Fried breads make a pleasant change from rice. Shanghai cooking is mostly seafood with rich salty sauces. Hunan has both spicy and steamed dishes including steamed ham and honey sauce, diced chicken with peanuts, steamed silver thread rolls and smoked duck. Taiwanese cooking is mostly seafood with thick sauces. It relies on garlic in the north and soy sauce in the south.
Most bars have counter service.
There are no set licensing hours and alcohol is widely available. Taiwan has an abundance of nightlife, and Taipei in particular is lively at night. Western-style entertainment can be found in hotels, and in the many discos, clubs, restaurants and cinemas in Taipei. The northern district of Tienmu contains a street of open-air beer houses. The visitor can also sample both traditional and modern tea houses, open all day and in the evening.