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Grand Hotel’s Secret Passageways : No. 1, Zhongshan North Road Section 4, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
At a time when public singing and dancing were banned in Taiwan, the Grand Hotel stood out as one of the few places where nighttime revelry was allowed. Shrouded in the threat of war with Communist China, the hotel constructed secret passages running east and west to provide for emergency escape routes and ensure the safety of President Chiang Kai-shek and his esteemed guests.
Taiwanese People’s Party Headquarters : No. 45, Tianshui Road, Datong District, Taipei City
Despite its seemingly ordinary appearance, 45 Tianshui Road is historically significant as the site of the former headquarters of the Taiwanese People’s Party—the first political party formed by Taiwanese people. Though the building has been demolished, standing on the spot invokes activist Chiang Wei-shui’s memorable phrase: “Compatriots must unite; true strength lies in unity.”
Yin Hai-kuang Residence : No. 1-1, Alley 16, Lane 18, Wenzhou Street, Da'an District, Taipei City
In the quiet and winding Alley 16 off Wenzhou Street stands the former home of philosopher Yin Hai-kuang, an advocate of liberalism. Despite being placed under lifelong surveillance for writing dissenting articles and advocating for the creation of an opposition party, Yin continued writing until his death in 1969.
Freedom Lane : Alley 3, Lane 106, Section 3, Minquan East Road, Songshan District, Taipei City
Cheng “Nylon” Nan-jung played a crucial role in Taiwan’s pro-democracy movement. This narrow alley was on his daily route to his magazine offices. Today, the Nylon Cheng Liberty Foundation is located on the third floor at No. 11, where it preserves the appearance of the editorial office where he set himself on fire when heavily armed police moved to arrest him.
Changqing Temple & Banyan Tree : No. 34, Jinjiang Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
In an alley off Jinjiang Street stands Changqing Temple, a temple dedicated to the Earth God. Behind the temple stands an ancient banyan tree believed to be over 250 years old and with a circumference of over 10 m. This location was also the heart of the historical Guting Village.
Beitou Children’s Amusement Park : No. 2, Zhongshan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
When winter arrives, Beitou becomes the destination of choice for Taipei residents seeking respite from the cold. Beitou Children’s Amusement Park is a facility attached to the former public baths built in the Japanese colonial era.
Hexing Coal Mine : Lane 471, Alley 150, Xinyi Road Section 5, Xinyi District, Taipei City
The term “coal mine” might evoke images of secluded villages in old movies, with mountain roads and rail cars shrouded in perpetual mist. It’s hard to imagine that the bustling Xinyi District contains Hexing Coal Mine, from the late Japanese colonial period. Despite its small scale, the mine gives a glimpse into the past prosperity of the mining industry in Taiwan.
Wufen Shangxi Mural : Opposite Lane 61, Kang Le Street, Neihu District, Taipei City
The next time you pass the natural boundary formed by Neigou Creek where Neihu meets Xizhi, take a look at the transformed natural environment, with its greenery, insect sounds, and bird calls. The riverside also features a cultural landmark: the Wufen Shangxi Mural.
Nangang Tea Exhibition Center : No. 336, Section 2, Jiuzhuang Street, Nangang District, Taipei City
On one side of the Dakeng River lies Jiuzhuang, on the other Xizhi. During the Qing Dynasty, Jiuzhuang attracted many Anxi tea farmers from China. Meanwhile, the area around Nangang Luoliao, surrounded by mist and clouds, was also the birthplace of Taiwan’s Baozhong tea. A faint aroma floats through the tea gardens, in this place that once played a crucial role in Taiwan’s tea, mining, and osmanthus industries.
Stargazing Rooftop Garden, Taipei Performing Arts Center : No. 1, Jiandao Road, Shilin District, Taipei City
CNN called the Taipei Performing Arts Center the most innovative architecture of the year, the Guardian praised it as the best architecture of the year, and Time Magazine mentioned it when listing Taipei as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places. In addition to the performance space, the rooftop gardens are worth a visit.
