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Rd., Taipei 中正國際航空站一 世貿中心外貿協會 Information Desk at Entry Lobby, Chiang Kai-shek International Airport Taiwan External Trade Development Council, TAITRA (03) 398-2965 Dayuan, Taoyuan County (02) 2725-1111 No. 5, Sec. 5, Xinyi Rd., Taipei 中正國際航空站二 台北當代藝術館 Tourist Service Center at Exit Lobby, Chiang Kai-shek International Airport Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (03) 398-2015 Dayuan, Taoyuan County (02) 2552-3720 No. 39, Changan W. Rd., Taipei 美國在台協會 官邸藝文沙龍 American Institure in Taiwan Mayor’s Residence Arts Salon (02) 2709-2000 No.7, Lane 134, Sec. 3, Xinyi Rd., Taipei (02) 2396-9398 No. 46, Shiujou Rd., Taipei 遠企購物中心 國立故宮博物院 Taipei Metro the Mall National Palace Museum (02) 2378-6666#6580 NO. 203, Sec. 2, Dunhua S. Rd., Taipei (02) 28812021 No. 221, Sec. 2, Chihshan Rd., Taipei 國語日報語文中心 台北國際藝術村 Mandarin Daily News (Language Center) Taipei Artist Village (02) 2341-8821 No. 2, Fuzhou St., Taipei (02) 3393-7377 No. 7, Peiping E. Rd., Taipei 臺灣師大國語教學中心 二二八紀念館 National Taiwan Normal University (Mandarin Training Center) Taipei 228 Memorial Museum (02) 2391-4248#22 No.162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Rd., Taipei (02) 2389-7228 No. 3, Ketagalan Boulevard, Taipei 聖多福天主教堂 交通部觀光局旅遊服務中心 St. Christopher Catholic Church Travel Service Center, Tourism Bureau, M.O.T.C. (02) 2594-7914 No.51, Sec. 3, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei (02) 2717-3737 No. 240, Dunhua N . Rd., Taipei 士林區公所 紅樓 Shilin District Office Red Theatre (02) 2882-6200#8725 8F, No.439 Zhongzheng Rd., Taipei (02) 2311-9380 No. 10, Chengdu Rd., Taipei 臺北士林劍潭活動中心 紫藤廬 Shilin Jiantan Overseas Youth Activity Center Wistaria House (02) 2885-2151 No.16, Sec. 4, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei (02) 2363-7375 No. 1, Lane 16, Sec. 3, Shinsheng S. Rd., Taipei 捷運沿線各站 光點台北 All Stations of MRT Lines SPOT-Taipei Film House (02) 2778-2991 No. 18, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei 台北市警察局各分局 Fourteen District Police Precinct 金牌健身事業 Gold’s Gym 南港軟體工業園區 (02)2325-8888 3F, No. 6, Sec. 4, Xinyi Rd., Taipei Nangang Software Park (02) 2655-3093#124 2F, No.19-10, Sanchong Rd., Taipei 亞典圖書公司 Art Land Book Co. Ltd. 誠品書店各分店 (02)2784-5166 No. 122, Sec. 3, Renai Rd., Taipei Eslite Bookstore 中正紀念堂 新學友書局 Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Senseio Bookstore (02)2343-1119 No. 21, Zhongshan S. Rd., Taipei 伊是咖啡 金石堂圖書 Is Coffee Kingstone Bookstore EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION Taipei to Again Be Bathed in the Color Red For the Festive Holiday Season Taipei will nevertheless lend a hand in articles in this issue are just what you tackling your other seasonal-planning need. (p.4 and p.20) Getting a formal H oliday greetings! traditions while in this faraway land. English education at a prestigious local Visits to friends will no doubt university or pursuing recreational Whether your excitement matches appear repeatedly on your agenda learning according to your own mine because you are about schedule will surely bring just as to enter a time filled with joy much reward as all your hard toil at and smiling faces, or because your workplace over the next year! you get a few days off work, Taking strategic breaks from your here are some things-to-do busy schedule is the key to healthy suggestions for the upcoming living, so we launch you on the path holiday-filled period. For to learning tips on running in Taipei the couch-potato crowd, from selected organizations in Taipei inspiration to stir may come by on the Run and to self-discovery checking out the top movies as of nearby outdoor treasures in The selected by the Golden Horse Beautiful Colors of Taipei Autumns. committee, or checking to- visit places suggested by Latin Too much fast and too furious representatives to activity demanded from you in DISCOVER TAIPEI Taiwan in Latins, these articles, you say? Slow the Taiwanese Share pace by enjoying our photo essay 1 Passion for the Good by Daniel Mojahedi, where he takes Things in Life, where you back to Taipei’s developmental appreciation for a colonial stage via the city’s historical lively city bounded architecture. (p. 36) They say photos by mountains bursts speak louder than words, but we forth. find the best communication is when calendar during this photos and words sing together, as they Maybe you, like me, have reason season, when two big festivals come do here. Expanding from the story of to miss the fun of this festive season roaring in, Christmas and Chinese one urban location, we go global in as experienced in North America and New Year. For a quick