Written by Helper- Sabrina 

After two years of pause on all international exchange programs. We are very excited to welcome international students who can finally come to Taiwan! On the second day of October, we went on a trip to explore the rich culture in Taipei.
 

Gathered at the Gongguan MRT station, many foreign students were excited about meeting other students and knowing their local buddies. Some of them just came out of quarantine hotels, so this trip was the first time for them to freely roam around the city. At the first stop, we got off at Fuzhong Station. There were many lanterns hanging on the road. The most fascinating thing was the temple carved with dragons and phoenixes. Foreign students were really curious about the legend and religious belief behind those beautiful decorations. They all took out their mobile phones to take pictures of the bustling and gorgeous old buildings in Taipei. On the way to Lin's Garden, we passed a morning market. A student from the UK told me that he wants to try dragon fruit, durian, and mango, which are very rare in the UK. I never thought Taiwan is so famous for its precious and diverse fruits!

After a 10 mins walk, we arrived at the Lin Family Garden. This is one of the "Four Famous Gardens in Taiwan" in the past. It is a residence for the Lin family, which is one of the most wealthy families in the Qing dynasty. We were amazed by the exquisite and beautiful gardens, gorgeous rockery, pool, and studies. Because of the scorching sun, many people choosed to rest in gazebos, which is also a smart way to appreciate the garden I guess.

Then we headed to Xinyi District to have lunch at Daoshe Restaurant. The restaurant is run by the fifth generation of the Dadaocheng rice milling company. Looking at a table of exquisite meals, lard and soy sauce on the round and ivory white rice, served with braised pork and side dishes like tomato, tofu, asparagus, and a bowl of pork rib soup with Medicinal herb. We all enjoyed the simple but delicious cuisine. The dazzling Taipei 101 can be seen from the restaurant, making this lunch a wonderful enjoyment in terms of taste, views, and atmosphere!

In the afternoon, we went to Songyan Cultural and Creative Park to play a word-finding game and visit this attraction which is rich in historical significance and modern culture. Although we worried that it would be difficult for foreign students to find Chinese words at the beginning. it turned out that they all really enjoyed this game. We looked through books and posters in Eslite Bookstore to collect the designated words. It’s an entertaining and informative afternoon!

Our last stop is the Raohe Night Market. Although everyone seemed a little bit tired, the aroma and delicious food still attracted us and refilled our energy.

It is a precious opportunity for me to introduce the beauty of Taipei to foreign students. I believe this trip will definitely embark their passion to explore Taipei during their stay in Taiwan.