Dah Hsian Seetoo Library, National Chengchi University : No. 36, Wanshou Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City
Search “Taiwan’s most beautiful library” on Instagram, and you’ll likely find recommendations for the Dah Hsian Seetoo Library at National Chengchi University in Wenshan District. Looking up at the towering atrium or gazing down from the top floor, one can admire the spectacular and beautiful layers of bookshelves spanning seven floors.
Nishi Honganji Temple Square : No. 174-1, Section 1, Zhonghua Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Nishi Honganji Temple Square is a place for relaxation and tourism, featuring a Japanese-style bell tower that’s great for taking photos and the former abbot residence where you can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets. Once upon a time, 341 households lived in this square, crowded in hundreds of corrugated-iron and wooden shacks.
Beitou Heart Village (main road to hot spring bathhouse) ：No. 9, Lane 22, Xinmin Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Up the hill from Xinbeitou metro station, away from the bustling Beitou Hot Spring District, is a tranquil area filled with greenery and buildings—Beitou Heart Village, which is Taiwan’s only military dependents’ village with hot springs. The main road leads to the most distinctive hot spring bathhouse in the village.
Shuicheliao Trail：adjacent to No. 29-1, Zhuzihu Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Rice was cultivated in Zhuzihu in its early days, and during the Qing Dynasty what would later become the Shuicheliao Trail was a path used by locals to transport rice. After irrigation canals were dug, a farming village was established here. During the Japanese colonial period, the government decided to use this area to cultivate a new type of rice preferred by the Japanese, which was later named “Penglai rice”.
Sanjiaodu Ferry Terminal：adjacent to the levee at No. 145, Lane 2, Chengde Road Section 4, Shilin District, Taipei City
Formerly a ferry terminal for crossing the river to connect three locations (hence the name sanjiaodu, meaning three-way ferrying), it also served as a transportation hub connecting villages and providing a harbor for the boats local residents needed to make a living. However, after the first engineering works to straighten the Keelung River in 1965, use of the terminal gradually declined and the structure disappeared. Nevertheless, local fishermen still refer to this place as Sanjiaodu.
Abode of Maya (Chang Dai-chien Residence)：No. 2, Lane 342, Zhishan Road Section 2, Shilin District, Taipei City
At the home of famous Taiwanese painter Chang Dai-chien, visitors can browse through stories of the last five years of his life. In line with Chang’s wishes, after his passing this picturesque location was donated to the country and is currently managed by the National Palace Museum.
Bazhilan Fanzi Well：Nos 72–74, Lane 14, Zhongshan North Road Section 7, Shilin District, Taipei City
This old well, which still produces abundant water today, had already been built when Fujianese immigrants arrived here in the early 18th century. The well has a history of over three hundred years. Because the Han Chinese knew that it had been built by indigenous people, they referred to it as Fanzijing (“barbarian well”, coming from a derogatory term used for indigenous people at that time).
Zhishan Shrine Site (Yunong Exhibition Hall)：No. 159, Yusheng Street, Shilin District, Taipei City
Although the Japanese colonial era Zhishan Shrine no longer exists, the 120-step staircase remains. On the site of the former shrine the Yunong Library now stands. The library was built by the post-war government in commemoration of Dai Li, courtesy name “Yunong”, who was a key figure in setting up R.O.C. intelligence units and a trusted confidant of President Chiang Kai-shek during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Taisho Town Art Festival Mural：adjacent to No. 102, Linsen North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Crossing a busy junction on Civic Boulevard into alleys that were planned during the Japanese colonial era. The hit drama series “Light the Night” is set in the 1980s, a time of economic resurgence in Japan, when many Japanese businesses were setting up companies in Taipei. The Hikari Hotel scenes in the series were filmed at the entrance of the Sugar Bar located in the alleys of Linsen North Road.
Jiantan Mountain (Yuanshan Water Shrine)：adjacent to No. 82-1, Zhongshan North Road Section 5, Shilin District, Taipei City
Next to the bustling Shilin Night Market lies a hidden gem, the entrance to the Yuanshan Water Shrine hiking trail. The entrance is hidden away in the Taipei Water Department Yangming Branch Office car park. It’s only five minutes’ walk to see the old water facilities built during the Japanese colonial period, before going on to the Yuanshan Water Shrine.
