Taipei 101 is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. It was the tallest building from 2004 Dec31 to 2010 Jan4. It also appeared in the movie "Lucy." It often draws global attention by its New Year's Eve firework show.
The Elephant Mountain/Four Beasts Mountain trail (aka Xiangshan/Sishoushan Trail) is perhaps the most easily accessible trail in Taipei with perhaps also the best views of the city. This popular and easy hike covers areas of Xinyi and Nangang District and offers excellent views of the 101 and the rest of downtown Taipei. It should be at the top of your list of places to visit in Taipei.
Elephant Mountain get's its name from the shape of the mountain, which from a distance looks like an elephant.
The same is true of the hills next to it: Tiger Mountain, Lion Mountain, and Leopard Mountain. Other peaks on the trail include Mt. Nangang, Thumb Mountain, and 95 Peak.
Elephant Mountain lies at 181 meters above sea level, and 95 Peak, the highest peak on the trail, is 375 meters above sea level.
These mountains lie on the Nangang Mountain Chain .which starts in Nangang District, and goes through Xinyi District, Da'an District, and Wenshan District of Taipei.
The rock formations that form the Nangang Mountain Chain formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago and were then uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Phillipine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast and in Pingxi.
The area also has some coal deposits, and there are a few abandoned coal mines on the mountain.
Currently Elephant Mountain and the Four Beasts trail is one of the most popular trails in Taipei or all of Taiwan.
With quick access to the MRT, hundreds of people hike these trails daily.
The Neidong National Forest Recreation Park is somewhat of a hidden gem - overshadowed by its neighbour Wulai with its hot spring resorts, giant waterfall and "old street."
The forest park is about a ten minute drive past the village of Wulai further into the mountains and the reason why its stayed 'somewhat' of a hidden gem is because without your own method of transportation in and out of the park, its not easy to reach as there are no public transportation options available.
The forest park has a short and easy hike that would be ideal for those who aren't looking for an extreme challenge. The area is beautiful and you can easily enjoy an afternoon getting lost inside.
The hike takes about half an hour (at my pace) from start to finish and the main attraction is clearly the waterfalls and for me, walking along the beautiful emerald Nanshi river that supplies hot spring water to the village below.
Simple Kaffa Xingbo Coffee, founded by the WBS World Barista Competition champion, has chosen its fourth store on the 88th floor of Taipei 101 to create a new flagship store ”Sky Xingbo“, which is a must-visit coffee shop in Taipei! It has become a high-rise landscape cafe with unique decoration and atmosphere in Taipei City.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (Liberty Square) is one of the most notable landmarks in Taipei, as well as symbol and gathering place of freedom and democracy. featuring a large public square, Chiang Kai-Shek memorial, opera houses, and gardens.
It is officially a monument to the Generalissimo and President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek. It's iconic scenery and architecture are a must visit for anyone travelling in Taipei.
Liberty Square (AKA Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall) is one of the most notable landmarks in Taipei, as well as a symbol and gathering place of freedom and democracy. featuring a large public square, Chiang Kai-Shek memorial, opera houses, and gardens. It is officially a monument to the Generalissimo and President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek. Its iconic scenery and architecture are a must-visit for anyone traveling in Taipei.
The building itself gets its inspiration from the Sun Yat-sen mausoleum in Nanking, China. It took four years to construct and was finished in 1980, five years after Chiang Kai-shek had died.
The memorial hall has 89 steps which represent the age of Chiang when he died. Inside is his statue, along with a museum and exhibition dedicated to his life.
The plaza became the main gathering place for many demonstrations in Taiwan, such as the Wild Liliy student movement that helped to fully democratize Taiwan by demanding full muilt-party elections, to which the then president Lee Teng-hui agreed. In 2007, then president Chen Shui-bian changed the named of the plaza to Liberty Square.
In 2017, plans were announced to transform the memorial hall to respect human rights and face history, referring to Chiang Kai-shek's leadership during martial law andthe white terror, in which thousands of innocent Taiwanese civilians were imprisoned and killed.
Chiang Kai-shek's statue in the memorial hall has also been vandalized recently by pro-independence students.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Jiufen is an old mountain village in Ruifang District of New Taipei City, and has perhaps the best old street in all of Taiwan, with authentic Taiwanese food, sloping steps, traditional Chinese architecture, and great views of Shen'Ao and Keelung Harbors. There are also multiple historical sights within the town. The entire village is built on a mountain slope so that you can enjoy views of Taiwan's north coast from basically anywhere in the city.
Jiufen gets its name from the original nine families who settled in the village during the Qing dynasty, who asked for nine portions of shipments every time they arrived.The discovery of gold in the area created a gold rush in the town that lasted until the last Japense Era. When gold mining ended in 1971, the town began to decay. After A City of Sadness was filmed there, the town began to see a tourist boom. Also the town began to see many visitors especially from Japan after 2001 due to the resemblance of the town in Spirited Away, even though Miyazaki has said that Jiufen was not the inspiration for the movie..
Fugui Cape Lighthouse was built in 1897 at Fugui Cape, Shimen District, New Taipei City.
Originally named as "Fuji," the octagonal lighthouse was first built with iron. It was in 1962 that it was rebuilt with cement. Standing at Taiwan's northernmost tip, the lighthouse is characterized by black and white stripes.
Fugui Lighthouse is the second lighthouse constructed by the Japanese in Taiwan during the colonial times, as a part of a submarine communication cables and navigation facilities plan.
Due to the area's geography and climate, in autumn and winter, thick fogs are commonplace.
Thus, the lighthouse is equipped with "fog horns" which send signals to boats on the sea. The horns were the first signaling devices ever established in Taiwan.
Taipei City Library Beitou Branch is the first green building library in Taiwan. It is located in Beitou Park with dense forests and rich ecological environment. It is adjacent to the Hot Spring Museum. It has one underground floor and two above ground floors, with a total area of 650 square meters of books. pavilion.
This branch is located in the green Beitou Park. The smell of books indoors and the chirping of birds outdoors complement each other, making reading a comfortable and enjoyable activity.
