Travel Foot Notes

Travel foot notes
day 1
012 Taiwan Trip - Flying Cow Ranch ?]| (Day 1-2)
Our very rst destination is Flying Cow Ranch, [|.
After reading the reviews from Tripadvisor.com, I decided to give the children an experience of living in a ranch for three nights. Frankly, two
nights are sufcient. =p
The average temperature up at the farm was about 16 degree Celsius in the day and about 13 degree Celsius at night. With the wind blowing, it
can be really cold.
When we reached the farm after about 1.5 hours of ride from Taoyuan Airport, the children were very excited about the animals that they can
see in the farm.
DAY 1
Day 1 was spent exploring the ranch. Our lodging was considered at the lower part of the ranch and the main activity centre and the animals
were located at the summit of the ranch.
We had to climb up a ight of wooden stairs up to the main activity centre, which took about 10 minutes.
From the activity centre, we had to walk another 15 to 20 minutes to see the animals.
The ranch has many cows. The milk from these cows are processed and sold at the restaurants.
There are also over 30 black belly sheep on the ranch. Food for these sheep can be bought at NT10. The children found it fun and amusing to
feed the sheep.
The ranch has a bakery, a fast food restaurant, a Western restaurant and a Chinese restaurant at the main activity centre. We were given milk
vouchers daily which can be redeemed at the fast food restaurant.
We ate lunch at the Chinese restaurant. As we were not sure what to eat, we ordered the set menu which was about NT2800, which proved to
be too much for 4 adults and 3 children.
Walking uphill further, we found the playground for the children.
We then went back to the lodging reception area to wait for our rooms.
This is the common area for guests to use. There are two computers linked to the internet and the lodging area is well-equiped with Wi-, free
for guests to use.
Finally, at 3 pm, our room was ready. It's a rectangular room with 3 beds - 2 king-sized beds and 1 super single bed for the 7 of us. Although we
did not switch on the air-con, the room was still very cold. We requested for a heater to be placed in our room. The heater kept us warm and
cosy, and... to help us dry our clothes. =)
As we stayed at the ranch for 2 nights or more, we were given complimentary DIY activities vouchers. While Chesed took a nap in the room,
Grandma and I took Camille and Christophe to try their very rst DIY activity - Flying Cow Painting.

The sun set very early at about 5.30 pm in Taiwan. For dinner, we tried the food at the Western restaurant, which was delicious and lling. We
took a long stroll back down to our lodging and fell fast sleep at about 9.
DAY 2
We started Day 2, with the breakfast buffet provided by the ranch. The buffet menu was the same for all the days that we stayed there.
After breakfast, we went up to see the animals again.
This time round, we manged to see the ducks parade. The ranch stuff came with two buckets of food and two bells, one standing at quite a
distance apart. The ducks would follow the one who rang the bell rst and the staff would throw the food to them. Then the other staff would
rang her bell. The children went crazily happy to see the many, many ducks ocking to them. The staff was very nice, and gave the children
food to feed the ducks. This was an amazing experience for the children!
Not too sure why, but Chesed loves to see through in this manner.
After the ducks went home, we proceeded to feed the billy goats. There is a ramp and a bridge. What happens is that when you use the pulley
system to transport the food up the bridge, the billy goats will walk up the ramp and cross the bridge to get the food from the food container,
which you have pulled up.
I nd this an amazing and fun system. It gives the visitors an alternative of just hand-feeding the animals.
There were many rabbits too! Food can be found in a basket on a table within the rabbits' hut. To feed the rabbits, just have to insert NT10 into
the coin bank. I am amazed that the ranch owners did not put anyone to monitor if you did pay for the food, I guess they trust people to be
honest.
At the next available time slots for milking, the children got to try to milk the cow. The children were squeaking with excitement when they could
feel the milk drip out from the cow as they tried to milk it. The ranch worker had to lift his leg to prevent the cow's tail from hitting the children. I
guess the cow felt ticklish.
After lunch, we decided to do some DIY activities as a family.
One of the activity was to make ice-cream! Everyone got to help out throughout the process. We had to turn the ice-cream maker continuously
for about half an hour. The boys loved to help turn as they found it fun.
The children enjoyed eating the ice-cream which turned out very well.
Mixing all the ingredients together
It's my turn!
My turn!
It tastes so cold!
I love it!
Yummy!
We next baked Mini-sponge cakes. This time round, most of the adults had to help out. We had to manually beat the egg whites till they turned
uffy. A mixer will take about 15 minutes to do this, so imagine, how long we had to beat the egg whites.
The grandfather - granddaughter team at work =)
The grandfather - granddaughter team at work =)
Daddy folding the our, egg yolk into the egg white
Chesed fell asleep while looking at us beating the egg whites.
Camille carefully scooping the mixture into the paper cake holders
Our cakes =)
After dinner, we had another round of DIY activity. This time round, it's with the other guests who were staying at the ranch too. We made
Taiwanese Mochi.
Day 2
Passing native forests, through towering gorges, you can immerse yourself in the fresh air and the scenic wild
greenery of the Qingjing Veterans Farm.The Qingjing Veterans Farm is situated at the Renai Township of
Nantou County,8 km north of Wushe Section, Tai 14A Route of Central Cross-Island Highway in Central
Taiwan.It has been opened to public since February 20th, 1961;its altitude is 1,750 meters above the sea.
The weather is generally mild all year round. In the months from May to September, the temperatures
averages between 15! and 23!. The Farm produces various kinds of fruits including: peaches, pears,
plums,and kiwi fruit.
Facilities in the Farm include: the Tourist Center, the Green Green Grasslands, the Small Swiss Garden, the
Recreation Center for visitors, the Shoushan Park, the Guest House and a Stock Nurturing Center. The
working partners of the Farm are putting in all efforts to incorporate the Farm with nearby tourism projects,
making it an attraction, to provide a cozy and enjoyable nature trip for all visitors.

This wide grassy plain is the most popular site of the Qingjing Veterans Farm; the herds of
sheep grazing on the land, the azure skies above, and the verdant mountains in the horizon
have a distinct European air. The sheep here are very friendly; visitors usually have their
pictures taken with them. Then there is the sheep shearing show, with sheep shearers all the
way from New Zeland hairdressing these furry farm animals for the audiences enjoyment.
Because of its Northern European atmosphere, The Small Swiss Garden has been called Taiwans Little
Switzerland and Paradise in the Mist; hence the name. The Qingjing cloudy mists at dawn is like a
perfect painting; looking at it from a distance, it is as if the clouds and mists were oating, slowly coming
closer, becoming one with the clouds on top of the distant mountains. The pure unadulterated beauty of
such a view literally takes ones breath away. Someone once said, the view of Qingjing Farm is very
similar to Northern Europe. Here verdant peaks are like doors and a sparkling bay is like a violin. With
this breathtaking view, it is no wonder that the fame of the Small Swiss Garden spreads far and wide.
Green Lake
Trails
With a terraced
tea garden on
one side and a
breathtaking
view of Green
Lake on the
other, the Green
Lake Path
Pasturage Trails
Watch the herds of cows and sheep on their leisurely walks. Or sit on the grass and watch
the ying kites seemingly y to Qilay Mountain on the other side. Or just plain savor the
sweet feeling of being free to do whatever you want. The path is 500 meters long; a walk
presents
different facades
during different
times of the day.
The changes
through the
seasons are
even more
pronounced and
varied; one can
see reies
dancing in the
summer nights.
The path is 2300
meters in length;
walks on it
generally take 60
minutes (one-
way).
generally takes 30minutes (back and forth).
Cryptomeria
Trails
With gigantic
cryptomerias
towering over
the path, a
natural fragrance
wafts through
the cool wind like
scents from a
forest bath. The
path is 750
meters long; a
walk generally
takes about 25
minutes.
Sunset Trails
The perfect place to experience Qingjings spectacular sunsets, it surrounded by colorful
blooms, which visitors can also purchase and bring home. The path is about 1000 meters
long; walks on it generally take 40 minutes (one-way).
Margarita
Trails
Enjoy viewing a
sea of French
chrysanthemums
and of grazing
cows and sheep.
The place is also
ideal for picnics
and ying kites.
The entire length
of the path is
600 meters; a
walk generally
takes 50 minutes
(back and forth).
499-Steps Trails
This is denitely the place to see blazing maple trees and grazing mountain goats. The top
leads to Shoushan Park where you can observe the changes in the sea of clouds and dance
with wild birds and butteries. The path is 1800 meters long; a walk generally takes 50
minutes (one-way).
:::
:::
Formosa
Fun Coast
Yeliou
Ocean
World
Window
on China
Theme
Park
Fantasy
World
LeoFoo
Village
Theme
Park
Little Ding-
Dong
Science
Park
Wan Ruey
Forest
Paradise
Hsinchu
Maple in
the Spring
Corp.
West Lake
Resortopia
Shangrila
Paradise
Hou Yen
Shan Hot-
Spring
Area
Yamay
Taiwan
Folk
Village
Formosan
Aboriginal
Culture
Village
Atayal
Resort
Sun-Link-
Sea
Forest
Forest and
Nature
Resort
Janfusun
World
Wan-Pi
World
Safari Zoo
Jianshanpi
Jiangnan
Resort
Bada
Forest
Theme
Paradise
Kentington
Resort
Dalukung
Land
Farglory
Ocean
:::
! Recommended

l Must-Try
1. The Caribbean Adventure (}@||): It is the newest facility at
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Villagethe water roller coaster is about to take off
and take you against the winds and waves. You will plunge from the 35-meter
height forward and backward. There will be gigantic splashes!

2. UFO Gyro Drop: As the UFO ascends slowly; you will appreciate the beauty
of the mountains and the woods. Take the highest (85 meters) free fall in Taiwan.
Experience the exhilaration of the gyro going up and the sudden drop. You need
great courage to try it.
3. Air Cable Car: It is the rst loop air cable car in Taiwan. Overlook the
beauty of the mountains and the woods in Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
with the ying birds in the breeze.

l Must-See
1. Naruwan Theater: The beautiful and tender A-Mei Tribe Girls and the
brave Tau warriors... The tribal peoples in Taiwan sing and dance passionately at
Naruwan Theater.
Weekdays: 13:25, 14:55 Weekend: 10:30, 13:25, 14:55
2. Sacricial Rites: Different from the dazzling programs of Naruwan
Theater, the sacricial rite performance resembles that of the traditional sacricial
rite. The mystique and passion of the aboriginals are presented. You can play as
the chief in the on-stage activity, too.
Weekdays/Weekend: 11:20, 14:30
3. Shih Yin Theater: The voices, instruments, and music of the aboriginal
people are introduced. You are invited to play the various percussion instruments
yourself.
Weekdays/Weekend: 12:00, 15:30

l Must-Visit
1. V-Touch European Court Garden (QQ]|{Q): V-Touch
European Court Garden is comprised of V-Touch European Court Garden and V-
Touch Palace. It is the rst European court garden in the nation and the shooting
scene of TV series Romantic Princess. The baroque style architecture of V-
Touch Palace is one of the grandest restaurants at Formosan Aboriginal Culture
Village. There are Chinese set meals and combo meals. Tourists will enjoy their
meals in the European setting.
2. Mountain Watching Observatory (Guanshanlo) ([|):Elevated 900
meters above the sea, the Mountain Watching Observatory is the highest point of
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. The architecture is in the shape of a
mountain. On top of it, you will see the overview of Formosan Aboriginal Culture
Village and overlook the beauty of the mountains and the woods of Yuchih. One
feels completely relaxed in the breeze.
3. Cherry Blossom Lake (Yinghuahu): Located beside the Atayal Tribe,
there are several tens of cherry blossoms by the lake. Numerous colorful koi sh
dwell in the water. During cherry blossom season in spring, the verdant mountains
and the red cherry owers are reected on the waters surface. The Cherry
Blossom Lake is the most beautiful and dream-like place at Formosan Aboriginal
Culture Village

Park
! Information

Address: No. 45, Jintian Lane, Dalin Village, Yuchih Township, Nantou County
555, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
TEL: 049-2895361
Fax: 049-2896233
Website: www.nine.com.tw

Opening Hours:
" Park Opening Hours
Weekdays 08:0017:00 Weekend 08:0017:30
Services are offered 365 days a year.
Lunar New Years Eve: Open till 3:00 pm

Ticketing Schedule
Weekdays 08:0016:00 Weekend 8:0016:00
! Ticket Prices
Admission Ticket (1-day pass)
Category Full-Price Student Children Elder/Child/Disabled
Individual 700 600 550 390
Group 630 550 500 390

! Trafc Guide

Day 3
Chung Tai Shan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Chung Tai Chan (Chinese: |; Pe%h-&e-j': Tiong-tai-san) is a Taiwan-based Buddhist
monastic order founded by the Venerable Master Wei Chueh in 1987. The monastery
headquarters, Chung Tai Chan Monastery (or Chung Tai Buddhist Temple, |),
completed in September 2001, is located in Puli, Nantou County, in central Taiwan. It is the
tallest and one of the largest temples and monastery in both Taiwan and the world, having a
height of 136 metres (446 ft).
[1]
Widely admired as an architectural masterpiece because of
the mountain monastery's more modern look, the temple is second only to Fo Guang Shan's
monastery in physical size and in the number of ordained disciples.
The temple follows traditional Chinese Ch'an teaching, emphasizing sudden enlightenment
and gradual cultivation. Chung Tai Chan Monastery has established more than 90 meditation
centers and branches in Taiwan and abroad, including eight branches in the United States:
two in Northern California - Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley and Buddha
Gate Monastery in Lafayette in the East Bay; one in Southern California - Middle Land Chan
Monastery in Pomona; two in the state of Texas - Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston and
Chung Tai International Retreat Center; one in the state of Oklahoma Buddha Mind
Monastery in Oklahoma City; one in the state of Washington Buddha Jewel Monastery in
Seattle; and one in the state of Georgia - Dharma Jewel Monastery in Atlanta; as well as
branches in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, and Thailand.
Taiwan Impressive: Chung Tai Chan
Monastery
22 Friday Jun 2012
Posted by International Association NCCU in C. Discovering Taiwan, Places to Eat
! Leave a Comment
Text from Wikipedia
Chung Tai Chan (Chinese: |; Peh-&e-j': Tiong-tai-san) is a Taiwan-based Buddhist
monastic order founded by the Venerable Master Wei Chueh in 1987. The monastery
headquarters, Chung Tai Chan Monastery (or Chung Tai Buddhist Temple, |),
completed in September 2001, is located in Puli, Nantou County, in central Taiwan. It is the
tallest and one of the largest temples and monastery in both Taiwan and the world, having a
height of 136 metres (446 ft).Widely admired as an architectural masterpiece because of the
mountain monasterys more modern look, the temple is second only to Fo Guang Shans
monastery in physical size and in the number of ordained disciples.
Nantou is always famous for its mountain sight, especially Puli, which located in the center of
Taiwans geography. It is the main center of many types of scenery. Chung Tai Chan
Monasterys bodybuilding contains Wu Hua changes, Gather lives, education, art learning,
art, science. The building of the temple, the statue of Buddha, the fresco, the color paints, the
carving structure, the calligraphy and etc, all of these form the content of the art. They show
the real truth, the real nice and the real beauty of the spirit of Buddha. All of these are the art
and the unimposing. Making a trip of Chung Tai Chan Monastery, you will feel the relaxation.
It is just like a heart spirit bathing. You can also gain the peace in your heart.
We share with you pictures of some of the halls inside of Chun Tai Chan Monastery
The hall of the Four Heavenly Kings
Photo credit: adventurocity/ Flickr
The Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Photo credit: Sunnyvale Zen Center website
The Golden Dome
Photo credit: Sunnyvale Zen Center
Sun Moon Lake (E})
Yu Chi Village, Nantou County (]j|j/)
Background
Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's largest natural lake and as such, it has become quite popular for
both foreign and local visitors alike. The Sun Moon Lake area is home to one of Taiwan's 11
aboriginal tribes, the Thao.
Sun Moon Lake has a small island, Lalu, in the middle that used to be a popular place to get
married; however, the 921 earthquake sunk most of the island.
Wen Wu Temple(5;@)
Wen Wu Temple is open all year round. It is a very impressive and ornate temple complex
consisting of three halls. The forward hall is called The Water and Clouds Hall and contains a
shrine dedicated to the god of scholars and literature. The middle hall, The Martial Sage Hall,
is dedicated to Guan Gong, the god of war. The third and nal hall, Da Cheng, is dedicated to
Confucius.
Ci En Pagoda (j)
Former Taiwan president, Chiang Kai Shek, built the Ci En Pagoda in memory of his mother.
As far as pagodas go, the architectural style is typically Chinese. There is also a small
building at the base of the Ci En Pagoda that Chiang Kai Shek used during is visits. Perhaps
one of the highlights of this attraction is the 700 meter stair climb to the top. From the top of
the pagoda, you can get a great view of the lake and surrounding area.
Xuan Zhuang Temple (;)
This temple is dedicated to Xuan Zhuang. Xuan Zhuang was responsible for bringing many
important scriptures from India and thus furthering Buddhist enlightenment in China. His
remains nally came to rest here in 1965. Although not as impressive as Wen Wu Temple, if
you are after serenity, this temple is well worth a visit.
Other Things to Do
Boat Cruises - If you are interested in seeing the lake from a different point of view,
boats can be chartered from the harbours in Ita Thao and Shui She (|). Fares vary
according to number of guests and boat type. On clear days, you can get a spectacular
view of the waterfront and, albeit small, Lalu Island.
Camping - Just before entering Ita Thao, there is a tent-style campground where you
can park your car and pitch a tent in a designated area. Showers are available. On the
other side of Ita Thao, there is a cabin-style camping area where you can rent a very
small cabin.
Bicycle and Motorized Bicycle Rides - Bicycles and electric bicycles can be rented in
Yu Chi Township on Zhong Shan Rd. Ride along the Sun Moon Lake Bike Path to
experience the natural beauty of the area.
Gondola Ride - Soon to be completed, the cable car system will connect Sun Moon
Lake with the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (,j5|). Ticket prices are about
NT$300 and the trip takes about 10-20 minutes.
Sun Moon Lake Tea Eggs () - The local sausages ([[) across from Wen
Wu Temple are very tasty but the tea eggs near Shi Yin ((l) are the best in Taiwan.
Apparantly, they sell over 1000 eggs per day. The eggs are prepared with mushrooms
and a special blend of tea leaves and spices.
Getting There
Sun Moon Lake is located in Yuchi Village, Nantou County. To get there, you need to take
Highway 3 north or south, depending on where you are, to Highway 6. Going east on
Highway 6 will take you through Caotun township (|). Transfer to Provincial Highway 14
heading into Puli Township (||) and then to Provincial Highway 21 out of Puli to Sun
Moon Lake. There are many signs along the way so nding your way shouldn't be a problem.
Please refer to the map below for further information.
Sun Moon Lake Wenwu Temple
Wenwu Temple is located at the shoulder of mountain where is on the north of Sun Moon
Lake. It was built in 1938. People worried the water of Sun Moon Lake might cover Longfeng
Temple and Ihuatang of Shuishotsun, they built Wenwu Temple. The Wenwu Temple is 2
(Longfeng Temple and Ihuatang) in 1. It was rebuilt in 1969. Its gate is face to the north.
People pray the Civil Saint of Confucius, the Military Saint of Guangong, and the Established
God of two temples at the Wenwu Temple. The temple is popular among students.

Ruifeng Night Market, Kaohsiung
7/30/2011 Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Travel, TwNightMarket 3 comments
Kaohsung's second most famous night market
Ruifeng Night Market ) (or better Rueifong Night Market) in Kaohsiung is one of the famous night markets in the city. Unfortunately I
did not have the chance to fully enjoy this lovely market, because it was raining a lot and heavily that day, so we ended up in a restaurant
nearby and had some delicious food. And it wasn't only us, that day the market was almost empty, so I won't have as many food
recommendations as usually, but I will give you some basic idea about how the night market looks like.
MY IMPRESSION: The most interesting thing about this night market is its shape. It's not a long street with many side streets like it's common in
Taiwan, Rueifong is like a public square covered by food stalls and tents. It had that atmosphere of a festival, only the live music was missing. I
have to say I liked it and I felt it was really a pity, that the rain spoiled our mood.
WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS COMMON: The most common food here is seafood ,# (h(ixi#n), of which the most popular dish is grilled squid
)@( (k(o xi(oju(n). That dish is almost seen everywhere and dominates the market. Of course the market offers a wide range of standar
"little eats" such as oyster omelettes, marinaded meat and tofu and delicious pork chops.
MUST-TRY FOOD AT RUEIFONG NIGHT MARKET: The grilled squid must be very delicious here, because it's very popular. Kaohsiung is
Taiwan's biggest port and the sea food is predominant in the local diet, so I think you can't leave this night market without trying some.
Let me show you some photos from Rueifong Night Market in July, 2011:
This is the night market from afar.
This is one of the mail lanes, quite narrow.
The outer part of the market.
Hotpot under a giant tent. I can imagine that all seats are full.
Grilled squid is this market's most popular dish.
SO TAIWANESE: One of the interesting things you can observe in southern Taiwan are the names for dishes, that originate from the Taiwanese
language and are written with Han characters. For example @( (xi(oju(n) comes from the word "shiogen", while in China, they would use j
(yuy). The Taiwanese language affects the Mandarin a lot in Taiwan.
This stall has been around since 1982, so it claims.
The stalls were still being built up, but then came the rain and we went to a restaurant.
This is called tangga mige in Taiwanese or ]]| in Chinese.
This is called kiroufan in Taiwanese and /|[ in Chinese (chicken with rice). Yummy!
This is ||], a type of noodles. Not bad.
And then it rained more and more and we decided to leave.
HOW TO FIND RUEIFONG NIGHT MARKET? SEE MY MAP:
To nd the night market
is very easy, exit at Kaohsiung Arena Station at Exit 1, walk for 5 minutes straight and you are there. Click on photo for the Google Map and the
original source.
Read more: http://mykafkeasquelife.blogspot.com/2011/07/ruifeng-night-market-kaohsiung.html#ixzz2o6hTEQj8

