Eat in Beitou, Taipei

Marshal Zen Garden ★ 4.4

Marshal Zen Garden restored a Japanese-era Beitou inn into a heritage Taiwanese dining room above the Tamsui river bend. Hot-spring bath plus a banquet menu.

Signature: Taiwanese set banquet, Hot-pot finale, Sesame oil chicken

Order: Set-menu Taiwanese banquet finishing with sesame-oil chicken and the hot-pot rice course.

Tip: Open 12:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 21:00 daily. Reserve through the operator's site; pickups from Xinbeitou MRT.

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival ★ 4.5

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, marking the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, takes place at Pingxi Junior High School and Shifen Sky Lantern Square 40 minutes by rail north of Taipei.

Tip: Free entry. Releases every 20 minutes 18:00 to 21:00; shuttle from Pingxi MRT.