Hsueh-Neng Chuang

　　There are indeed numerous books that describe Taipei City: guide books emphasize the city’s tourist attractions and gastronomy; academic research tends to focus on limited subjects and remain fairly recondite; whereas governmental publications are generally used for promotion and publicity. Through these publications, it is difficult to grasp a full picture of Taipei City or to delve into the city’s structure.Moreover, we would not be able to understand the city in a basic yet fundamental way. Taipei Unveiled aims to bridge this gap.

　　In Taipei Unveiled, Taipei City is described in plain language, accompanied by simplified or enhanced diagrams. This book differs from guide books in its emphasis, which is placed on the most typical urban environments of Taipei City, instead of on a small number of locations and attractions. While the typical Taipei scenes may seem too trivial and common for discussion to the city’s dwellers, they are cornerstones of the urban environments and urban life in Taipei City. We can only comprehend Taipei City if we first appreciate the fundamentals.