Day 4
Lotus Pond, Kaohsiung
Coordinates: 2241)06*N 12017)51*E
Spring and Autumn Pavilions on Lotus Pond, from the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
Lotus Pond (Chinese: ,; pinyin: Linch Tn; Pe%h-&e-j': Lin-t-thm) is a man-made lake and popular tourist destination on the east side
of Zuoying District in Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan. Opened in 1951, it is famous for the lotus plants on the lake and the numerous
temples around the lake, including the Spring and Autumn Pavilions ({|[), the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (j), and the Confucian
Temple (]@).
Lotus Pond was the site for several water sporting events for World Games 2009, including canoe polo, water ski, and dragon boat.
Contents
1 Temple
1.1 Confucius Temple
1.2 Spring and Autumn Pavilions (Chinese: {|[; pinyin: ch+nqi+ g)
1.3 Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (Chinese: j; pinyin: Lngh, t()
1.4 Pei Chi Pavilion (Chinese: (; pinyin: B-ij tng)
1.5 Chi Ming palace (Chinese: j|; pinyin: Q.mng tng)
1.6 Tianfu Palace (Chinese: [; pinyin: Ti#nf, g&ng)
1.7 God Temple (Saint-doors Inside the celestial palace) (Chinese: ;@(|@); pinyin: Ti#ng&ng mio (shng mn lng xi#o
b(o din))
1.8 Sianshu Three Mountain Palace (Chinese: j|; pinyin: Xi#n sh s#n sh#ng&ng)
1.9 Jhenfu Temple (Chinese: |@; pinyin: Zhn f mio)
1.10 Cheng Huang Temple (Chinese: g@; pinyin: Chnghungmio)
1.11 Cingshuei Temple (Chinese: ,; pinyin: Q'ngshu. g&ng)
1.12 Cihde Palace (Chinese: j; pinyin: C d g&ng)
1.13 Cihji Palace (Chinese: ,; pinyin: C j g&ng)
2 Kaohsiung Production Pavilion
3 Food in Lotus Pond
3.1 Fire lion cake
3.2 Da-dao-gong peace cake
3.3 Ben Beef noodles
3.4 Gong Carrabolla soup
3.5 Fenyang Wonton shop
4 Travel Service Center
5 Gallery
6 References
7 External links
Temple
Confucius Temple
The Old Confucius Temple was originally built in 1684. The temple circumferences ups to 122 units of length and full-scale. However, in
Japanese colonial period due to lack of maintenance, it was only preserved Chong Sheng Shrine presently which located in the west side of Old
City Elementary School nearby Lotus Pond. The new Confucius Temple was located in northwest corner of Lotus Pond; then, it was relocated
and rebuilt in 1977, located in North Shore of Lotus Pond. Its pattern had followed Song Dynasty Confucian temple and Shandong Qufu
Confucius Temple layouts as model; its Dacheng hall had followed the layouts of the Supreme Harmony Hall of the Imperial Palace. It had Xia
and,Shang and Zhous color and culture with yellow tiles covering the roof, black foundations stand on the oor, red pillars, windows and doors,
and white stone railings. And it is the largest measure in Taiwan. Its Confucius Ceremony still follows the traditional of Ba Yi Dance (eight
dancers in eight rows).
Spring and Autumn Pavilions (Chinese: @|; pinyin: ch!nqi! g)
It was established in 1953, were two Chinese palace-style pavilions. Spring and Autumn Pavilions named from the Spring Pavilion and Autumn
Pavilion. Each of these two is four stores and octagonal, green tiles and yellow walls, like an antique pagoda reected in the water. And they
communicate with each other by 9 bend bridge, also called Spring and autumn Royal Pavilion, set up by commemorated The Martial Saint,
Lord Kua. There is a Guanyin statue which is riding a dragon in the front end of the Spring and Autumn Pavilions. According to local legend, the
Goddess of Mercy had rode the dragon appeared in the clouds and instruct followers to build icon as the form of its coming out between the
Spring Pavilion and Autumn Pavilion; Therefore, now there is a Guanyin statue which is riding a dragon.
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (Chinese: j); pinyin: Lngh" t#)
The towers is height of seven stores, has set up to stand on the lake. In front of the buildings have their own dragon and tiger statue, the visitors
can as the towers body as road, entering the dragons mouth and coming out from the tigers mouth, it means auspicious. The towers
communicate with shore by 9 bend bridge; it corresponded to the surface of lake. There are painted with China's Filial Piety sub illustration in
the Dragon tower, and painted the twelve Magi and the Jade Emperor thirty Palaces in Tiger tower.
Pei Chi Pavilion (Chinese: [Q; pinyin: B$ij tng)
It worships North-pole Hsuen-tien Sharn-ti, set up by Lotus Pond; it belongs to Zuoying Yuan Di Temple and Feng Gu Palace. It claims to have
the highest water statues in Southeast Asia. According to legend, the Xuantian the God ordered directives on psychic to build this pavilion. The
pavilion is height of 72 meters and made from grout; and the Seven Star sword in his hand is length of 38.5 meters which also known as the rst
sword in the world. It constructed peaks with gullies and fountain to serve as background, and it used arch bridge connected statues. The place
of worshiping and ofce of temple are under the statue.
Chi Ming palace (Chinese: J[; pinyin: Q%mng tng)
Also called Southeast of Dili Que hall, Chi Ming palace is the most spectacular temple by Lotus Pond. Located in the west and facing the east,
the temple was rebuilt in 1973 as a three-story, palace-style grand architecture. It is mainly for the worship of the two sages, Confucius and Lord
Guan. While Taiwanese people were worried about being inuenced by the Japanese customs, such as its culture, folklore, and religion, Those
who founded Chi Ming Hall, including Xie Zhi Weng and Chen Wang Weng, constructed Ming De Hall under Gods will by tossing divination
blocks. Those great founders have dedicated themselves to Chi Ming palace ever since in the hope of maintaining the traditional virtues and
saving the society from corruption.
Tianfu Palace (Chinese: j]; pinyin: Ti&nf" g'ng)
Located at No.158, Liantan Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City 813, Taiwan. It was established at 1660. The Central Camp Marshal was
worshiped in Fujian Province, Quanzhou prefecture which crowed into followers everywhere and endless stream of pilgrims. It can solve all
problems by followers. Tianfu Palace is not only a head of temple of worshipping The Central Camp Marshal, but also a champion of all temples
in Zuoying which the number of pilgrims came to pilgrimage. The palace provides services of comfortable accommodation and receives deeply
praise from pilgrims.
God Temple (Saint-doors Inside the celestial palace) (Chinese: ;@(][J); pinyin: Ti&ng'ng mio (shng
mn lng xi&o b#o din))
Located at No.1, Ln. 549, Zuoying Avenue, Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City 813, Taiwan. It worships Father of God, Mother NuWa of Goddess
and Jade God of the folk beliefs, called God. 1957, it built the front and rear temples and called Inside the celestial palace. It designed a huge
painting of masterpiece of Neigh Dragon heavenward, and its also a spiritual that symbolize by known as "the rst word of Tain". And its
gradation has the ancient traditional technology art of Elegant handwriting which is a foundation work for commemorating ancestors.
Sianshu Three Mountain Palace (Chinese: )jE]; pinyin: Xi&n sh s&n sh&ng'ng)
Located at No.240, Zuoying Sia Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City 813, Taiwan. It was situated in opposite with new Confucian Temple of Lotus
Pond and situated in Hello Market of Zuoying. It worships three Mountain Spirits for Jin Mountain, Ming Mountain and Du Mountain of Chaozhou
prefecture and they are a natural mountain godhead and portrait. Xian Shu Father God is a mountain Portrait statue. There are a wearing-
scholarly guardian father who managed documents and a wearing-helmets and armor house father whose feats is excellent. Xian Ju Father
God had originated from the belief of Chaozhou prefecture, later; it had extended to Hakka village, and possesses features of Hakka hometown.
Jhenfu Temple (Chinese: @; pinyin: Zhn f mio)
Located at 3F., No.81, Ln. 6, Zuoying Avenue, Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City 813, Taiwan. It was established at 1661, called Zhen Fu union
originally, and followers called it Pei Chai To Land God Temple. It worships Earth God and patron saint of Pei Chai To and the North Gate.
Zhen Fu Temple is the Monument Class I abreast with Gongchen well of North Gate and The Old City. The Earth God blesses every household
for peace and Good harvest. Local ancestors extended to celebrate birth of the Earth God on 15 August in lunar calendar.
Cheng Huang Temple (Chinese: [@; pinyin: Chnghungmio)
The Old City Cheng Huang Temple was built in Qing Emperor Kangxi forty-three years (AD 1704). It worships Cheng Huang. When the
Fengshan country ruled in this time, Residents constructed straw hut out of North Gate to worship the Cheng Huang which was the rst model
of the Old City Cheng Huang Temple. The Cheng Huang Temple was originally a gateway of The Old City area and the trade. At that time, Pi
Chai Tau Street was crowded and bustling. Believers shuttled in front of the temple. It became an important gateway of trade. It experienced Lin
Shuang-wen event, , the county was moved to Fengshan, destroyed by Japanese, the government retreated to Taiwan, damages by refugees,
and many time of rehabilitations and rebuilds. The history of Cheng Huang Temple is the miniature of southern Taiwan experienced ups and
downs for 200 years. In temple, every board and joss seems to talk quietly about the footsteps of ancestors. The Old City Cheng Huang Temple
will tour Zuoying inside and outside for thirteen spots about every birthday of Lunar Calendar on 20 May. It still is one of the important activities
in the Zuoyingtemple fair.
Cingshuei Temple (Chinese: ]; pinyin: Q(ngshu% g'ng)
The temple worships the Master Qing Shui who was a national hero in Sung Dynasty who fought against the Yuan army. His jobs included the
holding of management of awards for good deeds and punishment for evil deeds. He saved the souls of thousands of people. The temple is
located at East to West, the front side is Lotus Pond, right is Ban-Ping hill, and left side leaning Guishan. Set of Eastern and Western
architectural features of the merger; its construction is majestic and manner is solemn.
Cihde Palace (Chinese: ]; pinyin: C d g'ng)
It worships Matzu and Commonly be known as Matsu Temple. During the Japanese Occupation Period, Japanese had even set up agriculture
ofce for the temple; afterwards, was changed to The Regiment branch. Cide Palace was rebuilt at 1973, and nished at 1976. The Japanese
government ordered to abolish the position of Cide Palace; however, it was rebuilt after Taiwan Restoration. While every birthday of gods, the
temple will invite Taiwanese opera group to perform. And it is very special about building a stage in front of temple.
Cihji Palace (Chinese: ]; pinyin: C j g'ng)
It worships Baosheng Dadi. Every Chungyuan Festival, every household hangs radish on door for memorial service. Putting sacrice on table
before the god such as radish, animal sacrice, Glutinous rice lump and fruits to offer sacrices to gods or ancestors. This ceremony of
sacricing radish still was rumored in civil. Cih Ji Palace was rebuilt in 1960 and worshiped Baosheng Dadi, Black Tiger Marshal and other
gods; they became patron saint of local residents and endless stream of pilgrims. In 1974, Baosheng Dadi ordered to build Dragon and Tiger
Pagodas. Zuoying Dragon and Tiger Pagodas has become the one of famous landmarks after it nished construction.
Kaohsiung Production Pavilion
It located at Cuihua Road, and originally it was Lotus Pond Scenic Area Administration. The reason why it will be set Production Pavilion is
because of the merger of the counties, the government in order to promote the integration of Kaohsiung high-quality agricultural products. They
combined agricultural products with Human history, quality and high specication testing to create a "Kaohsiung preferred brand value.
Through Production Pavilion, they can market Kaohsiung high-quality agricultural products and promote agricultural policies.
Production Pavilion not only sells agricultural products which display on Selling Area but also has Deli Area for people to enjoy a meal.
Restaurant's biggest feature is the use of ingredients which from Kaohsiung. In Story House, there are many video played in audiovisual
conference rooms to make audiences to watch in order to obtain agricultural information. There also are DIY classrooms and Cooking
classroom. DIY classroom is main to teach people make handmade DIY to do some simple productions, such as, Hats, quilters, soap, etc. And
Cooking classroom is main to teach people make a delicious and simple delicacies with Kaohsiung local ingredients.
Food in Lotus Pond
Fire lion cake
Zuoying was used to be the administrative center of the Wan-Nien County . Surrounding by many temples, the Louts Pond is the only place for
religion carnival in Taiwan . There are many unique religious activities during the carnival i.e. attacking cannon castle and touring re lion.
The re lion is the spirit symbol of the Wan-Nien Festival. Requested by the City of Kaohsiung , Chung-Wide bakery store has created a special
re lion cake by using husked lotus and red bean. This delicious cake also gives the meaning of good fortune and happiness.
[1]
Da-dao-gong peace cake
The god of birth of Tsz-chi temper in Zuoying is also known as Da-dao-gong. In the old time, people put water spinach on the table to honor
Da-dao-gongs legend for his mercy and kindness. This old fashion is still retained until now in Zuoying area. Picking from the spirits of this local
belief, the Da-dao-gong peace cake is made from whole water spinach plant by Chung-Wide bakery store. With its nutrition and special taste
of water spinach, the Da-dao-gong peace cake becomes a very popular dessert.
[2]
Ben Beef noodles
It is major in noodles, prices from 50 to 110. It has two kinds of meals, several soups and dishes. The beef soup made of onion, carrots, bone,
and traditional Chinese medicine. The soup is not greasy and with a rich aroma, very delicious. And the beef with noodle is soft and tastes like
beef jerky. It is worth tasting!
Gong Carrabolla soup
It is 50 years old. The largest feature is there are a vat of Carrabolla juice, full of Carrabolla on stall and Autographs. Their merchandise is
Carrabolla juice with Sweet and salty two avors. The price depends on the capacity size divided into $20 of small cup, $30 of middle cup, big
cup and bottle are $50. Prices are very approachable. Sweet Carrabolla juice for quenching thirst; however, salty parabola juice can protect the
throat and improve cough. There is another very special food, Carrabolla candy; it looks red and at, tastes sweet and salty, has efcacy of
protect the throat and improve cough.
[3]

[4]
Fenyang Wonton shop
This shop is located in Zuoying second public market entrance. The feature of shop is only selling wonton soup and soup with eggs. The shop is
always in an endless stream whenever day or night, and it is food that residents will eat. There are 12 wontons in a bowl of wonton soup. The
skin of wonton is very elastic and different from general taste of wonton. The pork stufng of wonton is many and sweet, and plus simple pepper
and celery for seasoning; therefore, it is a delicious bowl of Fenyang wonton.
[5]

