228 Peace Park occupies a city block bordered by Gongyuan Road, Xiangyang Road, Huaining Road and Ketagalan Boulevard. The park is built in a traditional style, with Japanese garden landscaping and ponds, arched bridges, walking paths, and an amphitheater. The Taipei 228 Memorial Museum and 228 Memorial Monument are also located in the park.
Take the 15, 15 (Wanmei Line), 18, 22, 220, 220 direct, 247, 257, 276, 287, 287 (night), 513, 621, 640, 835, or Xinyi New Line bus to the 228 Peace Park stop.
Parking:
NTU Hospital parking lot; Parking is also available near the park
Daan Park
Dann Forest Park is an ecological park with a forest-like environment. Park roads are lined with trees such as camphor, cajuput, ficus and maples. Bushes and flower beds are planted throughout the park to help make the park into a lush, green space. The park is likened to the lungs of Taipei.
Location
South Road, Da-an District, Taipei City 2 1 new
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：Wenshan-Neihu Line to Daan station
Baoan Temple
The Baoan Temple in Dalongtong is a temple devoted to the worshipping of Baosheng Dadi "Great Emperor Protecting Life". Built by immigrants from Tongan, Fujian, the name ＂Baoan＂ also means ＂Blessed Tongan＂. After numerous renovations, the temple now has three wings and has been declared a Secondary National Heritage Site.
Location
No. 61, Hami St., Taipei
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：Yuanshan Station - on foot 15 min.
National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
This memorial hall was built in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the first president of the Republic of China. Work on the hall began in 1976, a year after President Chiang passed away. Design by C.C. Yang, who was also the architect for The Grand Hotel, the memorial hall is white with a blue roof, representing the dominant colors in the ROC flag; while the emblem of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) adorns the vaulted ceiling. A bronze statue of Chiang looks west symbolically to the Presidential Office Building and mainland China. The front plaza of the hall is also a major venue for democratic assemblies.
Location
No. 21, Zhongshan S. Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei 100
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station (Exit 5)
Bus:
Take the No. 15、18、20、22、37、204、208、214、236、248、249、251、252、261、263、270、293、297、621、623、630、651 2.Underground parking is available at the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center.
Taipei 101 Mall
Located within Taipei 101, the Taipei 101 Mall gathers the world top brands to create a high-end shopping experience. Level 4 of the mall features Singapore-based bookstore Page One and Taipei largest indoor cafe and restaurant area.
Location
No. 45, City Hall Rd., Taipei
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：MRT Taipei City Hall Station - Taipei 101 Shuttle bus
Xingtian Temple
Xingtian Temple is the most-visited temple in northern Taiwan, attracting upwards of 10,000 people a day. Situated in the heart of Taipei, the temple is unique in that it does not allow worshippers to burn "spirit money" or make offerings. There are also no donation boxes or opera performances, and no commercial activity is allowed.
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station: 1. Luzhou Line-Xingtian Temple Station exit 3.
From the Minquan W. Rd. MRT Station take the No. 41, 225, 225 (shuttle), 63 (shuttle), or Red 32 bus to the Minquan Rd.-Songjiang Rd. stop or Xingtian Temple stop.
TAIPEI EXPO PARK
Converted from the 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, the TAIPEI EXPO PARK is an urban recreational facility that comprises three typical park areas (Yuanshan, Taipei Fine Arts Museum and Xinsheng) while offering venues for the hosting of various events in the former Flora Expo’s pavilions. Among the iconic Flora Expo displays, still available, on the parks’ premises, mostly featuring perennial flowering/foliage plants and turfs, are the 3-dimensional Green Walls, Flower Walls, “Flora Rainbows”, Special Exhibition Area, Flower Landscape, Rare Flowers & Plants Area, and Fruit Tree Area, which aim to keep the Expo’s images and variety alive, while impressing park visitors with the openness of a vision of verdure, combined with enhanced recreational quality. The TAIPEI EXPO PARK is also perfect for accommodating the hosting of exhibitions or other events as it lies strategically in the vicinity of MRT Yuanshan Station.
Location
No. 1, Yumen St.
National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Designed by local architect Wang Da-hung, this memorial hall was established in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the father of the Republic of China. The hall also serves an educational and research role, hosting various cultural and art events throughout the year, including the Golden Horse Awards, Golden Bell Awards, and Culture Awards. The hall is surrounded by a large park, further making it a popular weekend escape for city residents.
Location
No. 505, Sec. 4, Ren-ai Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei 110
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：From Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station (Exit 4), follow Zhongxiao E. Rd. (about three minutes on foot).
Bus:
Take the No. 204, 212, 232, 235, 240, 259, 261, 263, 266, 270, 278, 281, 282, 288, 299, 504, 662, 663, 667 bus to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
Parking:
Parking is available at the City Government parking lot on Guangfu S. Rd.
National Palace Museum
The Taipei National Palace Museum is a world-class museum that hosts an eclectic collection of treasures kept by generations of Emperors ruling from the Forbidden City. In WWII, Nationalist troops seized the most important pieces in order to prevent invaders from ransacking China's national treasures. A twist of fate eventually brought these treasures to Taiwan.
The Taipei National Palace Museum is designed in the style of a Northern Chinese palace. The museum is home to hundreds of thousands of historical relics that make up the world's most comprehensive and precious collection of ancient Chinese artifacts. The entire collection covers 5,000 years of China's historical and artistic achievements.
The museum provides Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish and Korean language guides and museum-related literature. The museum is a must- see on any visitor's itinerary.
Location
No. 221, Sec. 2, Zhishan Rd., Taipei
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：MRT Shilin Station - Bus 304, 255 or Red 30 - National Palace Museum
National Museum of History
Located inside the Taipei Botanical Garden, the National Museum of History opened over 50 years ago. Originally housing pieces from the collection of the Henan Museum, the museum has grown over the decades to become an important center for art and culture in Taipei. The collection comprises works donated by over 400 private collectors, including rope-pattern pottery, Han ceramics, painted dancer and musician figurines from the Six Kingdoms period, Tang-era tri-color glazed ceramics, oracle bones, bronze vessels, porcelain, historic documents and other precious works.
Take the 0 West, 1, or 204 bus to Jianguo Middle School; the 0 South, 5, 10, 38, 227, 241, 244, 235, 295, or Zhongzheng Arterial Route bus to Nanchang Rd.; or buses along Roosevelt Rd. to Nanmen Market. 2.
Parking:
Pay parking is available on Nanhai Rd. across from the museum.
Yangmingshan National Park
Of all Taiwan’s national parks, Yangmingshan is the one located closest to a metropolitan center. Yangmingshan features a widely varying terrain, diverse ecology, and is home to numerous protected species. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one of Taiwan’s endemic bird species—the Formosan Blue Magpie.
The park is full of plum, cherry, peach and pear trees, rhododendrons, etc. In spring, the cherry blossoms never fail to draw crowds. After cherry blossom season, about mid-March, it’s time for the calla lilies at Bamboo Lake (Zhu-zi-hu) to take center stage. Visitors go into the fields and pick calla lillies to take home with them—it’s become a must-do event for this time of a year!
Perhaps one of the most distinctive features in the park is the “Flower Clock,” composed of a variety of colorful seasonal flowers. When visiting Yangmingshan, be sure to take a photo to prove you’ve seen this famous landmark! Also worth checking are popular sights like the Hsiao-you-keng (“Small Oil Pit”), Ching-tien-kang (Qing-tian Hill) Leng-shui-keng (“Cold Water Pit”), and Yangming Archive House. If you enjoy an invigorating hike, these will be right up your alley!
The Yangmingshan area also possesses a wealth of geothermal resources, with hot springs having differing compositions depending on their location in the park. Nearby Xing-yi Road in Beitou is lined with hot spring restaurants. If you’re passing along this way, don’t forget to take a relaxing dip in the sulfur springs!
Beautiful flowers in the spring, a cool getaway in the summer, silver grass and maple leaves in the fall, hot springs in the winter—Yangmingshan’s distinctive seasonal offerings await your discovery!
Xinbeitou Hot Springs
Hot springs in Xinbeitou with high temperature and many sources are caused by the terrestrial heat of Datun Mountains. Thermal valley is one of the earliest hot spring sources found in Taiwan.
Water quality
The green sulfur in Thermal valley is the acid spring. The consistency of hydrogen is 1.4, the temperature is 85。C, the color is translucent gray, and it has light radiation.
The hot spring in Beitou Hot Spring Road is white sulfur. Its PH between 3-4, as vitriol salt spring, translucent white and yellow, 50。C - 90。C, and light acidity.
Scenic spots
Beitou hot spring has been famous since Japanese colonial times. The area is around with historic monuments and natural scenic spots. Beitou Museum, Yinsong Building, Xingnai Spring, Beitou Library, Beitou Hot Spring Park, and the Folk Museum connect into a hot spring route.
Location
Beitou District
Transportation
Bus:
No. 216, 218, 223, 230 or Minibus 25
Parking:
Parking is available near Beitou Water Park.
Confucius Temple
The Taipei Confucius Temple is modeled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, China. In keeping with the sober spirit of Confucianism, the building is appropriately austere. Visitors also won't find the spring couplets common at other types of temples. Some say this is because it would be rude to display the writing of another in a temple dedicated to the Sage. Among the Confucius temples in Taiwan, Taipei's is the only one adorned with southern Fujian-style ceramic applique. At the main hall of the temple one can see a black plaque with gold lettering that reads "Educate without Discrimination." Every year on September 28, a grand ceremony with traditional music and stylized dancing is held at the temple in honor of Confucius.
Location
No.275, Dalong St., Datong District, Taipei City 103
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：From Yuanshan Station (Exit 2), walk about 10 minutes in the direction of Kulun St.
Bus:
Take the No. 215, 669, 811, or Red 33 bus to the intersection of Kulun St.; the 41, 215, 246, 288, 669, 811, or Red 33 bus to the Kulun St.-Chengde Rd. intersection; or the 2, 41, 215, 246, 288, 669, 811, or Red 33 bus to Dalongdong Baoan Temple.
Car:
Parking is available near the Confucius Temple and Baoan Temple.
Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Shaped like a pound sign, the Taipei Fine Art Museum is a traditional siheyuan courtyard with a modern edge. At night the artfully lighted museum is an eye-catching landmark. The museum hosts many international exhibitions.
Location
No. 181, Sec. 3, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：MRT Yuanshan Station - On foot 15 min.
Taipei Zoo
The Taipei Zoo is one of the ten largest municipal zoos in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia. Getting there is easy: just take the MRT Muzha Line southbound all the way to the terminal station. As the zoo is home to more than 400 animal species, rest assured there’s plenty to see!
The zoo includes 7 indoor exhibits, each with different themes.At the Insectarium you’ll meet several butterfly species unique to Taiwan. Next, you won’t want to miss the hugely popular Koala House and Penguin House. There are also two giant pandas from China! These animals are the Zoo’s resident celebrities, so be sure to check them out!
The star of the zoo used to be the Asian Elephant “Grandpa Lin Wang,” who lived to the ripe old age of 86. Lin’s longevity—20 years older than most Asian Elephants—was hailed by zoologists as a miracle. After his death, Lin was stuffed and put on display, and now enjoys the distinction of being the world’s largest stuffed Asian Elephant! You can see him on display in the Education Center.
Apart from the indoor exhibits, the Taipei Zoo also features 8 outdoor exhibit areas. The latter are divided according to geographical environment, and possess educational value both as exhibits and ecological environments. The “Children’s Zoo,” “Formosan Animal Area,” and “African Animal Area” are the most popular, according to Internet voting. The Formosan Animal Area includes endemic species like Formosan sika deer, Taiwan macaque, and Swinhoe’s pheasant. These animals can only be found in Taiwan—definitely worth a look!
Lungshan Temple
The Lungshan Temple houses hundred of statues of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian deities. The temple mixes traditional Chinese siheyuan ("four-building courtyard") with palace architecture in its design. The temple is divided into front hall, main hall, rear hall, right wing and left wing. Painting of vivid creatures grace the temple walls, and stone statues of mystical creatures guard the temple grounds. The joining of wall and roof did not use any nails or braces made of metal. Covered by overtapping tiles, the temple roof is decorated with figures of dragon, phoenix and other auspicious creatures. The figures are decorated with porcelain, clay, and shards of colored glass. They represent the pinnacle of mosaic art in Taiwan. The temple has been declared a Secondary National Heritage Site.
Location
No. 211, Guangzhou St., Taipei
Transportation
Public:
MRT Station：Lungshan Temple Station
Presidential Office Building
The Presidential Office Building originally served as the seat of the colonial government during the Japanese occupation period. At the time of its completion in 1919, it was the tallest building in Taiwan. The east-facing structure looks out to Sishou Mountain and commands a panoramic view of the city. During the period of Japanese rule, 13 governors-general held office here. After Taiwan's retrocession, Chen Cheng installed the Southeastern Military Administrator's Office here. The building later served as the joint location of the Executive Yuan and Presidential Office before becoming the Presidential Office Building.
Location
No. 122, Sec. 1, Chongcing S. Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei 100
