"A bite of Beef Noodle Soup Beef noodle soup is a common Taiwanese dish (also popular in China). The first time I tried it was when I lived in Hsinchu, which supposedly has some of the best beef noodle dishes in Taiwan. There are many versions of the soup but basically it consists of a noodle soup made with stewed or red braised beef, beef broth (also with varying ingredients), vegetables and thick or thin noodles. In Taiwan , the beef is usually in brisket, shank, or tendon form. Though I'm not a fan of eating a lot of red meat on a regular basis, I did enjoy sampling a dish of spicy beef noodle from time to time. By Rhonda Mix"

"Where to Stay in Taipei: The W Taipei The W Taipei showcases the city’s geography and cutting-edge technology. The lobby’s light installation reacts to human motion, and guest rooms feature dramatic skyline views. The W is also home to some of Taipei’s hottest nightspots, including the Bar at Yen on the top floor. From $314. 886/(0) 2-7703-8888. This appeared in the November/December 2012 issue."

"Food Heaven Calling all lovers of food: Shilin Night Market is the largest of many night markets in Taipei. It is easily accessible by MRT and has endless stalls of restaurants/stands as well as shops. Bring a friend so you can share and experience more of the many dishes that this great market has to offer. If you do take the MRT, make sure you get to the platform before 12am because the trains stop running after that. If you stay past 12am, you will need to catch a cab to get back to your hotel. By Brian Huang"

"Seafood in Downtown Liuquiu Xiao Liuqiu is basically a fishing village, and is known throughout Taiwan for its seafood. The main street is lined with seafood restaurants with the catch of the day sitting out front on ice in glass cases. You can always tell which is the freshest. It's usually still moving."