With Taiwan's transition from rural isolation to economic tiger, Taipei blossomed into a city of 2.63 million with more than 1 million scooters and 650,000 cars. It has, however, the cleanest air of any city in Greater China or Southeast Asia as well as a very low crime rate.

The Formosan blue magpie, an attractive bird with a long blue and white tail, is the official bird. Look around while walking or driving through the city. Everywhere, you will find evergreen banyans (Ficus microcarpa) and flowering azaleas.

Taipei is most definitely a Cyber City: It has more than 4,000 wireless internet access points, the densest wireless coverage in the world and the largest public Wi-Fi grid.

Another claim to fame is the Taipei 101 tower - for a while, the world's tallest building. The 508-meter skyscraper possesses the most advanced technologies such as state-of-the-art, pressurized, high-speed elevators and a 660-metric-ton damper to reduce swaying during earthquakes and typhoons. It houses offices of well-known multinationals and the most famous and luxurious brands in the adjoining shopping center.

Taipei benefits from a well-constructed, dense mass-rapid-transit system (MRT). During peak hours, the MRT is the fastest way to get around even though taxis are easy, accessible, safe and cheap. The Taipei Main Station is the hub for all trains, including the high-speed rail, which speeds its way to Kaohsiung in the South in just 90 minutes.

Major roads are split into halves (north, south, east, west) as well as sections; in addition, a system of lanes and alleys branches off major roads. Care must be taken when reading addresses as in Mandarin Chinese, the house number is indicated last with the larger entity listed first. Thus, Zhong Shan N. Rd., Sec. 7, Lane 28, Alley 5, # 63.

Visitors and residents alike love to flock to the city's famed night markets, which offer up a cornucopia of traditional snacks, cheap clothes and accessories. It is also a great way to get a taste of the crowded local street life.