[6]
Chengcing Lake
Chengcing Lake
Chengcing Lake.
Location Niaosong, Kaohsiung
Coordinates 2239)N 12021)ECoordinates: 2239)N 12021)E
Type articial
Basin countries Taiwan
Surface area 1.03 km/
Islands Fuguo island
Chengcing Lake (Chinese: ,{), also known as the Cheng Ching Lake, Dabei Lake (9|{), or Toapi Lake (Chinese: 9{; Pe%h-&e-j':
T&a-pi-
0
) in Taiwanese, is an articial lake located in Niaosong, Kaohsiung, not far from downtown Kaohsiung and the major suburban district of
Fengshan.
[1]
The lake is a source of the water supply network and a tourist area of the Kaohsiung region.
Park and aquarium
A portion of the lake with its shore is administrated as a gated park. A chateau of Chiang Kai-shek, the former president and military leader of
Taiwan, is located in the park. Around the lake shore, Chiang also established an underground military headquarters, which has been adapted
into a public aquarium, the Cheng Ching Lake Exotic Marine Life Museum.
[2]
It was originally built as an underground tunnel in 1961, as
protection against a nuclear attack.
The Bridge of Nine Turns across the lake was built in 1960. It is 230 meters in length by 2.5 meters wide, including nine right-angled turns. The
restored Jhongsing Pagoda the lake area's tallest structure, standing 43 meters high, with good views from the top, which can be reached via
winding stairs.
After Mainland China fell under the control of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949, General Huang Chieh led 30,000 Republic of China Army
soldiers to Vietnam and they were stationed at Phu Quoc Island. Later, the army moved to Taiwan in June, 1953.
[3]
There is currently a small
island in Chengcing Lake that was constructed in November 1955 and named Phu Quoc Island ([5) in memory of the eeing Chinese
soldiers in 1949.
[4]
Chengqing Lake Exotic Marine Life Museum
This 200-meter tunnel has a massive bomb-protection door that weighs 5000 kilograms. Inside there are meeting rooms, lounges,
communication chambers, and so on. Eventually, after lying unused for years, it was turned into an aquarium, featuring all manner of ocean sea
life. A meaningful educational experience, the aquarium has eight major exhibits including a whale exhibition area, exotic sea life, coral, shell
sh, and more.
Fo Guang Shan
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description of the subject. (August 2009)
The Fo Guang Shan emblem, used by all FGS afliated branch temples and organizations. The standing Buddha represents the 36 metre high
(132 ft) statue of Amitabha Buddha on the monastery grounds.
Fo Guang Shan (Chinese: ||; pinyin: Fgu!ngsh!n; Pe%h-&e-j': Hu%t-kong-san; literally "Buddha's Light Mountain") is an international
Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order based in the Republic of China (Taiwan), and one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The
headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of the
largest charity organizations in Taiwan. The order also calls itself the International Buddhist Progress Society.
Founded in 1967 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the order promotes Humanistic Buddhism, a modern Chinese Buddhist thought developed
through the 20th Century and made popular by this and other modern Chinese Buddhist orders. Humanistic Buddhism aims to make Buddhism
relevant in the world and in people's lives and hearts. While Hsing Yun is a Dharma heir in the Linji Chan (Chinese: g,; pinyin: Lnjz"ng)
school, his stated position within Fo Guang Shan is that it is an "amalgam of all Eight Schools of Chinese Buddhism" (1), including but
not limited to Chan. In this sense, it is a monastic order, and not a doctrinal school of thought per se. This is the case for much of Chinese
Buddhism, as the lineage of the founder or Abbot does not necessarily dictate the thought or practices of members of the monastery.
Contents
1 History
1.1 Temple closing
1.2 Buddha Memorial Center
2 Activities
2.1 Social and medical programs
2.2 Educational programs
2.3 Religious Affairs Committee
2.3.1 Abbots
3 Dharma propagation
4 Objectives
5 Mottos
5.1 Ofcial motto
5.2 The Four Verses of Fo Guang Shan and BLIA
5.3 BLIA guidelines
6 Abbots and directors
7 References
8 External links
History
Main hall of the monastery.
In 1967, Hsing Yun purchased more than 30 hectares in Dashu Township, Kaohsiung County as the site for the construction of a monastery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 16 May 1967.
Fo Guang Shan embarked on many construction projects, including university buildings, shrines, and a cemetery. In 1975, Fo Guang Shan's 36-
metre tall statue of Amitabha Buddha was consecrated. In 1981, 15 years after its establishment, the Great Hero Hall was built. During these
times, many other Fo Guang Shan temples outside the order's mother monastery were also built.
Temple closing
In May 1997, Hsing Yun announced that he would close the mountain gate of Fo Guang Shan to the general public. His reason in closing the
monastery was to give monastics the cloistered atmosphere they need for their Buddhist practice. In practice, many Chinese monasteries have
also closed their mountain gates to give a cloistered atmosphere to the temple residents.
At the end of 2000, President Chen Shui-bian of the Republic of China and government ofcials from Kaohsiung visited Fo Guang Shan
bringing with them the wish from their constituents that Fo Guang Shan re-open its mountain gate.
After due consideration, Fo Guang Shan decided to re-open the monastery to some extent, thereby providing the public a place to practice Pure
Land Buddhism.
Buddha Memorial Center
Buddha Memorial Center in Taiwan
When Reverend Master Hsing Yun held the Bodhgaya International Full Ordination in India in 1998, he came to the attention of Kunga Dorje
Rinpoche, a Tibetan lama who had been protecting a tooth relic of the Buddha since the destruction of Namgyal Monastery in Tibet during the
Cultural Revolution. The relic has been authenticated by several Tibetan rinpoches, who advised Kunga Dorje Rinpoche to build a stupa to
house it so that the public could pay their respects and make offerings. Since he was unable to do so due to old age, he and his advisors
reached the consensus to donate the tooth relic to Hsing Yun, believing he had the means to build such a resting place. The relic was ofcially
escorted to Taiwan on April 8, 1998.
[1]
Building plans for the Buddha Memorial Center started immediately, with support from the Taiwanese government. The site is situated
immediately adjacent to the main monastery and covers more than 100 hectares. The complex faces east and is built along a central axial line.
Beyond the Welcoming Hall are eight Chinese-styled pagodas on either side of the main avenue leading up to the Bodhi Square, about which
are statues of the Buddha's main disciples and of the founders of the principal schools of Chinese Buddhism. This gives onto the Memorial Hall,
with its various shrines, including the Jade Buddha Shrine in which the tooth relic is located. Above the hall are four stupas that symbolize the
Four Noble Truths. Standing behind but separate from it, there is an enormous seated metal Amitabha Buddha 108 meters high. The Center
was opened at an international ceremony on 25 December 2011
[2]
and the rst anniversary celebrated on Christmas Day 2012.
[3]
Activities
Main entrance to the Fo Guang Shan monastery. Seen also is the BLIA logo, a statue of Maitreya, and the statue of Amitabha in far right.
Temples and organizations have been established in 173 countries throughout the world, and now encompasses more than 3,500 monastics.
The organisation emphasizes education and service, maintaining universities, Buddhist colleges, libraries, publishing houses, translation
centres, Buddhist art galleries, teahouses, and mobile medical clinics. It has also established a children's room, retirement home, high school
and television station.
Social and medical programs
The social and medical programs of Fo Guang Shan include a free medical clinic with mobile units that serve remote villages, an annual winter
relief program organized to distribute warm clothing and food supplies to the needy, a children's and seniors' home, wildlife conservation areas
to protect living creatures, and a cemetery for the care of the deceased.
Educational programs
The educational programs of Fo Guang Shan include four Buddhist colleges, three regular colleges, and various community colleges. The Fo
Guang University was established in 2000. It focuses mainly on the humanities and social sciences. The Chinese Buddhist research institute is
subdivided into four separate departments; a women's and men's college, and an international and English Buddhist studies department. Tuition
fees and lodging are provided by Fo Guang Shan, free of charge.
The organisation also operates Pu-Men High School in Taipei, Jiun Tou Elementary and Junior High School, Humanities Primary and Junior
High School, which provides regular curriculum for students. Fo Guang Shan also has nursery schools, kindergartens, and Sunday schools for
children.
Religious Affairs Committee
In 1972, Hsing Yun established a nine member council, known as the Fo Guang Shan Religious Affairs Committee. These nine members
govern the monastery and the order. The members are elected prior to the resignation, death, or the ending of a term of an abbot. Once elected
by members of Fo Guang Shan, the votes are openly counted. The nine members then nominate their next abbot. Eight members of the council
are ordained monastics, and one is a layperson.
Abbots
Unlike a traditional Buddhist monastery abbot, where the incumbent selects his successor, Fo Guang Shan directly elects an abbot to head the
Order and its worldwide temples.
The abbot of Fo Guang Shan is the overall head of the order, the supreme abbot of all Fo Guang Shan temples, and is the chairperson of the
RAC, serving a term of six years, with one reappointment by popular vote and under exceptional circumstances, a second reappointment by two
thirds of the popular vote. The abbot is elected by all members of Fo Guang Shan through public vote. The abbot-elect then begins to use their
"inner name", in place of his/her own dharma name, with the rst character being Hsin ("", xin, or heart). In fact, all monastics of Fo Guang
Shan have such a name, and several Elders also use theirs publicly. At the beginning of the year, the abbot-elect is inaugurated as the new
director of Fo Guang Shan through a dharma transmission ceremony, receiving the robe and bowl.
Hsing Yun is the only abbot to have served as such for more than two terms, and was not elected by the RAC. In the case of Venerable Hsin
Ping (who was originally Venerable Zhizong), he was also not ofcially elected, as he was Hsing Yun's designated heir apparent. After Hsin Ping
died, the vice director of Fo Guang Shan, Hsin Ting (originally Venerable Zhidu), was immediately elevated to serve the remaining years of Hsin
Ping's term. Abbots have been elected according to FGS's constitution since then.
As with Hsing Yun, former abbots do not leave the order when they retire. They continue to make Dharma talks throughout the world and
become head teachers of the order in their later years.
Dharma propagation
Dharma programs of Fo Guang Shan include lectures given in prisons and factories; programs on television and radio, large-scale public
lectures in Taiwan and overseas, and the ve precepts initiation given twice a year at the monastery.
All branches of Fo Guang Shan organize pilgrimages to bring devotees to the monastery from different parts of Taiwan and overseas. Once
pilgrims arrive, they are free to make use of all of the different activities that are open to the general public.
Tainan
Tainan
Q]
Special municipality
Tainan City Q]
Clockwise from top: Downtown Tainan ,Statue of Yoichi Hatta ,THSR Tainan Station ,Dan zai noodles , Fort Provintia, Bee hives in Yanshui.
Nickname(s): The Phoenix City (j),
[1]
The Prefecture City ([)
Country Taiwan
Region Southwestern Taiwan
Capital
Anping District (]) and Xinying District (j]])
[2]
Government
Mayor William Lai
Area(Ranked 7 of 22)
Total
2,191.6531 km
2
(846.2020 sq mi)
Population (October 2011)
Total 1,876,312
Density
854.917/km
2
(2,214.22/sq mi)
Population ranked 5 of 22
Districts 37
Bird Black-billed magpie[1]
Flower Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Tree Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Website foreigner.tainan.gov.tw (English)
Tainan City
Chinese ] or ]
[show]Transcriptions
Tainan (] or ]; literally "Southern Taiwan"), ofcially known as Tainan City, is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the oldest city in Taiwan,
governed as a special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in the west and south. Tainan's complex history of comebacks, redenitions
and renewals inspired its popular nickname "the Phoenix City".
[3]
This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or
other symbols instead of Chinese characters.
Tainan was initially established by the Dutch East India Company as a ruling and trading base called Fort Zeelandia during the period of Dutch
rule on Taiwan. After Dutch colonists were defeated by Koxinga in 1661, Tainan remained as the capital of the Tungning Kingdom until 1683 and
afterwards the capital of Taiwan prefecture under the rule of Qing Dynasty until 1887, when the new provincial capital was moved to Taipei.
Tainan has been historically regarded as one of the oldest cities in Taiwan, and its former name, Tayouan (9|), has been claimed to be the
origin of the name "Taiwan". It is also one of Taiwan's cultural capitals, for its rich folk cultures including the famous local snack food, extensively
preserved Taoist rites and other living local traditions covering everything from child birth to funerals. The city houses the rst Confucian school
temple, built in 1665,
[4]
the remains of the Eastern and Southern gates of the old city, and countless other historical monuments. Tainan claims
more Buddhist and Taoist temples than any other city in Taiwan.
Contents
1 History
1.1 Early History
1.2 Dutch Colony
1.3 Kingdom of Tungning
1.4 Qing Dynasty
1.5 Japanese Rule
1.6 Post War Era
2 Culture
2.1 Folk cultures
2.2 Tainan cuisine
2.3 Temples
2.4 Music
2.5 Museums and parks
3 Tourism
3.1 Taiwan Confucian Temple
3.2 National Museum of Taiwan History
3.3 National Museum of Taiwan Literature
3.4 Fort Provintia
3.5 Shopping and Recreation
3.6 Bee hives
4 Climate
5 Cityscape
5.1 The Great Cross Street
5.2 Japanese Redevelopment Program
5.3 Three Ring Belts
5.4 The River South Region
5.5 The River North Region
6 Government and Politics
6.1 City mayor
6.2 Presidential elections
6.2.1 1996 Presidential election
6.3 Administrative districts
7 Economy
8 Transportation
8.1 Rail
8.2 Public Transports
8.3 Road
8.4 Air
9 Education
9.1 Senior high schools
10 Notable natives
11 Sports
12 International relations
12.1 Twin towns Sister cities
12.1.1 Friendship cities
12.1.2 Domestic
13 See also
14 References
15 External links
History
Early History
Archaeological excavations in the township of Zuozhen suggest that the Tainan region has been inhabited for at least 20,000 to 31,000 years.
The indigenous Siraya tribe dominated the region by the 16th century. The Sakam people of the Sinkan sub-tribe inhabited in the area of the
present-day city.
[5]
Other Sirayan sub-tribes, including the Soelangh, Mattauw and Baccloangh inhabited in the surrounding suburbs.
By late 16th century, Chinese merchants and shermen had set up several bases along the west coast of Taiwan, including a sandbar across
the Taijian Inner Sea off the bay of Sakam. "Tayouan" (9|, Pe%h-&e-j': T#i-an), meaning "foreigners" in Sirayan, was adopted by the Chinese
as the name of the sandbar and later became the name of entire island Taiwan.
[5][6][7]
Slightly north of Tayouan, along the shoreline near
Beixianwei, Japanese traders established bases for trade with China.
[6]
These early Chinese and Japanese traded with the Sirayan people. Salt
and food was exchanged for deer hides and dried deer meat. The Siraya people were inuenced by both Chinese and Japanese cultures and
lifestyles. They started to use Chinese words in their language, use Japanese tant& in ritual events, and also migrated inland due to the inux of
newcomers. By the time the Europeans arrived, the inuence of Chinese and Japanese traders and shermen had already changed this once
wild coastline.
[6][8]
Dutch Colony
Anping Fort (site of the Fort Zeelandia)
Main article: Dutch Formosa
Early Dutch colonists had attempted but failed to control Macau and the Penghu islands. In July 1622, the Dutch East India Company textile
merchant Cornelis Reyersz sailed to Taiwan in search of a suitable location to build a trading post. In 1624 he established a small fort named
'Orange' on the sandy peninsula of Tayouan (now part of mainland Taiwan, in the modern-day district of Anping). The fort was then expanded
and renamed Fort Zeelandia. The settlement was initially designed as a base to attack their Spanish rivals and as a trading post between China
and Batavia in Indonesia. Later the post became the center of Dutch trade between China, Japan and Europe.
[6][8]
During the governorship of
Pieter Nuyts (162729), there was hostility between the Dutch and Japanese merchants, leading at one point to Nuyts being held hostage by a
Japanese trader, Hamada Yahee.
[8][9]
The Dutch pacication campaign on Formosa was a series of military actions and diplomatic moves undertaken in 1635 and 1636. They aimed
at subduing hostile aboriginal villages in the south-western region of the island. In 1642 the Dutch seized the Spanish garrison in Keelung. The
Dutch East India Company became the rst authority to claim control of the whole of Taiwan Island, with Fort Zeelandia as the seat of
government.
[10]
Tensions arose between the Dutch and the Chinese inhabitants of Taiwan due to heavy Dutch taxation and Dutch participation in plunder during
the collapse of the Ming Dynasty. Eventually this led to the brief, but bloody, Guo Huaiyi Rebellion in 1652.
[8]
The Dutch crushed the revolt only
with the help of the local Sinkanese.
The settlements near to Fort Zeelandia expanded as a result of the Dutch trading post in the area. In 1653, the Dutch built a new fort, Fort
Provintia, in the Sakam area as a center for an agricultural colony. The Dutch encouraged Chinese farmers to migrate to Taiwan to grow rice
and sugar cane. The Dutch settlement in southern Taiwan was so successful that, by the 1650s, it had overtaken Batavia.
[6]
Kingdom of Tungning
Statue of Koxinga in Koxinga's Shrine
Main article: Kingdom of Tungning
Koxinga (also known as Zheng Chenggong) was a Ming loyalist and chief commander of the Ming troops on the maritime front for the later
emperors of the withering dynasty. In 1661, Koxinga attacked the Dutch colonists in Taiwan. After a nine-month siege, the Dutch Governor of
Taiwan, Frederik Coyett, surrendered Fort Zeelandia to Koxinga on 1 February 1662.
[6]
This effectively ended 38 years of Dutch rule on Taiwan.
Koxinga then devoted himself to transforming Taiwan into a military base for loyalists who wanted to restore the Ming Dynasty.
Koxinga set about making Taiwan a base for the Ming loyalist movement. Fort Provintia was renamed Dongdu, (9) or East Capital, and Fort
Zeelandia became Anping. Koxinga set up military colonies on the surrounding plains to help feed his forces.
[6]
Many suburbs surrounding
Tainan City today include in their names "Ying", "Jia", and "Tian", all derived from this event. After the death of Koxinga in 1662, his son, Zheng
Jing, changed the name of Dongdu to Dong Ning. His chief minister, Chen Yonghua, introduced Chinese bureaucracy, built the rst Confucius
temple on the island, and introduced the method of salt production to coastal areas. The British were invited to set up a trading post in Anping to
continue trade between Taiwan, Japan and South East Asia. This helped to maintain the region as a center of trade.
[11]
Qing Dynasty
Jieguanting in Wutiaogang, Tainan gateway to the sea during Qing Dynasty
Main article: Taiwan under Qing Dynasty rule
The death of Zheng in 1681 was followed by a struggle for succession. Seizing the advantage presented by the inghting, on July 17, 1683,
Qing naval commander Shi Lang defeated the Tungning navy in the Penghu Islands. Two days later, Qing troops landed at Dong Ning against
little resistance. in 1684 the kingdom was incorporated into the Qing Empire as part of Fujian province, ending two decades of rule by the Zheng
family.
[8]
The Taiwan Prefecture was established, and Tainan served as the prefecture city "Taiwan-fu" ([[).
In 1721, Chinese peasants and indigenous tribes rose in rebellion against Qing misrule. The rebels, led by Zhu Yigui, captured Tainan without a
ght. Turmoil ensued as the rebels soon fought amongst themselves. It was only after a Qing army was dispatched from mainland China that
order was restored. Zhu Yigui was captured and executed. As Qing law prohibited the building of city walls in Taiwan, Qing authorities decided
to create a defensive boundary around the city by growing bamboo around the perimeter. After several further uprisings across the island, work
on a city wall began in the late 1780s.
[5]
A ood in 1823 brought rich silt from nearby rivers, which formed a widespread new fertile plain across the Taijiang bay area between Tainan
and Anping. A canal system called "Wutiaogang" was built to keep the port in Tainan functioning but prevented large ships from entering the
bay.
[5]
After 174 years of restrictions on trade with the Europeans, the Qing nally reopened Anping port as part of the Tianjin treaty in 1858. The
Anping Customs house was established in 1864. Western merchants built trading posts near the remains of Fort Zeelandia.
Following the murder of 54 Japanese sailors by Paiwan aborigines near the southwestern tip of Taiwan in 1871, the punitive Japanese
Expedition of 1874 to Taiwan revealed the fragility of the Qing dynasty's hold on Taiwan. As a result, the Qing sent the imperial commissioner
Shen Baozhen to Taiwan to strengthen its defense. In Tainan, Shen made several efforts to modernize the defenses including inviting French
engineers to design the Eternal Golden Castle in Erkunshen. He also recommended setting up a telegraph cable link between Tainan and
Amoy.
[5][8]
It is notable that some parts of the castle were built using bricks demolished from Fort Zeelandia.
[12]
After over 200 years of
development Tainan had become the largest city in Taiwan and a Chinese city with foreign inuence. The following is a description of the city by
the Scottish missionary William Campbell in 1870s:
As to Taiwan-fu itself, I may say that the brick wall which surrounds it is about fteen feet in thickness, twenty-ve in height, and
some ve miles in circumference. Lofty watch-towers are built over the four main gateways, and large spaces within the city are
given to the principal temples and yamensor quarters occupied by the civil and military mandarins. There is much need in
Taiwan-fu for the carrying out of a City Improvement Scheme. Pleasant walks, no doubt, there are, and some of the shops have
an appearance which is decidedly attractive; but, as a rule, the streets are narrow, winding, ill-paved, and odorous.
[13]
In 1885 the island of Taiwan was made into a separate Chinese province to speed up development in this region, and the city was renamed to
the name it bears today Tainan Prefecture (][). Tainan retained its status as a prefecture city when the capital of Taiwan Province moved
to Taichung, then to Taipei in 1887.
Japanese Rule
Tainan Butokuden (Martial Art Hall)
As a consequence of the Chinese losing the rst Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands were ceded to Japan by the
Treaty of Shimonoseki. The Republic of Formosa was proclaimed in Tainan in May 1895, in an effort to pre-empt the Japanese occupation. A
Japanese army arrived at Tainan in October 1895. Liu Yongfu and the other Republican leaders ed, leaving the city in disarray. An English
missionary, Thomas Barclay, was chosen by local elites and foreign merchants to negotiate the Japanese entry into the city. As a result, Tainan
was taken without resistance.
[5]
The anti-Japanese uprising known as the Tapani Incident began in Ta-pa-ni, today's Yujing district, on April 9, 1915. The revolt, led by Yu
Qingfang, spread quickly across the whole island and was supported by both Chinese and indigenous Taiwanese. The Japanese crushed the
uprising. Many villages were destroyed and thousands of people were killed during the repression which followed. Yu Qingfang was captured on
August 22, 1915. More than 800 people were sentenced to death in Tainan. Over 100 of them were executed while the rest were pardoned by
the new Taish& Emperor. The place where the rebellion began, Xilai Temple in Tainan, was demolished.
[5]
The event marked a turning point in
Japanese policy, from forced pacication to modernisation and integration of Taiwan into Japanese Empire.
The Japanese renamed the city several times: Tainanken in 1895, Tainanch& in 1901, then Tainansh+ in 1920. Tainansh+ included modern
Yunlin, Chiayi, and the wider region of Tainan. Tainan served as the capital city. The Japanese transformed Tainan with a modern infrastructure,
including schools, a courthouse, city hall, new telecommunication facilities, an extensive freight and passenger rail network, a new Anping canal
replacing the Wutiaogang, an airport, and an irrigation system across the Tainan and Chiayi regions. Modern urban designs were introduced;
old narrow streets and city walls were demolished and replaced with wide streets that form the cityscape of the modern-day Tainan city center.
[9]
Post War Era
The Republic of China (ROC) took over the island in 1945 after World War II. Tainan City and Tainan County became separate local entities
under Taiwan Province in 1946. There was civil unrest in Tainan as part of the 228 Incident in 1947. Thng Tek-chiong (j; Tang Dezhang), a
Japanese mixed blood and Japanese educated lawyer, was a member of government which set up "The 228 Incident Commission" and a
popular candidate for city mayor, was accused of being a separatist and arrested by the ROC army on March 11. He was tortured and executed
the next day in the park in front of Tainan City Hall (now named Tang Dezhang Memorial Park). Tang was posthumously pronounced not guilty
by court later in March.
[14]
Like other regions in Taiwan, many people in Tainan suffered for their real or perceived opposition to the Kuomintang
Party (KMT, Chinese Nationalist Party) during the autocratic era.
The city held its rst councilor and mayoral elections in 1950. In the 1960s, Tainan was overtaken by Kaohsiung as the economic center of
southern Taiwan due to the redevelopment of Kaohsiung port. While Tainan City struggled through the second half of twentieth century, the
county, especially the river south region, beneted from national priority development programmes. The completion of the National Highway No.
1 was followed by the building of many industrial parks and other road improvements. As a result, the city sprawled inland into North, East and
then the Yongkang and Rende districts.
In 1992, a redevelopment plan in the West district, to widen Haian Rd and build an underground plaza proved a failure as lack of geological
surveying and overall planning meant that the works ran into a layer of groundwater. The development destroyed part of the historic Wutiaogang
area. As a consequence, the Zhongzheng Road district, previously the most popular shopping precinct in Tainan since Japanese rule, went into
decline due to the poor quality of the environment. By the mid-1990s, there was a growing awareness of the need to protect Tainan's historical
and cultural treasures. Since then, the government and civil societies have worked to protect Tainan's heritage. It is an on-going issue for Tainan
to protect its past while reviving its old business center.
Following the establishment of the Southern Taiwan Science Park in 1995, the outskirt of the city saw a rapid growth in population through the
2000s. The city became more prosperous after the completion of several major transport infrastructure plans. The city center shifted eastward in
the mid-1990s, closer to the densely populated Yongkang, East and North districts. There are several redevelopment plans to transform these
districts into the new business centers of the city.
On March 19, 2004, President Chen Shui-bian was shot whilst campaigning for re-election in Tainan. The city has been a major center for the
pro-independent movement since the end of Japanese rule. On October 21, 2008, Chinese ARATS Vice President Zhang Mingqing was injured
when he encountered protesters in Tainan Confucius Temple.
[15]
North"Panoramic photography of Tainan Metropolitan areas.#South
Culture
Ritual adulthood celebration for all 16-year-olds
Ba-wan served with sweet sauce
Datianhou Gong, built in 1664
Tainan claims its name as one of the Taiwanese cultural capitals for its abundant historic monument and citizen lifestyle. The city is dotted by
Taoist temples, Buddhist temples as well as churches. Many of them are among the oldest in Taiwan. The city also has its own unique traditions
and cuisines developed by Chinese frontiers over its long history.
Folk cultures
The lives of Tainan citizens are closely related to many Chinese gods and temples. Parents bring their children to Qiniangma, the childrens
goddess, to wish for good will. Traditionally Chinese people step into adulthood when they are 16. In Tainan there is a big ritual celebration for
all 16-year-olds on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, Qiniangmas birthday. This extended celebration is unique to Tainan: In the past,
families with children working in the harbor took the advantage of this ceremony to show the employers that their children should be paid in
adult rate after this day.
Before any form of exam people would visit the Wenchangdijun, the literacy god, to pray for good luck. One of the Wenchang temples is on the
top oor of the Chikanlou. Many nal year high school students preparing for university exams visit the temple in June, before the exam. Those
asking for marriage would visit Yuelao, the god for marriages. People also visit temples for many reasons, from simply praying for good luck to
celebrating gods birthday to even consulting with the other world.
[16]
A wedding ceremony in Tainan is a series of complex process where perfection will be asked in every detail. Both groom and bride need to
prepare 12 specic gifts representing different meanings during their engagement ceremony with more to come in the wedding. People believe
this complexity is a sign of being civilized.
[16]
Anping residents use a special symbol called Sword Lion to keep bad spirits away. During Zhengs regime, Anping was a main naval station of
Koxinga. When returning home from military drills, soldiers would put lion-face shields on the main gates of their houses and insert their swords
crosswise in the lions mouth. Locals learned this and incorporate this symbol into the design of their houses as a symbol of security.
[17]
Tainan cuisine
Many well known Taiwanese cuisines originated from Tainan. Since Tainan was a center for sugar production industry, Tainan cuisines tend to
be sweeter compared to other Taiwanese cuisines. For Example, eel noodle soup have a distinctive sweet and sour taste. Dishes including
milksh are very popular in Tainan, where locals also call it Guxngy ("Koxingas sh"). People believe the Chinese name of the sh (Chinese:
tj; pinyin: Sh#my; Pe%h-&e-j': sat-ba% k-h) was given by Koxinga. The sh are bred in the farms located in the outskirt coastal areas of the
city. Many Tainan restaurants and snack stands have a history that traces back to Qing Dynasty or Japanese colonial era.
[16]
Temples
Zhuxi Temple
Tainan is famous for its diversity and density of temples and shrines. Some of them are the only of its kind on Taiwan Island. In all, there are
ofcially listed seven Buddhist temples and eight Taoist shrines (j1@).
[5]
The seven Buddhist temples are:
Kaiyuen Temple, originally the royal gardens of the Tungning Kingdom, became a Buddhist temple in 1690.
Zhuxi Temple, founded in the Tungning Kingdom period.
Fahua Temple, founded in the Tungning Kingdom period.
Mituo Temple, founded in the Tungning Kingdom period.
Longshan Temple, founded in the Qing Dynasty.
Chongqing Temple, founded in the Qing Dynasty.
Huangbo Temple, founded in the Qing Dynasty but demolished by the Japanese. The worshiped statues were migrated to the Altar of
Heaven temple.
The eight Taoist shrines are:
Datianhou Gong (9)), the Grand Sea Goddess temple. Originally the residence of the King Ningjing of the Tungning Kingdom.
Sidian Wumiao (=;@), the Ofcial God of War temple, built in 1665.
Dongyue Dian (9@), the God of Hell temple, built in 1673.
Fuchenghuang Miao ([g@), the temple of the Prefecture City God, built in 1669.
Longwang Miao (@), the shrine of the East Sea Dragon God, built in 1716 but demolished by the Japanese.
Fengshen Miao (|@), the Wind God temple, built in 1739. It is the only Wind God temple on Taiwan Island.
[5]
Yaowang Miao (@), the Medicine God temple, built in 1685.
Shuixian Gong (), the Water Gods temple, built in Qing Dynasty after Wutiaogang was constructed.
There are many other well-known temples and shrines not on this list, such as the Altar of Heaven temple () and the re-built Xilai temple (y
>) etc. They are all the centers of religion in Tainan.
Due to its abundant numbers of temples and shrines, the traditional temple decoration crafters and their business ourishes in Tainan. There
are masters still passing their knowledge to maintain the temples in the traditional way.
[16]
Music
Taijiang National Park, Sicao green tunnel of Manggroves
Nanyin and Shisanyin were the rst Chinese music families to introduce to Tainan; Nanyin is performed mostly for entertainment while
Shisanyin is performed in the Confucius worship ceremony. There are two Nanyin clubs in Tainan: Zhenshengshe, a 200-year-old club once
dissolved in the 1980s for ten years which then returned with the support from younger generation musicians and Nanshengshe, a 95-year-old
club performing globally.
[16]
Music performance is being promoted in Tainan. Tainan City has its own Chinese orchestra
[18]
and symphony orchestra. There are also private
performance groups such as Chimei Mandolin Performance Group, Chimei Philharmonic Orchestra
[19]
and Chang Jung Christianity University
Symphony Orchestra.
[20]
Ten Drum Art Percussion Group (]3[) is a percussion performance group established in the year 2000. The group is dedicated in
producing percussion performances that highlights the history, the culture and the image of Taiwan. The group rst performed internationally in
the festivals during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Following this event, the group has performed in many occasions both internationally and
domestically. The group has its own campus located in an old sugar factory in Rende District. The campus provides education on percussion
performances at all levels and regular performances to general public.
[21]
Museums and parks
On top of its plentiful living culture, Tainan host several museums and parks. The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is in the former city hall;
National Museum of Taiwan History is in the Annan district; Chimei Museum is in the Rende district; Taijiang National Park follows the coast;
Anping Historic Scenic Park includes the entire old Anping town and the north ward of Anping harbor; and Siraya National Scenic Area includes
the Wushantou reservoir built by Yoichi Hatta. In the city center, many historic monuments from Zhengs regime, Qing dynasty, and the
Japanese colonial era are preserved including the Confucius temple, two major city gates and former city hall.
Tourism
Tainan is a tangible sense of history and pleasing city, which is the site of several spectacular religious festivals. As well as its string of forts, the
rst capital of Taiwan has some 300 ancient sanctuaries, from the island's rst Confucian temple to its rst Taoist temple.
Tainan's Taiwan Confucian Temple
National Museum of Taiwan Literature
Fort Provintia is located at West Central District.
Bee hives shoot out rapidly in the downtown of Yanshui District.
Taiwan Confucian Temple
The Taiwan Confucius Temple, also called the Scholarly Temple was built in 1665 when Cheng Ching, son of Koxinga so as to offer lectures and
cultivate intellectuals. It was the rst learning institute of children when Taiwan was ruled by Qing Dynasty .As the result, it is also called the First
Academy of Taiwan. The Confucian temple serves as a popular tourist attraction and also preserves ancient Confucian ceremonies, which are
conducted on a regular basis. The temple also includes storerooms for the ritual implements and musical instruments that are used in these
ceremonies.
National Museum of Taiwan History
The National Museum of Taiwan History is located in Annan District, The construction of the Exhibition and Education Building began in 2005,
and opened in 29 October 2011.The main objectives of this museum are included collection, categorization, preservation, research, exhibition,
education and promotion of artifacts related to Taiwan's history and culture. Visitors will also be able to learn and understand more about the
history and culture of Taiwan through the exhibitions and educational activities of the Museum.
National Museum of Taiwan Literature
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature researches, catalogs, preserves, and exhibits local literary artifacts. As part of its multilingual, multi-
ethnic focus. The museum is housed in the former Tainan City Hall constructed in 1916, as Tainan was also famous for its historical
signicance.
Fort Provintia
Fort Provintia was built in 1653 by the Dutch during their colonization of Taiwan and was eventually surrendered to Koxinga. Since 1945, the
site has been known as "Chihkan Tower", a phonetic derivation from "Sakam" (also spelled "Chakam" or "Sakkam"). In addition to the site's
architectural and artistic signicance, its library of dictionaries and business transactions documents the Siraya language spoken by the native
inhabitants of the region during Dutch rule.
Shopping and Recreation
As Tainan is the one of the larger metropolitan areas in Taiwan, it has lots of department stores, shopping malls and prestigious boutiques.
Several of the best known luxury brands have branches or counters in Tainan. To enjoy the Taiwanese lifestyle, Flower Night Market is good
place to visit. It is one of the most famous night markets and it is often considered to be the largest night market of Taiwan; however, unlike the
others, this night market is also open for business three days a week.(Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday).
Bee hives
In Yanshui District, the most important and prominent reworks in Lantern Festival are the so-called "bee hives", essentially multiple launchers
of bottle rockets. These rocket forts are actually thousands of bottle rockets arranged row atop row in an iron-and-wooden framework. The
setup looks like a beehive full of unleashed gunpowder. When the contraption is ignited, rockets shoot out rapidly in all directions. Dazzling
explosives whiz and whirl across the sky and often into the crowd itself, both thrilling and intimidating the spectators.
[citation needed]
Climate
Tainan has a humid subtropical climate that borders on a tropical wet and dry climate. The city is characterized by year-round high relative
humidity and temperatures (although temperatures do dip somewhat in the winter months), with a rainy season (April to September) and a dry
season (October to March).
[hide]Climate data for Tainan (19712000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record
high C
(F)
35.2
(95.4)
33.2
(91.8)
33.3
(91.9)
35.1
(95.2)
35.2
(95.4)
37.3
(99.1)
37.2
(99)
36.1
(97)
36.2
(97.2)
34.1
(93.4)
33.2
(91.8)
31.3
(88.3)
37.3
(99.1)
Average
high C
(F)
23.0
(73.4)
23.8
(74.8)
26.5
(79.7)
29.4
(84.9)
31.3
(88.3)
32.2
(90)
32.9
(91.2)
32.3
(90.1)
32.2
(90)
30.7
(87.3)
27.7
(81.9)
24.3
(75.7)
28.9
(84)
Daily
mean C
(F)
17.4
(63.3)
18.2
(64.8)
21.1
(70)
24.5
(76.1)
27.0
(80.6)
28.4
(83.1)
29.0
(84.2)
28.5
(83.3)
28.0
(82.4)
25.9
(78.6)
22.4
(72.3)
18.8
(65.8)
24.1
(75.4)
Average
low C
(F)
13.6
(56.5)
14.5
(58.1)
17.1
(62.8)
20.8
(69.4)
23.8
(74.8)
25.5
(77.9)
26.1
(79)
25.7
(78.3)
24.9
(76.8)
22.4
(72.3)
18.8
(65.8)
15.1
(59.2)
20.7
(69.3)
Record
low C
(F)
8.2
(46.8)
8.2
(46.8)
9.4
(48.9)
11.2
(52.2)
18.3
(64.9)
20.2
(68.4)
22.2
(72)
18.1
(64.6)
15.1
(59.2)
16.2
(61.2)
10.3
(50.5)
7.2
(45)
7.2
(45)
Rainfall
mm
(inches)
19.9
(0.783)
28.8
(1.134)
35.4
(1.394)
84.9
(3.343)
175.5
(6.909)
370.6
(14.591)
345.9
(13.618)
417.5
(16.437)
138.4
(5.449)
29.6
(1.165)
14.7
(0.579)
11.3
(0.445)
1,672.5
(65.846)
Avg.
rainy
days ("
0.1 mm)
4.5 5.4 5.1 7.2 9.9 13.1 13.4 16.7 9.3 3.6 2.5 9.3 100
%
humidity
78.3 78.7 77.4 77.3 78.0 80.1 78.8 81.2 78.6 77.4 77.0 77.5 78.4
Mean
monthly
sunshine
hours
182.4 158.7 187.3 188.7 192.0 190.6 221.5 195.7 200.5 197.7 174.9 173.7 2,263.7
Source: 9())
[22]
Cityscape
Map of Tainan during Qing Dynasty
Tainan city center during WWII
Downtown Tainan of nowadays
A typical scene of River North Region
The Great Cross Street
Earliest form of the city was designed by Dutch colonist. Cornelis Jansz. Plockhoy, the designer of this new settlement laid a 25-30m wide main
street (on todays Minquan Rd Sec. 2) across the settlement and radial roads run deep into agricultural developments .
[6]
Han Chinese
settlement Heliaogang Jie (todays Zhongyi Rd) later crosses the main street of Provintia and formed the so-called Shizi Dajie (9j) or
The Great Cross Street.
[5]
With the fall of the Ming dynasty, new migrants ooded into the settlement. Chinese population boomed from 5,000 to
35,000 between 1640 and 1661. As a result, farmers, deer hunters, traders and craftsmen gathered and each formed their colony on the cross
street.
[23]
Due to the Chinese tradition where different trades and regions worship different Taoist gods. The city later developed into neighborhoods each
with own center temple.
[23]
After a 300 years of Chinese migration, the city has became a showcase of Taoism and Chinese Buddhism temple.
Although the city transformed dramatically since the late 19th century the temples remained because of their importance to the locals. Some of
the early administration centers are also transformed into temples due to political and social reasons. Residence of Tungning Kingdom became
sea goddess temple and the location where Tungning Kingdom performed annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven now stands the Altar of
Heaven Temple. Castle Provintia, one of the two castles built by the Dutch now have a sea god temple and a literacy god temple built on top of
the fort bringing an East-West fusion architecture. Many Han Chinese religious and historic monuments can be found near the old cross street
centered by the Castle Provintia.
Japanese Redevelopment Program
The cityscape of modern Tainan was founded under the urban redevelopment programs carried out by Japanese colonial government. The city
center adopted a Baroque design similar to the Paris renovation in mid 19th century, the plan connected major facilities via a system of wide
streets and ve square-roundabouts. Among the ve squares, Taish& Park (Today's Tang Dezhang memorial park) at the center is the most
important crossing point. The square is surrounded by the city hall, the re brigade and the weather bureau. It is connected by a number of
avenues heading towards the train station, the airport, military bases and the dock at the end of the Anping cannel. With the police station and
the court nearby, this area demonstrated the power of the colonial government within the city.
[23]
The nancial district was located in
Shirokanech&({H) and 1miyach&(9H) between Taish& park and Anping cannel along Ginzad&ri(),
[9]
the modern day
Zhongzheng Rd. It was the busiest street of the city from Japanese rule to mid-1990s. Many Colonial Baroque style historic buildings from
Japanese era can be found in this part of the city.
Three Ring Belts
A three-belt system was adopted by the provincial city ofcial:
[24]
the green boulevard ring, the blue belt Anping cannel and the Zhonghua road
system. The green boulevard ring and Zhonghua road system rst appeared on the 1937 city redevelopment plan proposed by the Japanese
colonial government.
The green boulevard was a Japanese response to the garden city trend of early 20th century urban planning.
[23]
This system connects the
Shuipingwen Park to the west, Tainan Park to the north, NCKU to the east and the Athletic park complex to the south. Zhonghua Rd system is
an arterial road system, the system now connects major new development areas surrounding old city center. The Anping cannel blue belt was
created after the completion of the Fifth redevelopment area. The project of Fifth redevelopment area lled the oodplain of old Taijiang lagoon
and extended the Japanese Anping cannel into Kunshen lagoon to form an articial island, this area is also known as New Anping. In contrast
to the low rise old city center, many high rise buildings are built along these three rings.
The River South Region
Beyond the city center, Tainan city can be divided into two regions: the River South Region and the River North Region bounded by the
Zengwen River.
River South Region belongs to the Tainan metropolitan area. Satellite towns spread across the region in a radial pattern from the city center.
Southern Taiwan Science Park Tainan campus is located at the north of the region. According to the Council for Economic Planning and
Development, this region is designated to grow further into suburban sprawl.
[25]
The River North Region
This region is one of the major agricultural centers in Taiwan. There are several regional centers; some of them are just as old as Tainan city.
These centers are: Xinying, Yujing, Jiali and Madou.
Xinying was the seat of the former Tainan County Government and currently serve as the administration center for the region. Yujing is a
regional center for the low hills districts east to the city; it is famous for its mango and was the scene of the Xilaian (Ta-pa-ni) Incident. Jiali is the
regional center of the coastal Tainan. It was the base of the Soelangh sub-tribe. Near the bank of the Zengwen River, Madou is the regional
center of the lower plain area bears the name of the river. The town was home to the Mattauw sub-tribe.
Government and Politics
Main articles: Tainan City Government and Tainan City Council
See also: List of mayors of Tainan and Republic of China municipal elections, 2010#Tainan
Tainan City is a special municipality, which is the highest level local government under Local Government Law of Republic of China. Technically
it is at the same level as Province, although Province is being streamlined. The city is led by the elected city mayor and supervised by the city
council. Its subdivisions qu or districts do not have the autonomy power, instead they are administration units only. Further to the citywide
election, there are urban villages ( li) and neighborhood ( lin) functioning as primary local autonomy entity.
Currently there are two administration centers, one in Anping District and another in Xinying District. They are former Provincial Tainan city
government and Tainan county government respectively. Administration centers manages city wide affairs and developments such as education
and city planning. Apart from administration centers, there are district ofces functioning as local access point to the governmental services.
The city has generally been seen as a powerbase for the Democratic Progressive Party, especially in nationwide elections. Although before the
merger, the Kuomintang (KMT) have always had more seats in the provincial Tainan city council and KMT won the presidential elections (2008)
by a narrow margin in the city. On the other hand, Democratic Progressive Party always dominated former Tainan county. In the rst municipal
election, after the merger, DPP dominated the political demographics of the city. William Lai, a former member of the Legislative Yuan from the
DPP won the rst mayoral election in 2010.

Tainan City Government

Tainan City Council

Tainan District Court
Taiwan High Court Tainan Branch
Court
City mayor
Tainan mayor William Lai
In 2001, Hsu Tain-Tsair of the Democratic Progressive Party was elected with 43% of the vote. His closest rival was the Kuomintang legislator
Chen Rong-sheng, who garnered 37%. In 2005. Mayor Hsu was re-elected, polling 46% to Chen Rong-sheng's 41%. In 2010, William Lai of the
DPP was elected mayor.
Presidential elections
A majority of city residents have voted for the winning candidates in many presidential elections since the position was rst chosen by popular
vote in 1996.
1996 Presidential election
Main article: Republic of China presidential election, 1996
In common with every other city and county in the Republic of China, with the exception of Nantou, a majority of Tainan residents voted for
eventual winner Lee Teng-hui and vice-president Lien Chan.
Party
Candidate
Votes Percentage
President Vice president
Independent James Soong Chang Chau-hsiung 114,299 27.53%
Kuomintang Lien Chan Vincent Siew 107,679 25.93%
New Party Li Ao Elmer Fung 580 0.14%
Independent Hsu Hsin-liang Josephine Chu 1,408 0.34%
Democratic Progressive Party Chen Shui-bian Annette Lu 191,261 45.06%
Party
Candidate
Votes Percentage
Democratic Progressive Party Chen Shui-bian Annette Lu 251,397 57.77%
Kuomintang Lien Chan James Soong 183,786 42.23%
Party
Candidate
Votes Percentage
Democratic Progressive Party Frank Hsieh Su Tseng-chang 216,815 49.29%
Kuomintang Ma Ying-jeou Vincent Siew 223,034 50.71%
Party
Candidate
Votes Percentage
Kuomintang Ma Ying-jeou Wu Den-yih 435,274 39.80%
Democratic Progressive Party Tsai Ing-wen Su Jia-chyuan 631,232 57.72%
People First James Soong Chu-yu Lin Ruey-shiung 8,090 2.48%
Administrative districts
Population density map of Tainan.
Tainan has 37 districts (] qu):
Map of Tainan

Anding
Annan
Anping
Baihe
Beimen
Danei
Dongshan
East
Guanmiao
Guantian
Guiren
Houbi
Jiali
Jiangjun
Liujia
Liuying
Longqi
Madou
Nanhua
Nanxi
North
Qigu
Rende
Shanhua
Shanshang
South
West
Cen.
Xiaying
Xigang
Xinhua
Xinshi
Xinying
Xuejia
Yanshui
Yongkang
Yujing
Zuozhen
Chiayi County
Chiayi
City
Kaohsiung City
Pingdong County
Name Hanzi Population (2010)
Area (km
2
)
Anping District ] 62,520 11.0663
Annan District ]] 177,960 107.2016
East District 9] 194,608 14.4281
West Central District y] 79,286 6.2600
South District ]] 126,293 27.2681
North District (] 131,939 10.4340
Xinying District j]] 78,155 38.5386
Yongkang District 7)] 217,194 40.275
Baihe District {,] 31,514 126.4046
Jiali District j] 59,290 38.9422
Madou District j] 45,953 53.9744
Shanhua District ] 43,443 55.309
Xinhua District j] 44,116 62.0579
Xuejia District =] 27,943 53.9919
Yanshui District @] 27,220 52.2455
Anding District ] 30,200 31.2700
Beimen District (|] 12,504 44.1003
Danei District 9|] 10,903 70.3125
Dongshan District 9|] 23,182 124.91
Guanmiao District |@] 36,109 53.6413
Guantian District ] 22,284 70.7953
Guiren District L] 65,816 55.7913
Houbi District [] 26,002 71.2189
Jiangjun District [] 21,633 41.9796
Liujia District /] 23,787 64.5471
Liuying District |]] 22,746 61.2929
Longqi District )] 4,395 64.0814
Nanhua District ]] 8,919 171.5198
Nanxi District |y] 10,687 109.6316
Qigu District j] 24,857 110.1492
Rende District j] 69,228 50.7664
Shanshang District |] 7,912 27.8780
Xiaying District ]] 26,165 33.5291
Xigang District y] 25,242 33.7666
Xinshi District j] 34,794 47.8096
Yujing District )] 15,442 76.366
Zuozhen District |] 5,531 74.9025
Annan District was originally the An-Shun township of Tainan County, but was merged into Tainan City in 1946. In 2004, Central District and
West District were merged into the new West Central district.
Economy
TSMC in Tainan Science Park
Once relied on traditional manufacturing industry, the approval of Southern Taiwan Science Park in 1995 transformed the region into a major
high-tech industrial hub. Optoelectronics, integrated circuits, green energy and biotechnology are the dominant industry in the park; prominent
companies are Chimei-Innolux Corp., United Microelectronics Corp. and TSMC. With the establishment of Tainan Technology Park, Shugu
(Tree Valley) LCD Park and Yonkang Technology Park, the city now becomes a major center for optoelectronics industry in Taiwan with a
completed supply chain.
[26]
Tainan also plays an important role on Auto parts, food processing, textile, plastics and other traditional
manufacturing. Most notable companies including the Uni-president Corp., Chimei Corp. and Tainan Spinning Ltd., of which they also
headquarters in the city. Overall, industrial production accounted for 62.6% of the gross city product in 2010.
[27]
Agriculture is important to the city especially the River North Region. While shery and sh farming signies the coastal districts, rice and fruit
farms shaped the landscape of the inland agriculture region. The city is famous for its milksh, oyster, rice, mango, sugar cane, pomelo (5),
pineapple and lotus seed. A state funded agricultural research center is established in Xinhua District to ensure the market competitiveness of
the crop.
[28]
The headquarter of the World Vegetable Center, a NPO aims to improve crop quality in poorer countries, is located in Shanhua
District.
[29]
Once a dominant industry, salt and sugar production are now declined to almost non-existence. Taiyen (Taiwan salt) co. and Taiwan
Sugar Corp., both headquartered in Tainan, now transformed to businesses in biotechnology, quality agriculture, retail and tourism. Orchid
growing is one of the most symbolic agriculture industry for its well-known brand name in the oristry world. A nationally founded special
plantation district with R&D resources is established in Houbi District.
[30]
Tourism is an industry with increasing importance. As the rst capital of Taiwan, the wealth resource of cultural heritages and its potential is
currently under exploration. In the rst half of 2013, there were over 7 million tourist visited attractions in the city.
[31]
There are several high
class hotels in the city, including the Shangri-la Hotel near Tainan train station.
Retail and services is the largest employment sector in Tainan, margined at 52% in 2010.
[27]
Currently the city center hosts ve department
stores including two Shin Kong-Mitsukoshi, two FE21' and Focus square. Apart from the city center, there are several shopping precinct around
the city, with the strongest presence in East, North and Yongkang districts. Dream Mall precinct is a joint development project between Uni-
president Corp. and Tainan Spinning Ltd.. It will be the largest shopping center in the city when it open in 2014 and the precinct will also host the
new headquarter of Tainan Spinning and a new ve star hotel. The precinct is located in the designated East Tainan second CBD near the
boarder of the East and Yongkang districts.
Transportation

THSR Tainan Station

TRA Tainan train station

Tainan Airport

Tainan Canal, Anping
Rail
Tainan Station is a major stop on the Taiwan Railway Administration(TRA) Western Line, with direct connections to Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung,
Hsinchu, and Keelung. There are also local trains to reach closer destinations.
Taiwan High Speed Rail Tainan Station is located just outside the city center, in Gueiren district. The service is accessible to the city center via
TRA Shalun Line and two THSR Shuttle Bus Lines.
[32]
Using the High Speed Rail system passengers can reach Taipei in under ninety minutes.
Public Transports
Original plan for Tainan MRT system is muted due to the construction cost and the question of insufcient ridership.
[33]
Upgrading current
railway and buses are now considered as alternative city-wide modern public transport options.
Tainan has three major bus operators. They are Singing Bus Co., Shinan Buses and Kaohsiung Buses operating in river north region, intercity
routes and metropolitan routes respectively. In 2012, the city government called to restructure Singing Bus and Shinan Buses route to form a
Tainan City Bus System. This new system, which set to start operation in 2013, has six main routes connecting the city and eight main
interchanges. From the main routes 66 branch routes then spread out to service local communities. City government hope this new system will
boost the public transports ridership and progress into metro-bus system in the future.
[34][35]
A project to transform the railway in the city center into underground is underway as part of the National wide TRA Rapid Transit
Systematization in the Metropolitan Areas Project. This project will help increase service frequency by eliminate potential disruption between
road and rail trafc. Further to underground transformation, two new stations are planned to serve East district commuters.
[36]
Together with the
Shalun HSR link, this section of TRA corridor will become the backbone of the rail transit system in Tainan.
[35]
Road
National Highway Nos. 1 and 3 run close by and connect via local highways to the city itself. Tainan City has a total of 142.9 kilometres (88.8
mi) of highways, including national, local, and rural highways.
[37]
Air
Tainan Airport is located in the South District. It currently operate ights to Hong Kong, Kinmen and Makung.
[38]
Previously there were also
services to Taipei's Songshan Airport, but these were dropped in light of falling revenues (generally agreed to be a result of the High Speed Rail
commencing operation and rising fuel costs).
[39]
Accommodation
Full Agent List
Taiwan Inbound Travel Agent
Tourism Bureau Overseas Ofces

Taiwan Has a Unique Culture
Visiting the Ten Drum Culture Village in Tainan
By Steven Crook
GrammyAward-nominated Ten Drum Art Percussion Group has created a fascinating culture park
centered on traditional drumming on the site of a disused sugar renery in Tainan County.
TRADITIONAL TAIWAN moves to the beat of a drum. During temple
rites, massive mechanized thuds alternate with the tolling of a bell. When chanting litany, Daoist priests
keep up a constant tick-tocking on small, sh-shaped solid-wood drums. During the solemn rites every
September 28 at Taiwan's Confucian temples, drums of ve different sizes are played.
Even in the 21st century, drums, bells, gongs, reworks, and recrackers form the soundtrack for
religious parades and temple celebrations, and thanks to the efforts of Ten Drum Art Percussion
Group, a performance and educational troupe, drumming inspired by, yet not beholden to, tradition is
becoming a part of Taiwan's modern urban culture too.
The group has performed at the Summer Olympics in Sydney in 2000, at
the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, and more recently in the Czech Republic.
Since 2007, Ten Drum's base has been a disused sugar renery in the south Taiwan city of Tainan. On
one of those beautifully sunny and supremely comfortable days that make winter travel in southwest
Taiwan so pleasurable, Travel in Taiwan toured what's now called Ten Drum Culture Village, met with
the group's founder and "regimental commander," Hsieh Shih, and took in a thrilling performance.
"If visitors to this village and the audience at our shows go home with just
one idea in their heads, I hope it's this: Taiwan has a unique culture," Hsieh informed us. "We hope they
can better understand Taiwan's original and authentic folk culture."
SOME PEOPLE IN TAIWAN today consider folk arts such as drumming to be somewhat low-class, and
zhentou (the gaudily made-up and ornately attired "battle array" squads who perform during religious
celebrations) to be synonymous with gang culture and delinquency. However, Hsieh doesn't try to
obscure the links between drumming and the raucous festivities that mark deities' birthdays and other
events of spiritual importance rather, he builds on them.
One piece the ensemble regularly performs features eight men and women dressed as, and moving
about in the manner of, the mythical Eight Generals (bajiajiang). Another, inspired by the well-known
Songjiang Battle Array tradition, includes martial-arts moves.
Hsieh, who has composed the vast majority of the 60-plus works in Ten
Drum's repertoire, has also drawn on episodes in Taiwan's history. One of the ve pieces on Island of
Drums, a 2009 Ten Drum album that scored a Grammy nomination in the Best Traditional World Music
Album category, depicts in sound the coming to Taiwan of Koxinga, the Ming Dynasty loyalist who in
1662 evicted the Dutch from their colonial base in what's now Tainan (and from the rest of Taiwan).
Born in 1972, Hsieh Shih has often spoken of his desire to modernize and popularize Taiwanese
drumming and to win a place for it in global culture. His father managed a Daoist temple, so it's hardly
surprising that drumming is in his blood. He's been beating drums since he was three years old, and he
founded Ten Drum in 2000. The "Ten" in the troupe's English name is a direct translation of his given
name, "Shih."
Around 6,000 students at over 100 elementary and high schools
throughout Taiwan have attended Ten Drum percussion classes. Individuals who learn drumming don't
just acquire musical skills they also strengthen their muscles, improve their posture and physical
coordination, and release stress.
"Most everyone can learn to drum, if they've a passion to learn," said Chiu Ya-hui, chief of performance
at the village. "Mastering the basic steps is the most difcult, and not everyone has the necessary
patience to learn them. Of course, different people learn at different speeds."
"Most everyone can learn to drum, if they've a passion to learn"
TEN DRUM CULTURE VILLAGE has three aims, said Wu Tsuei-min,
the village's manager. "Firstly, we want to present Ten Drum Art Percussion Group and its music.
Secondly, we want to preserve the history of Taiwan's sugar industry. Thirdly, we want this place to be an
ecological attraction."
To underscore Ten Drum's commitment to the second and third goals, Wu showed us two very different
parts of the ve-hectare site. The rst was the smokestack that visitors see long before they enter the
village, and which now bears the words "Ten Drum" in English and Chinese. The interior has been
cleaned and tted with lights; visitors can step in, touch the old bricks, and gaze up at a tiny circle of blue
sky, 67 meters above.
She then led us to an area where staff cultivates plants attracting butteries. Looking closely at the
leaves, we spotted scores of crimson caterpillars. Nearby, we met an eight-strong group of full-time
drummers tending small vegetable plots. Here they grow tomatoes, chilies, pumpkins, strawberries, and
herbs; neither pesticides nor chemical fertilizers are used.
This isn't the only outdoor exercise that troupe professionals are expected to do. Each day begins with a
ve-kilometer jog. The importance of rigorous physical preparation became clear when rehearsals began.
Ten Drum performers must be capable of striking 150 to 180 beats per minute for several minutes at a
time, while at the same time maintaining postures that would challenge a gymnast.
Ten Drum performers must be capable of striking 150 to 180 beats
per minute for several minutes at a time
According to Wu, the drummers often suffer backache and shoulder strain. Wrist injuries can be a
problem. Surprisingly given how loud unamplied drums can be hearing loss isn't a threat.
Just as the performers need considerable strength and stamina, the equipment that's on the receiving
end requires maintaining and, from time to time, replacing. During the warm-up for the morning show we
enjoyed, a drumstick shattered. The nonchalant way in which the young man stepped back from his
drum, picked up a replacement, and then seamlessly rejoined the performance made me think this was
nothing out of the ordinary.
When I asked him about this later, Yang Yu-wen, "vice regimental commander" at the village, told me that
on average sticks break "one or two times during each full-length show."
FOR HARDWARE AFICIONADOS, the Ching Ci Lin Drum Factory is perhaps the most fascinating place
in the village. The word "factory" implies a production line, but this is really an artisan's workshop where
Chang Chi-hsiang, an outgoing man in his fties, answers questions about the drum-making process
while working on instruments of all shapes and sizes.
Chang is one of a dying breed. Nowadays, no more than six or seven traditional drum makers are still
active in Taiwan. The woodwork is outsourced so Chang can concentrate on preparing the leather
(usually from water buffalo). He stretches hides over drum cases, then tightens and adjusts them until the
membrane is taut and the sound is just right.
Working with fresh hides can be very unpleasant on account of the smell, and Chang says this is one
reason why so few young people are interested in following in his footsteps. According to Chang, the
drums used by the troupe typically last three to ve years.
SO WHAT IS a Ten Drum show like? There are lighting effects and dry-ice
blows across the stage, and it goes without saying that some sections are very loud. However, it's not a
rock concert some passages are slow and subtle, while others showcase breathtaking speed and
dazzling dexterity. The drums skins are sometimes hammered, sometimes tapped with ngertips. The
rims and sides are smacked to produce clattering rhythms.
Other types of instrument Western as well as Eastern make guest appearances, and at times just one
of the people on the stage beats a drum while the others strike kung fu poses or perform dance moves.
Ten Drum performances are always more than simple aural stimulation and never less than stirring.

HOW TO GET THERE
The village, which is open from 9 am to 5 pm seven days a week, is located in Rende, south of
downtown Tainan, within walking distance of Baoan Railway Station. Reservations are required for
weekdays but on weekends they're not necessary. Tickets cost NT$300 for adults and NT$280 for
students of all ages. Tours led by an English-speaking guide can be arranged if you contact the village
Tel: (06) 266-2225 / 0988-750-572 a few days in advance; the charge is NT$2,000 and the tour lasts
two-and-a-half hours.

Ten Drum Art Percussion Group ($])
Add: 326 Wenhua Rd., Sec. 2, Rende Township, Tainan County
(]|j/5T.[326)
Tel: (06) 266-2225
Website: www.ten-hsieh.com.tw

ENGLISH & CHINESE
bajiajiang 1g[
Baoan Railway Station ]Ay
Chang Chi-hsiang ]
Ching Ci Lin Drum Factory ,[}[
Chiu Ya-hui !z]
Hsieh Shih Q
Koxinga [)
Rende j
Songjiang Battle Array
Ten Drum Culture Village 5|
Wu Tsuei-min
Yang Yu-wen ||5
zhentoup

Day 5
Fort Zeelandia (Taiwan)
This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question
marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.
This article needs additional citations for verication. Please help improve this article by adding
citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2013)
Overview of Fort Zeelandia in Tainan, Taiwan, painted around 1635 (The Hague National Bureau of
Archives, Netherlands)
17th century print of Fort Zeelandia
Fort Anping in 2008
Fort Zeelandia (Chinese: }|; pinyin: rlnzh$ chng; Pe%h-&e-j': Ji
%
at-ln-jia Si2) was a fortress
built over ten years from 1624 to 1634 by the Dutch Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, in the town of
Anping (Tainan) on the island of Formosa (present-day Taiwan), during their 38-year rule over the
western part of that island. Although the site was previously named Orange City (j]), Anping City
(), and Taiwan City ([), the current name of the site in Chinese is Anping Fort ().
During the seventeenth century, when Europeans from many countries sailed to Asia to develop trade,
Formosa became one of East Asia's most important transit sites, and Fort Zeelandia an international
business center. On behalf of the Dutch East India Company, ships departed from Formosa and headed
north to Japan, west to Fujian, or south to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Iran or Europe.
Contents
1 Strategic location
2 Defensive function
3 Dutch surrender
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
Strategic location
The Dutch chose a sandy peninsula off the coast of Tainan for the fortress, since this would allow direct
access to the sea and with it, supplies and reinforcements from Batavia in event of a siege.
Unfortunately, the site lacked adequate supplies of fresh water, which had to be shipped from the
mainland.
A series of sandbars extended from south to north; the east side of such sandbars was the Taijian Inner
Sea. Fort Zeelandia was established on the largest sandbar to control the channel for entering the inner
sea. The Taijian Inner Sea was also a good harbor.
Bricks were brought from Java and the mortar consisted of a mixture of sugar, sand, ground seashells
and glutinous rice. The fort was designed to be surrounded by three concentric layers of walls and its
four corners were built into protruding bastions for better defense.
Dutch bond was used for laying bricks to build Fort Zeelandia. It is created by alternately laying headers
and stretchers in a single course to avoid gaps. The next course is laid so that a header lies in the middle
of the stretcher in the course below. The Dutch bricks should have a 10-days kilning, the texture is solid
and compact, and its color is red.
There were three layers of wall, and a protruding bastion on each of four corners on Fort Zeelandia, in
order to expand the defense scope; this is the typical European fort of the 17th century. Inside the fort
was the military and administration center, church, garrisons, and jailhouse; outside was the downtown.
Between the fort and downtown, there were market, slaughterhouse, gallows, execution ground and city
weighing station.
Defensive function
Fort Zeelandia included an inner fort and an outer fort. The inner fort was a square and 3-layer
construction. The lowest was for storage of ammunition and food. The second features a blank wall. The
middle part of each side has a semicircle protruding barrack to strengthen the defense. Above the third
story was the administrative center, including ofces, garrison and church, all of them independent
structures. There were walls on the periphery, with protruding bastion on each of the four corners, armed
with cannons; a watch tower was set at the southwest bastion.
The one-story outer fort was a rectangular fort, with bastions on the northwest and southwest corners,
armed with several cannons. Inside the outer fort were residences, hospital and houses; the plaza was
the commercial area.
Dutch surrender
On 30 April 1661, General Zheng Chenggong ("Koxinga") of Ming China (1368-1644) laid siege to the
fortress (defended by 2,000 Dutch soldiers) with 400 warships and 25,000 men. After nine months and
the loss of 1,600 Dutch lives, the Dutch surrendered on 1 February 1662, when it became clear that no
reinforcements were forthcoming from Batavia (present day Jakarta, Java, Indonesia) and when the
defenders ran short of fresh water.
Under the Koxinga-Dutch Treaty (1662)
[1]
signed on 1 February between Koxinga and Frederick Coyett,
the Dutch governor, the Dutch surrendered the Fortress and left all goods and VOC property behind. In
return, all ofcials, soldiers and civilians were free to leave with their personal belongings and supplies.
On 9 February, Frederick Coyett ofcially surrendered the fort and led the remaining Dutch forces and
civilians back to Batavia by sea, ending 38 years of Dutch colonial rule on Taiwan.
Original wall of red bricks imported from Batavia and laid by the soldiers of the Dutch East India
Company.
Painting showing the environment of inner Fort Zeelandia.
A drawing of the view and structure of the Fort Zeelandia.
A color painting of the view of the Fort Zeelandia.
A Scale model of a Dutch East India Company warship.
Anpings Old Streets (&npng l#o ji) [|)
Anping's old streets are full of old brick homes
Because Anping was the original Dutch settlement in Tainan, it
has some of the oldest streets in the country. Of course, there
are no 17th century houses, but these streets wind through the
same footpaths where the early settlers walked. Anping stayed
area distinct from the rest of Tainan City all through history and
has a different feel than the rest of Tainan. The area surrounding
Anping Fort (Ft. Zeelandia) is full of small streets and alleyways
worth exploring. It is also an area full of vendors, eateries, shops
and gaming stalls. On the weekends this place is all in a frenzy,
but its still easy to pick a lane and follow it into yesteryear.
Entertainment
old fair-style games
Right at the base of Anping Fort is an area set up like a
fairground. There are many gaming stalls with a 1950s county
fair kind of innocence to them. You can shoot balloons, throw
baseballs at targets, sh toys out of plastic pails, or enter in
various games of chance. Its all good clean fun and tickles a
nostalgic funny bone in most people. If youre not into the games
themselves, its also good fun to watch the teenaged boys try to
win plush dolls for their girlfriends.
Eating
converted teahouse
Theres no shortage of eateries in the area. Many of them try to
capitalize on a demand for Anpings traditional foods. Much of
the food can be bought and eaten throughout Taiwan, but theres
nothing like oyster omelets (o-ah jien) eaten in Anping. Add to
that, shrimp rolls, shrimp chips and shrimp soup dumplings and
youll likely get your ll of traditional seafood. Many vendors sell
candy and other snack food. Its pretty similar stuff to night
market fare, but you might nd something you havent seen
before.
Some of the old buildings in the area have been converted into
tea houses or eateries, but not that many, really. You can see the
potential for more of these conversions, but that hasnt been
exploited yet and that may be a good thing.
Shopping
souvenirs
Yanping Street is the oldest merchant street in the area. While
the buildings here look like they were built 30 years ago, the
history of the street has led it to become a shopping plaza for
tourists and locals alike. The restored stone road of this street is
at-out trampled on during the weekends, and on holidays it may
be impossible to traverse the crowds. This street is packed with
little shops and vendors selling snack food and any manner of
products from toys and soaps to trinkets and handbags. The
products cover a full range from the cheapest of souvenirs to
rather expensive handmade goods. If youre thinking to send
home something Taiwanese for Christmas, its not a bad place to
shop.
Yanping Street marks the oldest merchant street in the area
Sightseeing
Haishan Hostel
Right on Xiaozhong Street is Haishan Hostel (H#ish&n Gu#n
). This building has very recently been re-opened to the public.
Im not sure how long it was closed, but I understand it was
under renovations for quite a while. At the time I saw it, I was not
even certain that it was nished in the remodel as the rooms
were empty without so much as the usual historical
explanations. This building was the living quarters and shrine for
Qing troops who came from the mainland and were stationed in
Tainan. The group that stayed in Haishan Hostel came from
Fukien and worshipped the goddess Matsu inside the hostel.
There's still life in these old brick homes.
The nicest part of this area is exploring the old streets. If you
stay in the tourist area (like I did on my rst couple of trips to
Anping), you wont think theres much in the way of old houses
and preserved heritage going on. Many tourists stick to the area
of Yanping Street and Xiaozhong Street near Haishan Hostel, but
they are missing out.
an old gate
There are several streets to explore, and many of them are
conveniently located in the areas surrounding Haishan Hostel.
Heading north or east from here will lead you through a
surprising maze of old brick homes and a time warp to an older
Taiwan. Some of the homes have been well-kept by their owners.
Others have been, or are in the process of, being restored with
the help of government funding (as stated by the plaques on the
walls). Many of the old buildings, however, are empty and in
various stages of dilapidation. While the government will help
those who want to restore their properties, you can see that
many people have abandoned the old style homes and may one
day replace them with something modern.
Some of the homes down these lanes are just crumbling bits of
brick.
While this area begs to be refurbished to preserve the heritage,
only tourism incentives would be worth it to most people who
own the properties. If turning their homes into restaurants,
shops, and guesthouses is the only way to make the
preservation pay off, then we would see this area become like
the theme park of Old Town in Lijiang, China. That might kill
any real heritage. For now, though, you can wander through
these streets and there is still something natural about them. It is
a good time to visit and see whats left of these neighborhoods
before theyre gone. I dont know the future, but the odds are this
area is either going to become a tourist theme park or be on the
wrong end of a wrecking ball.
Some homes have really been kept-up.
Lukang, Changhua

Location of Lukang
in Changhua
County

Lukang Township

Longshan Temple

Mazu Temple
Lukang Township (Chinese: ; pinyin: Lg#ng; WadeGiles:
Lu-kang; Pe
#
h-$e-j%: Lo
#
k-kng; literally "Deer Harbour") is an
urban township in northwestern Changhua County, Taiwan
(latitude 2403'N, longitude 12026'E). The township is on the
west coast of Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait. The township's
name came from the port's trade of deerskins during the Dutch
colonial period. Its old Taiwanese name was Lo
#
k--kng (|).
Lukang was an important sea port in the 18th century and 19th
century. It was the most populous city in central Taiwan until the
early 20th century. In 2011, the Ministry of Interior decided to
keep the historical Wade-Giles spelling (Lukang), and abandon
the change to the Pinyin spelling (Lugang) that had been
gradually taking place since Taiwan switched to Pinyin in 2009.
[1]
In March 2012, it was named one of the Top 10 Small Tourist
Towns by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan.
[2]
Contents
1 History
2 Overview
3 Tourist attractions
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
History
During the Qing Dynasty, the depth of Lukang's harbour and its
proximity to Fujian province on mainland China made Lukang an
important trading port. During Lukang's heyday from 1785 to
1845, Lukang's population reached 200,000. Lukang was
Taiwan's second largest city after current Tainan and was larger
than Bangka (now a district of Taipei), then the island's third-
largest city.
The subsequent silting of the harbour and the city's refusal to
allow railroads to pass through the city led to losses in trade in
commerce, which, in turn led to Lukang's decline. This same
decline, however, averted the modernization processes that
demolished historical buildings in Tainan and Taipei, leaving
Lukang preserved as it was in its heyday.
Overview

Koo's Family Old
House in central
Lukang
There are still many old temples in Lukang, such as Longshan
Temple and Matzu Temple. The city boasts over 200 temples
dedicated to a wide variety of folk deities.
[3]
The town is also the
origin of the terms e-kng and teng-kng used respectively to
refer to southern Taiwan and northern Taiwan; the literal
meanings of the terms are below the harbor and above the
harbor.
The Yuzhenzhai ()) cakes are famous local specialties, as
well as Lukang's Ox Tongue Cakes (?|[) and oyster pancakes.
It will host the 2012 Taiwan Lantern Festival, beating out six
other contenders.
[4]
Area: 39.46 km&
Population: 85,254 people (Sep. 2007)
Tourist attractions
BRAND'S Health Museum
Chang Bin Show-Chwan Health Mall
Eight Wonders
Lukang Folk Arts Museum
Lukang Tianhou Temple
No Heaven Street
Taiwan Glass Exhibition Hall
See also
oday Lukang is a small, sleepy town, where the Taiwanese economic miracle seems never arrived.
Yet, until the end of the 19th century, Lugang was an important commercial center, second only to
Tainan.
Junks laden with rice, sugar and camphor sailed from Lukang to the coast of China. On the way back
they carried nished goods such as clothing and pottery and, also, settlers. Granite slabs, used as ballast
on the ships, often ended their journey as part of the mansions of the rich merchants of Lukang.
The end of Lukang arrives when the harbor, which had never been deep and suitable for the larger
vessels, silted completely - now the sea is more than 2 kms away. The coup de grace was given by the
Japanese invasion, that shut down most of the trade with mainland China, and by the stubborn
conservatorism of the elders of the city, that persuaded the Japanese to build the new railway as far as
possible from Lukang.
You will nd that, on some guides and road signs, Lukang is also written as Lugang. Lukang is the oldest
and most well-known "romanization", Lugang is the new ofcial spelling that follows the rules of Hanyu
Pinyin, the system that is also in use in mainland China and recently became ofcial also in Taiwan.
The name Lukang (Lugang) means "Deers Harbour". For sure deers abounded around Lukang 200
years ago and deer skins were one of the main products exported by Lugang - especially to Japan. It
seems anyway that the city's name comes from the corruption of a former Aboriginal name.
The development of Lukang stopped. The city still does not exceed 30,000 inhabitants. The only
activities that remained, up until now, were the numerous temples and handicrafts, which are mostly just
focused to serve the needs of temples and religous followers.
The city became simply too poor. Several old buildings, instead of being demolished to make room for
new ones, as happened in the rest of Taiwan, have remained until today.
Nowadays Lukang offers a look at lifestyles, traditions and rituals typical of old China.
And, above all, two or three of the most beautiful and interesting Chinese temples throughout Taiwan.
Things to see and do in Lukang
Lukang is a small town that you can easily visit, by foot, in one day.
At the bottom of this page you will nd a map with locations of the main attractions, hotels, eateries and
so on.
I also sketched a visit itinerary. As I said, Lukang "downtown" is very small and can be walked all around
or, if you want, you can rent one of the pedicabs you will meet from time to time. The Visitor Centers
provide a free shuttle bus, together with excellent free maps (in English) that list all the handicrafts
workshops and the eateries.
I suggest to pay a visit to one of the Visitor Centers (they are two) at the beginning of your visit.
1 - Tianhou Temple (Tianhou Gong)
Burning incense in Tianhou
Temple courtyard.
Tianhou is dedicated to Mazu, the Celestial Mother, the most popular deity among the Taiwanese.
Like it or not, Tianhou is a typical Taoist temple, amboyant, the roofs crowded with gurines.
Still, compared with other Taoist temples in Taiwan, Tianhou is denitively more sober and athmospheric.
The temple is seldom quiet. People always come here to do "bai bai", that is burning incense and joss
money to the gods, to pray to them and to divine the future.
The temple is divided according to the classic model called "San Jian Er Yuan", that means Three Halls
and Two Courtyards. The arch that contains the square on the front was added in recent times.
As in a noble residence, the most important deities, such as Mazu and the Jade Emperor, dwell in the
rear or in the main hall. The lesser deities stay in the front hall or at the sides. Not even the gods can
escape the rigid hierarchy of the Chinese!
Feel free to enter and look around the temple and observe, discreetly, the people giving offers and
performing rituals.
Dutchmen bearing the roof
in the Mazu Temple in Lugang.
Tianhou was built, for the rst time, in 1725, when the beginning of the Qing rule over Taiwan was recent
and the Dutch domination was still a fresh memory. This is showed by the wooden architraves in the front
hall, where Western gures of that time (look at the shoes and the hair!), are supporting the roof.
Qianli Yan
(Eyes that can see 1,000 kilometers far away)
is one of the two demons, converted by Mazu.
Besides the wooden coffered vault, in the Front Hall, do not miss the beautiful statues, in the Main Hall,
of the two demons-guardians that serve Mazu.
The photo below shows a room that is located on the right side, looking from the entrance.
This "chapel" is home to Yue Xia Lao Ren, the Old Man under the Moonlight.
According to the believers, Yue Xia Lao Ren is in charge of arranging marriages, tying together two
different persons with invisible ribbons since their birth. These couples are therefore destined to nd each
other and get married.
As you can guess, the room of this romantic lesser god is always visited by followers, especially young
people looking for love or concerned parents.
The room of Yue Xia Lao
Ren, the god who arranges marriages.
In a room nearby, people can choose a statue of Mazu to bring home for their family shrine.
Mazu statues are waiting for
a follower to bring them home.
The Mazu Temple in Lugang is among the most vibrant and lively temples throughout Taiwan. Unless you
really love the crowd and the noise, you will have a better experience if you come outside the holidays.
The convenient free parking lots scattered around the town center are built to accommodate Mazu
followers vehicles on those festivals.
The temple also offers several beautiful things, besides those I mentioned. Do not forget to take a look
also to the beautiful carvings and the painted main doors.
They are testimony to the great artist-craftsmen that, through the centuries, have brought these
traditional arts until the present day Taiwan.
The alleys around the temple are a permanent market of religious crafts and, of course, local delicacies.
This is the best place to buy a bag of monkey shrimps, fried with basil leaves.
I found the video below on Youtube. It is a little bit too long, but it offers a glance of the deities
worshipped in Tianhou. The part when the girl demonstrates the correct procedure to divine the future
and to ask for a partner to Yue Xia Lao Ren is especially interesting.
As you can see from the video, these gods need to be told about your name, address and age, in order
to be able to help you! This fact speaks volumes about the difference in the concept of "God" between
the Chinese and other religions.
Read more: http://www.taiwan-travel-experience.com/lukang.html#ixzz2o6l84fxD
2 - Longshan Temple (Longshan Si)
Longshan Temple in
Lukang.
Dragon Mountain temple, Longshan infact, is the antithesis of Tianhou Temple.
Quiet and peaceful, its beauty, in my eyes, is much more "classic" and serene, compared to the colorful
and whimsical temple of Mazu.
I have read somewhere that Longshan is more a "tourist thing". This is simply not true.
People come to Longshan to "bai bai" as well, including locals such as our cousin from Lugang, who
comes here to sit down for a while as the time goes by, before returning to her family matters.
One of the courtyards of
Longshan Temple.
Longshan is described as a Buddhist temple ... Buddhist as is often practiced here in Taiwan, so the
temple is dedicated to the female goddess Guanyin. Guanyin is an incarnation of Buddha but is also
very similar to Mary: the Mother that helps and comforts.
Built for the rst time in 1728, Longshan temple has undergone many changes. The last one is very
recent: after the temple was severely damaged by 921 earthquake (21 September 1999), it has been
meticulously restored using the original parts.
No doubt, Longshan Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Taiwan, and should not be missed if
you come to Lukang.
3 - Wenkai Academy (Wenkai Shuyuan)
Detail of Wenkai Academy.
Wenkai Academy is a quiet and colorful complex in the southern part of Lugang, surrounded by a
garden, and recently restored.
The complex is made up of the Academy of Wenkai proper, lined by two small temples, dedicated
respectively to the God of Literature (the central one) and the God of War Guan-Di, on the left.
Wenkai Academy was built in 1827, during the Ching Dynasty, to accomodate courses to prepare for the
imperial examinations in Beijing. In addition, it served as a gathering place for the literati of Lukang.
Fine carvings at the Wenkai
Academy in Lukang.
The most interesting part of the complex is the Academy itself, with a few wood carvings and colorful Koji
potteries.
4 - Zhongshan Road (Zhongshan Lu)
City God Temple (Cheng
Huang Miao) in Zhongshan Road.
Lugang main street is called Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) Rd, as in every city in Taiwan.
Zhongshan was a narrow covered street before the arrival of Japanese in 1895. The Japanese provided
to uncover and to make it wider, I guess mainly for hygienic reasons.
The Art Deco facades, that still remain here and there, in different conditions, are original from that time.
The Japanese also built the arcades that line Zhongshan Road
There are several interesting things along Zhongshan Road ... small temples, as the lovely City God
Temple that you can see in the photo above, the Japanese fronts, small dusty shops where traditional
crafts are still manufactured such as paper lanterns, incense sticks, sedan chairs and so on.
Japanese Facades along
Zhongshan Road in Lukang.
These stores still have their raison d'etre. Their main customers are not the tourists, but the temples, in
Lukang as in the rest of Taiwan.
5 - Old Market Street (Gushi Jie)
Old stores in Putou Rd.
Old Market Street (Putou Rd) is one of the main attractions in Lukang, not to be missed and possibly not
to be visited on weekends, since it is also one of the most popular among local tourists.
If the Old Market Street were a pedestrian zone it would be much better, both for the tourist experience
and for the local business, like the rest of the world have been knowing for decades.
Unfortunately it seems that the simple concept of a street open only to pedestrians, a concept that is
becoming common even in China, cannot be grasped by the Taiwanese people, ordinary citizens and
local ofcers alike.
So even in Old Market Street you have to continuosly watch out for scooters!
Sorry for the rant! But this is one of the things I really cannot stand here.
It is a small winding lane, roughly parallel to Zhongshan Rd, where the market once was taking place.
Many of the old wooden houses and shops, dating back to the Ching Dinasty, have been preserved to
this day.
Until a few years ago Old Market Street was crumbling and abandoned. Today, however, it has been
restored, where possible, together with the small buildings along the lane.
Putou Rd is still authentic, at least in part. Besides the souvenir shops, there are also temples (Nanjing
Palace and especially Sinzu Temple, with the interior blackened with incense), houses that are still
inhabited by the locals and some interesting shops like the teahouse Yi Gu Zhai and the pastry shop
Jeng Yu Jhen.
Our favorite corner is in front of a little shop, where in winter the mullet roe (which in this shop is really
good, even according to the locals) is left on tables to dry under the sun!
Mullet roe drying under the
sun in Old Market Street in Lukang.
Even the streets around, much quieter, offer unexpected discoveries, like the tiny city gate in Houche
Lane. The southern extension of Old Market Street, beyond Minquan Road, is less interesting. Nine-
Turns Lane (Jiuqu Xiang), where the lane narrows and becomes tortuous - according to the legend for
defense against the pirates- is nothing special actually.
6 - Lukang Folk Arts Museum and Ding Family Mansion (Lugang
Minsu Wenwuguan/Ding Jia Gucuo)
The Folk Arts Museum in
Lugang.
The stately and elegant European resident of the Koo family was built in 1920, at the time of the
Japanese rule.
The Koos are, until today, one of the most powerful families in Taiwan - they still own conglomerates and
banks.
This clan has always succesfully managed to sail between the Ching emperors, the Japanese and
Kuomintang, even if they recently had trouble with the law with an issue related to former President Chen
Shui-bian. Long ago, in 1973, the Koos donated the building to the government that turned it into a
museum.
The name of the museum, Folk Arts, is misleading. A signicant part of the exhibition is dedicated to ne
items - clothing, brocades, furniture, books and so on - than belonged to wealthy families, probably
including the same Koos.
Therefore is a museum of considerable value and interest.
The entrance to the museum costs 130 NTD (this is the only attraction in Lukang where you have to pay
a fee, but it's worth it). The Museum English Web Site.
Ding Family Mansion in
Lukang.
Nearby the Museum, on the same square, you can see a small garden and the back door of the home of
another wealthy family, the Dings. This house, built in traditional style, has been carefully restored and
open to the public recently.
The Dings were merchants, however this house was built when one of their members became a
Mandarin.
The residence houses memorabilia of this event, including the wooden ensign that preceded the sedan
chair of the ofcer.
The house was composed of three units, each one narrow (4.5 meters each) and long (77 meters),
combined together along the longer side.
The modern Taiwanese "row houses" you can spot everywhere are still inspired by this model (even if
they are not so long).
The home of Ding was anyway rhe residence of a rich family, built in the Minnan style, according to the
principle of San Kan San Jin Er Yuan, that means three units side by side, each of them made by three
different houses separated by two shared courtyards. The courtyards are actually three, not two, as the
back of the house has a tiny garden.
The granite slabs paving the courtyards came to Taiwan from China as ships' ballast.
The Dings, quite a number of them today living in Taisi, Yunlin County, were originally Muslim. Over time
they completely assimilated to the rest of the Taiwanese (the Chinese have often fully absorbed peoples
of different cultures). They retained some customs, such as not to offer pork to the ancestors. At the time
when the Ding residence was built it is said they still regarded the Koran as a holy book, that however,
they were no longer able to read.
Ding Family Mansion, that can be accessed for free, is also a very convenient shortcut (with no scooters
at last:)), between Zhongshan Road and the Folk Art Museum.
Read more: http://www.taiwan-travel-experience.com/lukang.html#ixzz2o6lCbY3c
Half-Side Well
In ancient times it was only the wealthy who could afford to dig a well. Out of the concern for those less
fortunate, the owner of this well kept only half of it for his own use and offered the other half as a water
supply for those who could not afford their own wells. The well is unused now, and all that is left is its
mud-lled mouth Still, it is a poignant reminder of the magnanimous spirit of Lugang's people.
Seeing Crystal Clear A Visit to Lugangs
Glass Temple
Posted on October 21, 2013 by foreignsanctuary
10
If you ever nd yourself in the town of Lugang (often spelled Lukang), located in Changhua County in
Taiwan, and happen to have some extra time, then I highly suggest checking out the Lugang Glass
Gallery/Museum & Glass Temple (Ill focus on the glass temple in this blog post).
When I went there, I didnt have high expectations for the place. In all honesty, I really didnt know what
to expect. But seeing we were in the area, we thought would check it out.
We navigated our way around the empty streets of the Industrial Park late one Sunday afternoon,
passing several large factories as we made our way to the glass museum. When we arrived there, all
my past thoughts and misconceptions were immediately erased.

