The square shape and creative sculptures in front make the Taipei Fine Arts Museum easy to identify. This is the first and only museum in Taipei to showcase modern art. It consists of 24 galleries and is said to be larger than the National Palace Museum in terms of interior space. The art exhibits, which include the work of international and Taiwanese artists, change every few months. The gift shop sells artwork and numerous souvenirs that make great gifts for friends and relatives.
This historic home was constructed by the Lin Family who moved to Taiwan in the 18th Century. With its sloping roofs and central courtyard, this house is one of the region's oldest, and is a rare example of a traditional Chinese home. A crescent pool guards the gate, while inside, a treasure trove of carvings and other architectural details tell the tale of the family that once resided here. Interestingly, the Lin An Tai home was actually built in a different part of Taipei City in 1783 and was relocated to its current location nearly 200 years later to prevent its demolition and make way for development.
Clouds descend into alpine reaches of the park, even as the Seven Star Mountain catches the eye in this spellbinding national park in Taipei. At the Yangmingshan National Park, this is a daily sight for most travelers who venture here. Earlier known as the Grass Mountain, this park dates back to the time of the Qing Dynasty when sulfur-rich deposits were set ablaze to deter thieves, leaving behind a trail of grasslands. As the park was developed, it bloomed to display the beauty it holds today, from residual sulfur crystals and plumes emanating from fumaroles to clusters of bright pink cherry blossoms. One of the few Taiwanese parks to feature hot spring pockets, this unique park also features a giant clock flower at its heart, with the statutes of Chinese and Taiwanese luminaries around it.
Hit the road to hike Xiangshan, which is also renowned as the Elephant Mountain to unwind. The trail is open to children and adults alike and takes about two hours to finish. An ideal place to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views and being close to nature. Situated close to Lingyun Temple, this place surely is a getaway from a busy urban life.
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the major tourist attractions in Taipei. The monument was constructed to honor the life and work of Chiang Kai-shek. The structure has an octagonal shaped blue roof and two white stairs with eighty-nine steps each. The ground floor is equipped with a library and museum which displays the life of Kai-shek with the help of various artifacts and documents. The first floor has a majestic statue of Kai-shek for the benefit of the crowd.
The Taipei Zoo was previously located within the city, across the street from the Fine Arts Museum. Fortunately, the City Government decided to move the zoo out to a mountainous area in Muzha where the animals have fresh air to breathe and more room to move. Pay a visit to the museum to encounter more than 130 species of birds, reptiles, penguins, koala and pandas. Moreover, the zoo is home to two endangered pandas that were handed over to the zoo by the People's Republic of China in 2008.
Jiu Fen is a small village about 15 miles east of Taipei. It used to be a dusty mining area, where machines rattled and miner's hurried on their jobs. But today it is a peaceful and nice place marked by long winding streets, old buildings with a typical Chinese flavor. If you happen to be a food lover, you would never get bored here. You can have fish balls, toasted gigantic mushroom, barbecue and beef noodles. Also a great stop for locally made traditional Taiwanese crafts and clothing.
ATT Show Box is the ultimate entertainment destination in the culturally-rich Xinyi District of Taipei. The venue not only consists of several performance spaces and auditoriums but also has eight whole floors full of shops and several spaces for conferences and seminars. This cross between a concert venue and shopping mall is a popular venue for a number of events, concerts and performances. Keeping with the times, most of the concerts which are held in the spacious halls are by renowned bands and artists of contemporary times. So, whether you feel like going on a shopping spree or wish to catch your favorite artist on stage, ATT Show Box is the place to be.
The Taipei Expo Park has a plethora of activities on offer and these cater to visitors of every age group. The striking Expo Dome of the park plays host to a variety of events along with the Yuanshan Plaza. For those looking to get a peek at Taiwanese culture, they should pay a visit to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the Taipei Story House. In addition, the Taipei Expo Park has four pavilions, these are the Taipei Robot, Angel Life, Taiwan Excellence and the Pavilion of Aroma of Flowers. They also have a Rose Garden on site and their Taipei Children's Recreation Center is popular among locals and tourists alike.
TaipeiEats is a guided tour package that promises to offer something extraordinary as compared to other tour packages. They focus on food and make you taste some of the best cuisines of this country. They work with some of the best vendors in a small group and a flexible itinerary. The average group size is of 8 to 10 people. The quality of service offered by this travel group is excellent. They are very knowledgeable about Taiwanese culture, attractions, sightseeing and local food. The tour is reasonably priced that won’t burn your pockets.
TourMeAway organizes laid-back, fun tours that take you through underrated gems and best-kept secrets in the city, in a manner that only a local would know. The tour includes places like 228 Peace Memorial Park, Presidential Office, Red House, Ximending, Zhongshan Hall and Inner City Market. However, other districts and places of local interests, flower markets, antique malls and historic neighborhoods are also on the itinerary.
The Park Live House is located in Da'an District. Equipped with good acoustics and lighting, it is a hub for emerging local bands. It also hosts touring musicians. Its wooden accents give it an old-world charm. Some of their previous listings are Taiwan Bozou, The Big Pink, TJ Metal Heads3 in 1 and Angela Wang.