The roof is a lightweight ecological roof with solar photovoltaic panels that can generate 16 kilowatts of electricity. A large number of deep balconies and vertical wooden grilles are used to reduce heat radiation into the room and reduce energy consumption to achieve energy saving effects. The green roof and sloped grass design can conserve water and drain it naturally to the rainwater recycling tank. The recycled water can then be used to irrigate plants and flush toilets, achieving greening and reducing water waste. The building uses wood and steel, which can be recycled and reused to reduce waste damage to the environment.
In 2012, it was selected as one of the ”25 Most Beautiful Public Libraries in the World“ by the American website Flavorwire.com.
The National Palace Museum (aka NPM) in Taiwan has one of the largest collections of Chinese artifacts in the world, and perhaps the finest collection of Chinese art in the world. The museum is open year round and offers tours in many different languages. It is a must-see spot for any foreign tourist visiting Taiwan.
The National Palace Museum has over 70,000 artifacts in two locations, one in Taipei (where most foreign visitors come, northern branch) and another in Chiayi (less visited southern branch). However only 3,000 artificats can be on display at a time, so the museum rotates artifact displays every two months. This way, you will likely be seeing something different every time you come.
Originally the National Palace Museum was established in 1925 when the Republic of China ruled all of Mainland China, after the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty was expelled from the forbidden city. In 1931, Chiang Kai-shek ordered that the artifacts in the forbidden city be moved to Shanghai, and Later Nanking so that they would not fall into the hands of the Japanese until the Japanese surrendered in 1945. After the Chinese Civil War started that same year, Chiang Kai Shek ordered the artifacts be moved to Taiwan between 1948 and 1949, but not all the artifacts could be sent before the communists seized control of some of the remaining collection. Only 1/5 of the original collection from the forbidden city made it to Taiwan, but they were considered the best of the artifacts.
For ten years the items sat in storage in Taichung until a small viewing hall was built in 1957. In 1965 the current site for the palace museum was established, and has been expanded over the years. The museum also plans further expansions in the future.
The museum is a monument to Taiwan's (the Republic of China's) claim to be the true legitimate government of China, as it preserved and protected these artifacts from the communist destruction of heritage during the Cultural Revolution. China of course claims that the artifacts were stolen. However, the PRC's Forbidden City (also know as the National Palace Museum) and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan have exchanged artifacts since 2009.
The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum
Shifen Old Street is the largest and busiest old street on the Pingxi Railway line, famous for setting off lanterns into the sky, and for visiting the famous Shifen Waterfall nearby. Here one can enjoy delicious food, beautiful scenery, and learn about the mining history of the area. The sky lanterns have become a major environmental issue, but because of the allure to tourists the practice doesn't seem like it will end soon.
The town of Shifen, which was originally named for the ten families that lived there in the Qing Dynasty, who needed ten portions of goods.
Shifen Train station was completed in1918 and is the biggest train station on the Pingxi Railway line. During its heyday, it had the largest coal mining operation and largest population in Pingxi District of New Taipei.
After the coal industry died down in the 1970s, tourism has taken its place as the major industry in the area.
The practice of lighting off sky lanterns in Taiwan began in Shifen, when during the Qing Dynasty local villagers would flee into the mountains during raids from bandits. Once the bandits had left, the remaining villagers sent sky lanterns into the air to let the fleeing villagers know that it was safe to come down from the mountains.
The people of Shifen send off sky lanterns as a symbol of peace, and celebrate every year during Lantern Festival , a Chinese holiday.
Setting off sky lanterns as a tourist attraction began in the 1990's and you can find people lighting off lanterns every day from Shifen.
Because of the hundreds of sky lanterns set off every day, this creates an environmental problem with lantern trash piling around the forests and mountains of Pingxi District. The local people and volunteers help to clean up, but because of the tourism allure associated with lighting off the sky lanterns, it seems that this practice is not going
away anytime soon.
This hot spring public bath, which has been famous since the Japanese era, has the rural style of the British Todor period. The calm red brick wall is commensurate with the black tiles and green sank. It is a good place for people to relax and rest.The Roman arch pillars on the first floor surround the bath, and the sun shines through the stained glass, projecting an exotic atmosphere.
The Japanese-style room pattern and Japanese-style floor on the second floor are matched with the faint hot spring smell in the air. The rambling time of the past seems to reappear in front of your eyes. With the efforts of local people, this historic site has been preserved and transformed into today's Beitou Hot Spring Museum, becoming the best way to get to know Beitou.
The Shenao Railway was originally used to transport coal. Now it has become the only rail bike trail with seascape in Taiwan. It is 1.3 kilometers long and starts from Badouzi station to Shenao station. One way riding is about 20 minutes and there are the views of mountains and seas along the way to keep you company. When passing by the residential area, you may also take pictures with the color painted residences mingled with local characteristics and admire the sea style patterns of Badouzi that stretches all the way to the style of mine craters of Shenao station. When riding through the light sculpture tunnel on the Blowfish Bike, don’t forget to lift your head and see the beautiful light sculpture around you. The light that changes with music will make you feel like you are at the bottom of the sea. After getting out of the tunnel, you will see the relic of Jianji Mine, which was the former largest coal power plant in Southeast Asia. By riding the bike, one may enjoy the local history and humanities.
Built on a green hillside in 1969, the impressive National Martyrs’ Shrine was architecturally inspired by the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing's Forbidden City. The shrine is dedicated to the 390,000 soldiers killed in the service of their country during the War of Resistance against Japan and the civil war between the Chinese Republican and communist forces. A major attraction at the shrine is the hourly ceremony for the changing of the honor guard in front of the main gate.
Shifen Special Scenic Area is located in Shifenliao between Shiding, Ruifang and Shuangxi in northeastern Taiwan.
Administratively part of Pingxi District, New Taipei City, the terrain here has been carved by a tributary of the Keelung River, northern Taiwan’s largest and longest river, into a ravine with a dissected topography. The faults and rock formations have given birth to numerous waterfalls along the river extending north from Houtong to Sandiaoling and onwards to Shifenliao and Pingxi. Among the biggest and best known of these falls, and a popular visitor attraction, is Shifen Waterfall.
