Where to stay

If meetings are keeping you on Taipei’s west side, the Palais de Chine Hotel near Taipei Main Station makes for an opulent base. An east-meets-west aesthetic runs through its guestrooms and public spaces, including the three-Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant, Le Palais. Just a short drive from Taipei Songshan Airport, the Mandarin Oriental, Taipei exudes luxurious, old-world charm while offering all the essentials to modern travellers. Proof that bigger is sometimes better, the 850-room Grand Hyatt Taipei – part of the Taipei World Trade Centre and International Convention Centre complex – is ideal for those attending trade shows or heading to one of the office towers in Xinyi district.

What to say

Ask your Taiwanese colleagues about their favourite night market snack or the best beef noodle soup spot, and you can be sure it’ll stimulate a good-natured debate and a plethora of recommendations. Traditional culture stresses family and education, so you can’t go wrong by expressing an interest in where and what people’s children are studying. What’s more, the Taiwanese love the great outdoors. Drop some hints and you might have a partner for an evening hike or a soak in the hot springs after work.

What to know

Like in many other Asian cities, exchanging name cards is the formal way to greet business partners and clients in Taipei. Nowadays, you might also expect the other party to ask if they can add you on Line, a popular messaging app in Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia.