From fantastic food to cute cartoon characters, Taiwan is famous for many things and trying to narrow it down for this iconic Taiwan list wasn’t easy.
This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
The love for Taiwan amongst travellers is immense, and there are some particularly popular Taiwan things you must try whilst there (or to bring back home as souvenirs).
Featuring favourites like the striped taiwan shopping bag, beef noodles and even a good luck snack, here is our guide to the most famous Taiwanese things that are iconic to Taiwan.
This article was originally published on 28 August 2025.
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com (use the code TAIWANDERERS for a discount), expedia.com and booking.comย for researching and booking all our hotels.
For booking tours, transfers and buying SIM cards/eSIMs we recommend Klook,ย Get Your Guide,ย Viator or KK Day.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out ourย Transfer guide >
Find safe storage spaces across Taiwan with Bounce (and get 5% discount).
For more recommendations, check out ourย Taiwan travel booking resources page >
All set for Taiwan? Do one final check with ourย Taipei first timers guide and our packing list guide. Travelling with kids? Check out our Taipei For Kids eBook >
Iconic Taiwan – the most famous things in Taiwan
1. Taipei 101
We start our guide to iconic things in Taiwan with the most iconic building in the country – the awesome Taipei 101 skyscraper!
Once the worldโs tallest building (the tallest is now the Burj Khalifa in Dubai), Taipei 101 is 508 metres high and hasโฆyou guessed itโฆ 101 floors.
The buildingโs design has 8 segments stacked on top of each other. In Chinese culture, the number 8 is considered very lucky.
You can access th upper floors for the best views in the city, whether it be the more expensive observation deck and outer walkway or the much (much) cheaper Simple Kaffa Sola on the 88th floor.
Looking out across Taipei, the observation deck runs between floors 88 and 91, whilst there are two floors of high-up restaurants on floors 85 and 86. Taiwanโs fastest elevator soars up incredibly quick at a speed of up to 1,010m per minute (and yep, your ears might pop).
Admission to Taipei 101 is quite steep (like the tower really), but very much worth it. We found it took a LONG time to exit on our last visit so bear that in mind if you have any plans afterwards.
Skip the line and book your Taipei 101 observation deck ticket >
2. Striped Taiwan market / shopping bag (โGa Ji Daiโ)
Perhaps the number 1 iconic Taiwan item, you will see these red, green, white and blue striped shopping โGajiโ bags all over Taiwan, used to carry goods by locals and tourists.
Locals also often jokingly call them the โTaiwan LVโ bag (like Louis Vuitton but much MUCH cheaper).
Once a common working class carry bag used by grandmas, housewives and even farmers (to carry seeds), these Taiwan tote / market bags are now used by the old and young alike.
Amazingly, they are so iconic, weโve also seen Taiwan striped shopping bags in magnet form, on cards and a whole array of other market bag merchandise.
Read more in our guide to Taiwanโs striped shopping bag >
Buy a Ga Ji Dai striped bag on Amazon >
Join our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Group!
Need help with your Taiwan itinerary or have any questions? Head on over to the most fun and fastest growing Taiwan Facebook group with 195,000+ members and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >
Or if you just want to see more of our Taiwan photos,ย follow our Taiwan Facebook page or our Taiwan Instagram account
3. Taiwan Pineapple Cake
Taiwanโs classic pineapple cake is a decadent dessert that is a regular topic of conversation in our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) group. Many believe Sunnyhills or Chia Te Bakery to be the best pineapple cake, but others prefer Panโs Cake and Suntone.
This big debate sounds like a great excuse to try plenty of Taiwan pineapple cakes!
This is possibly the most popular Taiwan food souvenir to take home as it is uniquely Taiwanese and something you are allowed to take back home through customs.
Read more about the best pineapple cakes in Taiwan as voted for by our Taiwan Facebook group >
Purchase ChiaTe pineapple cakes on Amazon >
Check out our Taipei neighbourhoods guides:
Beitou >
Dihua Street and Dadaocheng >
Gongguan and Longquan >
Tamsui >
Ximending >
Xinyi >
Zhongshan >
Wanhua District >
Also check out our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Taipei >
4. Themed 7-Elevens in Taiwan
Taiwan is themed 7-Eleven heaven! We all know that Taiwan is famous for its sheer number of 7-Elevens, regularly frequented by tourists and locals alike.
There are currently around 7,000 7-Elevens in Taiwan – now that is a lot of slurpees and ready meals!
However, unique to Taiwan, there are tons of themed 7-Elevens with famous cartoon characters or well-loved brands.
From Hello Kitty 7-Eleven to Snoopy 7-11 (plus even an airplane themed 7-Eleven), here is our guide to the best themed 7-Elevens in Taipei plus the best themed 7-Elevens in Kaohsiung.
5. Taiwan Night Markets
For many first time visitors to Taiwan, the first thing they think of when planning their itineraries is which night market to visit.
Luckily we have a list of the best Taiwan night markets and the best Taipei night markets including a favourite of locals – Gongguan Night Market in one of Taipeiโs student districts.
With over 200 notable Taiwan night markets dotted all over the country, locals (and lucky tourists) are blessed with a treasure trove of tasty Taiwanese food including stinky tofu (more on this shortly).
Taiwan is famous for its night markets and rightly so as it is just as much about the atmosphere and experience as it is about the food. They typically run from around 5pm to midnight and comprise fantastic food stalls, fairground style games and attractions plus live music and singers.
6. Taiwan Bear / Formosan Black Bear
The national mascot of Taiwan and used in Taiwan Tourismโs advertising, the Formosan Black Bear is more often depicted in cute cartoon form than the real life version.
So iconic, youโll see cute Taiwan bear souvenirs and merchandise all over Taiwan, from t-shirts in NET (clothing store) to marvellous models on the Xinbeitou train.
As well as the Taiwan Tourism cartoon bear, Kaohsiung also has a cartoon โOh Bearโ as their mascot with statues all over the city – it is a fun thing to spot when in Kaohsiung with kids.
Formosa Black Bears live in mountainous Taiwan areas like Yushan National Park or you can see them in captivity at places like Taipei Zoo, next to the Maokong gondola.
7. Din Tai Fung
Perhaps the most famous Taiwan restaurant chain that has gone global, trying Din Tai Fungโs delicious soup dumplings (xiao long bao) is a tasty Taiwan traveller rite of passage.
With new Din Tai Fung restaurants popping up all over the world, there is no better place than to try them at the โsourceโ in Taiwan.
Given its popularity, donโt be surprised if you have to queue although they have a simple-to-use ticket waiting system and app; theyโve thought of everything!
If you visit Taipei, head to the original Din Tai Fung where it all began in 1958 on Yongkang Street, or discover over a dozen different outlets across the city, including several in the Xinyi neighbourhood.
From how to eat xiao long bao soup dumplings to the cheapest Din Tai Fung prices in the world and their menu highlights, here is our ultimate guide to dining in Din Tai Fung >
8. 3D / Cute transport cards
Getting around Taiwan is simple when using EasyCards, iPass and iCash prepaid cash cards which can be used on public transport, convenience stores and more.
The best bit about prepaid cash cards in Taiwan (other than the convenience and mass usage) is that there are so many cool and cute designs! You’ll find many cartoon character design cards and even miniature food and drink 3D model cards (yes, you read that right)!
Where to find cute / 3D iCash and EasyCards is a popular topic of conversation in our Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group – check out our guide to 40 cool card designs >
9. Taiwan Stinky Tofu
Never has there been a more divisive Taiwanese food – probably!
Love it (like me – Neil) or hate it (Caroline), you will 100% encounter stinky tofu on your Taiwan travels and you will know youโre getting close because the stench is hard to miss.
This iconic Taiwan snack is made from cubes of firm tofu marinated in a brine (that usually includes dried fish, meat and fermented milk) and left for months, then deep fried or steamed to serve.
The flavour is a bit of an acquired taste – slightly sour, and apparently the worse it smells, the better it tastes (there are 13 different grades of stinky tofu).
Taiwanโs stinky tofu is best served deep fried, so crispy on the outside and soft inside, and presented with a sweet and spicy sauce or kimchi on the side.
10. Taiwan Railway Bento / โBian Dangโ
No long railway journey in Taiwan is complete without a Taiwan railway bento box (also known as a โbian dangโ ไพฟ็ถ).
A delicious traveller rite of passage, enjoy a bento box meal bought from the train station and enjoy it onboard โ best served with epic Taiwan views through the window (and maybe a Taiwanese tea โ or beer!)
A popular part of Taiwanese dining culture, these Taiwan lunch bento boxes are inexpensive and so tasty!
When you buy your first bian dang in Taiwan, youโll see how they are practically the same as Japanese bento boxes. This is because the practice of box meals in Taiwan originated during the era of Japanese rule / colonialism in the early 20th century.
Read more in our Taiwan Railway Bento / โBian Dangโ guide >
11. Musical Garbage Trucks
Have you heard the musical delights of Taiwanโs garbage/ bin trucks?!
A marvellous classical melody is played loudly from Taiwanโs garbage trucks to alert local residents to bring out their rubbish and put it straight into the back of the truck as it trundles along.
Pretty much every yellow garbage truck in Taiwan plays โA Maidenโs Prayerโ and โFรผr Eliseโ.
The rumour is that a former Taiwanese environment minister heard his child play โA Maidenโs Prayerโ on the piano, whereas some garage trucks already had Beethovenโs โFรผr Eliseโ as a โjingleโ when they were imported from Europe. But this could be โrubbishโ too!
12. Shiba Says
A cute Shiba Inu dog, โShiba Saysโ is a Taiwanese cartoon character designed by illustrator Konatsu with almost 1 million followers on Instagram.
As well as featuring on all of the Taipei Metro public safety videos, youโll see lots of Shiba Say souvenirs, from cute keyrings to birthday date magnets.
13. Taiwan Tea
Popular across Taiwan, the famous loose leaf tea is a popular purchase from tea-growing regions like Pinglin and Alishan โ plus closer to Taipei, Maokong has a huge collection of tea houses that have sealed bags to take home (plus a tea museum where you can have a free cup).
We finally got to visit the gorgeous green tea fields of Pinglin in early 2026 and it is such a nice day trip from Taipei and just under one hourโs drive away.
We visited Pinglin as part of our stay at Capella Taipei, where we had a private tour of Pinglinโs Fortune Tea Garden โ we were shown how to pick the freshest leaves, post production processes including drying leaves plus tasted local oolong tea.
Pinglin is known for its Wenshan Baozhong oolong tea, and there are several tea plantations, museums and tea houses where you can taste it at the source.
Check out this Pinglin tea culture and Maokong day tour from Taipei >
Check out the range of Taiwan tea on Amazon >
14. Bugcat Capoo
Bugcat Capoo (่ฒ่ฒ่ฒๅๆณข) is one of the most popular Taiwanese cartoon characters. A cute cross between a blue cat and a bug, created by Taiwan illustrator Yara (ไบๆ).
Bugcat Capoo has over 2.1 million followers on Instagram and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024.
There are lots of fun Bugcat Capoo things to do in Taiwan including the Bugcat Capoo house in Taichung, in addition to a new Bugcat House gift store in Ximending, Taipei.
Plus there is a Bugcat Capoo 7-Eleven in Taipei and another themed 7-Eleven Bugcat store in Kaohsiung.
15. Taiwan Beer
Cheers / โganbaeโ to the Taiwan beer scene – the drinking culture in Taiwan can be fun for foreigners, from a beer tasting tour in Taiwanโs oldest brewery to cool craft beers and โsweet asโ fruit beers in convenience stores.
Iconic Taiwan beers include the eponymous Taiwan Gold Medal beer, Taiwan Beer Classic and our personal favourite, the Taiwan Beer โ18 Daysโ (18ๅคฉๅฐ็ฃ็ๅค้ ).
Taiwan and Taipei also has a burgeoning brewery and craft beer scene – check out the best Taipei craft beer bars >
When visiting Taipei, you must visit the Jianguo Taiwan Brewery (the oldest brewery) to try Taiwanโs national beer.
The Taiwan beer brewery tour lets you explore Taiwanโs first brewery (built in 1919). As well as seeing historic bottles, exhibits and brewing vats, youโll learn how Taiwanese beer has influenced local culture and about different Taiwan beer types, plus lots of tasting opportunities too including the iconic Taiwan Beer 18 days and Gold Medal beer.
Find out more about the Taiwan beer scene, brewery tours and more >
16. Taiwan Lantern Festival
Taiwan is synonymous with lanterns, from the illuminated Jiufen Old Street at night to the year round lanterns at Kaohsiungโs famous sanfeng temple and the daily lantern release on the Pingxi Line in Shifen.
However one of the biggest annual events is the Taiwan Lantern Festival, which changes location each year.
After a successful and record breaking 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival last year in Taoyuan which attracted over 20 million people, next yearโs 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival is set to take place in Chiayi.
Read our Taiwan Lantern Festival guide (we went to the 2024 and 2025 festivals) plus our Taipei Lantern Festival guide.
Taiwanderers Tip – did you know we have a Taiwan events hub which lists all the best Taiwan events and festivals for each month including Lunar New Year and Christmas.
17. Beef Noodles
One of Taiwanโs most famous dishes, there are many fine beef noodle soup shops in Taiwan. There are so many reasons we love beef noodles, from the juicy braised beef to the slurp of the noodles, incredible meaty beef bone broth to the social element in most noodle shops.
But which are the best beef noodles? Hidden away in a back alley of Zhongzheng District near Taipei Main Station, Liu Shandong Beef Noodles ๅๅฑฑๆฑ็่้บต is surely a contender. It has been around since the 1950s and for our money and taste, is the best beef noodle soup in Taipei (possibly Taiwan).
Another popular Taipei beef noodle shop is Lao Shan Dong, which possibly has the best beef noodles in Ximending. This 70 year old handmade noodle restaurant has Michelin recognition and is located in the basement of the Wan Nian building in Ximending (it is right in the corner and could be easy to miss).
18. Bubble Tea / Boba Tea
Possibly Taiwanโs best known drink, Taiwan bubble tea is famous for its soft and chewy tapioca balls which you suck up through a straw whilst in tea or or milk (soy milk is another popular Taiwan drink).
We were lucky enough to visit the Chun Shui Tang Original Store in Taichung.
Reputedly the original creator of Taiwanese bubble tea, Chun Shui Tang has gone on to big things with stores and tea-shops all over Taiwan plus branches overseas like in Hong Kong and Japan. However it all started in 1983 with this Taichung Chun Shui Tang Original Store.
In Taiwan, you will find bubble tea stores everywhere and popular chains includeย 50ๅตย /ย 50 Lanย /ย FIFTYLAN,ย Gong Cha,ย Cha Timeย andย Ten Renโs Tea. We asked our Taiwan Travel Tips Facebook group what their favourite bubble tea brand is and you can see the results here >
Also look out for the brown sugar boba milk tea from Xing Fu Tang Flagship store in Ximending.
19. Taiwan Hot Springs
Hot Stuff – Taiwan is known as one of the best hot spring destinations in the world, with over 100 different hot spring locations like Beitou, Jiaoxi and Wulai, both easy day trips from Taipei or Ruisui hot springs in Hualien.
Visitors to Taiwan can enjoy a variety of thermal treatments and spas that use natural hot springs, from public baths like Beitou to hedonistic hot-spring resorts and hotels.
You might like our guide to Sulfur Valley and Beitouโs Thermal Valley.
20. Alishan Forest Railway
Alishan is known for many things, from its ancient tall trees to its โsea of cloudsโ (a โmistโ see Taiwan attraction) but perhaps it is best known for the Alishan Forest Railway, Taiwanโs most famous train journey.
Whether you are hiking through the forests or just want to let the train take the train, it is well worth taking a trip on the iconic red and white trains through the forest.
As featured on countless Taiwan travel articles, postcards and even t-shirts, there is something magical about riding through the forest on a steam train.
Check out our Alishan itinerary, our Alishan hotel guide and our Formosensis train guide.
21. Taiwan coriander / cilantro products
Taiwan definitely has a national obsession with coriander!
We continue to find new cilantro flavoured products in the convenience stores and supermarkets, from coriander white chocolate ice cream to the super popular and bright green coriander Doritos. Incidentally, the hype around coriander Doritos is insane but for once, truly justified!
Other Taiwan coriander products weโve spotted in early 2026 include coriander and peanut milk tea for NTD$38 (very VERY good), cilantro popcorn, coriander and peanut wafers, coriander gin, cilantro shrimp salad wraps in FamilyMart plus Lays coriander chips. KFC Taiwan also released a coriander egg tart!
22. Cat cafes
Did you know Taiwan is famous for having the worldโs first cat cafe? Yep, the global trend of cat cafes started right here in Taipei with the Kitten Coffee Garden near Shilin.
Taiwanโs first cat cafe Kitten Coffee Garden is one of the most โpurr-fectโ things to do in Taipei โ โfurโ real. It also holds the distinction of being the worldโs oldest / first cat cafe that is still open today.
Opened in 1998 and currently located in Shilin, Taipeiโs Kitten Coffee Garden is a cute coffee shop home to 13 cute cats and two adorable dogs.
Check out our guide to Kitten Coffee Garden / Cafe Cats and Dogs in Taipei >
23. Taiwan Rice / Mochi Cakes
Pineapple cakes not your thing? I (Neil) am not a fan so for a tasty alternative snack that you can take home, try some flavoured Taiwan rice-cakes (โmi gaoโ) and mochi balls available in various flavours – these are a famous Taiwan treat to try!
How โmochiโ do you wish you were in Taiwan right now eating nice rice cakes?
You might like – Things to do in Taipei at night >
24. Kuai Kuai Coconut Corn Puffs
There are many iconic Taiwanese snacks but one in particular is bought as much for good luck as it is for eating!
The familiar green packet of Taiwanโs Kuai Kuai coconut butter corn puffs can be seen everywhere, from supermarket shelves through to a common offering in temples.
Amazingly, it also features in many workplaces as a charm or amulet placed around computers or technology to stop them breaking.
So iconic is this Kuai Kuai / Guai Guai ไนไนTaiwan coconut puff, you can even buy Guai Guai merchandise like an EasyCard shaped like a miniature pack or even Kuai Kuai tissues.
From flavours to folklore, here is our guide to Taiwanโs Kuai Kuai corn puffs and culture >
25. Taiwan Souvenir Stamps
Collecting stamps around Taiwanโs various attractions and Metro stations is one of the most iconic things to do in Taiwan (and free!).
Possibly as a fun Taiwan souvenir for yourself, there are even special stamp books and notepads you can buy so you can keep your stamp collection safe, ready to take home.
There are lots of places where you can buy beautiful stamp books โ popular locations in Taipei include one of the gift shops on the top floor of Red House in Ximending, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (link) gift-shop plus the Taipei 101 gift-shop.
Alternatively you can purchase a stamp book on Amazon such as this one >
Read more about Taiwan ink stamp collecting in our guide >
26. Caramel Egg Pudding Dessert
Widely available in most shops and a nostalgic taste for many, Taiwanโs famous caramel milk dessert ็ตฑไธๅคงๅธไธ is a tasty treat enjoyed by millions every day.