Taiwan Presbyterian Church Dadaocheng Church：No. 40, Ganzhou Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Located on Ganzhou Street, this church was built entirely using funds donated by tea magnate Li Chunsheng during the Japanese colonial period. For devout, wealthy connoisseur Li Chunsheng, full devotion meant using the best building materials and the most beautiful designs. In May 2002, then Director-General of the Department of Cultural Affairs Lung Ying-tai and others intervened to prevent the church from being demolished. It was decided to relocate and restore the building.
Jiahe New Village (Mayday Wall)：No. 1, Lane 131, Yongchun Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
In the bustling Shida shopping district, follow the directions to the riverbank, passing through the bustling Tingzhou Road and arriving at Yongchun Street behind the Tingzhou Branch of Tri-Service General Hospital. This street contains a hidden gem: Jiahe New Village. The red gates, brick walls, and old trees in the alleyways have drawn numerous music video, film, and television productions, such as Mayday’s “People Life, Ocean Wild” and the dramas “They Kiss Again”, and “The Way We Were”. The so-called Mayday Wall (a mural depicting the members of the band Mayday) in particular has become a prominent photo spot.
General Sun Li-jen Residence：No. 136, Nanchang Street Section 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
During the Japanese colonial period, this was the official residence of high-ranking colonial officials and was sometimes used to host foreign guests. After the Second World War, this mansion became the residence of the Chief of the Army General Staff. The first general to reside here was the renowned General Sun Li-jen, who was later stripped of his military powers by the president. This residence was subsequently transformed into the Army Officers’ Club, and following democratization it was opened to the public in the 1990s.
Rishan (Air Raid Shelter) Park：No. 65, Dongyuan Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
This park represents a compressed history of the local area. During the war from 1944 to 1945, there were approximately 15,903 aircraft sorties and around 120,000 bombs dropped during air raids. In the early stages of post-war Taiwan, aircraft were relocated to the Taipei Technical Institute. The park retains the stone walls from the Japanese colonial period and the remnants of air raid shelters from the Second World War, serving as a reminder of the air raids and underlining the value of these historical relics.
Qingyun Building：No. 20, Alley 6, Lane 5, Huanhe South Road Section 2, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Apart from being a landmark of the red light district during the Japanese colonial period, the Qingyun Building was also the largest entertainment venue in Taiwan at that time. Today, it has been transformed into a vibrant cultural space. The exterior retains its magnificent appearance, while interior architectural details have also been meticulously preserved. The preservation and restoration team has carried out work on many elements of the building in a way that stays faithful to the cultural history behind it.
The Iso Eikichi Hut, NTU Campus：No. 42, Lane 42, Keelung Road Section 4, Da'an District, Taipei City
The phrase “The Story of Taiwan Rice” is printed on the curtain of a wooden hut, telling everyone who visits or passes by the story of the birth of Penglai Rice, the sticky, high-yield rice that is a staple in Taiwan. Iso Eikichi and his partner Suenaga Megumu dedicated their lives to research on rice cultivation, often discussing how to improve agricultural methods in this very hut. In 1925, they successfully developed Penglai Rice and changed the face of agriculture in Taiwan.
Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center：No. 3, Lane 8, Qingtian Street, Da'an District, Taipei City
Lobsang Pelden Tenpe Dronme, the Seventh Janggya Hotogtu, was born in Qinghai Province in northwest China. One of the four greatest living buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism, the Seventh Janggya Hotogtu’s life was upended by the wars of modern East Asia and he was forced to migrate eastward and southward until he finally settled in a corner of southern Taipei City. He spent his last eight years in the alleys of Qingtian Street. In accordance with his will, his residence was donated and became the present-day Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center.
Huanan New Village：No. 17, Lane 65, Xinguang Road Section 1, Wenshan District, Taipei City
The main feature of Huanan New Village is its two-storey, semi-detached red-brick houses. The village has served as a location for the filming of many dramas and TV series, including A Sun and The Teenage Psychic. Sunlight spills onto the red gates, and the traces of weathering reveal a warmth . This was the first university-managed dormitory to do away with gender-based segregation, breaking down barriers and opening a new chapter in standards of living in Huanan New Village.