Shifen Waterfall lies between Dahua Station and Shifen Station on the Pingxi Railway Line in Pingxi District, New Taipei City. Torrents of water thunder down this curtain-type fall like a white satin sheet. As the water plunges into the large, deep pool beneath, it raises mists that often enshroud the falls. On sunny days, the mists paint dazzling rainbows in the blue skies: a sight that has earned the waterfall pool the nickname of “Rainbow Pond.” Because its bedrock slopes in the opposite direction of the water flow, Shifen Waterfall is a cascade-type waterfall similar to North America’s Niagara Falls, earning it the nickname of “Taiwan’s Niagara Falls.”
Nanya Geological Hiking Trail is an ideal beginning of a geological adventure in the Northeast Coast. Since the coasts here are steep, cliffs and weathered rocks are many - although these formations might show different levels of corrosion. Exactly because the hardness and thickness of each layer of rocks are different, the geological landscape here is highly diversified. Among the popular rocks are: Ice Cream Rock, Bamboo Shoot Rock, and Fur Seal Rock, each expressing some unique charm when appreciated from a certain angle. Visitors may want to climb onto a big rock to appreciate the vast blue sky and the sea, or to observe some amazing rocks along the trail, which faces oceans on one side and mountains on the other. Although just 300 meters long, the trail has many ecological and geological resources to offer.
Originally a winery, the Huashan 1914 Creative Park is now an important events venue. As a new cultural events platform, many large-scale exhibitions, installations, theater productions and performances now take place here.
Huashan Prairie Playground is located behind Huashan 1914 Creative Park. It is a new children’s playground in Central Culture Park, linked through images, such as railway tracks and tunnels.
The most representative structure in the playground is the “chimney game tower”, where the exterior of the chimney resembles that of Taipei Wine Factory. The playground offers a wide variety of recreational facilities and attractions, making it an ideal place for both adults and children to have fun.
Located in Shilin, Taipei City, Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence is the first ecological garden of Taipei City, and was previously the home of renowned former president, Chiang Kai-Shek.
Upon entering the residence, you can find Madame Chiang’s former Cadillac and her favorite rose garden along with white plum trees. Also, part of the Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence is the Ecosystem Zone, which allows you to observe all sorts of plants and insects at your pleasure. In addition, the Wooden Musical Stage engrosses you in the aural feast while you relax in the beautiful garden surroundings.
The Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence is accompanied by Chinese style and Western style gardens, including Shilin Garden Zone, Garden Display Gallery, European Garden, Oriental Court, and Choral Hall. Some of these gardens have gorgeous plants and rose bushes decorated with artificial stone cliffs and flourished with blooming trees. It was designated a national historical monument.
The most popular place in the Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence is Victoria Chapel, a beautiful place where Chiang Kai-Shek and Madame Chiang used to pray. Moreover, the Victoria Chapel used to be a place that held elegant wedding ceremonies for Chiang’s family. Today, the Victoria Chapel is still the most popular place for couples to take wedding photographs in Taipei City.
The former residence of Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling, the Shilin Official Residence is a designated historical site open to the public as a museum celebrating their accomplishments as well as their contributions to the growth of Taiwan in the modern era.
Besides the main residence, other buildings within the compound include the guesthouse, Victory Chapel, Ciyun Pavilion, and numerous gardens open to the public.
Hours of operation are from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30AM to noon (tickets until 11:40), and 1:30PM to 5PM (tickets until 4:40PM).
Yehliu is perhaps the most famous geological park in Taiwan, with its most famous landmark being the Queen's Head rock. These rock formations have been forming for thousands of years through erosion of soft sandstone due to wind and water. Hurry and see these formations soon before they are gone forever!
The sandstone that forms the Yehliu formation was created between 10 and 20 million years
ago, and was pushed out of the sea along with northern Taiwan thousands of years ago.
The Queen's head is formed by two layers of sandstone, one soft fast eroding layer on bottom and a harder layer on top. This kind of sandstone formation can be seen around the world and is known as a hoodoo. The Queen's head was named after Queen Elizabeth I, because it is thought to look like her.
The head is eroding .2 to .5 CM per year and is expected to fall at any time!
The name Yehliu comes from the Spanish name for the area "Putno Diablos" which was then also used by the Dutch, and transliterated by the Chinese settlers in the area as "Yehliu" in Chinese.
Yehliu Ocean world is the largest aquarium in northern Taiwan and has one of the few outdoor sea life amphitheaters in Taiwan. The facility features an indoor aquarium and outdoor show that is geared toward children.
The Northeast Pacific Coast，Sandiao Cape Lighthouse.
Constructed in 1931, Sandiao Cape Lighthouse sits at the eastern most tip of Taiwan. The Lighthouse also called as "Eye of Taiwan". "Sandiao" is a Taiwanese translation of "Santiago", the name given to this area by the Spanish when they discovered the cape. This is a popular destination for catching the earliest dawn rays to shine in northern Taiwan.
The old warehouse, which has been idle for a long time, lately this has been renovated with churchshaped round arches architecture and stained glass, just look like a European-style church , therefore, it is commonly called the "Church of Sandiao Cape", rather than a church that really open to the public.
Heping Island is originally named as “She-liao island”.
Heping Island is the doorway to Keelung Harbor. It was a settlement of Kaitaglan Tribe at the early times.
Currently, a seashore park was set up along with the coast. Inside the park, one will see important terrain of marine abrasion, including marine cliff, abrasion platform and abrasion fosse as well as the famous “bean curd rock” and pedestal rock.
Apart from the spectacular terrain, the body fossil and trace fossils are considered treasures for geological studies.
Be sure to take a good look at the strand plants for it is amazing that they can survive under the unfavorable conditions. During the ebb, one can step on the abrasion platform to see the strand plants and all the different rocks and stones.
Take a break to sit down on the rock to listen to the waves and enjoy the amazing gift of nature.
However, please do not go down to the marine cliff for the rock otherwise that might break down at any moment.
Maokong is only one of a few Gondolas in Taiwan, but it is the most accessible. You can get there via the Taipei MRT. After embarking on the Gondola, you can view grand vistas of Southern Taipei, and then explore the mountainous streets of Maokong, which has tea shops, street food, restaurants, temples, hiking trails, and great views.
The Maokong Gondola was completed in 2007 to improve transportation to Maokong, a tea growing area in Southern Wenshan District of Taipei City. Before, the district could only be reached by small mountain roads.
The Gondola was closed from 2008-2010 due to Typhoon damage.
Popular activities in the area include tea drinking, hiking, and picture taking.
There are four stations on the Gondola: Taipei Zoo Station, Taipei Zoo South Station, Zhinan Temple Station, and Maokong Station. A one way trip takes 12 minutes, and gondola cars which can fit up to eight people (five people in glass cars) come every few seconds.
Maokong gets its name from the eroded holes in the rocks around the area; the name literally means “Cat Hole.”
The area has been one of the largest areas for tea production in Taipei since the Qing Dynasty. After the completion of the Gondola in 2007, tourists to the area have increased significantly.
Yangmingshan National Park is a mountainous area in Taipei and New Taipei, known for its volcanic activity, hiking trails, wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs, and sulfur vents. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan .During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves, Qingtiangang likely being one of these areas.
Sulfur mining was started in the Qing Dynasty by a British mining company that first obtained the rights to mine here in 1897. In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association.
The area around Qingtiangang to Lengshuikeng was made into a ranch for water buffalo, and grass from Japan was planted here for them to graze.
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan.
The KMT kept the ranch at Qingtiangang and continued to maintain it. They also built bunkers here and kept a garrison of troops.
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era.
Due to its easy accessibility from Taipei and many natural attractions, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taipei City. Most visitors come on weekends, and it has parking lots and visitor's centers throughout the park.
Haichao Park is located in small-town Toucheng of the Northeast Coast. It boasts magnificent mountain and ocean formations, including Single-faced Mountain, Tofu Rock, and Small Cape that are tens of millions years old. As visitors walk to the park’s highest point - a pavilion, they can enjoy a birds-eye-view of Lanyang Plain, Guishan Island, and Wai’ao coasts. In the park, there are even two century-old cannons allegedly coined in the years of Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty. The cannons seem to bear so many stories of the past, and they add nostalgic charm to the area.
Fans of railways and photography should not miss this place. It is truly satisfying to watch trains passing in-between mountains and the sea! The ocean views here are also impeccable. Hightide and sunrise hours are especially recommended for those wanting to make impressive photos.
The beautiful valley next to Badouzi Fishing Port in Keelung City is adjacent to the mountains and seas.
This valley was formerly known as Da Hu Ding. For more than 50 years in the Republic of China, a person from Badouzi brought a group of National Taiwan University Students to play here. At that time, they could not go to the sea and could only play in the valley. They had a great time and forgot about their worries. Hence, they named this place "Worriless Valley." In around year 70 of the Taiwanese calendar, someone wrote "Wangyou Valley" meaning "Worriless Valley," which has been continued to be used up to today. Wangyou Valley is a V-shaped valley. You can relax on the green meadows, see fishing boats, and see the Keelung Island. Tourists then stroll on the ring ridges and valley trails. At night, the fishing spots on the sea and the lights of Jiufenshancheng form a beautiful scene of mountain and sea.
Ximending is a historical neighborhood and shopping district in west Taipei. Originally built by the Japanese as an entertainment district, it later became the first designated pedestrian zone in Taiwan. Here you can find night market like food choices, historical sights, and endless shopping options. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.
The land that Ximen Shopping District stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers.
Sections of the area indicate that there was settlements here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The name Ximending refers to the neighborhood just outside the west gate of Taipei City. Before the Japanese colonization of Taiwan, this area was wilderness connecting Taipei with Bangka. The Japanese decided to develop it into an entertainment area around the turn of the 20th century. The walls of Taipei were later torn down in 1905.
One historical building here is the Red House Theater which was built in 1908. Originally the building was a department store, but after 1945 the building was transformed into a theater. After a fire in the year 2000, it was renovated and turned into a museum with shops and theater with more modern equipment.
In the year 2000, Ximending was designated as a pedestrian zone, the first in Taiwan. Because if its popularity, the area is also known for more crime and illicit activities.
Currently the area sees over 300 shoppers per month. The area is also especially popular with young people because there are many high schools and cram schools nearby.
Xiaoyoukeng in Yangmingshan National Park is a large volcanic steam vent area with hiking trails, fumaroles, sulfur deposits, and natural hot springs. Even though the name means "small sulfur hole," it is perhaps the largest and most easily accessible volcanic steam vent area in Taiwan. One could say that it is the Yellowstone of Taiwan. It is a quiet a pleasant stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan.
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves.
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association.
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan.
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era.
Xiaouyoukeng (literally "Small Oil Crater" gets its name because the there are two main sulfur vents on Yangmingshan, and it was thought to be the smaller one. The venting crater lies about 805 meters above sea level. A few kilometers under the ground, there is a leftover lava chamber from a previous eruption that heats up ground water and sends it spewing back to the surface.
It is a popular stop in Yangmingshan and has two parking lots and visitor's center. It is also one of the starting points for the Mt. Qixing Trail.
National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (literally National Founding Father Memorial Hall) sits in the northern part of Xinyi District of Taipei, and includes a large open square and gardens. The inside of the memorial hall commemorates the life of the founding father of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen, who is revered on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. In addition, the memorial hall has a performance hall, free rotating art exhibitions, and changing of the guard every hour. It is definitely a sight worth seeing on your trip to Taipei.
The memorial hall was completed in 1972 after 8 years of construction.
Chiang Kai-shek's funeral in 1975 took place in the memorial hall.
Originally the hall was only used to commemorate Sun Yat-sen, but recently it has become a cetner for the arts. The Golden Horse Awards festival is held annually here.
