Taipei, perched at the northern tip of Taiwan, has undergone an impressive transformation in recent decades. Once heavily polluted and utterly chaotic, the progressive Taipei of today is more orderly, cleaner, and forward looking. The city’s focus on quality of life is evident in its marvelous mass transit infrastructure, its health care and education system and its increasing level of convenience. For several years, the capital city proudly boasted the world’s tallest, (typhoon-proof) building, Taipei 101, until Dubai’s Burj Khalifa trumped it in 2004. In any case, a trip up to the 91st floor for a panoramic view of the city is a great way to get your bearings. The city ‘s National Palace Museum, bursting with cultural goodies grabbed from China by the retreating Kuomintang army in 1949, is also a quick-fire way to gain insight into the city’s (and China mainland’s) cultural heritage. Taipei’s night markets, its fantastic food, its people, its parks (Taroko National Park and its gorge, in particular) and its plethora of temples make it an enriching city to live in. The typhoon-prone city’s passion for politics and basketball make it all the more exciting. Mandarin is the vernacular and it would help to nail down the basics of the language, if only to get around in a taxi. You could, however, get by on English alone provided you stick to the office and the expat areas. Expats (families in particular) tend to favor the Tien-Mu area. Here you will find a number of international schools, bigger apartments, houses, and more green spaces. It is a virtually self-contained area complete with department stores, hospitals, schools and restaurants, and is roughly a 30-minute commute to the downtown business district. Young professionals and executives seeking more upmarket accommodation should head to Xin-yi, the up-and-coming "Manhattan of Taipei." The smart city planning applied to this area sets it apart from the rest of the city. This is where you will find Taipei’s most luxurious properties, which share a postcode with Taipei 101 and the city’s hippest clubs and lounges. Taipei strikes a fine balance between chaos and calm, business and pleasure. This truly Asian city boasts a quality of life and level of convenience that makes it highly accessible to foreigners.