During the Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year Taipei literally empties out as many people travel to their hometown to enjoy the holiday. Streets are quieter, many local style restaurants close and the MRT lacks the usual crowds that ride the trains everyday. But if you look closer, particularly at the city’s significant and historic temples, there are lots of people out for the first prayers of the new year. It’s a wonderful experience to see everyone out with their families, especially the seniors who dress up and even though it’s a physical strain manage to take their sticks of incense around to the various deities of their temple. Truly inspirational!