Things to Do in Taipei

After you’ve seen the Taipei 101 and shopped the city’s mega malls, get a sense of what Taipei was like decades ago with a visit to Dihua Street. The street that once served as Taipei’s major commercial center during the late Qing Dynasty still caters to more traditional tastes.

You won’t find any souvenirs or trinkets here, but you will see a wide range of traditional Chinese goods, like tea, medicinal herbs, dried mushrooms and seafood, beans, rice and sweets, and many locals coming to shop. Dihua Street gets particularly busy in the days leading up to Chinese New Year when families come to stock up on traditional holiday foods. During this time, the street becomes a solid wall of people haggling for their ingredients.

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.

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.

Modeled after the oldest and largest Confucius temple in the philosopher’s hometown in Shangdong, China, the Taipei Confucius Temple displays all the characteristics of traditional Chinese temple architecture, including intricately carved wooden pillars, brightly painted roof tiles and sculptures. Unlike other Chinese temples, the Taipei Confucius Temple houses no likenesses of Confucius and bears no inscriptions. According to local legend, no one can match the literary prowess of Confucius, making inscriptions inauspicious.

The temple was originally built during the Qing Dynasty but was subsequently demolished during the Japanese occupation. The temple as it stands today was erected in 1930, though it briefly served as a Shinto shrine during World War II until Taiwan was given back to the Republic of China government in 1945.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Located in Datong, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Taipei, the Ningxia Night Market is a small but energetic market filled with tasty local food, welcoming street vendors, and relatively tame crowds. It’s the perfect place to spend the evening slipping between brightly lit stands sampling “little eats” like salty chicken, dry tofu and muachi. Locals say the longer the line the longer the tradition—meaning vendors with queues snaking into the streets have likely been around the longest. It’s best to arrive with an empty belly and a full wallet. While the traditional street food is definitely on the affordable side, a huge variety and flavors, scents and dishes mean even these “little eats” can become a big meal.

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.