This is Taipei’s Central Park, where the city comes to play. And play it does – there's kids rollerblading and throwing Frisbees, families picnicking and playing with their dogs, and groups of retirees dancing in concert for exercise as the evening cool-down arrives. The park is a great place to stroll around after a meal on nearby Yongkang St or for a summer sunbathe or picnic. Within the expansive grounds there’s a sandpit, a firefly pond and a towering statue of Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Joggers do laps around its perimeter.
The small lake at the northern end is a roosting hub for the city’s birdlife: you’ll spot egrets, ducks and even curious geese here. Scampering around the woodland areas are brown squirrels, and come springtime, the park is ablaze with flowers.
On big holidays, the amphitheater hosts free stage shows featuring some of the biggest names in Taiwanese entertainment.
There’s also the excellent Louisa Coffee in the park, adjacent to the MRT station, where well-priced coffee is served and with plenty of tables outside to enjoy the views. The park is open on all four sides and has dozens of entrances; there's even one from inside Da'an Park MRT station.