Sights in Taiwan
-
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum is home to what could quite easily be termed the world's largest and finest collection of Chinese art; it is unfortunate that the overall interior setup of the museum does not match with the grandeur of the collection. The museum's interior is poorly lit and for the most part its grand collection is laid out with little sense of theme or design, giving the museum a stagnant feel overall. This is especially strange in light of the fact that the exhibits are rotated frequently; the vast collection (much of it liberated from mainland China during the last retreat of the KMT) is far too large to exhibit at any given time. Nonetheless, the sheer volu…
reviewed
-
A
Taipei 101
Towering above the city like the gigantic bamboo stalk it was designed to resemble, Taipei 101 is impossible to miss. At 508m, Taipei International Financial Centre 101, as it's officially named, is the world's tallest building (Dubai eat your heart out, for now at least!). In addition to holding the world record for height, Taipei 101 also holds the record for having the world's fastest elevator.
The pressure-controlled lift travels at 1010 meters per minute and takes 40 seconds to get from ground level to the 89th floor observation deck.
reviewed
-
Taroko Gorge
An awe-inspiring canyon with marble-walled canyons, lush vegetation and cliffs so giant they block out the sky, Taroko covers 120,000 hectares with mountain peaks rising to 3700m. The environment of this massive park is filled with high mountain peaks and the Liwu River, which cuts through the centre of the gorge, forging many deep valleys, ravines and waterfalls in its course. There are an abundance of hiking trails that lead visitors to shrines, temples, hot springs and panoramic vistas of the mountains and the sea.
reviewed
-
B
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Whether the imposing Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall will always be known as the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is anybody's guess. Many and strident are the voices in the high halls of Taiwan's government calling for this 70m-tall memorial to Taiwan's one-time dictator to be renamed, and the massive statue removed.
For now, this iconic monument with its white walls and blue octagonal roof still stands as a grandiose, ostentatious and perhaps fitting memorial to the man who, in life, was known in some circles as 'General Cash-my-check'. On the ground floor you'll find a museum dedicated to Chiang's life, with an assortment of military uniforms, medals, paintings and manuscri…
reviewed
-
C
Taipei Story House
the Taipei Story House was built in 1914 by an aristocratic tea trader. Its style was said to have been inspired by a building he saw while visiting the 1900 Paris Expo. Today the house is an exhibition space for Taipei nostalgia and history. Exhibits change frequently and might include goodies such as toys, matchboxes and comic books.
reviewed
-
D
Longshan Temple
Religious life in Taiwan is alive and kicking seven days a week at the Longshan temple. Though not the biggest temple in the city, there is something unique and beautiful about the vibe at Longshan that keeps people coming back.
The temple dates back to 1738. As the story goes, a passer-by left an amulet of the Guanyin (goddess of mercy) hanging on a tree on the site of the present temple, and the amulet shone so brightly, even after dark, that all who passed by knew the site was blessed. Nearly three centuries later, the spot still exudes a certain warmth. The stones that line the courtyard of the temple were originally ballast on the ships that ferried immigrants from …
reviewed
-
E
Taipei Astronomical Museum
Opened in 1997, the Taipei Astronomical Museum houses four floors of constellations, ancient astronomy, space science and technology, telescopes and observatories. Though a good place to while away an hour with the kids, what keeps this otherwise excellent museum from being a must-visit is a dearth of English content though every exhibit features English and Chinese, but most of the actual information is in the latter language only.
Plans are underway to put full bilingual information online, so theoretically non-Chinese speaking visitors could download exhibit information and study up before arriving. More English-friendly attractions (at an extra charge) are an IMAX the…
reviewed
-
F
2-28 Memorial Museum
Located inside 2-28 park, the 2-28 Memorial Museum offers an explanation of the events of 28 February 1947 massacre and of the repercussions that followed. Acknowledgment of the 2-28 incident was a pivotal part of Taiwan's transformation from dictatorship to democracy.
Though there is little in the way of English signage in the museum, a multilingual walking tour device is available. However, there are generally bilingual volunteers on hand willing to walk you through and explain the significance of various events and displays. The building itself is significant, for it was from this, the former KMT radio station that officials tried to calm the masses as panic swept the …
reviewed
-
G
Miniatures Museum of Taiwan
Bigger is better, so some say; but not at the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan where quite the opposite is true. This small, private museum is dedicated to the exhibition of the minuscule, the tiny, the 'Sweet Jesus, I can't believe someone had the patience and steadiness of hand to create something so small and intricate!' Among the most (of many) astounding articles on display is a 40-bulb chandelier no bigger than a single grain of rice. A most impressive little museum indeed.
