Taipei is the booming heart and capital of the island of Taiwan also known as the Republic of China (ROC). The greater Taipei area has a lot to offer, and I really enjoyed my few days here during my three-week professional cultural exchange back in 2018.
If you’re planning a trip to Taipei, I would highly consider adding these to your itinerary!
Sunny Hills
Songshan, Taipei
This amazing dessert spot makes delectable pineapple cakes! These are handheld pastries filled with a sweet pineapple filling and crumble as you bite into them. Paired with a cup of tea, it’s a truly wonderful little snack.
Lin Family Mansion and Garden
Banqiao District, New Taipei City
Originally built in 1847 as a residence for the Lin Ben Yuan family, and is considered Taiwan’s most complete surviving example of traditional Chinese garden architecture! The area features structures such as the Three-Courtyard House, built between 1851 and 1854, and the larger Five-Courtyard House constructed by 1878. The site has undergone extensive restoration since 1982. It’s a truly remarkable structure and really beautiful!
Access to the garden can be viewed on your own, but if you’d like to see inside the residence, that does require a scheduled tour.
Liberty Square
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Also known as Freedom Square, the square’s name reflects its significant historical role in Taiwan’s transition from one-party rule to modern democracy during the 1990s. It’s home to three major landmarks, the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall at its eastern end, the National Concert Hall to the north, and the National Theatre to the south.
National Palace Museum
Shilin District, Taipei City
Originally founded in Beijing in 1925, the museum found its new home in 1965 in Taipei, Taiwan. The museum holds a permanent collection of nearly 700,000 pieces. These consist primarily of items relocated from the Beijing Palace Museum and other institutions from mainland China during the government of the Republic of China’s retreat to Taiwan.
The museum’s collection spans 8,000 years of history, from the Neolithic period to modern China. My favorite piece here was the Jadeite Cabbage from the Qing Dynasty, because how incredible is it someone made a cabbage out of jadeite??
Yehliu Geopark
Wanli District, New Taipei City
A unique geological attraction stretching approximately 1,700 meters into the ocean as part of the Daliao Miocene Formation and is often described as “Mars-like”. The most iconic formation here is the Queen’s Head, which is said to resemble Queen Elizabeth I, but I personally believe it looks more like an Egyptian queen silhouette. This formation is estimated to be about 4,000 years old!
I highly recommend walking up to see the view of the ocean. This can be steep and very hot, especially in the summer, but worth every drop of sweat!
Shen’ao Elephant Trunk Rock
Ruifang District, New Taipei City
This natural rock formation looks just like an elephant’s trunk! Not too far from Yehliu it’s another popular geological spot. There’s no formal trail to get to it, and climbing it is no longer permitted due to safety concerns (please remember these photos are from 2018).
I still recommend taking the trek to go see it!
The National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Xinyi District, Taipei City
Completed in 1972 as a tribute to Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China aka Taiwan. It serves as a multipurpose social, educational, and cultural center, hosting events such as the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, presidential inauguration ceremonies, and international performances.
A popular event here is to watch the changing of the guard, which occurs every hour from 9AM to 6PM. It’s a very intense and militaristic spectacle.
Taipei 101
Xinyi District, Taipei City
This incredible 101-story skyscraper is probably one of the most recognized landmarks in Taiwan! Its high-speed elevator takes you from the 5th to the 89th floor in 37 seconds, which was the fastest in the world at its time of completion. You will definitely feel that pressure change!
The building holds offices, shops, and is also an observation deck! I highly recommend coming here for the view at the top to see Taipei in a whole new light. It’s truly incredible. I also got my favorite Taiwanese Cat’s Eye Jade necklace here!