Xiaokengxi Literary Trail (Xiaokeng Centennial Tudigong)：No. 210, Lane 210, Zhengda 1st Street, Wenshan District, Taipei City
Next to the century-old Fude Temple in Xiaokeng stands a remarkable tree, eight stories high and with a canopy spanning up to 250m2. This ancient tree is believed to have been planted during the Qing dynasty in the mid-19th century, making it almost two hundred years old. The Xiaokengxi Literary Trail is named for the numerous poetic landscapes on both sides.
Jingmei Neighborhood Activity Center：No. 13, Lane 57, Yueying Street, Wenshan District, Taipei City
Jingmei Old Street has a different air from the bustle of nearby Jingmei Night Market. In this serene environment, your pace naturally slows as you savour the moment. As you turn into Yuying Street’s Lane 57, you are greeted by nostalgic sight of military dependents’ houses.
“This used to be military dependents’ housing,” says the neighborhood chief cheerfully. “When residents moved out, it became vacant space, and later on it was transformed into the Jingmei Neighborhood Activity Center.”
Xikou (Rainbow) Wharf：left bank of the Keelung River at Chengmei Riverside Park (next to Songhe Street, near the No. 4 Water Gate entrance), Songshan District, Taipei City
As far back as 200 to 300 hundred years ago, this area was a key transportation hub. At that time, a ferry port operated here for commercial purposes, its prosperity second only to Wanhua. When the Qing dynasty Governor-General of Taiwan Liu Mingchuan planned the railway lines in Taiwan, he naturally set up a station here. The ensuing Japanese colonial period saw several rounds of expansion, and with transportation and industrial development, river transport was no longer the main mode of transportation, which led to the decline of the ferry port.
Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (Songshan Tobacco Factory Song Monument)：No. 133, Guangfu South Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City
The Songshan Tobacco Factory Song Monument is an important monument to the Songshan Tobacco Factory song. It stands on the left of the entrance to the Taiwan Design Museum at the park entrance. The inscription on the monument was composed by lyricist He Zhihao, who came to Taiwan in 1949 and once held the position of Lieutenant General in the R.O.C. Army. The song consists of 73 characters and celebrates Songshan Tobacco Factory, the shining star in Taiwan’s economic history, which achieved a production value of up to NT$21 billion.
Tiaomi Old Trail：No. 100, Alley 600, Wuxing Street, Xinyi District, Taipei City
Located in the southeast of Taipei City, Wuxing Street can be described as a bustling but atypical street. The front part houses a lively market open from morning till night. However, after a turn, the middle and back sections lead to a tranquil area that resembles a small village. A 500-step stone stair trail leads approximately 700 metres into the mountains. This trail was once a shortcut for the transport of rice to Nangang, Muzha, Shenkeng, Jingmei, and other areas, and is also known as Tiaomi Old Trail.
Hu Shih Memorial Hall：No. 130, Yanjiu Road Section 2, Nangang District, Taipei City
Hu Shih, one of the founders and leaders of the New Culture Movement in China, is known from school textbooks for having a mother who had a profound influence on his approach to life. However, less well known is that during the last three years of his life, this important figure in the intellectual history of the Chinese-speaking world actually lived in a Western-style house in Taipei (the house which subsequently became the Hu Shih Memorial Hall).
Xinfu Main Pit： No. 131, Lane 131, Dahua Street, Neihu District, Taipei City
Xinfu Main Pit has borne witness to a century of mining history. The reconstructed mine carts and tracks allow you to embark on a small adventure, imagining yourself as one of the diligent miners who worked here. Like many mines in Taiwan, this one closed after a mining accident that claimed the lives of thirteen miners. Although the Taipei of today is modern and glamorous, its rapid economic growth was built on many tales of sorrow. The mine is a reminder of the sacrifices of those who went before us.
Tianshui Yuanyang Lake： No. 44, Lane 44, Bishan Road, Neihu District, Taipei City
Located on Dalun Tou hill in Neihu, Tianshui Yuanyang Lake boasts abundant emerald green water. It is hard to imagine that less than twenty years ago, this place was a muddy pond covered in dry weeds. In the two-year clean-up project that only started in 2008, the city government eschewed the use of conventional cement, which is easy to use but bad for the environment, opting instead for a highly waterproof and environmentally friendly bentonite liner to repair the lake bed. The restoration was a success, and the restored pond was transformed into a secluded haven known to only a few people.
