Taipei is a one-of-a-kind global city in which traditions, culture, and innovation appear to coexist in perfect harmony. In comparison to other Asian cities, the warm and welcoming nature of Taiwanese makes exploring Taipei a breeze. When trying to experience Taipei’s many facades, time can be an issue. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the Top 10 Attractions in Taipei, Taiwan to help you plan your trip.
1. Longshan Temple
Longshan Temple, arguably Taiwan’s most famous temple, has been completely or partially destroyed by several earthquakes, fires, and wars, including World War II, when it was damaged by bombs. The building has been lovingly restored by the local community each time, despite the loss of historic artefacts. The original temple was built in 1738 by Chinese settlers from Fujian, but it was rebuilt between 1919 and 1924.
2. Lover's Bridge
The Lover’s Bridge near Fisherman’s Wharf is in Danshui. The bridge, which opened on Valentine’s Day 2003, is a great place to take photos and have lunch at one of the many local seafood restaurants.
3. Fort San Domingo
Fort San Domingo, built in wood by the Spanish in 1628 and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1644, is a relic of Taiwan’s colonial past. The Han people knew the Dutch as having red hair at the time they built the fort, which was appropriately named Fort Red Hair. The fort was repaired by the Qing Dynasty and leased to the British, who used it as an unofficial embassy on and off until 1972. Since 1980, it has been open to the public.
4. Hobe Fort
Hobe Fort is not far from Fort San Domingo. This sturdy military structure, completed in 1888, was never used in a war, but it is an impressive structure that has withstood the test of time admirably.
5. National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Chinese Imperial artefacts, is impressive with its permanent and visiting exhibitions. This is one of the few Taipei attractions where you can find ancient Chinese ceramics, jade carvings, and paintings.
6. Martyrs' Shrine
The Martyrs’ Shrine is a short walk from the Grand Hotel. It is a memorial to over 390,000 war dead, including those killed during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and the Chinese Civil War (1927-1949). Here you can also see the changing of the guard.
7. Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Dr. Sun Yat-sen was the first president of the Republic of China and the former leader of the KMT party. The park surrounding the memorial hall is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon, and the hall itself houses some of Sun Yat-sen’s personal items, as well as exhibitions about his life and the 1911 revolution he led.
8. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, built in the 1970s, is located on the east side of Memorial Hall Square in a quiet central city park. The majority of visitors come to see the changing of the guards in the main hall, which contains a large statue of Chiang Kai-shek. The ceremony takes place every hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9. Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence
After years of restoration, the former president’s official residence is set within beautiful botanical gardens and is now open to the public. The building is filled with interesting items once owned by Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang.
10. Taipei 101
We couldn’t list the top attractions without including Taipei 101. From 2004 to 2009, it was the tallest building in the world, and it is still the tallest in Taiwan, standing at 509m (1,670ft) with a 449m observation deck (1,473ft). A trip to the top is well worth it.