Taipei and the area around it has a lot of activities just made for kids.

The trick is how to find them.

Next step: visit and see if they can be used by non-Mandarin speaking children !

Who knows: your kids may be the center of attention - Taiwan is a very friendly place.

The zoo houses these famous visitors from China and the indigenous Formosa bears, an endangered local species.

Don't forget to play at the Hippo Square

http://english.zoo.gov.taipei/

It is a 35 minutes ride for NT 50 one way up the mountain with three stops. Children under 7 free.

Two types of cabins for 8: regular and glass bottom, and Hello Kitty themed. Busy in the weekend.

Closed on Monday for maintenance. Do check weather before going up - any chance of thunderstorms or strong winds will stop the system on short notice. In that case a small shuttle bus will bring you back down, a long and winding ride.

http://http://english.gondola.taipei/

Not too much information in English, your chance to shine as an astronomer.

Children NT$ 20 basic charges, additional for theater and cosmic ride.

www.ntsec.gov.tw/

Prices vary from NT$ 70-250, in most cases children under 6 can get in free

On the third and fourth floor in city hall.

Models of the city and a lot of kids interactive events.

Free, but open 0900-1700 !
Just like the rest of city hall including food courts, shops, even a post office in the basements

Adults NT 180, Children NT 100.
Closed on Mondays. It can be crowded with groups ...

Neigborhood playground nearby.

At the Taipei Flower Expo park Yuanshan.

Free entrance, but rides are NT$20 each. Closed on Monday.

IMAX theater nearby, in the big bubble.

On the half hour, the water spouts in the fountain in front of the SYS Memorial hall play along on music tunes.

From here it's a short walk to City Hall.

In Dadaocheng, one center of 'old Taipei' along the river.

The museum motto:
•Tradition
•Creativity
•Locality
•Internationality

Taiyuan Asian Puppet Theatre Museum

http://www.taipeipuppet.com/english/theater.html

entry NT 50 kids, NT 80 adults
Check for puppet shows in the weekend

Situated in the 228 Memorial Park
The museum shows local flora and fauna. A colorful collection of indigenous clothing and various theme exhibits on the ground floor.

Not too busy, and a visit to the Land Bank museum across the raod is included, NT 30

across from Taiwan museum, one ticket valid for both.

Kids can stamp a bank book, walk through the huge vault and admire pre-historic dinosaurs and fossils that fill this place.

Taiwan is only 3-4 million years old, so most displays are not local.

Only open in the weekend, under the Jianguo elevated highway.

Lots of beautiful orchids, one of Taiwan's proudest exports.

Free

Just across from the 'new Sogo' at Zhongxiao/Fuxing metro station in Taipei

Good for taking selfies, as the service inside varies.

Open daily 1130-2200

www.sanrio.com.tw/news/hellokitty_sweets.html

Near Da-an park and Din Tai Fung's original dumpling restaurant.

A whole street filled with food, ice cream, fruit drinks, even chocolate.

Another popular theme restaurant for kids in Taipei.

In Ximending shopping and entertainment area. Also in Shilin (with more 'toilet' seats). Open from 1130-2100.

http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/en/

The park shows how the city got its drinking water in the Qing and Japanese era. Fun activities make up the rest, from swimming, water slides to an ice hockey rink.

http://engwaterpark.water.taipei/

Pick your own fruit at the small strawberry farms in Ping Deng Li (平等里) on the foothills of Yang Ming Shan in Shihlin District.

Best to call ahead to the Refresh Farm, 02-27900138

Along the Northeast Coast

If you're on a cruise this is the closest you can get to a beach with facilities. Salt water pools on the coast for young and old. Showers, changing rooms.

Entry fee NT 60

Keelung

Out of town on the Northeast coast.

Edutainment since 1981.
Dolphins and water ballet, high altitude divers aiming for a tiny pool.

Children free entry, with adult fare NT 400

Next to the Yehliu Geopark entry NT 80

Out of town on the Northeast coast.

Kids can experience the thrill of panning for their own gold souvenir, upstairs in the Jinguashi museum.

Hourly at 10:30 through 15:30 for 40 minutes, entry NT$ 100.

Touch Taiwan's biggest 220 kg gold bar in the free museum downstairs.

Or take a walk through the Benshan 5th tunnel, to experience miners' life underground.

Entry NT$ 50

The park entry is free, spagehtti restaurant inside.

It's a full day trip from Taipei by bus/train to Ruifang and Pingxi, a former coal mining village.

A small tourist train runs on the single track every hour.

Paint your own text on the paper balloon and let it go !

Hsinchu area, southwest of the international airport. About one hour by bus or train from Taipei.

Window on China and Leofoo ventures dominate here

Scale model park to show what was China beyond reach. In aoyuan, near the airport

Expanded to worldwide spots, it also attracts kids for merry-go-rounds, bumper cars, roller coaster rides and much more.

Kids under 3 years free, child prices range from NT 499 to 599. Adults NT 799.
Always check promotions!
www.woc.com.tw/index_en.aspx

Southwest of the Taoyuan International airport on the west coast.

South Pacific, Wild West and African Safari areas

Children NT 499 between 100-120 cm, NT 699 under 12 years, adults NT 999.

Combined with Water park add NT 300, offers may vary

http://www1.leofoo.com.tw/village/en

Combined with Leofoo Village and Resort.

http://www1.leofoo.com.tw/village/waterpark/en/

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