Sightseeing Taipei: Elephant Mountain, Bopiliao Old Street and Longshan Temple

I went on a girls' trip to Taipei earlier this year with my friend and her then 18-month-old. I brought along my youngest (then just shy of her first birthday) and a nanny to give us an extra hand. Bringing the nanny was the best decision. For the most part, we did everything as a group. But being able to leave the little ones sleeping while we go out at night to explore the night markets was awesome! And while we initially planned to hike up Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) as a group with the little ones strapped onto us in carriers, we rejoiced when the babies fell asleep in their strollers on the way to the hiking trail, and we could leave the sleeping bubs at the bottom of the mountain while my friend and I did the hike. And oh my, while we were climbing those countless steep stairs up Xiangshan, we were so glad the babies were not strapped on to us. We also joined a free night walking tour through Bopiliao Old Street to Longshan Temple - without kids! So yes, getting our nanny to Taipei with us was a good investment of my airline miles!

Just a small portion of the stairs we climbed to get up Xiangshan:

The view of Taipei from Elephant Mountain (click image for larger photo):

My friend and I, glad that we didn't hike up the mountain while carrying the babies!

On the night walking tour, we walked through Bopiliao, a historically important street in a district that was once a prosperous trade center. Just a tad spooky walking through here in the dark:

The exterior gate of Longshan Temple, built in the 18th century:

Beautiful and ornate detail on the gate eaves:

Lighting joss sticks for temple worship:

A huge joss stick holder:

One of the offering tables in the temple:

One of the altars to a deity popular with students who pray for good grades:

There were a few large lanterns, celebrating the Spring Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year. People were bowing and walking under these lanterns:

Outside Longshan Temple: