Taipei, the vibrant capital city of Taiwan, is nestled in the Taipei Basin in the northern part of the island. Surrounded by New Taipei City, it is bordered by the Tamsui River and its tributary, the Xindian River, to the west, extending to the vicinity of Nangang in the east, the hilly areas south of Muzha, and the southeastern foothills of Datun Mountain in the north.
With a rich history and numerous historical sites, Taipei has been inhabited by humans since the late Paleolithic era. When visiting Taipei, you absolutely cannot miss these famous scenic spots.
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum is a renowned museum of Chinese history, culture, and art. The museum building is designed in the style of a Chinese palace, with four floors and featuring white walls and green tiles. In front of the museum, a grand arch composed of six stone pillars stands tall, exuding grandeur. The entire building is solemn, elegant, and rich in national characteristics.
The museum houses over 20 exhibition rooms, showcasing more than 240,000 artifacts transported from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Shenyang Imperial Palace, and the Rehe Summer Resort to Taiwan. The collection includes rare treasures such as Bronze Age artifacts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, jade pieces, ceramics, ancient books and documents, famous paintings, and calligraphy from various dynasties. The exhibits are rotated every three months.
📍: No. 221, Sec. 2, Zhishan Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City (at the foot of Yangmingshan)
🎫: Main Exhibition Hall: NT$160; Zhishan Garden: NT$20
🕐: Open year-round, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
🚌: Take the MRT to the National Palace Museum’s main entrance or the main plaza, or take a bus to the National Palace Museum stop
Yehliu Geopark
Yehliu is located in Wanli District, New Taipei City. It is a cape extending into the sea from the Datun Mountain range. The strata in this area are composed of sandstone deposits, and due to long-term erosion by waves and weathering, steep sea cliffs and wide rock beds have formed along the coast.
Since most tourists come specifically to see the “Queen’s Head” rock formation, if you truly want to take a photo with the Queen, it’s best to arrive early in the morning and directly proceed to the Queen’s Head attraction located in the second area of the park. Follow the instructions of the guide and queue up to take photos in order. Due to the overwhelming number of tourists wanting to take photos with the Queen’s Head, the Yehliu Geopark had to create a replica near the park entrance to console those who couldn’t make it to the front of the queue.
📍: Gangdong Rd., Yehliu Village, Wanli District, New Taipei City
🎫: General adult ticket: NT$50; Half-price ticket: NT$25
🕐: Open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with opening hours adjusted flexibly according to the season. From May to October, closing time is extended to 6:00 PM, and on holidays, it is further extended to 6:30 PM.
🚌: Take the bus from Tamsui MRT Station to Keelung (operated by Tai Hsin Bus) or to Jinshan (operated by Keelung Bus), and get off at the Yehliu stop
Grand Hotel Taipei
The Grand Hotel Taipei is located southwest of Jiantan Mountain and is a representative landmark of Taipei, known as one of the world’s top ten hotels. The hotel was built in May 1952 and was managed by the Taiwan Mou Dun Kou Friendship Association, with Soong Mei-ling serving as the president. The magnificent and exquisitely crafted exterior has earned it the reputation of “Imperial Kitchen,” and its dining standards are internationally renowned.
The hotel’s layout follows the style of a Chinese palace, divided into the main building, Golden Dragon Hall, Emerald Phoenix Hall, and Kylin Hall. The Kylin Hall, where distinguished guests from various friendly nations are received, boasts an impressive atmosphere.
📍: No. 1, Sec. 4, Zhongshan N. Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City
🚌: Take a bus to the Grand Hotel stop, or take the shuttle bus that operates between the hotel and Chiang Kai-shek International Airport.
Jiufen
It is said that much of the inspiration for the scenery in “Spirited Away” comes from Jiufen in Taiwan, a place name that doesn’t quite sound like a place name. There is a famous snack here called Jiufen Taro Balls, which are very round and sweet. The biggest feature here, as you can see, is the red lanterns that fill the streets. With such embellishments, walking through the alleys feels like it has a touch of two-dimensional dreaminess. I want to ask the great Hayao Miyazaki, have you been here too? That’s why the scenes you draw have a similar beauty.
Anyone who has been to Jiufen will definitely see this unique beauty. When she sees your camera, she will definitely give you the brightest smile. She may not necessarily dress like this to attract customers; I think this is just her true self. Only by confidently living as oneself can one receive approving gazes.
📍: Areas around Shuchi Road, Qingbian Road, and Jishan Street in Ruifang District, New Taipei City
🚌: 1) From MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, take the Keelung Bus towards Jinguashi (highway) and get off at Jiudao Station to reach Jiufen. 2) From Keelung Train Station, take the Keelung Bus towards Jinguashi (highway) and get off at Jiudao Station to reach Jiufen. 3) From Ruifang Train Station, take bus 825 to Jiudao Station to reach Jiufen.
Tamsui Old Street
The so-called “Tamsui Old Street” refers to the area around Zhongzheng Road in Tamsui (from the vicinity of the ferry pier to the intersection with Zhongshan Road), including the neighboring streets of Sanmin Street, Chongjian Street, Zhenli Street, and Qingshui Street. Here, you can see preserved ancient buildings and houses.
If you come to Tamsui with your lover or significant other, don’t forget to take a stroll on Lover’s Bridge. The bridge itself is relatively new, but it cleverly has a sweet name and is a popular spot for young people to take wedding photos. Lovers can often be seen holding hands and kissing on the bridge, creating a warm and beautiful atmosphere.
📍: Zhongzheng Road, Gongming Street, Sanmin Street, and surrounding areas in Tamsui
🚌: Take the MRT to the terminal station “Tamsui Station” to reach the area, or take a bus, public bus, or Tamsui Historical Tour Bus to various attractions in Tamsui. You can also take a ferry to Tamsui Old Street.
Taipei 101
The 89th floor of Taipei 101 houses the world’s highest post office, and the design of the mailboxes is also interesting. The three mailboxes are designated for family, friends, and love, so you need to choose carefully when mailing postcards.
Taipei 101 is the landmark building of Taipei. It has the world’s fastest elevators: it only takes 37 seconds to go from the 5th floor directly to the indoor observation deck on the 89th floor.
During the New Year’s Eve countdown, Taipei 101 will provide a spectacular fireworks display! On December 31st, the world’s tallest building will be another lively New Year’s Eve gathering spot like Sydney and New York, allowing many couples, friends, and even families to have a blissful night.
Tip: When taking the elevator, remember to look up at the ceiling. The star map on the ceiling will spread out as the elevator ascends, making you feel like you’re soaring into the night sky.
🎫: Full ticket: NT$400, Discount ticket: NT$370
📍: No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City
🚌:Take bus 207, 537, Xinyi Main Line, or Blue 5 to the World Trade Center stop to reach the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall; take bus 1, 284, 292, 611, or 650 to the World Trade Center stop to reach the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall.
- Shopping Mall: Sunday to Thursday 11:00 AM to 09:30 PM, Friday, Saturday, and the eve of holidays 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Observation Deck: Monday to Sunday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Last admission is at 09:15 PM.
Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market is divided into two levels and is very lively. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s probably the most crowded place I encountered during my ten-day trip to Taiwan. In addition to various snacks and drinks, there are also many fruit stalls, clothing/hat/accessory/bag stalls, and more. It’s not just a “foodie paradise” as I had previously imagined. However, these clothing and other stalls are all on the ground level, while the underground level is entirely dedicated to food.
The sight of countless small stalls, crowded tables and chairs, and satisfied diners enjoying their food together creates a somewhat noisy yet orderly scene, filled with the temptation of food and the warmth of enthusiastic words and smiling faces. Food is the absolute protagonist here, with dishes either fried or boiled, red or yellow, making even those who aren’t hungry start to salivate…
📍: Within the alleys of Dadong Road, Danan Road, Wenlin Road, and Jihe Road in Shilin District, Taipei City
🕐: Monday to Sunday 11:00 AM to 02:00 AM the next day
- Take buses Small 15, Small 15, Small 16, Small 17, Small 18, or Small 19 to Yangming Theater stop to reach the market.
- Take buses 109, 203, 216, 220, 220, 260, 260, 267, 279, 280, 285, 310, 606, 612, 612 (local), 646, 685, 902, or Zhongshan Main Line to Ming Chuan University to reach the market.
- Take buses 41, 529, 620, Red 30, or Red 30 to Shilin Market to reach the market.
