In the morning we will depart from Keelung port and head to Taipei, where we'll visit the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, a mausoleum to the former dictator who ruled Taiwan for decades and that is located next to the majestic buildings of the National Theater and the National Auditorium.

One of Taiwan’s most recognized landmarks is the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper, completed in 2004 and the world’s tallest building until 2009. The observation deck on the top floors of the building offers 360º views of the city and the surrounding mountains. Not surprisingly, Taipei 101 resides in the business district of Taipei, surrounded by Taiwan’s most expensive and luxurious apartments and the highest concentration of shopping malls in the world. At first glance, you’d never believe that just 60 years ago, this area was entirely rice fields! In this tour, we will show you around Xinyi District, and share its vibe and history.

We'll stop for a lunch break in this world acclaimed xiaolongbao restaurant inside Taipei 101.

After visiting very modern Taipei 101, we'll walk to get a peek at the past through a collection of old buildings still remaining, their distinct architecture reminiscent of simpler days gone by. We will stroll around 44 South Village, Taipei’s very first military dependents village, to discover the history of the Chinese military and their families who took refugee in Taiwan on late 40’s.

From our previous stop we'll head to the Longshan Temple, the oldest in the city and where we will enjoy its unique atmosphere.

After visiting the military village and, if we still have time (depending of departure of your cruise), we'll head to discover the historic Dadaocheng district, which has the highest number of traditional businesses in Taipei. Chinese medicine shops, traditional spice stores, and handicrafts fill the streets. Here, we will visit the City God Temple, the fabric market, and a famous tea house.