Qilian Quarrying Cultural Display Wall： Opposite No. 380, Donghua Street Section 2, Beitou District (near Qilian Metro Station, Exit 2)
Known for its refractory properties, locally quarried Qilian stone was a commonly used building material from the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese colonial era. It was also used in the construction of furnaces for the smelting and glass ceramics industries. Stone quarrying in Qilian gradually declined after it was banned in the 1970s. Located next to Qilian Metro Station, the Qilian Stone Quarrying Cultural Display Wall not only showcases preserved stone walls but also presents the history and tools of the stone quarrying industry.
Caoshan Waterway (Sapphire Springs) ： At the entrance to Tianmu Historic Trail at Lane 12, Aifu 3rd Street, Shilin District, Taipei City
Completed in 1932, the Caoshan Waterway became the second water source for the Taipei area. The Yongquan Terrace, a stone structure, houses the Sapphire Spring, which is rich in minerals. The spring water is naturally filtered through andesite and acquires a sapphire-like lustre that creates a picturesque scene with the stone structure.
Old Shuangxi River Trail (Wufengang Creek) ： Adjacent to Fenyang Wuwangsheng Temple at No.500, Lane 109, Chengde Road Section 7, Beitou District. Also adjacent to the Beitou Refuse Incineration Plant Swimming Pool at No. 271, Hemei Street, Beitou District
Wufengang Creek was once part of the lower reaches of Shuangxi River, creating a fertile sandbar separated from the Keelung River, with vast rice fields rarely seen in Taipei City. In recent years, volunteers from the Beautiful Waterways Association have taken on environmental clean-up duties. The association also organizes a range of guided tours, walks, and promotional activities, all aimed at transforming this area into Taipei’s most beautiful river.
Guandu Nature Park： No. 55, Guandu Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Located at the confluence of the Danshui and Keelung Rivers, Guandu Nature Park is a wetland ecological nature reserve that has received international recognition and is home to a rich diversity of migratory waterbirds and native species. Since 2006, the park has held the annual conservation-focused Guandu International Nature Art Festival. International artists are invited to use natural materials to present outdoor installations that can form a space for dialogue about humans, art and nature.
Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum ： No. 87, Ningxia Road, Datong District, Taipei City
The Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum occupies a building that was formerly the rebuilt North Taipei Police Station, which was completed during the Japanese colonial era. The fan-shaped detention rooms and water dungeon within the police station were used to detain and torture hooligans, thieves, unemployed people, illegal opium users, gamblers, and political prisoners.
Puppetry Art Center of Taipei (Storage)： 2F., No. 99, Civic Boulevard Section 5, Songshan District, Taipei City
When Dr. Lin Ching-fu, chairman of the Taiyuan Arts and Culture Foundation, donated his decades-long personal collection of puppets to the Puppetry Art Center of Taipei, it became a rare institution in Taipei with storage, exhibition, and theater facilities all under one roof. The center has long collaborated with schools and organizations to promote exhibitions of its collection, performances, and educational activities.
Winding River, Flourishing Flowers, Dome of Light, Songshan Metro Station： No. 742, Bade Road Section 4, Songshan District, Taipei City
On the ceiling of the lofty concourse at B1 level, the artwork Winding River, Flourishing Flowers, Dome of Light by Chiang Yang-huei depicts Songshan’s rich cultural landscape using over 50,000 LED lights. Arranged vertically, the tubular lights represent the undulating terrain and meandering paths of ancient rivers. A giant crystal light sculpture conveys the imagery of flowers in bloom and the dynamic force of life.
Echo Publishing Co. (Hansheng Lane)： No. 1, Alley 16, Lane 72, Bade Road Section 4, Songshan District, Taipei City
The Hansheng Lane bookstore is located in the alleyway off Bade Road, next to Civic Boulevard. A huge statue of an ink brush engraved with the characters漢聲 (“Hansheng”) stands before an automatic door with a unique, gourd-shaped design. This peculiar entranceway symbolizes that what is sold—culture—is to be taken in the manner of a cure. While Echo Publishing no longer releases new publications, the books and magazines on display in the store still reflect the historical strivings of Taiwanese intellectuals.
Guo Ziyi Memorial Hall： No. 19, Lane 267, Wende Road, Neihu District, Taipei City
Also known as Neihu Red House and Neihu Kuo Family Estate, this Minnan-style Western house features the traditional Taiwanese layout of a central main section and two wings, but also incorporates elements of Western Baroque in the protruding curved balcony on the second floor. The square tiles at the center of the white-washed terrazzo were introduced to Taiwan from Japan during the mansion’s construction in the 1920s and became frequently used in the building of residential houses and temples.
Shuangji Banyan： Lane 113, Xiamen Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
The Shuangji Banyan stands quietly at the intersection of Xiamen Street’s Lane 113 and Tong'an Street. This old tree has witnessed the rise and fall of the surrounding publishing houses and bookstores, as well as the lives of many literary figures. This banyan tree carries countless stories and memories, much like the infinite tree of literature.
Taipei Museum of Drinking Water & Guanyinshan Reservoir： No. 1, Siyuan Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Poor sanitary conditions causing disease among troops plagued the Japanese authorities during the Japanese colonial period. Goto Shinpei, a sanitation advisor from the Taiwan Governor-General’s Office, invited Scottish engineer William Burton and his student Hamano Yashiro to survey various locations across Taiwan and select sites for the construction of waterworks. They chose the current site of the Taipei Water Park, constructing a large reservoir capable of supplying water to approximately 150,000 people. Situated high up on Gongguan Guanyin Mountain, the water flowed naturally down into the city under the pull of gravity.
Site of the Second Branch of Wulixue Canal： Lane 45, Wenzhou Street, Da’an District, Taipei City
Wulixue Canal is the oldest of Taipei’s historical canals. It runs through Gongguan to the area around Wenzhou Street, where it divides into nine branches at Jiubiantou, three of them major branches. The one currently flowing by Lane 45 of Wenzhou Street is the second branch of the canal. Only a short section of the original open canal remains. Thanks to the efforts of the local district chief, it has been transformed into a community field where residents can grow things together.
Taipower Spider Tree： No. 30, Lane 283, Section 3, Roosevelt Road
In the 1970s, Taipower employee Chen Wen-wang gave a tree branch to his apprentice, Chen Lin-jin. Thinking the branch came from a Bodhi tree, they planted it in a symbolic act meant to wish for the success of the Taipower construction. They took turns diligently caring for the tree for 15 years, until it finally blossomed. Much later, students from the nearby National Taiwan University picked some blossoms, analysed them and realized that the tree, long thought to be a Bodhi tree, was in fact a spider tree from Oceania.
Forestry Section Dormitory Complex of the Government-General of Taiwan, 0kmTaipei： No. 21, Lane 203, Jinshan S. Road Section 2, Da’an District, Taipei City
In the 1930s, the Forestry Section of the Government-General of Taiwan set up and gradually developed an employee welfare organization, the Forestry Mutual Aid Association, to provide staff housing for its employees. In 2006, following public advocacy, the Forestry Section Dormitory Complex of the Government-General of Taiwan was designated by the Taipei City Government as a municipal heritage site and historical building. After more than a decade of research and restoration, the historical significance of the dormitory complex has been reclaimed and the site is now open to the public, allowing people to appreciate its charm firsthand.
Yangmingshan Zhongshan Hall (Fengshui Tree)＿No. 15, Section 2, Yangming Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan
In the courtyard of the Qingcun Guojian Hall, in front of the decorated archway of the Zhongshan Hall, there is a Formosdecorated archwayan gum, known as the Fung Shui tree, which is located on this line. It is said that the location of the building was chosen on the basis of this tree at that time, and hence the saying: “The Fung Shui tree came first, and the Zhongshan Hall came afterwards. This urban legend, known as the “Emperor's Axis”, adds to the mystery of the Zhongshan Hall.
