Taipei doesn't always get the credit it deserves. Overshadowed in the popular imagination by Tokyo and Seoul, it tends to fly under the radar for first-time visitors to East Asia — and that, frankly, is their loss. Taiwan's capital is a city of genuine depth and character: a fascinating blend of Chinese, Japanese, and distinctly Taiwanese cultural influences layered over a dynamic modern metropolis. The food alone would justify the trip. But Taipei rewards the curious traveler well beyond the dinner table. Every time I visit, I inevitably leave wishing I'd stayed longer.