Unusual Things To Do In Taipei That Are Not In Your Guidebook

By far the wackiest and most bizarre of all the things to be seen and easily one of the most unusual things to do in Taipei, the mid-century UFO village is a must for anyone seeking an absurd, abandoned side of Taiwan. This abnormal structure complex is based in Wanli, New Taipei City, set just a little outside Taipei. Spooky, strange and uncomfortable; those are the feelings running through you when walking around. The 50-year-old, creepy, derelict UFO village is home to strange apartment pods known as Futuros (the UFO looking ones) and Venturos (the rectangularly shaped pods.) These weirdly shaped pod houses line a beach and were designed by a Finnish architect to look like flying saucers, but since the decline of tourism in the area, the whole resort was abandoned. From the very first point of entering the empty area, your mind will be filled with questions. To make things even more bizarre, there is no detailed (or confirmed) information stating why the complex has been built, other than what’s believed to be just a holiday resort. There also isn’t any information explaining what happened and why it became deserted in the way that it did.

KTV in Taipei is a night out that you won’t want to miss. KTV is very popular here and often places have private rooms according to the size of your party. Everyone should try it at least once. I highly recommend it; it’s one of my favorite alternative things to do in Taipei and a great way to spend a night. KTV is known as karaoke in the Western world, but it’s nowhere near as popular in Western countries as it is in Asia. A really popular weekend activity, Taiwanese locals love singing karaoke so much, they’ve built veritable karaoke palaces that you can disappear in for the entire evening, all offering the comforts of your own home, from large screen TVs and comfortable sofas to all-you-can-eat buffets. Plus, you get 24-hour customer service and cheap drinks.

Taiwan is known for the foot massage, but there are places where the skilled massage therapists are blind. Massages by blind people in Taipei are excellent. Not only are the workers sweet and helpful, but the therapists are incredibly well-trained and skilled in their craft. Twenty minutes will pass by too quickly. For a relaxing experience, and a massage ending with a cup of hot tea and a complimentary must-try Taiwanese pineapple cake, try a massage from a blind person. Also, kickstart your trip with a knife massage, or dao liao; a tradition over 2000 years old. The tradition died out in China, but not before spreading to Japan and Taiwan — the latter of which being the only place where it is kept alive today. Knife massages supposedly enhance metabolism, improve blood and sleeping quality, aid in fat loss, and provide relief from sore muscles. Although it may sound weird, the knife blades are totally blunt and the metal blades are aimed in a quick, chopping motion, apparently removing negative energy while they pound your pressure points and relax your muscles.