Lane 22， Xiaobei StreetLane 22, Xiaobei Street, Shilin DiStreet
The lane behind the Defu Clinic at the corner of Xiaobei Street in Shilin Circle is Lane 22 of Xiaobei Street. In the past, houses were located next to each other, and in order to make it easier for residents to pass through the lane, the lane opened up from underneath the houses, and the 2022
Yanshan New VillageNo. 2, Lane 79, Section 1, Zhiyu Road, Shilin District, Taipei City
Yanshan New Village was not a listed military dependents' village in the first place, but was officially listed by the Military Intelligence Bureau because it was a residence built by the residents themselves after they moved in with their units. The buildings of Yanshan New Village were built according to the needs of different periods, reflecting the historical development and memories of specific ethnic groups.
Floriculture Experiment CenterNo. 32, Lane 175, Section 4, Yangde Avenue, Shilin District, Taipei City
The Flower Experiment Center located in Shilin District was initially established as the “Yangmingshan Citrus Demonstration Farm” to grow fruit trees. However, due to the climate being suitable for the cultivation of flower seedlings and other trees, it was later changed to the cultivation and collection of camellias, azaleas, and other flowers, and has become a good place for the public to take a break from their daily lives and to learn about plants.
XinzhuangzipiNo. 1, Lane 171, Kunyang Street, Nangang District, Taipei City
During the Qing and Japanese rule periods, Xinzhuangzai Bei fed many villages including Dongxinzhuangzaizhuang on its own, however, with modern urban development and economic transformation, Xinzhuangzai Bei inevitably met its fate of shrinking in size. Today, Xinzhuangzai Bei has been gazetted as a government parkland and has become a bird-watching paradise frequented by bird lovers.
Dunhua Art PassageAt the Dunhua North-South Road Central Separation Island (from Minquan E. Rd. to Keelung Rd.), Taipei City
In 1999, in response to the international image of Dunhua North and South Roads, the Taipei City Government initiated the “Dunhua Art Corridor” public art installation project. Through an open call, nine pieces of artwork were selected from more than one hundred entries, and were dispersed along the Dunhua North and South Roads, turning the streets into a two-kilometer-long outdoor art gallery and adding a strong cultural and artistic atmosphere.
Chiang Wei-shui Memorial SquareNext to No. 267, Chongde Street, Xinyi District, Taipei City
Although it is named as Mr. Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Square, it is more like a private secret place. The space is not too big, just enough to accommodate two horizontal chairs and a stone monument that reads “Tomb of Revolutionary Martyr Mr. Chiang Wei-Shui” in red letters. Underneath the monument is Chiang Wei-Shui's will, which is engraved with his wish for Taiwanese people to “double their unity”.
Linsen Park ToriiNo. 88, Section 1, Nanjing East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
The lushness of the park makes it hard to imagine that Linsen Park was a place for soldiers of the National Army who moved to Taiwan with the R.O.C. government after the war, and it is even harder to imagine that this place, which was known as the “Sanbanqiao” in earlier times, was the location of crematoriums and common cemeteries in the Japanese colonial period.
Former Residence of Lee Lin-ChiuNo. 4, Lane 86, Xining North Road, Datong District, Taipei City
This is a memorial to a great musician, Li Linqiu, but the restoration of this former residence into a memorial is more than just a place to display manuscripts and publicize Li's own contributions. In just 15 minutes, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere and details of people's home life 7 to 80 years ago.
Dormitory at Yuanshan Station of the old Taipei-Danshui LineNo. 13, Lane 9, Jiuquan Street, Tatung DiStreet
Walking out from the exit of MRT Yuanshan Station, you can directly see the former Yuanshan Station Dormitory of the North Tamsui Line, which was opened on August 25, 1901, as a branch of the North Tamsui Line connecting Taipei and Danshui. The former Yuanshan Station Dormitory is one of the few remaining buildings of the North Tamsui Railway.
Zhongshan Hall("The Water Buffalo")No. 98, Yanping S. Road, Chung-Cheng District, Taipei City
In 1930, Huang Tu-shui transformed his long years of observation of the buffalo in Taiwan into a large-scale sculpture and planned to participate in the Imperial Exhibition again. However, due to fatigue, he died of peritonitis before the work was completed, and in 1937, Huang's widow, Liao Chou-gui, donated “The Water Buffalo” to the Taipei City Government. Later, it was mounted on the wall of the Taihoku City Public Auditorium.
