created a hit with their Meteor Garden TV show in 2002.
Once the airplane touched down at Chiang Kai-shek Airport, I was immediately amazed by the warm welcome from people.
A short trip from the airport to the hotel offered a glimpse of Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan, and it really amazed me. The architecture in the city reflected modernization, but yet there remained a sense of arts and tradition in some corners of the city.
Many parks dot the landscape, prompting citizens to enjoy lunch outdoors, something that definitely could not be done in Jakarta.
One thing that I really enjoyed in Taipei was strolling along the sidewalks, which are wide and shady. I could also ride the subway without any fear of getting lost although, I don't speak Chinese (Mandarin).
As if to confirm its existence as an IT producer, the Taipei Government Information Office -- which invited a group of more than 30 journalists from around the world -- took us to the Hsinchu Science Park, outside Taipei.
The park offers an excellent environment for investors and high-tech enthusiasts.
The Taiwan government set up the science park in 1980 with an eye to transform labor-intensive industries into technology- intensive ones. The established sound infrastructure and an excellent research and development environment at the park and have attracted a wide variety of local and foreign investors and thus heralded the prosperous development of the park.
In 2003, nearly 10 percent of the output of the domestic manufacturing industry was contributed by the park, revealing how it has become the engine of Taiwan's economic development.
Another attraction is definitely Taipei 101, officially known as the Taipei Financial Center, which is set to be the new landmark of Taipei City.
When a fellow journalist told us that it only took 40 seconds to reach "the top of the world", none believed him. Apparently, he was right.
Our guide claimed that the tower's elevator was the fastest in the world and it sure seemed like it, as it took only 39 seconds from the ground floor up to the indoor observation deck on the 89th floor.
Located in the heart of the Hsin Yi Planned Area, also dubbed the "Manhattan of Taipei", the tower is the perfect place for people view the scenery of the city.
The tower is surrounded by the plush Hyatt Hotel, the New York New York department store, cafes and other government offices including City Hall.
Scheduled to be opened to the public in early 2005, Taipei 101 will not only host offices, but also an opulent revolving restaurant and a multi-function hall that can be rented for private occasions.
Attached to the tower is a mall that host luxurious designer boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, et. al.
The tower's official website www.tfc101.com.tw explains that architects found the appropriate and original expressions from oriental elements for the design. It was built one step at a time, like petals of a flower unfolding or sections of a bamboo rising from the ground, and it offers a new perspective to the residents of the city.
To alleviate wind pressure and provide the best safety measures and efficient services, floors with built-in stabilizer mechanisms were installed every eighth floor of the tower, totaling 11 floors in the building with stabilizers. The top of the building is a communication tower that boast that it will be able to provide the best communication facilities.
"It is also to guarantee safety for all employees at offices in the tower," our tour leader said.
The building structure was constructed primarily by steel and reinforced concrete, with the exterior wall made of a glass, with double glazed heat reduction panes. The base of the building was made with granite rock.
The shopping mall has several skybridges connecting it with other buildings including the Taipei Convention Center.
Besides the two sites, we also visited the famous Taroko National Park, the National Palace Museum, the Lungshan Temple, the Lin Family Garden and the Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum.
With its "Naruwan" motto, meaning welcome or how are you, the Taipei Tourism Bureau expects to see the number of tourists go up to five million in 2008. Currently, around three million tourists visit Taipei each year.
Michael Hsu, the tourism bureau deputy director general, said that the biggest market for the Taipei tourist industry has been Japan followed by South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.
"Tourism has been more important for Taiwan and therefore we have put a lot of effort into boosting tourism," he said.
Hsu said that tourism contributed 2.5 percent to the state revenue. "We are trying to promote our natural resources and Taiwanese food as the main attractions."
Besides fancy restaurants and hotels, Taiwanese food can be readily found in night markets scattered in every corner of Taipei city.
If you still have not made holiday plans for 2005, perhaps Taipei is a destination to be considered.