reviewed
-
H
National Museum Of History
Just outside the Botanical Gardens, Taiwan's first National Museum Of History is still an anchor of local arts and culture housed in an elegant Japanese-era building. 'History' is actually a misnomer - Chinese art history would be more accurate, with thousands of Chinese artifacts from Tang, Shang and other dynasties. The tea room on the 3rd floor has views of the Botanical Gardens' lotus pond. A tour in English takes place each afternoon.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Discovery Centre of Taipei
The Discovery Centre of Taipei is a good place to get your bearings on the city and its history. You can see maps and models depicting Taipei's evolution from a walled, gated city in 1882 to the bustling metropolis it is today. Discover more about its geography, topography, commerce, famous residents and natural resources. There's a free audio guide in English, and guided tours are available with advance notice.
reviewed
-
Chung Tai Chan Temple
Completed in 2001, the massive Chung Tai Chan Temple is more than just another modern temple - it is an international centre of Buddhist academic research, culture and the arts.
The temple is 150m tall and sits on a 60-acre lotus hill outside Puli. It took 10 years and the donations of countless members of the Chung Tai Chan Buddhist community to complete. Chung Tai Chan is an international branch of Buddhism founded by the Venerable Master Wei Chueh - the Master who is said to have revived the Zen tradition in Taiwan.
From the start, the Master was determined to build something grand, something that would appeal to the modern eye as much as the soul. To achieve this, mod…
reviewed
-
J
Confucius Temple
Modelled after the temple in Confucius’ native town of Shandong, this temple is based on classical Chinese temple architecture. Confucius (551–479 BC) is generally acknowledged as China’s greatest educator and scholar. In his day, education was exclusive to nobility but Confucius successfully promoted popular education.
Confucius valued simplicity, a trait seen in the temple’s architecture and relatively muted adornments. Inscriptions that might be found on columns, doors and windows in other temples are banned here; who would have the temerity to think his or her writing could compare with that of the great master? Do take note of the detailed carvings of dragons o…
reviewed
-
British Consulate at Takou (Dagou)
Kaohsiung has a large number of well-preserved relics scattered around the city. The handsome redbrick consulate, built in 1865 by a British trading company, has recently become one of our favourite hang-out spots. The consulate sits about 70m or so above the mouth of Kaohsiung harbour, and it's a great location for watching the giant container ships sail through the tiny mouth of the harbour.
Recently the old dining and tearooms were reopened. With their Victorian British design, and arched windows letting in the sea views and breezes, they are a top spot for enjoying a meal or drink (open 10:00 to midnight).
While you're in the area check out a tiny temple to the left of…
reviewed
-
Lotus Pond
The pond has been a popular destination since the Qing dynasty and is well known for the 20 or so temples dotting the shoreline and nearby area. In recent years much money and effort has gone into returning the lake and its cultural and natural heritage to their former glory. There's now a path right around the lake, and efforts are underway to restore the wetlands on the west side. At night coloured lights give the lake a very festive and modern appearance.
Two long sections of the impressive Old Wall of Fengshan, built in 1826, lie to the southeast of the lake. The best section is along Chenfong Rd about 100m up Shengli Rd from the train station.
If you are going to the …
reviewed
-
Lin Family Mansion & Garden
The house was built in 1853 but opened to the public only in 2001. It's a prime example of a Qing-period mansion, with receiving halls, library and performance stages. There are eye-popping uses of gold leaf on the doors and gates among other decorations of auspicious imagery. From the Grain Viewing Pavilion family members were able to look out over the farmers at work. It is said that the residential buildings are all tongue-and-groove construction, meaning that no nails were used. Plus it's all set amid ponds and gardens you might swear you've seen in paintings.
Driving through this busy section of town, it may be difficult to believe that this was once all farmland. Ye…
reviewed
-
K
Koxinga Shrine
When the Ming dynasty was overthrown by the Manchus in 1661, Koxinga (Cheng Cheng-kung) led his army to Taiwan with plans to restock supplies and then retake the mainland. He found the Dutch already here, but after nine months battle they surrendered and departed from Taiwan.
Koxinga did much to improve conditions on the island. But, like the KMT of modern times, he did not live to see the mainland retaken. He died after only a year in Taiwan, and his grandson surrendered to the Manchus in 1683.
There's a certain atmosphere of dignity surrounding the Koxinga Shrine, even though most of it is of rather recent origin: the original southern-style temple was rebuilt in a nort…
reviewed
-
Tainan
Tainan, on the southwest coast, is Taiwan's temple town. Designated the provincial capital for over 200 years, until the 1880s, Tainan still has a firm grip on Taiwan's traditional culture. It's also one of the best places in the country to witness Buddhist parades and festivals.