The rst thing we noticed was a beautifully designed, elaborate glass structure on the premises. After
further investigation, it was quite obvious that it was a temple completely constructed out of glass. It was
very unique; I have never seen a building designed like it before! And what an extraordinary and modern
take on a usually traditional structure!!
During my tour of the temple structure, I had the opportunity to talk to one of the temple volunteers. He
offered a wealth of information with regards to the overall structure, the materials used, the building
techniques used during construction, the temple design, and the historical meanings behind the roof
design and temple interior. He also informed us that the dragons and phoenixes were hard carved by
local artisans.
Then I noticed the beautiful glass behind the temple altar. The glass decor that adorns the altar is a
scaled down, exact glass replica of Taiwans highest mountain, Yushan (Jade Mountain) and the
shadows cast on the glass mountain sculpture are the same shadows seen on the mountain at certain
points during the day.
And as I looked up, my eyes couldnt help but notice the large dragon lanterns hanging from the ceiling
and winding throughout the entire length of the temple.
It is quite the sight to see the sun seeping through the glass temple at every angle and the way the
sunlight struck the mountain decor was magnicent sight.
However, the temple showed its other side at dusk with its multi-colored lights casting shadows on the
glass and the small lotus pond located in front of the temple. The lights created a very peaceful and
serene effect against the darkness of the night.
After dark, when the museum closed, the place was nearly deserted expect for the volunteer and a few
other visitors.
Everything was quiet and tranquil, a type of atmosphere suitable for contemplation and reection.
I really enjoyed my visit because I got to see the two sides of the temple: its daytime glory of shadows
and ooding of light and its dimly lit calmness at night. So if you can time your visit in the late afternoon, I
suggest you do so. Then you can experience the temple from both day and night perspectives.
The glass temple is opened early the morning until 10 p.m. at night. Entrance is free.
Part 2 about the glass gallery coming soon. Watch this space!!
Have you ever visited a glass temple?

About these ads
Fengjia Night Market
24.17729N 120.646593E
Feng Chia Night Market Entrance Sign, Taichung, Taiwan, July 2012
Fengjia Night Market (Chinese: ; pinyin: Fngji% Y Sh), also called Fengjia Shopping Town, is a night market in Xitun District,
Taichung, Taiwan. The market is located next to Feng Chia University. It was claimed
[1]
to be the largest night market in Taiwan.
Feng-Chia Night Market, on FuXing Road
Contents
1 History
2 Subsection
2.1 Bi-giang Square
2.2 Flagship area theme nightmark
2.3 Bento street
3 Location
4 References
5 External links
History
Fengjia night market was established in 1963, established along with Feng Chia College of Engineering and Business (now Feng Chia
University), the rising of the popularity stimulated the business of the nearby residential military dependents' village. Food/drink stands, gracious
stores, restaurants, were established along Wen-hua road (thus the night market is also called Wenhua night market), then expanding to
Fengjia road(), Fuxing road(), Xi'an street(yj)etc.
On October 5, 2006, a managing committee of Fengjia Shopping Town (@|) has been established by the Department of Economic
Development of Taichung (,(),
[2]
covering the surrounding areas such as Feng Chia night market, Bento street, etc., thus
bringing the originally unlicensed operation of the night market under the ofce governance of Taichung city.
DAY 6-
Taichung
Taichung
Q
Special municipality
Q Taichung City
Clockwise from top: Taichung skyline, Taichung Railway Station, Sanmin Road, Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, Taichung's
historic city hall, Wind farm in Taichung, Taichung Park
Flag
Seal
Seal
Nickname(s): Cultural City (5)
Coordinates: 2409)N 12040)ECoordinates: 2409)N 12040)E
Country Taiwan
Region Central Taiwan
Municipal seat Xitun District
Government
Mayor Jason Hu
Area(Ranked 6 of 22)
Total
2,214.8968 km
2
(855.1764 sq mi)
Population (October 2010)
[1]
Total 2,629,323
Density
1,200/km
2
(3,100/sq mi)
Population ranked 3 of 22
Districts 29
Bird
Little egret
[2]
Flower
Christmas Kalanchoe
[3]
Tree
Palimara Alstonia
[4]
Website www.taichung.gov.tw (English)
Taichung City
Chinese or
Taichung ( or ; literally "Central Taiwan"), ofcially known as Taichung City, is a city located in western Taiwan, with a population of
just over 2.6 million people, making it the third largest city on the island after New Taipei and Kaohsiung. On 25 December 2010, it merged with
Taichung County to form a single special municipality.
[5]
The city's motto is "economic, cultural and international city."
Contents
1 Geography
1.1 Climate
2 Demographics
2.1 Educational Attainment
3 History
3.1 Early History
3.2 Qing Dynasty
3.3 Japanese Colonial Rule
3.4 Post-War Era (19451996)
4 Politics
4.1 Local Politics
4.2 Government
4.3 Districts
5 Culture and Recreation
5.1 Professional Sports
5.2 Other Sporting Activities
5.3 Museums and Cultural Centers
5.4 Parkways
5.5 Performance Venues
5.6 Temples
5.7 National and Municipal Historical Sites
5.8 Night Markets
5.9 Hot Springs
5.10 Mosque
5.11 Other Annual Activities
6 Economy
7 Education
8 Transportation
8.1 Rail
8.2 Sea Port
8.3 Inner City Trafc
8.4 Mass Rapid Transit
8.5 Freeways and Expressways
8.6 Taichung International Airport
9 Romanization
10 International relations
11 See also
12 References
13 External links
Geography
Taichung City is located in the Taichung Basin
[6]
along the main western coastal plain that stretches along the west coast from northern Taiwan
almost to the southern tip. The city is located just north of 24 north and about 120.5 east longitude.
Taichung City borders Changhua County, Nantou County, Hualien County, Yilan County, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County.
The Central Mountain Range lies just to the east of the city. Lower, rolling hills run to the north leading to Miaoli County. Flat coastal plains
dominate the landscape to the south leading to Changhua County and the Taiwan Strait to the west.
West"Panoramic photography of Taichung City.#East
Climate
A clear day over Taichung City.
Taichung has a warm humid subtropical climate (Kppen Cwa), with an average annual temperature of 23.0 C (73.4 F), and average annual
rainfall of just above 1,700 millimetres (67 in).
[7]
The average humidity is 80%. Taichung has a milder climate than other major cities in Taiwan.
Due to the protection provided by the Central Mountain Range to the east and the Miaoli hills to the north, Taichung is rarely severely affected
by typhoons. However, occasional typhoons emerging from the South China Sea can pose a threat to the city as evidenced by Typhoon Wayne
in 1986, which struck the west coast of Taiwan near Taichung.
[8]
[hide]Climate data for Taichung (19712000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average
high C (F)
22.0
(71.6)
22.0
(71.6)
24.6
(76.3)
27.8
(82)
30.0
(86)
31.8
(89.2)
33.0
(91.4)
32.4
(90.3)
31.9
(89.4)
30.1
(86.2)
26.9
(80.4)
23.6
(74.5)
28.0
(82.4)
Daily mean
C (F)
16.2
(61.2)
16.8
(62.2)
19.4
(66.9)
23.0
(73.4)
25.7
(78.3)
27.5
(81.5)
28.5
(83.3)
28.0
(82.4)
27.2
(81)
24.9
(76.8)
21.4
(70.5)
17.8
(64)
23.03
(73.46)
Average
low C (F)
12.4
(54.3)
13.3
(55.9)
15.6
(60.1)
19.4
(66.9)
22.3
(72.1)
24.2
(75.6)
24.9
(76.8)
24.7
(76.5)
23.7
(74.7)
21.4
(70.5)
17.6
(63.7)
13.8
(56.8)
19.4
(67.0)
Rainfall
mm
(inches)
36.3
(1.429)
87.8
(3.457)
94.0
(3.701)
134.5
(5.295)
225.3
(8.87)
342.5
(13.484)
245.8
(9.677)
317.1
(12.484)
98.1
(3.862)
16.2
(0.638)
18.6
(0.732)
25.7
(1.012)
1,641.9
(64.642)
Avg. rainy
days (" 0.1
mm)
7.4 9.9 11.5 11.1 12.7 14.9 12.7 15.1 8.2 3.5 3.8 4.9 115.7
%
humidity
76.1 77.6 77.9 78.2 79.5 79.5 76.8 79.3 76.8 74.8 74.1 74.0 77.1
Mean
monthly
sunshine
hours
172.7 134.9 155.8 153.1 155.4 169.7 210.6 191.8 192.8 201.1 171.4 175.5 2,084.8
Source:
[9]
Demographics
This section requires expansion. (December 2007)
Taichung City population by year
[10]
(as provincial city)
1949 192,889
1985 674,936
1995 853,221
2000 965,790
2005 1,032,778
2010 1,082,163
Taichung County population by year
[11][12][13]
1990 1,285,029
1995 1,378,000
2000 1,510,480
2009 1,562,162
Taichungs population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city (50.97%) than males. 24.32% of
residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly.
[14]
According to Ministry of Interior
statistics, the fertility rate in Taichung City in 2007 was 1.165 for each woman.
Educational Attainment
According to the Ministry of Interior, there are 846,863 residents over the age of 15. Of these, educational attainment is as follows: graduate
degrees - 33,371 (3.9%); university or college degrees - 136,076 (16.1%); junior college degrees - 122,442 (14.5%); senior high school - 55,432
(6.5%); vocational high school - 168,349 (19.9%); junior high school - 78,729 (9.3%); junior vocational school - 1,949 (0.2%); primary school -
80,004 (9,4%). The ofcial literacy rate for the city is 99.04%.
History
Early History
Taiwanese aborigines, including the Babuza people, populated the plains that make up modern Taichung City. They were originally hunter
gatherers who later lived by cultivating millet and taro. Several local names in central Taiwan, including Shalu Township and Lukang Township in
Changhua County contain the word for deer.
[15]
Lecheng Temple, built during the Qing Dynasty
Chishan Gate, built during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
In 1682, the Qing Dynasty wrested control of western Taiwan from the Cheng family. Taichung was founded in 1705 as a part of Changhua
County with the name of Dadun (ch: 9|; p: Dd+n; w: Ta-tun; lit. "large mound"). To strengthen Qing control, a garrison was established in
1721 near the site of present-day Taichung Park by Lan Ting-chen.
[15]
All was not peaceful for Qing authorities in central Taiwan. North of the city, on the Dajia River, an aboriginal revolt broke out in 1731 after
Chinese ofcials had moved in and compelled them to provide labor. The revolt spread as far south as the county seat of Changhua in May
1732 before the rebels were chased into the mountains by Qing forces.
[16]
In 1786, another rebellion against the Qing authorities had its roots in the distriction of Dali. Led by Lin Shuang-wen, it began as an attempt to
overthrow the Manchu government and restore the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, as the rebels moved northward, they turned to slaughter and
looting. They were eventually defeated by a coalition of Qing forces, Hakka, Quanzhou Fujianese descendants, and Aboriginal volunteers.
[17]
Taiwan became a province of Qing-dynasty China in 1885, and the city, named Dadun at the time, was designated as the capital of the Taiwan
Prefecture, one of three prefectures in the newly created Taiwan Province.
[18]
Dadun was also initially designated as the provincial capital, and
Qing ofcial Liu Ming-chuan received the authority from the Guangxu Emperor to oversee development of the area. However, four years later,
Liu was forced to retire by Empress Dowager Cixi, and the provincial capital was moved to what is now known as Taipei.
Japanese Colonial Rule
After China lost the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan by the Treaty of Shimonoseki. The Japanese changed the name of
the city from Dadun to (Taich& in Japanese). Many rebels, who had accepted a Qing amnesty following a rebellion in 1895, now turned to
anti-Japanese activities. On May 25, 1902, some 360 rebels and their families accepted invitations to surrender and receive amnesty and
rewards. Instead they were trapped and murdered by the Japanese.
[18]
The Japanese sought to develop the city to make it the rst modern area of Taiwan.
[19]
The Japanese administration invested in roads, dams
and levees. Taichung Park was completed in 1903. The old north gate, one of the few Liu-era structures to survive the Japanese reconstruction
of the city, was moved to the new park.
[citation needed]
To this day, Taichung Park is one of the most popular places in the city for people to relax.
The rst market in Taich+ was built in 1908, along the JiGuang Road between the ZhongZheng and ChengGong Roads and it is still in use
today.
[18]
The Japanese undertook a north-south island railway project. Taichung Train Station was completed and began operation in 1917,
[18]
and still operates today. Taichung was ofcially designated as a city by Japanese Imperial authorities in 1920, and Taichung City Hall was
completed in 1924 after eleven years of construction.
[18]
Taichung's historic city hall
Shinto Shrine to Japan's WWII soldiers ghting overseas
Taichung Middle School (now known as Taichung First Senior High School) was founded in 1913 by Lin Hsien-tang and his brother Lin Lie-tang,
two wealthy Taiwanese intellectuals of the era. This was in an effort to teach children the Culture of Taiwan and to foster the spirit of the
Taiwanese localization movement.
[18]
A Taiwanese cultural association founded in 1921 in Taipei by Lin Hsien-tang was moved to Taich+ in
1927. Most of the members of this association were from Taichung and the surrounding area. The city became a center of Taiwanese culture
and nationalism.
[18]
The new-found prosperity of Taichung was eventually squandered by the Japanese war effort (193745). When World War II ended in 1945,
Taiwans economy, like Japans, was in a very poor state.
Post-War Era (19451996)
Shrine to the martyrs of the Republic of China
At the end of the war, Republic of China (ROC) forces crossed the Strait of Taiwan on U.S. ships and accepted the Japanese surrender on
behalf of the Allied Powers on 25 October 1945.
The early post-war era was one of transition and turmoil for Taiwan. Taiwanese nationalists had divided into three groups, one of which was
known as the 'Taichung Clique'. These were men who had enjoyed relatively high social standing during the Japanese era, such as Lin Hsien-
tang, Yang Chao-chia, Yeh Jung-chung, and others. They attempted to take what they believed to be their rightful place as the new political
leaders of the island. However, the ROC administrator of the island, Chen Yi, opposed this group as it contained many people, especially
merchants and landlords, who were opposed to ROC policies.
[20]
In 1947 the rst Mayor of the Taichung County (included Taichung City) was Lai Tien Shen. He was a very honorable man and well respected.
His picture is still honored at the Taichung Municipal Building. The position was appointed by the government to rule during the interim period.
Upon losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists, the Kuomintang (KMT), relocated the government of the Republic of China to Taiwan.
Taichung was declared a special municipality in 1949 by the ROC government. Since then the city has grown as a center of higher education,
commerce and culture, where 70% of employees worked in service industries. The surrounding county developed manufacturing, which
employed 48% of the workforce, and focused so successfully on precision machinery, from machine tools to bicycles, that it was nicknamed the
Mechanical Kingdom. In 2010 the city was merged with the surrounding county to create a municipality of 2.65 million people spread across
2,214 km
2
(855 sq mi).
[21]
Politics
Local Politics
Unlike Taipei in the north, which is solidly in the Pan-Blue (pro-unication) political camp, and the southern cities of Kaohsiung and Tainan that
are solidly Pan-Green (pro-independence), Taichung is far more balanced, with the urban city center area leaning Blue and the suburban and
rural areas leaning Green. In fact, each of the two major political parties has won a mayoral election among the last three with at least 49
percent of the vote (Democratic Progressive Party in 1997 and the Kuomintang in 2001 and 2005.) Similarly, the Kuomintang majority in the City
Council is not as large as it is in other cities, and is only negligible when one excludes Beitun District, which is solidly pro-Kuomintang. As a
result of the relative moderate stand of the city residents, political upheaval and violence are far rarer in Taichung than in other large cities of the
country.
Government
Taichung City Council building
Taichung City Government
Taichung Citys executive branch is headed by mayor Jason Hu of the Kuomintang. Mayor Hu won re-election in December 2005 with more than
fty-eight percent of the vote.
[22]
This makes him the rst candidate to achieve more than fty percent of the vote in the Democratic Era of
Taiwan, and represents an improvement of more than nine percent over his 2001 showing
[23]
despite the fact that he was one of four
candidates (as opposed to there being only three in 2001.) The 1997 election was won by Chang Wen-Ying of the Democratic Progressive
Party
[24]
Taichungs legislative branch is a unicameral 46-member City Council. Each member is elected from one of six multiple member
districts where each voter has only one vote. Thus, none of the elected council members has anywhere close to a majority of votes in their
electoral district.
Council member breakdown by electoral district
[25]
Electoral District Municipal Districts City Council Seats
One Central(]) and West(y]) Six
Two North((]) Seven
Three East(9]) and South(]]) Eight
Four Xitun(y]) Eight
Five Nantun(]]) Six
Six Beitun((]) Ten
Special Plains Aborigines One
Council member breakdown by political party
[25]
Political Party Alliance Afliation Elected Councilmembers
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Pan-Blue 24
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Pan-Green 17
People's First Party (PFP) Pan-Blue 2
Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Pan-Green 1
Independents None 2
Districts
Map of Taichung

