Taipei Day 2: Da'an Park (大安森林公園)

We went to Da'an Park on the morning of our second day in Taipei. Our main motive was to go to the Jianguo Holiday Flower Market, but since Da'an Park is just opposite the market, we decided to take a few steps in. Just a couple of steps past the makeshift stalls selling fruits and foodstuff, and we decided that it was too freaking hot to trudge through the park to the Bamboo Grove and ponds.


There was a bigger crowd than I had anticipated, made up mainly of locals bringing their kids to the park on a Sunday morning.


Kids playing in the sandbox.



Stalls selling fruits, biscuits, fried fritters and preserved goodies.




Then we made our way to the Jianguo Holiday Flower Market which was just diagonally across the road from the park.


Note that you would need to walk along Xinyi Road Section 3 towards Jianguo South Road, and the journey will take you approximately 15 minutes on foot. Thereafter, the flower market stretched on for more than a kilometer, and we decided to cab instead of walk all the way back to the station.

Taipei Day 1: Kuo-kuang airport bus/ Viewshow cinemas/ Taipei Main Station
Taipei Day 2: Jianguo Holiday Flower Market
Taipei Day 2: Danshuei Old Street
Taipei Day 2: Shilin Night Market


TAIWAN HOLIDAY LINKS

Getting from the Airport to the Town Centre
Airport Bus

Accommodation
A review of the reasonably priced City Inn Hotel

Food
Great Yakiniku Dinner Wine and Dine
Best Fruit Smoothie at Agnes B Cafe
Dining Cute @ Hello Kitty Cafe
Best Breakfast @ New York Bagels
Best Spaghetti and Fruits Tea @ Afternoon Tea Cafe
Ice Cream Toast @ Dazzling Cafe, opened by a socialite
Best Mala Hotpot Supper @ Ximending

Night Markets
Shida Night Market
Shilin Night Market
Raohe Night Market
Jianguo Flower and Jade Market

Shopping Malls & Bookstores
Eslite, Shinkong Mitsukoshi

Main Attractions - Places that you can't miss
Danshuei Old Street: Eat while you walk
Jiufen: Traditional Alley
Shifen: Lighting A Wish Lantern
Beitou Hot Springs: Soak your troubles away
Yehliu Geopark: Amazing Rock Formations by the Sea