South Town ChronicleNo. 230, Lane 230, Section 3, Tingzhou Road, Chung-Cheng District, Taipei City
"In order to bring the artwork closer to the experience of the local residents, artist Cheng Ruohan organized four paper sculpture workshops during the creative process, inviting more than 135 residents, students and businessmen to participate, as well as interviewing the local residents, to jointly create a paper sculpture that combines the life of the ordinary people with the landscape and history of the iron sculpture light wall. "
Taipei Botanical Garden Waxed Leaf Hall (Faurie and Hayata Bunzō Memorial Monument)No. 53, Nanhai Road, Chungcheng District, Taipei City
Surrounding by greenness, this red-brick building , "Waxed Leaves Museum" was built in 1924. The so-called "Waxed Leaves" refers to those leaves specimens baked at high temperatures, and it is not difficult to guess the purpose of this old house from the name, and that's right! This is the oldest botanical herbarium in Taiwan.
Historical section of Treasure HillEntering from Lane 230, Section 3, Tingzhou Road, Chungcheng District, Taipei City
In the 1980s, with the inclusion of the Po Tsang Yam settlement into the flood control and water-friendly urban park, the self-made houses of these post-war residents were threatened, but in the 1990s, after the residents and all sectors of the society fought for their recognition as a historical building in 2004, and the gradual opening up of the Po Tsang Yam International Art Village to artists for revitalization, which is now a form of “Artistic Co-habitation”.
Heping Herbal Park_Wanhua Park No. 402 (Taipei Jen-Chi Relief Institution)No. 42, Section 2, Xiyuan Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Taipei Jen-Chi Relief Institution was not only the earliest psychiatric hospital in Taiwan, but also made the social welfare system more modern and complete. Even after the post-war change of government, this institution continued to house psychiatric patients until 2004, when it was closed down to coincide with the construction of a park and the original operations were moved to the Xinzhuang branch.
Intersection of Zhonghua Road and Kaifeng Street (in front of Fuxing Elementary School), Wanhua District, Taipei City
The Chung Hwa Shopping Center can be said to be a common memory for many old Taipei residents. Starting from the North Gate and extending to the Xiaonan Gate, the mall is named after the eight traditional virtues of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, love, trust, justice, and peace, according to the boundaries of the road. The eight consecutive three-story concrete buildings contain both businesses and residents, and are intended to be a solution to the chaos of the past.
Xiaozihao footbridge ( Xiao Signboard of Chung Hwa Shopping Center )Lane 73, Changtai Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Because of the excellent quality of the water, the crops grown here changed from sugarcane and flowers to bean sprouts and bamboo shoots, due to the government's deliberate efforts during the Japanese rule period. In the heyday of the area around Lane 73 of Changtai Street today, it can be said that every household used to take water to hatch bean sprouts, forming a rather large-scale “Bean Sprout Lane.
Bean Sprout LaneNo. 294, Section 3, Heping W. Rd.
In 1969, the Taipei City Government selected this site for resettlement of the demolished residents and planned to build a whole house in conjunction with the construction of the Hualiang Bridge, which became the first resettlement base. Half a century after the completion of the Huajiang Residence, the appearance of the building is not as bright as it was back then or even a bit outdated, but it accidentally retains the flavor of life in “Old Taipei” in the 1970s and 1980s, which in turn attracts film and television productions to come to this place for filming.
Menjia Fu De TempleNo. 207, Section 2, Changsha Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
At that time, goods would be unloaded from the pier at the First Watergate and delivered to the busiest “Sweet Potato Market” in the Monga area. Over time, a sizable settlement was gradually developed, also known as the “First Street of Taipei”. As the colony grew bigger and bigger, the immigrants who took root in the area built the first Land God's Temple in Monga in front of the present day No. 119 Xichang Street.
Douchuangtou Fu De TempleNo. 9, Yongan Street, Wenshan District, Taipei City
Facing uncontrollable nature, the ancestors who lived in Muzha finally put their hope in faith, raising funds to build a temple and praying to the gods for blessings, which led to the Ferry Terminal Fu De Temple that we see today, which is in charge of the safety of the ferrymen.
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