Nestled in a river valley and edged by low, tranquil mountains covered in tea shrubs, Taipei is home to 2.6 million people. The cultural and political center of Taiwan, it flaunts its modernity in high-tech company headquarters, an ultraefficient public transportation system and bustling retail centers. Yet it also encompasses teeming street markets, polytheistic temples, recreational green space and other vestiges of ancient traditions reflecting generations of cultural influx from nearby and far-off lands. A haven for insomniacs of all types, Taipei is truly a city that never sleeps, welcoming residents and visitors to brush up on their history, explore their spirituality and, most of all, satisfy their taste buds.