There is another Sun Yat-sen Memorial in Guangzhou and also one in Hong Kong.
Sun Yat-sen was born in 1856 in Guangdong, China, but also spent part of his childhood in Hawaii where he had family. He was an influencial leader in the Xinhai uprising the overtthrew the Qing Dynasty in 1911. After that, he was elected as the provisional president of China, and then stepped down for a short time in favor of the warlord Yuan Shikai who forced the last Qing emperor to abdicate. However Yuan Shikai then declared himself emperor. Sun then re-formed the Nationalist KMT party and military in Guangdong, and allied with the Chinese Commnist Party. With help from the Soviets, Sun's army made a push against Yuan in the First United Front. He then died suddenly from liver cancer in 1935 at the age of 58.
After Sun's death, the KMT generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek decleared himself president and led a war against the Japanese, then a civil war against the communists in which the KMT lost mainland China and retreated to Taiwan.
Sun is considered to be one of the greatest leaders that China has ever known.
Bitan is a slow moving part of the Xindian River in Xindian District of New Taipei. It is also known as Bitan Lake, or Bitan Scenic Area .Here you can bike ride, paddle boat, go hiking, and shop at Xindian Old Street .With convenient transportation via Taipei MRT, it is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.
The name Bitan means "green lake" in Chinese, which was coined by Sun Ke, vice chairman of the KMT after WWII. It is also known as Chibi Lake .Shibi Lake .and Shishan Big Lake .
Bitan suspension bridge was completed in 1937. Before that time, ferry boat was the best means of transport. In 1997, the National Freeway 3 bridge was completed across the lake. In 2000, Bitan Suspension Bridge was refurbished.
It is also known as one of Taiwan's top 12 or top 8 sights.
It is also a very popular recreational spot for Taipie residents on the weekend.
Near Bitan is Xindian Old Street ,which sells street food, fruits, and vegetables. It has been the main acrigultural market in Xindian for over a hundred years. The Changxing Temple on the Old Street is over 150 years old, and is dedicated to the Earth God.
The Shilin Night Market in Taipei is one of the largest, most popular night markets in Taiwan with regard to food, and also one of the most popular points of Taipei's night life among visitors. Located in Taipei’s Shilin District, a mere 70 metres from MRT Jiantan Station between Dadong Rd, Danan Rd, Wenlin Rd, and Jihe Rd. The maze of alleyways is filled with a variety of local, traditional, and international merchandise that attract locals and foreigners alike.
The night market consists of two major elements: general merchandise and local cuisine. Along the western edge of the market is the Shilin Night Market Food Court ,an underground food paradise.
Many of Taiwan’s traditional foods can be found and bought for reasonable prices from the friendly locals who are eager to let you taste the unique flavours of their traditional recipes such as Giant Fried Chicken Steak, Tempura, Bubble Tea, Oyster Vermicelli Oyster Omelet, Fried Buns and of course, the most notorious Taiwanese goodie, Stinky Tofu.
The most popularly recommended food in Shilin Night Market is the Oyster Omelet ,pronounced by everyone in Taiwanese as é ā jiān. Although the market usually begins bursting with activity every day in the late evening and doesn’t stop until past midnight, most food vendors will have left by midnight. So if you want to get a taste of this unique dish, get there early!
The market showcases Taiwan’s culture with its vivid colours and general atmosphere, along with friendly shop keepers and plenty of delicious food and cheap clothes!
Shilin night market is one of the attractions that must be visited when in Taipei, the sites, scents and bargains are enough to plan a second visit - you can never get enough!
Zhuzihu is a small valley in Yangmingshan National Park between Qixing Mountian and Datun Mountian. The valley is especially fertile due to the rich volcanic soil and abundant rain, and the entire area is full of recreational farms which have become popular tourist destinations. You should definitely stop by on your trip to Yangmingshan.
Zhuzihu valley was formed from lava that flowed out from Datunshan and Xiaoguanyinshan .
Due to its location as a high mountain valley, it rains easily here; annual rain accumulation is about 4500 mm.
Before Chinese settlers came to this valley, it was simply a road from the Taipei Basin to the coast, and a hunting ground. In the early 1600s, the first Chinese settlers came to farm here in three main family groups. In 1895, a brief skrimish was fought here between the Japanese and local settlers who did not want to be part of the Japanese empire.
The Japanese built hot springs here, experimental farms, a library, and a hiking dormitory. They began planting cabbage and rice here.
After the ROC took over Taiwan, cabbage growing became less important, and the farmers here began planting flowers and catering to tourism instead.
Now Zhuzihu is one of the most popular spots in Taipei to see flower gardens, mainly white and purple Arum-lilys and Hydrangea which bloom from about February to June.
In 2011, the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park was positioned as the “Creative Hub of Taipei”, with the objective to nurture creative talents and energy. The Park is not designed with a commercial focus, but rather, its mission is to kindle creativity and innovation and to be in synch with the interdisciplinary developmental trend observed in today’s industries. The Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is not just a platform for showcasing creativity and innovation. It strives to be a hub for inspiring and nurturing the spirits of creativity, and with the five key strategies of “Creative Lab”, “Creative Union”, “Creative School”, “Creative Showcase” and “Creative Hub”, the objective is for the Park to achieve the goal of becoming Taipei’s creative hub. With the mission in mind, the Park is assertively involved in the organization of various artistic, cultural, and creativity events, which also include presentations of design, visual, and cross-disciplinary events. The activities take shape in diverse formats, including film shootings, press conferences, extended or short-term exhibitions, award ceremonies, symposiums, seminars, fashion shows, and much more. The cultural heritage site of the Park is used in multifaceted lively ways, and with its unique ambiance enhanced, the location has gradually been transformed into a new destination for cultural and creative industry endeavors in Taipei and also a new creative stage with an international focus. The Songshan Cultural and Creative Park’s mission and duties involve continual efforts in facilitating exchanges between industries and to offer support for the development of aesthetical experiences, and also promotional and marketing endeavors, which are all aimed at creating the greatest benefits from the Park’s multiple functions. Furthermore, it will also continue to organize largescale cultural and creative events and to actualize the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park’s vision to become Taipei’s creative showcase window. With the Park’s multifunctional spaces and its multifaceted operational approach, the intention is to transform the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park into an iconic indicator for everyday aestheticism and design cognition and for the location to truly become a comprehensive multifaceted creative center.
A witness to history and a traveler in time.
Taipei Grand Hotel, a 14-story palace-like building, faces Keelung River, nestled against Yangming Mountain, overlooking Songshan in the east and Danshui in the west. Since 1952, the Grand Hotel has been standing midway up Yuanshan, a towering building with red columns, gilded tiles and a magnificent, grandiose, regal, classic presence, a must-visit great gem of Chinese culture. It offer 500 guest rooms with a daytime view of a flowing river and surging clouds and quiet nighttime view of the city. Come and experience modern luxurious comfort in amidst classic ambiance.
Raohe Street Night Market is a bustling night market in Eastern Taipei and one of the most popular in the city. One could argue that Roahe Street is the best night market in Taipei. With a large assortment of great food and snacks, along with the usual night market cheap clothes and everyday items, along with close proximity to public transport, Raohe Street is a must-see destination when you come to Taipei.
The Raohe Market is one long street with two walking lanes. Each side has stalls and storefronts. The center of the night market is full of stalls and sitting areas where visitors can sit and eat.
The Raohe Market is primarily food. There are many Taiwanese style choices like rice noodles and seafood. One of the most popular snacks at Raohe is the black pepper bun. It is the first stall under the entrance on the temple side of the market in the center. Read HERE for our write up of this must have Taiwanese treat.
Qingtiangang in Yangmingshan National Park is a large grassland that lies on top of an old lava terrace. It is famous for the water buffalo that congregate here to graze and is one of the most popular areas in the park. Besides enjoying views of wild water buffalo, there are also many hiking trails and historic trails nearby. Overall it is a family-friendly destination and one of the most popular attractions in Taipei City.
Qingtiangang, literally meaning "Hill Holding up Heaven" gets its name from the KMT Qingtian garrison that once guarded the hills and grasslands here. Officially it lies in Shilin District of Taipei, but parts of the grassland also lie in Jinshan District of New Taipei. The grassland lies 770 meters above sea level.
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan .During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves, Qingtiangang likely being one of these areas.
Sulfur mining at Dayoukeng Crater in Yangmingshan National Park started in the Qing Dynasty by a British mining company who first obtained the rights to mine here in 1897. Currently you can find lots of old mining equipment that were abandoned here. The Yulu Old Trail was built near Dayoukeng to transport mining materials, and extended over to Qingtiangang. Mining sulfur ended with the formation of Yangmingshan National Park.
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association.
The area around Qingtiangang to Lengshuikeng was made into a ranch for water buffalo, and grass from Japan was planted here for them to graze.
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan.
The KMT kept the ranch at Qingtiangang and continued to maintain it. They also built bunkers here and kept a garrison of troops.
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era.
In2018, a mother died after being pushed over by a water buffalo at Qingtiangang. In 2020, the family was awarded NT$3.96 million from the park and wooden fences were built around the grasslands shortly after.
The water buffalo at Qingtiangang are actually closely watched and cared for. Although they roam free around Yangmingshan, they are watched over by the Agricultural Associations of Jinshan, Shilin, Yangmingshan, and Beitou, and well as the national park management.
In the winter of 2020 which was unusually wet, tens of cows began to die of malnutrition, therefore the park took steps to supplement the diet of the remaining cattle. Many cows were brought to lower eve lavations for rehabilitation before being released back to Yangmingshan.
Due to its easy accessibility and nearby attractions such as Lengshuikeng and Qixingshan, it is a popular stop in Yangmingshan and has a parking lots and a visitor's center. In addition, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taipei City.
Longshan Temple is one of the most popular Temples in Taipei, and sits right in the middle of historical Wanhua District of Taipei.
This temple dates back to 1738, and was built by Chinese settlers in Fujian in honor of the Longshan Temple in Fujian. The main deities worshipped here are Mazu and Guanyu. Due to its easy access to the Taipei MRT, the temple sees a lot of visitors.
The land that Longshan Temple stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers. The area at Bangka was a trading center for the Basay people before Chinese settlers ever came.
Maps dating to the Dutch rule in the 1600s marked Bangka as a trading location.
The name Bangka (or Měngjiǎ in Taiwanese Mandarin) comes from the fact that the Basay tribe called the Chinese trading ships that visited "Bangka" which means canoe, and was transliterated into Southern Min as (Bangkah 艋舺) which literally means small boat.
Later when the Japanese came they mistakenly heard Bangka as “Mange” in Japanese (Wàn huá 萬華 in Chinese), which is the current name of the area.
The settlement at Bangka (Měngjiǎ 艋舺) quickly grew into the largest settlement in Northern Taiwan. Settlements at Dadaocheng and Bopiliao nearby also began to sprout up.
Huaxi Street Night Market has been established for over 50 years. It used to be a red light district before prostitution was banned in Taiwan in 1991. Now it specializes in strange meats such as snake, turtle, and deer meat as well as animal blood. It is also known as "Snake Alley." You can also find normal Taiwanese night market snacks here.
Longshan temple dates back to 1738, and was built by Chinese settlers in Fujian in honor of the Longshan Temple in Fujian. The main deities worshipped here are Mazu and Guanyu. Due to its easy access to the Taipei MRT, the temple sees a lot of visitors.
Lin An-Tai Historical House may give you the illusion of stepping back 200 years in Taipei’s history. This was once the luxurious residence of wealthy families in ancient times. When you visit here, you can relax and truly appreciate the historic architecture, the beautifully landscaped courtyards, and it’s a popular spot for many couples to take wedding photos. It’s a must-visit free attraction in Taipei.”
Dipper Cave, with the Snake’s Head Facing the Seven Stars.” It follows the architectural orientation of “sitting northeast and facing southwest.” Dating back over 200 years, this meticulously crafted historic residence features a two-section, five-bay, four-sided courtyard layout. In 1978, it narrowly escaped demolition as it was not initially designated as a historical site, and it fell within the area earmarked for the expansion of Dunhua South Road. It was later relocated to its current site to ensure its preservation.
The Ningxia Night Market is one of the busiest and more traditional markets in the city.
Unlike Shilin Night Market and Raohe Night Market, Ningxia is busy but not too overcrowded.
Ningxia Night Market is located in the heart of downtown Taipei on Ningxia Rd. between Nanjing W. Rd. and Mingshen W. Rd. It’s a very busy, traditional street night market much like many that existed across Taiwan 20 or more years ago.
The Taipei Ningxia Night Market has had a resurgence.. As most night markets in Taipei, it is visited by locals because of a few famous foods sold there. Also, visitors and tourists can easily get to the market from the MRT.
There are stalls and store fronts along this night market. You will notice long lines for some
Wulai has become a major tourist attraction, partly because of its close proximity to Taipei. It has museums, waterfalls, a gondola, a train, an old street night market, and most of all hot springs. It has an old Japanese era coal mining railroad track which has been restored with a working train. In addition there are hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
Wulai was originally an Atayal aborigine village, its name meaning hot and poisonous. There has always been natural hot springs in Wulai, but much of that water has been channeled into hotels and public bathhouses. The free hot springs stood at the bottom of the hill next to the river, and was a collection of used hot spring water from the hotels and paid hot springs above. In its prime, it boasted the largest free outdoor hot springs in Taiwan.
Recently the District of Wulai in New Taipei has become a major tourist attraction, partly because of its close proximity to Taipei. It has museums, waterfalls, a gondola, a train, an old street night market, and most of all hot springs. The main delicacies on the old street are Taiwan ingenuous foods such as wild boar meat and rice steamed in bamboo.
Bopiliao Old Street is a historical street in Taipei, made almost completely of one or two story brick buildings, many dating over 200 years ago and was one of the earliest commercial districts in northern Taiwan. Here you can find museums, shops, food options, and art exhibitions. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.
The land that Popiliao Old Street stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers.
Sections of the area indicate that there was settlements here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The name Bopliao come from the fact that timber and animal skins were transported here, and the bark or skins of animals was also peeled here
The first recorded Chinese settlement of Bopiliao was in1763 during the Early Qing Dynasty. At the time it was a small cluster of houses near the larger settlement at Bangka .
Important products that were sold here include coal, tea, as well as various other goods. It was among the most prosperous area in Taipei.
During the Japanese era, Taipei City underwent new urban planning, which meant that Pobiliao was not longer an important intersection for trade. It slowly lost importance and fell into disrepair.
In 2006 the Taipei City government underwent a renovation project for Bopiliao Old Street, including renovation of buildings and creating museums. Now there are many historical and art exhibits here, and it is a popular place for visitors on the weekends.
The National Taiwan Museum is the oldest and one of the best in the country and focuses on the natural, geological, and human history of Taiwan. Located in downtown Taipei, it is easily accessible, and you can spend an entire afternoon here. It is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Taipei.
The National Taiwan Museum was originally established in 1908 to commemorate the opening of the north-south railway in Taiwan and began with over 10,000 items related to Taiwan's academia, art, and industry. A Newer building was later built to house the collection in 1915.
After the ROC took over Taiwan, it was known as the Taiwan Provincial Museum until 1999 when it changed its name to the National Taiwan Museum. It is the only museum established during the Japanese era that still stands today. The museum also underwent renovations in 2017.
The museum has four areas: the main National Taiwan Museum (which is the focus of this blog), the Land Bank Exhibition Hall, Nanmen Park, and Railway Department Park. In the future, the Monopoly Bureau and the Mitsui Bussan Company Building will be added.
Tamsui Old Street (aka Danshui Old Street or Tamshui Old Street) is a street in Tamsui District of New Taipei famous for its delicious food and historical atmosphere. It is one of the most popular and well known old streets in all of Taiwan. Some local delicacies here include A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, and other seafood.
Tamsui used to be called Huwei. It is a derivation from the ancient tongue "Hoba." It means the river outlet. Tamsui is located in northwest of Taipei basin. Tamsui is surrounded by mountains and rivers and the scenery is beautiful.
Hongmao Castle is a historic site in Tamsui. It was built by the Spaniards in 1626 and restored by the Dutch. The castle was called Anthony Castle. Because Taiwan people called the Dutch people Hongmao (people with red hair), the castle thus was called Hongmao Castle. It was also called Huwei Castle.
The castle was once taken by the English and it was returned to our country in 1980. The castle is more than 300 years old and is designated as national heritage site. The building is red brick construction. The original furniture is reserved for indoor decoration. There are exhibition showrooms for historical data and pictures related to early Taiwan years. Across the lawn and garden, there is another red brick building facing the castle. It used to be the dormitory of British Consulate. When one ascends to the overlook platform, one can view one of the eight great scenes of Tamsui, the sunset at Shutai. Nearby there are Old Oxford School, Residence of Dr. Mackay and Tamsui College. These old buildings are mostly well preserved. When one walks among these buildings, he (she) would feel that times have turned back. One can enjoy the old streets, the cool breeze, the flower/trees planted by residents and the sense of relaxation. Walking on the old streets along the riverbank, visitors may view the old buildings and may try the tasty local dishes, such as fish dumplings, Ah Gei (Oily Bean Curd) and hard eggs, etc. The dock is a good place for marvelous sunset viewing. Visitors can also take the boat ride between Tamsui and Bali. Anyone would love to watch the flying cranes and listen to the river flowing. At Bali, they have this famous dish from peacock clams. Tamsui is such a wonderful place and be sure to visit it.
Wulai Trolley was meant for log transportation in the early times. Owing to the visitors demand from Wulai Waterfall tourism development, it was converted to passenger transportation purpose in 1963 driven by personnel manually.