There are hundreds of temples in Tainan: some of the most interesting are East Mountain, a busy Taoist temple where people come to communicate with dead relatives or exorcise ghosts; Mito, with its magnificent statue of the 1000-armed goddess Kuanyin; Chuhsi, Tainan's largest and most beautiful temple, set in an athletic park; and Kaiyuan, a classical Buddhist temple with spacious grounds and ple…
reviewed
-
L
Chihkan Towers
One of the best preserved, or perhaps we should say reconstructed, historical sights in Tainan is this old fort (Fort Proventia). It's a splendid place to roam around, or even enjoy an outdoor concert on the weekends.
Chihkan has gone through many masters (Ming, Qing, Japanese and the KMT, China's Nationalist party) since the foundations were first laid by the Dutch in 1653. At that time the seashore reached the fort's outer walls. Our favourite features are the nine stone turtles with tablets on their backs. The steles hail from the Qing dynasty and if you check the backs you can see where the carver made a mistake on one and, rather than starting over with a fresh slab,…
reviewed
-
Liyu Lake
This very scenic 2km-long lake (Lǐyú Tán), shaped somewhat like a carp (lǐyú means 'carp' in Chinese), sits in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range about 19km southwest of Hualien. It's the largest natural inland lake in Taiwan, and has a splendid backdrop of lush green hills. It's also blessedly free of overdevelopment. There are pavilions and walking trails and even boat rental shops along the shores, but they are mostly of wood-and-stone construction and blend in nicely with the environment.
Families with small children who enjoy camping or picnicking will like it here. There are safe bike trails around the lake, and short hikes in the nearby hills. There's…
reviewed
Advertisement
-
M
2-28 Peace Park
At first glance the lovely 2-28 Peace Park doesn't seem more significant than any of the other dozen or so parks in Taipei. There's a band performance stage, some lovely shrines and pavilions, paths and playgrounds. But there is a certain air of solemnity to this place, for it is dedicated to the memory of a massacre that began on 28 February, 1947 (hence the 2-28), an event which heralded the start of Taiwan's martial-law era.
In the centre of the park stands the memorial itself, a steepled sculpture surrounded by three enormous cubes turned on their corners. The memorial is surrounded by a moat that is crossed by a bridge. In the early mornings, the park is a good place…
reviewed
-
N
Core Pacific City
Some people call it Core Pacific City. We like to think of it as The Great Golf Ball of Taipei. Designed by Jon Jerde, the Pablo Picasso of the architecture world, Core Pacific City is quite probably the weirdest shopping mall in Asia. An inspired (by MC Escher or perhaps LSD) building to say the least, from the outside CPC looks like a gigantic golf ball being embraced by a stone sarcophagus.
Though you can get in through the basement, for maximum weirdness take the escalator from the street into the main lobby. Just keep reminding yourself that you are going shopping and not being taken via conveyor belt deep into the heart of an alien hive. Do not panic, the colour lig…
reviewed
-
O
Zhishan Cultural & Ecological Garden
Just south of Tianmu's Yangming hospital and a few blocks east of the Zhishan MRT sits one of our favourite parks, a jungle-filled mountain just north of the Shuangxi river (also a lovely park in its own right). It's filled with gardens and shrines and the top of the mountain has a temple dedicated to a much revered Sage and General called Chen Yuan Kwang who lived 1500 years ago.
Though the temple itself is lovely enough, more interesting still are the statues surrounding it - carved stone representations of characters well known to anyone familiar with the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. And what really makes the climb worth it is the view, a sweeping pan…
reviewed
-
P
Dihua Market
The several blocks that make up the Dihua market are Taipei's best-preserved examples of historic architecture. Building styles range from Fujianese to Baroque to modernist. The area is sometimes called 'Grocery Street', and for most of the year it's thought of as a good place for buying traditional Chinese medicines and herbs, bolts of cloth and sundries.
If you're lucky enough to be in Taipei for the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year celebrations, Dihua market's true colours shine, as the area is considered Taipei's best for traditional New Year foods, party supplies and gifts of all kinds. During these weeks, a festive spirit of bonhomie descends on the market, ma…
reviewed
-
Q
Hsitzuwan Beach
Hsitzuwan Beach is smaller than Cijin, but it's a calmer swimming beach and is also an excellent place for hanging out and watching the sunset. We prefer it to Cijin, as it has a cool tropical feel and a lovely mountain backdrop. The beach is on the grounds of Sun Yat-sen University so the whole environment on and around the beach is clean and well maintained.
To get to the beach, take bus 224 to the Sun Yat-sen University stop and then walk through the tunnel. You see signs for the beach on the other side. There are changing rooms and showers here too, as well as a café.
Both beaches are open all year round, and kept clean all year round, though swimming is only from May…
reviewed
