Going to Taipei - where should I visit?

It depends how much time you have. Apart from Mucha (Maokong) which is really good I find Taipei a great disappointment regarding good tea. Yes, near the station there are a few places, if you can find them. Almost all you find is glitzy shops selling pearl tea! If you can, visit Pinglin about 40 km south of Taipei where they produce Pao-chung tea (¥]ºدù paper-wrapped tea) and have a large tea museum, the largest in Asia (

). Lots of good tea-sellers along the street there. For any serious purchase of pottery / ceramics, take the train to Yingge (still in Taipei county) and spend a few hours in the very large number of shops along the street just beside the station (visit the ceramic museum, too ) In Kaohsiung there are tea shops of quality, I was in one, but cannot find the address now. Its near a small park in the center of town! Of course, with a couple of days to spare you would take the train from Chiyai up Alishan, where the region around 1000 meters produces High Mountain Oolong in numerous plantations with a lot of families offering accomodation in their homes. I was in Ruili and there are many other such villages.

Bon Voyage An

I would highly recommend a jaunt to Chiufen which is a lovely village on the coast, not too far from Taipei, and is situated on a mountainside facing the ocean. Tons of teahouses (and a wee bit touristy I have to admit), and tremendous views. One of my favorite places to sip tea in an incredible atmosphere, I wish I were there now....

I found Maokong too touristy, but the Wisteria Tea House is highly recommended. Excellent service, atmosphere, and gallery. Ten Ren (Ten Fu) also operates a tea school in town which is worth visiting if you can speak Chinese. If I'm not mistaken it also has a large cafe area on the first floor.

It is. That's the one I meant. Nice selection of tea books there for sale as well.