Built in 1919 as the seat of the Japanese governor general of Taiwan, this striking building has housed the offices of the Taiwan president since 1949. Its classical European-fusion style includes many Japanese cultural elements, such as a sunrise-facing front. The building is also based on the form of the character 日, which forms the name "Japan" in Japanese (日本).
The best way to approach this regal building is to walk down Ketagalan Boulevard, from where you can appreciate the full glory of the red-and-white facade with its tower of 11 stories. Since this really is the office of the president, you’ll notice tight security, and plenty of police, armed guards and razor wire.
You can visit a portion of the building on weekdays if you turn up before 11:30am. There’s a fun augmented-reality video where you get "to meet" the president on film, as well as a beautiful quadrangle garden to stroll in, but the real highlight is the chance to be in the same building as the leader of the country – and it’s not often you can say that!