Xinshe
Tanzi
Shigang
Shengang
Houli
Heping
Fengyuan
Dongshi
Daya
Wuqi
Waipu
Shalu
Qingshui
Longjing
Dajia
Dadu
Da'an
Xitun
Wuri
Wufeng
West
Taiping
South
North
Nantun
East
Dali
Central
Beitun
Yilan County
Miaoli County
Nantou County
Hualien
County
Hsinchu
County
Changhua County
Name Hanzi Population (2010)
Area (km
2
)
West District y] 117,645 5.7042
Central District ] 22,935 0.8803
East District 9] 73,839 9.2855
North District (] 147,779 6.9376
South District ]] 113,109 6.8101
Beitun District (] 245,817 62.7034
Nantun District ]] 152,811 31.2578
Xitun District y] 205,408 39.8467
Dali District 9] 197,460 28.8758
Fengyuan District )] 165,457 41.1845
Taiping District /] 172,865 120.7473
Dajia District 9] 78,503 58.5192
Dongshi District 9] 53,313 117.4065
Qingshui District ,] 85,580 64.1709
Shalu District ,] 81,470 40.4604
Wuqi District |j] 55,198 18.4063
Da'an District 9] 20,292 27.4045
Dadu District 9] 55,745 37.0024
Daya District 9z] 89,715 32.4109
Heping District 1] 10,730 1037.8192
Houli District )] 54,286 58.9439
Longjing District )] 74,064 38.0377
Shengang District |] 63,761 35.0445
Shigang District (|] 16,012 18.2105
Tanzi District ,] 100,181 25.8497
Waipu District /|] 32,052 42.4099
Wufeng District ] 63,864 98.0779
Wuri District )] 68,654 43.4032
Xinshe District j|] 25,618 68.8874
1. Beitun District ((]): Geographically, this is the largest district in the city, spreading from the north to the northeastern-most reaches of
the city. It includes the comparatively rural area of Dakeng. It also includes the Taichung Folklore Park and Morrison Academy.
2. Central District (]): This is the smallest and most densely populated district in the city. It is home to the Taichung Train Station, Taichung
Park, and a large number of traditional businesses in the downtown area. This district is home to the original suncake shop on Ziyou Road
(]B) and is where most of Taichung's major businesses used to be located.
3. East District (9]): Literally on the other side of the tracks from the main part of the downtown area. The Taichung Central Department
Store is located here.
4. Nantun District (]]): Occupies the southwestern-most portions of the city. There is still considerable farmland in this area, but since the
High Speed Rail has opened in the adjacent Wuri District there is a growing number of residents. Currently, Nantun is most well known for
high property values and expensive, luxurious cottages, which have in turn attracted many large department stores into adjacent areas of
Xitun District.
5. North District ((]): Nestled between Central and Beitun Districts, it is home to the National Taichung First Senior High School and
Yizhong Street (j), one of the best known shopping belt in the city. It is also home to the National Museum of Natural Science,
Chungyou Department Store, and Zhongshan Hall.
6. Xitun District (y]): This district spreads out to the western edge of the city and is home to Feng Chia and Tunghai Universities. It is also
the location of many of the new, fashionable shopping areas in the city and is the area of greatest growth. The Taichung Industrial Park,
World Trade Center, and the Chaoma Bus Station, a major embarkation point from the city. Major department stores include Idee, Shinkong
Mitsukoshi, and Tiger City. The new City Hall is located near the eastern edge of this district on the major Taichung Port (Taizhonggang)
Road.
7. South District (]]): Occupying the southernmost part of the city, it is home to National Chung Hsing University and the Taichung Industrial
High School.
8. West District (y]): West District is home to the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts as well as the Municipal Cultural Center. A lot of
cultural activities were held here. This area is also known for its restaurants, which have attracted many people come with their reputation
for exotic cuisine. Taichung's old City Hall is here, as is National Taichung University. Sogo Department store is in the northern part of the
district.
Culture and Recreation
Professional Sports
The Sinon Bulls were a professional baseball team playing in the four-team Chinese Professional Baseball League. While they were identied
with Taichung City, many of their home games were been played outside of the city due to the inadequacies of the old Taichung Baseball Field.
The team was expected to move into the newly completed Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in 2008, but never did. At the end of the
2012 season, Sinon Corporation announced its intention to sell the team. By late December, an agreement was reached between Sinon
Corporation and E-United Group, and the team was renamed EDA Rhinos and moved to Kaohsiung .
Other Sporting Activities
Taichung hosts two road races annually. The ING Marathon preparation 10K race is held every September in the Metropolitan Park. The Supau
Cup Marathon is held on the citys streets every autumn, either in October or November.
Museums and Cultural Centers
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts: The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts is located on the corner of Wuquan West Road and
Meicun Road. It houses the worlds largest collection of Taiwanese art. There is a stream and an area outside of the museum that is very
popular with families when there is good weather.
National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS): Located on Xitun Road, this is a popular local attraction with children. NMNS together with
National Palace Museum in Taipei and the National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung are called "the Museums of Taiwan".
Across 22 acres (89,000 m
2
), the Museum is a six-venue complex housing the Space IMAX Theater, Science Center, Life Science Hall,
Chinese Science Hall, Global Environment Hall and the Botanical Garden, excluding the Earthquake Museum in Wufong, which is
dedicated to public education on seismology, located just 10 kilometers east of the main complex of NMNS. Over 30 permanent exhibit
areas cover subjects on astronomy, space science, paleontology, ecology, gems and minerals, Taiwanese Aborigines, and tropical plants.
Rotating special exhibits are a constant occurrence. It is also a place lled with hands-on exhibits that will delight children and adults of all
ages.
Taichung Municipal Cultural Center: The Municipal Cultural Center is located on Yingcai Road on property adjacent to the National Taiwan
Museum of Fine Arts.
Taichung Folklore Park: This park is dedicated to presenting a more traditional Taiwanese way of life. It includes a combination of authentic
and recreated buildings and streets in an attempt to recreate a more rustic Taiwan.
Taichung Winery: Dating back to the Japanese-era, this still- operational winery also includes a Wine Museum, which has displays on wine-
making and the history of the winery.
Stock 20: This converted railroad warehouse provides exhibition space for regular displays of modern art. Adjacent warehouses have been
converted to provide studio space for local and foreign artists, and are frequently open to the public.
Wenying Hall: A frequent venue for local art exhibitions and events. It includes an art display area along with a folk art museum and
Zhongzheng Hall.
Parkways
Jianxing Parkway (j|[)
Meicun Parkway (|[)
Jingguo Parkway ([[)
Wuquan Parkway (J|[, or y[)
Chonglun Parkway (][)
Shuyi Parkway (j{[)
Zhongming Parkway (|[)
Xingda Parkway ([9[)
Dongguang Parkway (9[)
ShuangShi Parkway ([)
Performance Venues
Zhongshan Hall: Zhongshan Hall is a popular venue for a variety of performances including musical, opera, ballet, dance, theatrical, and
other performances. Seating capacity is 1,692.
Fulllment Amphitheater: This recently completed outdoor venue is located in the Wenxin Forest Park and is suitable for a wide range of
outdoor performances.*Zhongxing Hall at National Taichung Library
Temples
Main article: Temples of Taichung
Lin Family Shrine. Originally built in Dali, Taichung County during the Qing Dynasty and later moved to Taichung City.
Wen Chang Temple in the northern part of Taichung City. Built during the Qing Dynasty
Temples can be found all over the city of Taichung. While many of them are of recent construction, others are considered historic and are
indicative of the changing currents through Taichungs history.
Confucius Temple
Martyrs Shrine: Adjacent to the temple is the Martyrs Shrine, dedicated to the heros of the Republic of China.
Pao Hueh Temple: This is a Buddhist temple which features the Big Budda. The gold, seven-oor Buddha is dedicated to Maitreya. The
temple grounds also include a Japanese Shinto shrine.
ChengHuang Temple: This temple was established during the Qing Dynasty, and has since been renovated numerous times. Its main
festival is the 15th day of the sixth lunar month.
WanChun Temple: Established during the height of the Qing Dynasty more than two hundred years ago, it is home to a couplet written by
Emperor Kuangshu. It is also noted for its lifelike carvings.
Li Ancestral Shrine:
Wen Chang Temple: Built around 1825, this temple is dedicated to the Scholar God. Students frequently come to pray prior to exams to
get good scores.
LeCheng Temple: Over two hundred years old, the Le Cheng temple is dedicated to the goddess Mazu, and is known locally as the Hanxi
Mazu. It includes an ancient cauldron and other artifacts.
WanHe Temple: This temple was built during the Qing Dynasty in thanks to the goddess Mazu. It is noted for exquisitely designed carvings.
National and Municipal Historical Sites
National Category 2 Historical Site
Taichung Train Station, Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden
National Category 3 Historical Sites
Chang-Liao Family Shrine, Wenchang Temples, Lin Family Shrine, Chang Family Ancestral Shrine, Wanhe Temple, Lecheng Temple
Wanhe Temple built during the Qing Dynasty
Municipal Historical Sites
Lake Pavilion in Taichung Park, Chishan Gate, Japanese-era Municipal Building
Unclassied
Taichung City Hall
Night Markets
Taichung has several open-air night markets that feature local food and diversions:
[26]
Fengjia Shopping Town - located adjacent to Feng Chia University
Zhong Hua Night Market - located in the heart of Central District, along ZhongHua (Jung Hua) Road.
Zhong Xiao Night Market - located south of the Taichung Railroad Station around the intersections of ZhongXiao, Taichung and GuoGuang
roads.
Hot Springs
Taichung has a famous hot spring, Guguan, located in Heping District.
Mosque
Taichung Mosque
Taichung has one mosque called the Taichung Mosque. Built in 1951, the mosque is Taiwan's 4th mosque and it is located in Nantun District.
Other Annual Activities
The Taichung Jazz Festival takes place annually through the month of October. It features a variety of acts at numerous venues throughout
the city.
Economy
Taichung's Central Business District
Taichung has a vibrant, diverse economy that incorporates traditional businesses, small family-run shops and factories, large industrial areas,
and a thriving commercial sector.
The heart of Taichungs economy has long been the small business. The small business sector still thrives in the city and is in most evidence in
the downtown area with small eateries, traditional markets, and other family businesses. Taichung's Chun Shui Tang teahouse ({) is where
bubble tea was invented, by a teahouse owner, Liu Han Chie ()).
[27]
Taichung is most famous for its suncakes (taiyang bing).
[28]
Taichung is an important center for a number of key industries. The city is a major manufacturer of bicycles and sporting goods. Small
metalworking, mold and die enterprises abound. During the heyday of the Taiwanese Miracle, the city hosted the famous "Shoes Nest," with
hundreds of small rms involved in the shoe industry, which has since moved to China. Nike's Asian design center is located in Taichung.
Xitun District is the home of Taichungs Industrial Zone. Taichungs World Trade Center Building is the symbolic heart of the zone, where various
trade shows and exhibitions are held throughout the year. Most of Taichungs traditional manufacturing base is in this area, which is the area of
Taichung City that is nearest the port. In the northeast part of Xitun District, along the border with neighboring Taichung County, there is a
science-based Industrial Park.
The growing prosperity of Taichung residents has resulted in the explosive growth of the upscale retail sector, with the opening of massive up-
market department stores, as well as the construction of several luxurious condo complexes in the rapidly developing areas near a newly
constructed government complex, as well as the growth of up-market neighborhoods in Beitun District.
Education
Main article: Education in Taichung
National Taichung Educational University.
Taichung City offers a full range of educational opportunities for its residents. From kindergartens to national universities, Taichung has schools
that t nearly every need from bilingual kindergartens to world class public and private university education.
Below is an accounting of the schools that can be found in Taichung City:
3 public universities
6 private universities
3 junior colleges
7 public senior high schools
7 private senior high schools
4 vocational high schools
2 special education schools
25 public junior high schools
7 private junior high schools
58 public elementary schools
7 private elementary schools
3 international schools
3 Chinese language training centers (including Taichung County)
undeterminable number of kindergartens and cram schools
Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Taichung
TRA Taichung Station.
THSR Taichung Station.
Rail
In Taichung, there are two parallel railways, one is Mountain Line which passes through the urban areas in the interior, and the other is Coast
line which passes through rural areas closer to the shore.
Along the Mountain Line, there are (from south to north):
Chenggong Station ([)Ay)
Xinwuri Station (j)Ay)
Wuri Station ()Ay)
Daqing Station (9Ay)
Wuchuan Station (J|Ay) - under construction
Taichung Station (Ay)
Jingwu Station (|;Ay) - under construction
Taiyuan Station (/)Ay)
Songzhu Station (||Ay) - under construction
Toujiacuo Station (pgjAy) - under construction
Tanzi Station (,Ay)
Fengnan Station (]Ay) - under construction
Fengyuan Station ()Ay)
Houli Station ()Ay)
Tai'an Station (qAy)
Along the Coast Line, there are (from south to north):
Zhuifen Station (Ay)
Dadu Station (9Ay)
Longjing Station ()Ay)
Shalu Station (,Ay)
Qingshui Station (,Ay)
Taichung Port Station (Ay)
Dajia Station (9Ay)
Rinan Station (]Ay)
Taichung Station is located on Jianguo Road ([). There is a small square in the front of the station, and numerous bus companies have
stations within a three-minute walk of the station. They provide comprehensive local bus service along with long-distance bus services, many of
which are to towns not served by trains.
Taichung Station lies on the Taiwan Railway Administration Mountain Line, which splits from the coastal line from Changhua City to the south of
Taichung, to Jhunan, near Hsinchu, to the north.
The rst southbound train departs for Pingtung at 6:05 in the morning while the rst northbound train departs for Taipei at 6:10 am. The last
trains in the early morning depart at 2:37 am and 2:46 for Pingtong and respectively.
There are two other local train stations within the city limits of Taichung. They are Taiyuan Station located in Beitun District and Daqing Station
in South District. Both are only serviced by local trains.
The new Taiwan High Speed Rail was recently completed, allowing travel to Taipei and Kaohsiung in 90 minutes. The THSR Taichung Station is
located in Wuri and is served both by local trains as well as free shuttle buses into the city.
Sea Port
Taichung Port.
Taichung Port, located on the coast in Taichung County, is the second largest cargo facility on the island capable of handling container shipping.
Despite being the second largest port on the island of Taiwan, there are no passenger ferry services available and the port is closed to
unauthorized personnel.
Inner City Trafc
Unlike other major cities, Taichung has no expressway crossing the city. The heaviest trafc congestion is on Taichung Harbor Road (),
which can come to a stand still not only during rush hour, but also on weekends or late evenings as many of the most popular shopping centers
and movie theaters are on that stretch of road. Other busy stretches of road include SanMin Road near Chungyou Department Store and
Yizhong Street, especially during late evening, when local cram schools and baseball games typically let out.
The downtown area is roughly a grid pattern with Ziyou Road (]B) and SanMin [) running southwest to northeast while
Zhongzheng Road () and Linsen Road ([[) run northwest from the center of the city, in addition to the more narrow one-way roads
that follow the grid pattern as well.
A large number of multi-lane roads lead out of the downtown area in all directions. Some of these roads are divided by a physical barrier or
median to enhance safety. These roads include Taichung Harbor Road (), Wuquan West Road (J|y), Beitun Road ((),
Taiyuan Road (/)), Hanxi Road (=), Guoguang Road ([), Zhongqing Road (,,) Wuquan South Road (J|]) and
Wenxin South Road (5]).
Stop lights and lane indicators are generally observed on major streets, but are often viewed more as suggestions rather than legally enforced
trafc rules unless trafc police ofcers are present. Speed limits are often not enforced, except where specically designated speed detection
cameras are present and marked with signs, making trafc conditions some of the most dangerous on the island. Most major intersections have
trafc signs with Romanized names. However, despite the fact that Taichung City has recently declared Hanyu Pinyin the ofcial romanization
system for the city, there are numerous signs leftover from previous romanizations while the a large number of minor intersections have no
romanization of any kind. Navigation in Taichung City is extremely difcult for those who are unable to read Chinese characters.
Mass Rapid Transit
See also: Taichung Metropolitan Area MRT System
The Taichung Downtown Bus Plaza, one block from the Taichung Train Station
The city currently does not have any type of rapid transit system, though construction on the rst line of the municipal MRT system is scheduled
to begin in October 2009 with completion of the Wuri-Beitun line schedule for completion in 2015 or 2016.
[29]
Due to the nancial problem of
Taichung city and the estimate of the central government, the budget of the metros second line, known as the MRT blue line, did not pass under
the Parliament in 2009. Taichung city government soon planned another program, Taichung Bus Rapid Transportation (Taichung BRT), to
replace the withdrawal of the metros second line.
Taichung BRT is now under construction and it will be nished in the end of 2013. Beside the blue line, Taichung city government plans to build
seven BRT line in the entire city and the budget is passed.
In order to make the BRT system works more like the metro system, it will have a dedicated BRT line to allow it operating separately and it will
have the exclusive and closed stations along the BRT line. Passengers also need to buy the ticket before get in the bus.
While a normal bus system exists covering parts of the city, it is not reliable in all places. Among the bus companies providing local service are
Taichung Bus Company ({), Fengyuan Bus Company (){), Changhua Bus Company ({), and Presidential Bus Company.
While heavily congested areas have buses, other areas have intermittent to no service. While there is theoretically a schedule when buses are
to arrive, they are often not reliable. Signs at bus stops are not bilingual, not complete and often, not current.
Freeways and Expressways
National Highway No. 1 ([), also known as the Sun Yat-Sen Freeway, passes through the western part of downtown Taichung and has
ve interchanges. The northernmost is in Houli District ()), the second in Fengyuan District (|), the next two are in Xitun District (,
and ), another in Nantun District (J|y), and the southernmost is in Dadu District (,). It also has one junction with National
Highway No. 4 in Shengang District.
The second most important North-South freeway, the National Highway No. 3, passes through the city, it has four interchanges, the rst in Dajia
District ()), the next in Shalu District (|j), another in Longjing District ([), and the northernmost in Wuri District ()).
The only national highway completely within the city limits of Taichung is the National Highway No. 4, connecting (from East to West) the
districts of Fengyuan, Shengang and Qingshui, and has two junctions, one with Highway No. 1 and the other with Highway No. 3.
Taichung-Changhua Expressway (]Q,) is the main stretch of Provincial Highway No. 74 that runs from northwestern Taichung City
into the northern part of Changhua City just to the south of Taichung. At some points, it is just a few dozen meters east of the Sun Yat-Sen
Freeway. While it does not connect directly to that highway, it does have an interchange with National Highway No. 3 ([) in Wuri District,
where one can then access it in a couple of minutes.
Taichung-Nantou Highway (j;,) also known as Provincial Highway No. 63, runs from Dali District to Nantou County. It can be accessed
by driving on Wuquan South Road. While there is no direct interchange with National Highway No. 3, one can get off in Wufeng and, after about
two minutes on surface roads, easily access the highway.
Taichung International Airport
Taichung Airport.
Main article: Taichung Airport
The Taichung International Airport is the third and newest international airport in Taiwan. The Taichung International Airport civilian terminal is
located on the western corner of Ching Chuan Kang Air Base (CCK), about 20 kilometers (12 mi) from downtown Taichung City. The main road
linking Taichung and the airport is Zhongqing Road (Provincial Route 10). The airport is located within a kilometer (1,100 yd) of the Shalu (,)
Exit on National Highway Number 3.
In 2002, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications began working on a plan to move air trafc from Taichung's ShuiNan Airport to the
CCK Air Force base as a rst step to converting CCK into a new international airport to facilitate larger aircraft.
The airport opened in early 2004, and the expanded facility at CCK Air Force Base has a much longer runway capable of handling larger
aircraft. International charter ight service from the city began the same day.
The opening of The Taichung International Airport did spark a spat of partisan controversies about being incomplete and safety concerns were
raised.
[30]
The fact that Taiwan has more airports per capita than any other country in the region and prohibits private airplanes fell on deaf ears
because the anticipated and protracted opening of direct links with the Chinese mainland are expected to require an increase in air trafc.
Taichung's airport currently handles daily scheduled ights between Taichung and the cities of Taipei and Hualian, as well as the offshore
islands of Penghu (Pescadores) and Kinmen. Airlines operating out of Taichung include Mandarin and UNI. International air services are
expected to continue growing to include charter ights between Taichung and South Korea, plus special charter ights to other destinations and
possibly the Chinese mainland.
Romanization
Taichung City is in the process of implementing Hanyu Pinyin on road signs throughout the city. However, there are still signs displaying
spellings from previously used romanization systems as well as Tongyong Pinyin and systems that do not conform to any standard system.
[31]

Unlike Taipei which uses a capital letter at the beginning of every syllable, Taichung City uses the standard form of Hanyu Pinyin on street signs
erected in recent years. However, the municipal website uses the Taipei system. Most major intersections have at least one sign containing
some form of romanization. Nearly every intersection in the downtown area has signs in Hanyu Pinyin. However, outside of the downtown area,
while coverage by Hanyu Pinyin signs is improving, many intersections have signs in other romanization systems (especially WadeGiles and
MPS2) or no Romanized signs at all.

National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Taipei is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings consider
printing them all.
Taipei (( or (; Tib'i) [1] is the national capital of Taiwan. It is in the northern part of the island in a basin between the Yangming
Mountains and the Central Mountains. It is, with 2.6 million inhabitants, the fourth largest administrative area of Taiwan, after New Taipei,
Kaohsiung and Taichung. However, the Greater Taipei metropolitan area, which encompasses the central Taipei City along with the surrounding
New Taipei City and Keelung, represents the largest urban cluster in Taiwan with nearly 7 million people. Taipei serves as the island's nancial,
cultural and governmental centre.
[edit] Districts
Taipei City administers twelve districts (]):
[edit] Central districts