A popular pudding, no trip to Taiwan is complete without trying a Taiwanese caramel egg pudding dessert (Tong Yi Pudding) straight from the fridge.
Taiwanโs famous caramel dessert and its packaging is so iconic, youโll even see miniature versions in gift-shops and in EasyCard form – plus lots of other caramel pudding flavored food-stuffs!
Read our Taiwan caramel milk pudding guide >
27. Taiwanese hamburger (Gua Bao)
Often referred to as a โTaiwanese hamburgerโ, the gua bao is a popular snack that has become famous around the world.
The dish consists of a soft fluffy steamed bun with hearty fillings such as braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, peanut powder and coriander.
We tried an amazing version of this dish at the famous and award winning Lan Jia Gua Bao restaurant in Gongguan. The bao is served in a plastic bag so that you wonโt lose any ingredients that may slip out whilst eating it.
28. Crispy Milk Donuts
‘Do-nut’ ignore the BIG hype in Taiwan right now – crispy milk donut stores are popping up all over the country, especially in Ximending with branches like Lia Lia Crispy Milk Donut, YiCui Crispy Milk Donut and Curly Mamaโs ๆฒ้ซฎๅฅถๅฅถ.
“Crispy Milk Donuts” sometimes have huge queues but they are tasty treats usually sell for about NT$40 each.
Best served straight out the fryer, the buttery dough becomes soft and fluffy when fried and then is covered with masses of sugar and sweet milk powder – definitely for those who have a sweet tooth!
29. The Jadeite Cabbage at National Palace Museum
This is not just any Taipei museum but the National Palace Museum with so much to see and do, in particular one iconic exhibit.
With thousands of exhibits, one of its most famous treasures is the โjade cabbageโ which was carved in the 19th century and looks realistic enough to eat.
Browse the collection and see the three national treasures – the iconic Jadeite cabbage, the mean-shaped stone and the bronze Mao Gong Ding.
As well as your usual museum gift shop purchases like prints, postcards and books, they also have very unique Taipei keepsakes โ cartoon and mini souvenir versions of the three previously mentioned national treasures. There are literally dozens of different jade-ite cabbage souvenirs from magnets to penholders – and a cartoon version of the cabbage too!
Admission to the National Palace Museum in Taipei costs NT$350 – correct as of July 2026
30. Taiwan Baseball Cheerleaders
Taiwan baseball is a โbig-hitterโ and one of the countryโs most popular sports- it is one of the best night time activities in Taipei and the big cities and not just because of the on-pitch action.
Baseball is such an iconic Taiwan sport and each game sees loud crowds, bring your own beer, live entertainment plus cute mascots and cheerleaders.
In fact, it is a bit of an in-joke that Taiwanโs baseball cheerleaders are more famous and have a bigger following than the players โ each cheerleader even has their own merchandise range like trading cards, t-shirts and lipsticks.
You might like our how to get tickets for a Taiwan baseball game guide >
Our final iconic Taiwan / famous Taiwan Thing
31. Mikan, Taiwanโs famous station cat
If you love cats, Kaohsiung is the place to be โ it has several famous station cats, perhaps the most famous of which is Mikan.
Meet Mikan ่ๆ, Kaohsiungโs cutest station cat. Mikan has a huge social following, her own range of cute kitty merchandise and makes regular appearances at a Kaohsiung Metro KRTC station (KRTC stands for Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation).
A stray cat adopted by Kaohsiung station staff, Mikan the catโs fanbase is growing all the time and hundreds flock to Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Kaohsiung Metro station every time she appears (often in costume).
The station is even cat-themed, plus a bakery next door sells cat shaped steamed buns.
Find out more about Mikan, Taiwanโs famous station cat >
Found our iconic Taiwan article helpful?
Did you enjoy our iconic Taiwan article? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.
You can follow Taiwanderers on:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
Pinterest
