Taipei Points of Interest and Places to Visit

Taiwan’s second largest city was once a gritty, industrial port town, but in recent years it has undergone a revitalization that makes it a must-see destination for inventive food, endless sun and some of the biggest night markets in Taiwan. The Kaisyuan Night Market—open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday—has 1,000 stalls serving an incredible variety of foods, from fried squid to papaya milk. From its position at the southern end of the island, Kaohsiung also boasts beautiful year-round weather. Take a ferry ride to Cijin to spend a day at the beach and sample fresh seafood along the waterfront, or opt for a walk or bike ride around Lotus Lake in the Zuoying District of North Kaohsiung, which offers glimpses of eight temples. While there you can visit the Dragon Tiger Pagodas—enter through the dragon’s mouth to explore the pair of towers before leaving through the tiger’s mouth.

Founded by the Buddhist Master Hsing Yun, the Fo Guang Shan Monastery is one of the nation’s most-visited temples. Its huge golden Buddha stretches more than 100 meters into the sky and nearly 500 smaller versions of this religious deity circle around its feet. Four distinct temples honoring Sakyamuni line the banks of nearby Goaping River. And while scenic views from the monastery are particularly beautiful during the day, the glow from 14,800 lanterns tucked into the walls of the four shrines is particularly impressive as the sun begins to set.

The Taiwanese people's reverence for the first President of the Republic of China and the icon of Chinese Nationalism is very much in evidence in the monumental Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Chiang died in 1975, the hall opened five years later and since then the huge white structure, with its octagonal blue pagoda-style roof, has become a symbol of Taiwan. You approach through a white ceremonial gateway on a similarly overwhelming scale. Once inside you'll find yourself immersed in Chiang’s life, with relics to bring alive his military and political career, including a slightly eerie dummy of the late president sitting in a recreation of his office.

Taiwan’s tallest skyscraper, Taipei 101, enjoyed the title of world’s tallest building from 2004 until the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was completed in 2010. It remains the world’s largest and tallest green building. The 1,667-foot (508-meter) structure consists of 101 aboveground floors and five underground floors and houses a mix of offices, a multilevel shopping complex, food court and restaurants. Perhaps more impressive than the total height of the building is its structural integrity. The skyscraper was designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoon-level winds thanks to a massive damper sphere, the largest in the world. The building’s exterior is meant to resemble bamboo, a symbol of longevity. You can spot the Taipei 101 from nearly anywhere in Taipei, but the best way to experience it is by riding the world’s fastest elevator to the eighty-ninth floor observatory. Take a self-guided audio tour in the indoor observatory before climbing to the outdoor deck.

Travelers flock to Alishan National Scenic Area for its breathtaking views and incredible sunrises. Thick white clouds cover the valley below and towering mountaintops look like tiny islands in a never-ending ocean. Thick forests and well-kept hiking trails lead to the incredible views that are the main attraction at this scenic area. But visitors interested in more than just a pretty view can stop at nearby Ziyun Temple, Alishan Hotel and Alishan Rail Station—one of just three mountain rails in the world.

Shifen Waterfall is located in the Pingxi District of Taipei and is one of the most famous falls in Taiwan. At just 20 meters it’s not remarkably tall, but it is the widest waterfall in the country – it spans some 40 meters across – and is both incredibly powerful and majestically captivating. Torrents of water plunge into a deep pool, raising a shroud of mist that creates a dazzling rainbow effect on sunny days. The waterfall’s rocks slope in the opposite direction to the flow of the water in a cascade style similar to that of Niagara Falls, earning it the nickname, “Taiwan's Little Niagara.” It is a scenic walk from Shifen railway station to the waterfall, with many choosing to extend the hike by alighting the train from Taipei at Sandiaoling and taking three or four hours to complete the Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail.

Rare hoodoo stones, rock spires and sedimentary formations make Yeh Liu Geo Park, located on a cape in Wanli, a popular destination among travelers. The well-known “Queen’s Head” at the furthest end of the park offers impressive views and close proximity to a tiny cave that’s slightly less crowded than the main visitors area. Spend several hours wandering the natural landscape while snapping photos of this park that travelers say looks “other worldly”. The park’s popularity means there are often crowds, so it’s recommended to arrive early and leave before lunch, or arrive later in the day, when larger groups have already dispersed.

Taipei Eye, Taipei’s most popular stage show among visitors, takes traditional Chinese opera and distills it down to make it more palatable for a foreign audience. While some Chinese opera performances go on for an entire day, a visit to Taipei Eye takes only an evening, and an evening well spent for anyone interested in the Chinese performing arts. While Taipei Eye didn’t stage its first performance until 2002, its history dates back to the early 1900s and the opening of the Taiwan Novel Hall as a place to revive Chinese arts during a time in history when the culture of the occupying Japanese had become the norm. The original hall was destroyed during World War II, but the son of the man who built it carried on the legacy by again reviving the art of Chinese opera in Taiwan. While Taipei Eye performances vary, they typically include aboriginal dancing, acrobatics and folk opera. Be sure to come early to watch the performers apply their makeup and don their colorful costumes.

The incomparable collection of Chinese art in Taipei's National Palace Museum makes it the city's number one tourist attraction. Many of the exhibits were once displayed in Beijing’s Forbidden City, and were moved to Taiwan in 1933, during the Chinese Civil War. Their new home is modern echo of that complex, sitting in lush gardens at the base of a dramatic hillside. Items on display represent millennia of Chinese artistry and ingenuity, with highlights including an important calligraphy collection, landscape paintings and a huge range of jade, bronze and ceramic artifacts.

Weary travelers will love soaking in the steaming waters of Beitou Hot Springs. Deep in the heart of lush green forests and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, these thermal spas offers the perfect opportunity to wash away the stresses of mass transit and the chaos of busy Taipei streets. Five pools of various temperatures—from crazy hot to lukewarm and even cold—mean there’s an ideal dip for every visitor to Beitou. Unlike other natural spas that sometimes require travelers to soak in the buff, Beitou invites guests to settle into its waters wearing bathing suits.

Longshan is Taipei’s oldest and most popular temple, dating back to the early 18th century, when it was first established by settlers from mainland China. In the meantime it’s expanded and contracted in times of war and peace, very much integrated into the life of the city while offering an oasis of reflection and contemplation within its heart. Visitors are rarely unmoved by the amazingly ornate carvings and other decorative elements on display. The ceremonial gateways, elegant pagoda roofs and heady incense burners associated with traditional Chinese temples are all here. Also typically Chinese is the mix of faiths; Longshan is associated with Buddhism, Taoism and local gods.

Taipei’s Presidential Office Building has housed the offices of the president and his staff since 1949. The stunning colonial-style building was constructed in 1919 to serve as the Japanese occupation headquarters but was severely damaged by bombing during World War II. The entire structure was rebuilt in 1946 in the same style as the original, and its distinctive brickwork is an excellent example of Japanese-era architecture in Taiwan. The five-story red brick building has an eleven-floor tower at its center. At the time it was built, it was the tallest building in Taipei. On weekday mornings, the Presidential Office Building is open for tours, giving visitors the chance to see exactly where the president works. Even if you don’t take the tour, it’s worth stopping by just to see the building’s facade.

Travelers looking for a chance to experience “hands-on” Taipei need look no further than Guangxing Paper Mill. Located in the heart of Puli, visitors to this local gem can tour the history factory and learn about its unique process of papermaking. And while the tour alone may sound less than gripping, for a small fee travelers can handcraft an item of their choice—like paper lamps, lanterns and fans—alongside local artisans, resulting in a truly unique experience.

After a relaxing soak in the thermal baths of Beitou Hot Springs, head to the nearby museum that shares a similar name. The Euro-Japanese-style building was built during Taipei’s occupation and once served as the main access to Beitou’s public bath. In true Japanese style, visitors are asked to remove their shoes before exploring the network of 12 rooms that make up this popular attraction. Once the site of the largest bathhouse in Asia, the museum’s second floor is now home to an exhibition area that showcases articles, books, photographs and the history of the famous hot springs.

Food vendors, mom and pop restaurants, video arcades and karaoke bars are just part of the draw Shilin Night Market. This tiny Taipei district comes alive at night when the doors of some 539 food court stalls, and small shops selling items that range from electronics to dress shoes open for business. Bold scents waft through the air and bright lights fill otherwise darkened streets, making this the perfect place to explore what local city nightlife is all about. Visitors in search of typical fare will find literally hundreds of options at Shilin Night Market. Cold bubble tea, strong and sweet coffee, fried buns, intestines and stinky tofu are just some of the delights awaiting adventurous eaters. Travelers should come hungry and ready to explore, since navigating the network of stalls can take an entire evening.

Visitors come from throughout Asia and the world to soak in the healing waters of Taiwan’s natural hot springs, many of which are located in the close vicinity of Taipei. One of Taiwan’s most famous collections of natural volcanic hot springs are clustered in Beitou District in an area known as Hell Valley, or Geothermal Valley. Upon entering the valley, you’ll understand how it gets its name. An ever-present sulfurous mist permeates the air with billowing clouds of hot steam rising up from hidden cracks in the ground. The hot springs pools here reach up to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), rendering it too hot to swim. Locals used to come here to boil eggs in the highly acidic waters. To experience the supposedly healing waters that generate in Hell Valley, visit the Beitou Hot Springs, a public hot springs that maintains pools at a much more comfortable temperature.

Taipei’s National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shine honors the men and women who died fighting on behalf of Taiwan in the second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War and both Taiwan Cross-Strait Crises among others. Around 390,000 names are listed on wooden plaques throughout the complex. The site has several structures, including a separate shrine for both military and civilian martyrs and a drum tower used during special rites ceremonies. Both the civilian and military martyrs’ shrines display profiles of some of the martyrs enshrined there and information about the conflicts. The shrine was completed in 1969 and was inspired by the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing. Plan your visit on the hour mark to witness the changing of the guard, an elaborate ritual similar to that seen at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Memorial rites take place on March 29 and September 3 each year when the president and other government leaders come to pay their respects.

Paoan Temple, one of the most popular and significant religious sites in Taipei, dates back to 1760 when immigrants from Southern China built the original wooden temple. Dedicated to the emperor-deity Paosheng, god of medicine and healing, Paoan in its current form has stood since 1805 after more than 25 years of construction. Many local Taiwanese visit the fully functioning temple to pray for health and wellness, particularly with pregnant women. Besides Paosheng, you’ll find a shrine to the goddess of birth with her 12 aides inside the temple bell tower. All the wood and stone used to build the temple were brought from China, and the structure exhibits many of the typical characteristics of Chinese temple architecture, like the wooden dragon pillars and colorful wooden carvings. Paoan tends to be less crowded than Longshan Temple and much more colorful than the Taipei Confucius Temple.

Sanxia is a small traditional town situated just outside the suburban area of Taipei, close to the town of Yingge. The town attracts visitors who come to see Sanxia Old Street, as well as a wide selection of galleries and temples in and around the area. Sanxia (meaning “three gorges”) was once an important distribution hub. As it developed as a base for production, the streets became lined with shops selling dyes, tea, and manufacturing materials. Although the town is no longer the economic powerhouse it once was, remnants of its past remain, particularly along Sanxia Old Street, which retains its unique colonial Japanese architecture from the early 20th century. This street is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful old streets it Taiwan. The restaurants here offer a place for visitors to refuel and soak up the atmosphere, while the shops sell everything from ceramics to souvenirs.

Throughout Taiwan, tea is a deeply embedded part of the day-to-day culture, and the tea plantations of Maokong have become a favorite destination for locals and tourists looking to get away from the city for a day. To accommodate the influx of visitors, the Maokong Gondola began operating in 2007, making it Taipei’s first aerial gondola. In 2010, some of the cable cars were retrofitted with fiberglass bottoms, called “Eyes of Maokong Gondola.” The entire route extends 2.7 miles (4.3 kilometers) from the Taipei Zoo to Maokong with four total stations. Fares are paid based on the number of stations you plan to travel to. If you’d like to ride in a glass-bottom gondola, you’ll have to wait in a separate line. The gondola ride is only part of the Maokong attraction. Once you get to the top, you can pick tea in the plantations, visit a tea museum or hike the trails of the surrounding hills.

Tucked in the hills, just beyond Taipei city limits, lies popular Elephant Mountain—a natural network of trekking trails and walking paths that lead to some of the area’s most epic views. Travelers willing to climb the dozens of steep steps along the Xiangshan Hiking Trail will be greeted by an uninterrupted look at the city skyline, including the towering Taipei 101. Visitors agree it’s one of the best in the area, and easy access from downtown makes it a perfect day trip for visitors looking to escape the urban jungle while still keeping it within view.

One of Taiwan’s most popular, Huaxi Street Night Market announces itself with a grand ceremonial gateway with charming Chinese lanterns providing decoration and more powerful lights illuminating the area to near-daylight levels. Many visitors are drawn to Huaxi Street by the stalls collectively known as “Snake Alley,” but its vendors attract far more onlookers than those willing to test the potency and vigor said to come from eating snake soup and other serpent derivatives. Thankfully less adventurous gourmets are well catered for, with the huge range of dining options in the surrounding streets encompassing noodles, oyster omelets, chicken skewers, cuttlefish soup and traditional custard pastries. Local delicacy stinky tofu lives up to its name, but like the dreaded durian, tastes a lot better than it smells.