To meet the increasing demand of visitors, it was motorized in 1974 with a diesel locomotive to drive the trolley. In 1987, a tunnel was constructed at Waterfall Stop in spite of all difficulties to replace the original turntable for the locomotive to turn around, which is still operational today. The 1.5km line between Wulai and Waterfall Stops operates from 9:00 to 17:00 on a daily basis. Also, the timetable will be adjusted to accommodate the peak season in the summer to serve tourists on demand.
The original "Taipei Water Source Site Pumping Room" was built in 1908, when Taiwan was ruled by Japan. The birth of Taipei City's modern drinking-water facilities was in 1895, when Japan took over Taiwan. In order to improve the city's sanitary conditions, the Japanese government began to map out waterworks for drinking water and commissioned a Scotsman, William K. Burton, to conduct a survey of Taiwan's sanitary engineering. Based on Burton's suggestion, a water-intake unit was established in 1907 at the foot of Guanyinshan by the Xindian River (Xindianxi) to pump water to the purification plant on Guanyinshan, then pump the treated water upward to the reservoir on the hilltop, and supply water to the city through natural gravitational force. The Taipei Water Source Site Pumping Room where the pumping equipment was placed was retired from service in 1977, when the intake unit was relocated to Qingtan Dam on the upper reaches of Xiandianxi due to increasing pollution on the downstream Xindianxi section. It later became today's Museum of Drinking Water.
Dihua Street is Taipei City's biggest and oldest Old Street. Here you can find a large area with historical buildings and unique old-style shops. Also, there are many art spaces, museums, and restaurants to explore in the area. You should definitely make a stop in this historically rich area on your trip to Taipei.
The land that Dadaocheng stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers.
Sections of Dadaocheng indicate that there were settlements here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The first Chinese settlers came to the area in the mid-1800's during the Qing Dynasty. They created a public area for drying rice and grain, called Dadaocheng from which the place gets its name, which also became the central market in the area.
The earliest trading shops were built in 1851, mainly selling rice, sugar, camphor, and tea. Dihua Street ,or center street was created around this time, making it the oldest street in Taipei.
Dihua Street is an important place to buy traditional food supplies and ingredients. It is particularly popular during Chinese festivals.
Fisherman's Wharf is a popular leisure fishing port in Tamsui. The area features a pedestrian bridge with great views, and a long pier with tons of food options, especially seafood. Popular activities here include watching the sunset, enjoying the scenery, and enjoying local snacks.
Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf is a multi-purpose leisure fishing port developed by the New Taipei City Government.
There are magnificent floating piers and a spacious park, with a bridge in the shape of a boat spanning across the harbor and a wooden path stretching over 300 meters at the waterfront. It is relaxing to lean against the fence enjoying the breeze and sights at the Tamsui River mouth. In the evening, this is the best place to watch the view of the sunset.
Fisherman's Wharf is officially known as Tamsui Fishing Harbor No. 2 .It was an important harbor for fisherman, along with Tamsui port for the past 200 years due to its geographic location on the westernmost end of the Tamsui River. In 2001, it was changed into it's current form as a tourist destination. However, it still continues to be used as a fishing harbor.
Wulai Waterfall is the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan. Here you can find a street with snacks and restaurants, and a gondola that leads to a second tier of the waterfall and an amusement park. In addition there are hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
Wulai was originally an Atayal aborigine village, its name meaning hot and poisonous. There has always been natural hot springs in Wulai, but much of that water has been channeled into hotels and public bathhouses. The free hot springs stood at the bottom of the hill next to the river, and was a collection of used hot spring water from the hotels and paid hot springs above. In its prime, it boasted the largest free outdoor hot springs in Taiwan.
Recently the District of Wulai in New Taipei has become a major tourist attraction, partly because of its close proximity to Taipei. It has museums, waterfalls, a gondola, a train, an old street night market, and most of all hot springs. The main delicacies on the old street are Taiwan ingenuous foods such as wild boar meat and rice steamed in bamboo.
Wulai waterfall is 80 meters high, making it the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan. It's highest point sits at 230 meters above sea level, and drops to 150 meters above sea level. The waterfall is also about 10 meters wide.
Yunceng Amusement Park began construction in 1960 and was completed in 1970. It includes a gondola, hotel, swimming pool, canoe pond, and other activities. Originally it had a roller coaster, pirate ship, and other rides, but these have all been taken down.
The Red House was constructed in 1908 by Japanese architect Kondo Juro, which was one of the earlist public markets built by the government in Taiwan, also the oldest and complete municipal monument market building preserved on the island today. The young and bold creativity used the "octagonal shape" as the market entrance and the "cross shape" as the main body of the market. Known as the Eight Diagrams Tower, the shape of the cross and the Eight Diagrams is unique, and the local legend has the meaning of praying for evil. At present, the octagonal building and the cross building, as well as the south and north squares on both sides, are collectively referred to as "The Red House”.
As a performing arts venue in the post-war period,Now it is a performance space It is currently the most complete preserved Grade III historic building in Taiwan.
Fort San Domingo, “City of Red Hair" is one of the oldest buildings in Taiwan, with a nearly 400 year history. Originally built by the Spanish, it was handed over to nine different nations including the Dutch, Qing, Japan, British, Australia, USA, and the ROC. Now it is a popular tourist destination in Tamsui.
Fort San Domingo was originally a wooden fort built by the Spanish who were vying for control of Taiwan in 1628. Later the fort came into Dutch control in 1642, and the Spanish were driven from Taiwan. In the process, the Spanish razed the fort to the ground. The fort was rebuilt in brick by the Dutch. The Dutch were expelled from Taiwan thanks to Konxinga and his Ming loyalists.
After the Qing dynasty took Taiwan from the Ming loyalists, they repaired the fort in 1724.
The local Han Chinese at the time called the fort "Red Hair Fort” as a racial slur to the Dutch.
Later, the fort was leased to the British government, who continued to keep a presence there until 1972, and later it was given for a short time to Australia and the USA, and then given to the ROC government in 1980. Now the government maintains the fort as a tourist attraction.