primer on gift theme with Taipei Fine Arts Museum other points West - the Christmas purchasing, please check out On the Opens Taipei Biennial 2006 with Dirty carols, mistletoe, food, and so much Hunt for the Perfect X’mas Souvenirs. Yoga. Yes, this year’s theme is indeed more. We serve up a special article Gift items range from jade to sweets. called “Dirty Yoga,” designed to bring this issue on restaurants famous for For last-minute gift shoppers, a word of aerobic exercise for all minds ready for Peking duck. So why spend time advice from yours truly: go to page 30. globalization. preparing or going out in search of Christmas turkey? After all, duck is a So, have you decided yet where Slow down, read on, and for your great European Christmas tradition. to go for this year’s New Year’s own good do not fast forward. And after studying about ducks, why countdown? Your new New Year’s not get quacking on our helpful piece resolutions will no doubt be a recurring Hope you enjoy reading this issue on table etiquette on page 56, which subject during holiday discourses. Have of DTB. If you have any suggestions, will prevent embarrassment at the you pledged yourself to continuing your don’t hesitate to email or fax us. dining table? If poultry is not on your studies or picking up a new hobby? Email: to-savor list for the festive season, Language barriers can be daunting if [email protected] our article on Christmas traditions in doing so in Taipei, so Jerri Graham’s Fax: (02) 2720-5909 Discover Taipei Bimonthly Issue No.56 / November 2006 Discover Taipei 2006 Taipei City Government. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without written permission is prohibited. Views expressed in the articles do not reflect opinions of the Taipei City Government. Publisher Lo Chih-cheng Division Chief Jiang Chuen-huey Managing Editor Joanna Kuo Editors Kymberly Cheng DISCOVER TAIPEI John Jia-ren Lee 2 Consultants Amanda Dowsley Jerome F. Keating Cover Story: Comfortable learning environment delivers even better results to student performance. Photographer (Photo by Wang Neng-yu) Wang Neng-yu Cover Story Art Director Getting Educated by Getting It Yu Ming-Lung Design Co. in Taipei (02)2703-6816 By Jerri C. Graham .................................... 4 Printer Choice Company Special Report (02)8768-2088 Peking Duck: All Its Quacked Department of Information Up to Be! Taipei City Government By Brian Asmus .......................................... 10 4F, No.1, Shifu Rd, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C Tel: (02)2720-8889#2028 Living in Taipei Fax: (02)2720-5909 Latins, Taiwanese Share Passion ISSN: 17281741 for the Good Things in Life .......................................... GPN: 2009005414 By Brian Asmus 15 Cover Photo: Taken in the afternoon of autumn at the National Taipei University of Education on Heping E. Rd. (和平東路). (Photo by Wang Neng-yu) Discover Taipei Living in Taipie: Colorful and prestigious stones can be purchased at the Jade Market every weekend. (Photo by Monideepa Banerjee) DISCOVER TAIPEI Outdoor Activities 3 The Beautiful Colors of Taipei Autumns By Sean Scanlan ................................................ 41 Culture/Art Taipei Fine Arts Museum Opens Calling On the Creativity Muse in Taipei Biennial 2006 with Dirty Yoga Taipei By Sean Scanlan ................................................ 46 By Jerri C. Graham .......................................... 20 The Golden Horse Film Festival Celebrating Christmas in Taipei By Sean Scanlan ................................................ 51 By Daniel Mojahedi ........................................ 25 On the Hunt for the Perfect X'mas F o o d Souvenirs Table Etiquette Taipei-style – the Text by Monideepa Banerjee ...................... 30 ultimate guide for the dinner guest By Mark Caltonhill .......................................... 56 Photo Essay S p o r t Looking Back: A Brief View of Some of Taipei’s Older Buildings Taipei on the Run ................................ 60 By Daniel Mojahedi ........................................ 36 By Monideepa Banerjee COVER STORY Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei DISCOVER TAIPEI 4 A glimpse of international student life on campus in Taipei. (Photo by Monideepa Banerjee) uman beings are born with Whatever the case, education is an A Bachelor's Degree a natural curiosity. From the ongoing journey that never ends. While Delivered in English H moment we take our first some people tend to see their time in in Taiwan? breath, we are sponges for information Taipei as a respite from the world of The United Nations has nothing and knowledge.