Districts of Taipei
Wanhua (T])
Wanhua is the oldest district of Taipei, home to many historic buildings, such as the Longshan Temple and the
Red House Theater. Ximending is the "harajuku of Taipei", a shopping neighbourhood centred around teenager
fashion, Japanese culture and subcultures.
Datong (9|])
Datong is one of the oldest inhabited areas in what is now Taipei. It used to be the city's commercial centre, but
has lost relevance as the economic centre shifted southeast to Zhongzheng, Daan and Xinyi. It is now most
known for Dihua Street with its Japanese colonial and Qing dynasty architecture and Chinese herbal and dry
goods shops.
Zhongzheng (])
The political center of Taiwan and the location of the Presidential Ofce and important government ministries.
Its prime tourist attractions is the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Zhongshan (|])
Zhongshan has riverside parks, the Martyrs Shrine, the Fine Arts Museum, and a large pub and bar scene.
Daan (9])
Daan is a modern commercial district. The northern part of Daan is known as Taipei's East District, offering
department stores, plenty of fashion boutiques, lounge bars, and atmospheric restaurants and some of the
most expensive real estate in the city. The southern part of Daan is home to National Taiwan University and
National Taiwan Normal University and many small shops and restaurants geared towards students.
Xinyi (j{])
Xinyi is the modern nancial district of Taipei and home to the Taipei 101, the World Trade Center and the
International Convention Center. It is the newest part of the city with many shopping malls and entertainment
venues.
Songshan (||])
Many rms and nancial institutions in this neighbourhood, which is directly north of the East District. Raohe
Street Night Market is one of the oldest of Taipei's famous street markets.
[edit] Suburban districts
Beitou ((j])
This district is famous for hot springs and the Yangmingshan National Park.
Shilin ([])
A traditional area of the city that is known for its excellent museums, including the world famous National
Palace Museum. Shilin is also home to one of Taipei's largest nightmarket and the expat enclave of Tianmu.
Neihu (|{])
Climate Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Daily highs (C) 19 19 22 26 29 32 35 34 31 28 24 21
Nightly lows (C) 13 14 15 19 22 24 26 26 24 22 19 15
Precipitation (mm) 83 170 180 178 235 326 245 322 361 149 83 73
Central Weather Bureau seven day forecast for Taipei: [2]
Located in the north-east of the city, Neihu is a hub of IT industry in Taipei, home to many large shopping
centers, and a great place for hiking and 'templing'. A mouth-watering juxtaposition of local Taiwanese culture
and modern shopping malls and restaurants. A denite must-visit, Neihu is largely a secret to the tourist world,
unfortunately.
Nangang (]])
Neighboring Neihu, this district is known for its IT industrial complexes and is also home to one of Taiwan's
leading academic institution - Academia Sinica.
Wenshan (5|])
This district comprises the two traditional districts of Muzha and Jingmei. It is in the south of the city and
associated with its many tea plantations and also for being the location of Taipei Zoo.
Taipei is surrounded by New Taipei (j(), the largest city of Taiwan by population and surface area. Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung (g),
are basically one metropolitan area, but are run by three different government authorities.
[edit] Understand
In 1884, the Qing dynasty governor of Taiwan, Liu Mingchuan, decided to move the prefecture capital to Taipei, and with the construction of
government ofces and the inux of civil servants, Taipei's days as a sleepy market town were over. Taipei remained the provincial capital when
Taiwan was granted provincial status in 1885. As Taipei is in the north of Taiwan (the closest area to Japan), the city continued to thrive when
Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895. However, as Japan was in the throes of a 'modernize-come-what-may' period, little regard was paid to
Taipei's traditional Chinese-style architecture and many of the old buildings, including the city walls, were demolished. On the other hand,
several European-style buildings were constructed by the Japanese rulers - the Presidential Palace and National Taiwan University being
among the most famous. The city's architecture, however, suffered another major onslaught when the KMT government arrived from mainland
China in 1945.
To cope with the inux of millions of mainland refugees, temporary housing estates sprang up all around the city. Later, these were replaced by
Soviet-era style (or 'no-style') concrete apartment buildings. These buildings characterized Taipei's landscape until very recently.
In the 1980s, Taiwan's economy began to take off. Wages increased and in order to satisfy a wealthy and sophisticated market, Taipei began to
change. Wide, tree lined boulevards were laid, high quality apartment blocks constructed and stylish restaurants and cafes established. The city
was booming and has never looked back since.
The Taipei of today is a condent city of about 2.5 million inhabitants (about seven million including suburbs), and is characterized by its friendly
people and safe streets. While it is not usually high on the list of tourist destinations, it is a fascinating place to visit and live. Furthermore,
despite its size, Taipei does not have any rough areas that are considered unsafe, even at night - which in itself is attractive.
The downtown area is culturally divided into East and West. The West side, with its narrow streets and road side vendors, is considered the
bastion of old Taipei life, whereas East Taipei, with its classy malls, chic boutiques, and stylish restaurants and cafes, reminiscent of those found
in Tokyo, Paris or New York represents the city's metamorphosis into a modern and international city.
[edit] Climate
Taipei has a semi-tropical climate characterized by hot and humid weather.
The most comfortable season to visit is the fall, when the rainfall is at its
lowest and the temperatures average a pleasant mid 20C. February to April
are particularly damp with little sunlight, while the summers can be very hot,
but often punctuated by heavy thunder showers. Taipei is prone to typhoons
from May to October, though the highest concentrations are in August and
September. Winters can be quite chilly, with temperatures occasionally falling
below 10C at night, though snowfall has never been known to occur.
[edit] Tourism
Taiwan Tourism Bureau [3] The ofcal Tourism Bureau website.
Taipei Travel Net [4] The ofcial travel guide from the Taipei City Government.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
[edit] Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
Taipei's international airport is ofcially called Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport [5] ([j[[j|) (IATA: TPE). However, the name
was changed only in September 2006 and the old name, Chiang Kai Shek International Airport (often abbreviated as CKS), is still commonly
used. Many airlines y to the Taoyuan International Airport. The airport is located about 30 km from the city and freeway buses ply the route,
picking up and dropping off passengers at most of the ve star hotels. It also stops at the Taipei Main Station and the domestic airport
(Songshan Airport), which is in downtown Taipei. There are also bus services connecting the airport to nearby cities and Taichung in central
Taiwan. Travelers to other destinations need to change transportation in Taipei.
There are four transportation options at the airport: bus, high speed rail, taxi, and pre-arranged sedan. An MRT line is under construction, but it
will not be completed until October 2014. Here are the options from cheapest to most expensive forms of transportation:
Express airport buses cost between NT$120 and NT$150 depending on the bus company, and there are stops at both terminals. Most Taipei
routes are divided into West and East, with each company operating a service every ten to fteen minutes on each route. The western line bus
terminates at Taipei Main Railway Station and also makes a stop at Yuanshan MRT Station on the Xindian line (NB: The Airbus company buses
on the western line meander through local towns before joining the freeway and therefore take much longer than the blue and white Guoguang
buses which enter the freeway directly). Buses plying the eastern route terminate at the Taipei Grand Hyatt Hotel and make a stop at
Zhongxiao-Fuxing MRT Station on the Nangang and Muzha lines. There is also a bus connecting to the domestic Songshan Airport. Ticket
counters display route maps showing all stops.
In addition, there are some non-express buses which are slightly cheaper, but pass through towns such as Taoyuan (j[), Nankan (]\) or
Kueishan (|) before arriving in Taipei.
When returning to the airport, express buses can be caught at various stops throughout the city. One major one leaves every 15-20 minutes
from Taipei West Bus Station adjacent to Taipei Main Railway Station (near MRT exit M5 and underground mall exits K12 and Z3). Another is at
the terminal at the Songshan Domestic Airport (|||). Other stops are outside major hotels and also in front of Minsheng MRT Station. For
people taking early morning ights, the earliest available buses to the airport leave at around 4AM from the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel ((9[
j9[)) (201 Dunhua South Rd Section 2). Be sure to prepare change for the bus fare as change will not be given for tickets purchased
directly on the bus.
It is also easy to get to the High Speed Rail station from the airport. There is a bus that runs approximately every 15 minutes from the airport
to the Taoyuan High Speed Rail station. From there, you can catch one of the HSR trains to Taipei Main Station (where it is easy to take a taxi
or MRT to your nal destination). The bus is NT$30 and the train is NT$160. On the way back, there are check-in counters at the station for
China Airlines, EVA and UNI ights.
A one-way taxi fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$900 (generally NT$1000-$1200 from the airport). In Taipei, don't
make the mistake of asking a taxi driver to take you to the Taipei airport (Songshan) if you actually mean Taiwan Taoyuan Airport. The
international airport is actually about an hour's drive from Taipei, while Songshan is in downtown Taipei.
A one-way pre-arranged sedan fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$1300-$1500. Generally these sedans are pre-
arranged through your hotel and the sedan company or driver will meet you as soon as you exit baggage claim. Since the price is not much
more than taking a taxi, it is usually recommended that you ask your hotel if they offer this service. This is a more comfortable half-hour ride to
the hotel.
Direct bus connections between the airport and other cities in Taiwan are also available. U-bus also runs shuttle buses every 15 min from both
terminals to THSR Taoyuan station (15 min away), from where you can continue your journey by high-speed train.
In addition to the transit hotel within the airport terminal, there are several hotels located near the airport if you desire more comfortable quarters
for an extended transit or for some other reason would rather lodge by the airport than in Taipei. The Novotel Taoyuan International Airport,
located next to the China Airlines headquarters building, is mere minutes from both terminals and has commanding views of the airport's
runways. Also nearby is the CitySuites Gateway Hotel, 10 minutes from the Cing-pu High-speed Rail Station and three minutes away from
Taoyuan International Airport. [6]. Another inexpensive option is a nearby love motel [7]
Night sevice There is, although it's really hard to nd information about it. Best source is the airport website [8]. As of 21Feb2012 there is
overnight bus service to Taipei Railway station as follows: 1:30am, 3:00am for Terminal 1 (exit B5), add 10 mins for Terminal 2 (bus station,
1819 stand). Ticket is purchased from the driver as the ticket counter will be closed - 165 NT$. Unconrmed - one extra departs at 04:00,
Wednesday & Saturday at Terminal 2 Without Detouring Terminal 1. From the Taipei Railway you can take overnight train to connect to other
cities or bus from the adherent bus station. It takes about 55 min from the airport to the city (at night).
[edit] Songshan Airport

Songshan Airport
Songshan Airport (|||) at the northern end of Dunhua North Rd is the city's domestic airport, as well as serving a few select international
routes to regional destinations. There are numerous daily ights arriving and departing for all major cities on the island and the outlying islands.
The airport also serves ights to mainland China and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan. The airport is served by the Metro Brown
Line's (ofcially labeled the Wenshan-Neihu Line) Songshan Airport Station and can be reached in about 20 minutes from the city's main railway
station.
[edit] By train

Taipei Railway Station
All inter-city trains [9], including those operated by the Taiwan High Speed Rail ([() [10], arrive at and depart from Taipei Railway Station
((Ay) on Zhongxiao West Road, Sec 1 - opposite the 53 story Shinkong Mitsukoshi Building (j]). Taipei Main Station is a huge
facility. Ticket counters are on the rst oor and platforms in B1. There is also a food court on the second oor, several underground shopping
malls, an auditorium on the 5th oor and MRT stations serving three lines. In addition to ticket counters, the rst oor also has a tourist ofce,
small supermarkets, a post ofce, stores selling aboriginal handicrafts and several booths offering head and neck and full body massage
(NT$100 for ten minutes).
The THSR stations and platforms are wheelchair-friendly and all trains include a wheelchair-accessible carriage (wider doors, ample space,
accessible toilet). Note that the ofcial English guide for online reservations distinguishes between "senior or disabled tickets" and "handicap-
friendly seats"; while it's possible to buy a ticket for the former online ("correct passenger ID" required), a ticket for the latter has to be reserved
by calling the ticketing ofce on the phone.
[edit] By bus
Intercity buses arrive and depart from the Taipei Bus Terminal, which is located on Chengde Road, behind Taipei Main Station. Generally
speaking, the buses operated by private companies are more comfortable and sport such amenities as wide reclining seats and individual game
and video monitors. The government run buses are blue and white and are called gugu!ng ho ([). All intercity buses are known as
kyn ({) and can be distinguished from the local city buses called g"ngch$ (;A) by the fact that they do not have a route number, but only
the name of the destination.
[edit] Get around
[edit] By metro

Taipei MRT
Taipei City has a very clean, efcient and safe Mass Rapid Transit system [11] known most commonly as the MRT, but also called Metro Taipei
((). Muzha line, which connects to Taipei Zoo, is a driverless elevated system. The last trains depart at midnight. Fares are between
NT$20 and NT$65 for one-way trips around town. Stations and trains are clearly identied in English, so even for those who cannot read
Chinese, the MRT system is very accessible. All stops are announced in four languages: Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka and English. Most
stations have information booth/ticket ofces close to the ticket vending machines. There is no eating or drinking while in the stations or on the
trains. Trains generally run from 6AM to midnight, with convenient bus connections outside the stations.
Women and/or children traveling at night can benet from the Safe Zones - sections of platforms that are under heavy surveillance - located in
some of the subway lines. Stations and trains (including the monorail) are wheelchair-friendly, but note that when there are multiple exits from a
single station, usually only one of these is equipped with a lift.

MRT Station in Taipei
In addition to single journey tickets, the Taipei MRT also sells value-added cards/smartcards called EasyCard (). These cards hold
amounts up to NT$5,000, and one only needs to "touch" (sensor) them past the barrier monitor to gain entry and exit. Value added cards can be
purchased at station ticket ofces or at vending machines. One great advantage of using the EasyCard is that there is a 20% discount on all
MRT rides, and if you transfer from the MRT to an ordinary city bus, or vice versa, within an hour, the bus ride is only NT$7. The discount is
automatically calculated when you leave the MRT station. Student cards with even deeper discounts are also available for purchase, but only
upon request at a desk and a student ID. The EasyCard can be recharged at convenience stores and subway stations. In addition to the
subway and buses, some parking lots also offer an option to pay with the EasyCard. To purchase a new EasyCard you will need to pay NT$500
(including a deposit of NT$100 and NT$400 usable credit). It is also possible to buy day cards just for the metro system for NT$200 (refundable
deposit of NT$50)and for NT$180 you can buy a card that works on both the metro and buses. Alternatively, the Taipei Pass costs NT$250 (no
deposit) and covers travel on the metro and Maokong Gondola for one day. These are very convenient and if you are doing more than 6 or 8
journeys in a day, will also cover their cost (Prices at Feb 2012). For more information, see their website [12]. In recent times, major
convenience stores such as 7-11, as well as various other retail outlets have begun to accept the card as payment.
Often times limited-edition cards are issued by the transit authority depicting artworks, famous characters, landscapes, etc. These are quite
collectible and are perfect souvenirs for your trip. Remember single-journey tokens are recycled when you exit the stations, so if you want to
keep a particular one you should purchase an extra.
[edit] By bus

Taipei City Bus
Taipei City has a very efcient bus service [13], and because all buses display information (destination and the names of stops) in English, the
system is very accessible to non-Chinese speaking visitors. Payment can be made by cash (NT$15) or EasyCard (see "metro" listing) for each
section that the bus passes through. For local buses (all local buses have a number, but long distance buses do not) the maximum will be two
sections with a total cost of NT$30. The confusion, however, arises by not knowing where the section boundaries are located and the fact that
there is often a buffer zone to prevent people who get on one stop before the boundary from overpayment.
When to pay Above the driver, there is an electronic red sign. If the Chinese character for "up" () is lit, then you pay when you get on. If the
same sign is lit when you get off, you do not need to pay again. However, if the sign is displaying the Chinese character for "down" () when
you are getting off, then you will need to pay a second time. Finally, if the character for "down" is lit up when you get on, then you need to pay
only when you get off. Until you get the hang of the system, just let the locals go rst and follow their action. It's really not as complicated as it
sounds, and bus drivers won't let you forget a second payment if you owe one!
Besides, if you are transferring from the transit system to a bus within one hour, there is a discounted bus fare.
[edit] By taxi
Taxis are the most exible way to get around, and are extremely numerous. They are expensive in comparison to mass transit, but are cheap
when compared to taxis in the rest of the world. Most taxi drivers cannot speak English, and it will be necessary for non-Chinese speakers to
have their destination written down in Chinese. Taxis are metered, with higher rates for night (an additional NT$20 over the meter). Tipping
is neither necessary nor expected.
Since 2012, all passengers are required to buckle their seatbelt. Women and/or children traveling at night are advised to use one of the
reputable taxi companies. The toll free taxi hotline is 0800-055850 (maintained by Department of Transportation).
Taiwanese taxi drivers tend to be more honest than in many other countries. They are notorious for their strong opinions on politics. A large
majority of them support Taiwan independence as they spend all day listening to talk radio. They will probably be unable to share any of this
with you if you do not speak Chinese. Avoid any potential political discussion.
It is not advisable for lone women at night to hail a random taxi from the street - it is best to have the number of one of the bigger taxi
companies and to call for a cab. Taking a taxi at night in Taipei is more dangerous than walking.
[edit] By bicycle
Even though motorized trafc is very heavy in Taipei, bicycles are still legitimate vehicles to get around. There are long cycle paths beside most
rivers in the city. Bicycles can also be carried on the Taipei metro but only at certain times and via certain stations - bicycles aren't permitted in
larger interchange stations such as Taipei Main Station and Zhongxiao Fuxing, and bicycles are only permitted in the rst and last carriages.
Unlike Mainland China, there are no segregated bike lanes but on the busiest streets cycling on the pavement (US English: sidewalk) is
permitted, as in Japan.
[edit] By car
Renting a car is not only unnecessary, but not recommended in Taipei unless you are planning to head out of the city. Trafc tends to be frantic,
and parking spaces are expensive and difcult to nd. Most of the main tourist destinations are reachable by public transport, and you should
use that as your main mode of travel.
[edit] Address system
The Taipei address system is very logical and user-friendly. The hub of the city is the corner of the east-west running Zhongxiao () and
north-south running Zhongshan (|) Rds, however while the north/south divide is made at Zhongxiao here, further east it is made instead at
Bade (1j) Rd, something which confuses even people who have lived in Taipei for years. All major roads are identied by their direction in
relation to these roads. For example, all sections of the north-south running Fuxing (j[) Rd north of Bade are called Fuxing North Rd (j[(
). Likewise, those sections to the south are called Fuxing South Rd (j[]). Those that cross Zhongshan road are similarly identied as
either east or west. Section ([; dun) numbers begin at 'one' near the two dening roads and increase at intersections of major highways. For
example, Ren'ai ()) Rd (which has only an east location and therefore does not have a direction sufx), Section 1 will be close to Zhongshan
South Rd. The section number will increase as one moves further away from Zhongshan Rd. So, for example, when Ren'ai Rd reaches Dunhua
South Rd (}]) far in the east of the city, a typical address could be: 7F, 166 Ren'ai Rd, Section 4. The house and lane numbers begin at
zero every section. Lanes ((; xing) lead off roads (; l) and streets (j; ji3), while alleys (); nng) branch off lanes.
[edit] Talk
Taipei is a city of people from many different origins, and you can nd a good mix of Chinese (people whose families migrated to Taiwan from
1949 onwards) and native Taiwanese (people whose families had been in Taiwan since the Ming or Qing Dynasties). While Mandarin is the
lingua franca, and is spoken and understood by most people under the age of 60, other Chinese "dialects" are commonly heard as well. Among
the native Taiwanese, while speakers of Minnan form the majority, there is also a signicant number of Hakka-speaking native Taiwanese living
in Taipei.
English is compulsory in all Taiwanese schools, and most people under the age of 40 will have at least a basic grasp of English, though few are
uent. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that learning some Mandarin and/or Minnan will make your trip much smoother.
[edit][add listing] See
Taipei is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles, and this
section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.
Taipei has often been skipped by tourists in favour of its East Asian rivals such as Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, but those who take the time
to visit Taipei and look around will soon nd that Taipei is just as vibrant as any other major city, and is full of a certain charm which makes it
unique in its own right. Just spend a day wandering around Taipei's streets and you will start nding many surprises.
[edit] Landmarks

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall () [14] is the famous symbol of both Taipei and the Republic of China. It is here
that the nation's ag is raised every morning, and the huge court yard in front of the memorial serves as a place for both national
celebrations as well as a platform to voice one's disapproval of the government. The memorial consists of a large bronze statue of Chiang
Kai-shek, watched over by two motionless honor guards who are replaced every hour in a rie twirling ceremony. Downstairs, there is a
museum of Chiang's life, complete with his sedans and uniforms. Even if you are not into memorials, the gardens, with their Chinese style
ponds, are denitely worth a visit. The memorial has its own MRT station on the Xindian line. The grounds of the memorial are also a
favorite place for locals to gather and practice martial arts, though you'll have to be there early if you want to see this. Most people begin
their work-out at around sunrise, and will have left for the ofce before 8AM.

Taipei 101
Taipei 101 (( 101) [15]. Ofcially known as the Taipei International Financial Center (([j}9), this 101-oor, 508-meter high
skyscraper is in the Xinyi District of Taipei and is the second tallest skyscraper in the world. The tower is rich in symbolism; it was designed
to resemble bamboo rising from the earth, a plant recognized in Asian cultures for its fast growth and exibility, both of which are ideal
characteristics for a nancial building. The building is also divided into eight distinct sections, with eight being a number associated with
prosperity in Chinese culture. The internal architecture of Taipei 101 is similarly awe-inspiring. Pay attention to ornate details on the
structural beams, columns, and other elements. Taipei 101 is perhaps most notable for its feats of engineering. It was the world's tallest
building from 2004 to 2010, as determined by three of the four standards designated by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. It
also boasts the world's second fastest elevators, which will zip visitors up to the 89th-oor observation deck in a mere 37 seconds (cost:
NT$450 for adults, NT$400 for kids under 12). It's worth taking a ride up, as the views are stunning. It opens 10am - 10pm daily. The best
time to visit would be in the late afternoon when you spend a couple of hours and see both day and night views of Taipei. You can also go
up to the outdoor observatory on the 91st oor (note that while it's possible to go to the outdoor observatory in a wheelchair, the view is
negligible, as the concrete railing is too high to see over). Don't forget to look toward the middle of the building, where you'll see the world's
largest spherical tuned mass damper (one of three) that keep the building steady. Attached to the tower is a large, up-scale mall. While the
stores are unremarkable in that they offer the same brand-names as stores in other major cities around the world, the open and spacious
design of the structure itself denitely makes it worth a visit. Located next to the cafes on the fourth oor is Page One Bookstore, which
has one of the largest selections of English books in Taiwan. A supermarket specializing in imported food items is located in the basement.
(See also the "shopping" section for more on the mall). Taipei 101 is a 15 to 20-minute walk from the Taipei City Hall MRT station (Blue
Line). Noon time is less crowded as tour groups have lunch.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall ([,[) is constructed in the memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen who is the founding father of the Republic of
China. The construction of the Memorial commenced in 1965 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth. It was
opened in May 16, 1972, with the majestic architecture and placid landscape covering an area of some 115,500 sq. meters. The park
named Zhongshan Park marks the front yard of the Hall. On the inside, there is a 19-foot bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, watched over
the day by motionless military honor guards, along with a library of 400 seats storing over 1.4 millions books. The 100 meter long
Zhongshan corridor links the main hall to the four large exhibition buildings where contemporary arts and historical articles are frequently on
display. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall has grown into much of a community center, and is much less touristy than the newer and larger
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. There is an auditorium which has weekly lectures and seminars on aspects of art and life. It is also a popular
site for public concerts.

The National Concert Hall
National Theater Hall ([gj) and National Concert Hall ([g3@) - Located in the grounds of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, it
is an are excellent place to see performances of a Taiwanese play or a dance troupe. They also host many international events. Taiwan's
National Symphony Orchestra [16] performs at the National Concert Hall. The building's neo-classic Chinese architecture is especially
stunning when ood-lit at night.
National Taiwan University ([9=, or 9<Tai-da> for short) [17]. Taiwan's pre-eminent institution of higher education, NTU is on the
south side of Taipei. The campus grounds are surrounded by several blocks of shops, bookstores, eateries, cafes and tea houses popular
with students and scholars. This is one of the main transportation hubs, as many buses stop here. While you wait for your bus, or before
you go underground to catch the subway, you can shop for clothing, accessories, books, or trinkets. You name it, you can nd it. Browse
through the stalls and booths directly across the street from the main entrance of the university (don't forget there is a lot more just behind
the main street), grab a bite or two of the popular snacks, such as fresh fruit, spice-cooked meats, soy goodies, sky high ice cream cones,
sweets, shaved ice, tapioca teas, fresh bread, and more. You can also sample the yummy Taiwanese fried chicken chain Ding Gua Gua.
Try a "Gua Gua Bao," a avorful sticky rice pouch. If you like sweet potato, Ding Gua Gua's fries will make you want to come back for more!
There are many American fast food restaurants across the street on the right of the University, right next to several wonderful book stores.
Nearest MRT station: Gongguan (;[) on the Xindian (Green) Line.

The Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel ([|9[)) [18]. A 5-star hotel near Yuanshan, it was rated as one of the world's top ten hotels by the US Fortune
magazine in 1968. It opened in May 1952, and expanded several times before becoming the landmark it is today. The swimming pool,
tennis court, and membership lounge were constructed in 1953. The Golden Dragon Pavilion and Golden Dragon Restaurant opened in
1956 and the The Jade Phoenix Pavilion and Chi-Lin Pavilion opened in 1958 and 1963 respectively. The main Grand Hotel building was
completed on the Double Tenth Day of 1973, making it an instant icon of Taipei. And this hotel is a part of scene in the Taiwanese lm - Eat
Drink Man Woman by the world famous Director - Ang Lee.
[edit] Museums/Galleries
The National Palace Museum (p]j) - The world's best collection of Chinese historical artifacts and antiquities. The museum is in
Shilin. The nearest MRT station is Shilin ([), with frequent buses from Shilin heading for the Palace Museum. Look for the displays on
the buses. Some are written in English. It's a must-see for rst time visitors. It gives combined admission tickets (Adults NT$ 250) with the
Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines.
Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines ([)[][), 282 Zhishan Road, Sec 2 [19] in Shilin. Located 200 meter further
(opposite direction than to Shilin MRT station) on the opposite site of the street than the National Palace Museum. This museum houses
exhibitions of Aboriginal culture, beliefs, rituals and lifestyle. Around 100 lms about the traditional aborigional culture and custom can be
viewed and visitors can enjoy Austronesian music and of other ethnics in music appreation section. An English audio guide is available. It
gives combined admission tickets with the National Palace Museum.
Hua Shan Cultural and Creative Industry Center (T|]5[]), 1 Bade Road, Sec 1. This former brewery has been transformed
into a creative space in a park. The exhibitions here are well presented and imaginative and the theater performances, while less formal
than those at the National Theater, are still rst rate. The center also has a great cafe with outdoor seating, an excellent place to watch
Taipei at work and play over a cappuccino.
Taipei Fine Arts Museum ((y[), 181 Zhongshan North Rd, Sec. 3 (near the Yuanshan

Taipei Fine Arts Museum
MRT Station on the Danshui line) [20]. Open Tues-Sun 9:30AM-5PM. Adult admission NT$30, concessions NT$15. The museum displays
work of local and international artists.
Spot - Taipei Film House ((g), Zhongshan North Rd, Sec. 2 (nearest MRT Station: Zhongshan on the Danshui line) [21]. This
former residence of the U.S. Ambassador has been transformed into an art center that focuses on independent lms. In addition to
screenings, the house also has great cafes and restaurants that spill out onto balconies and into the garden. The book store offers a good
selection of hard-to-get art/independent lms on DVD, though for other movies, prices are lower at regular DVD rental stores. Open Tues-
Sun, 11AM - 10PM. Admission is free for the cafe, etc. but the lm screenings are $220 NT. Also, most lms don't have English subtitles if
they are foreign language, so check beforehand.
The Museum of Contemporary Art ((|y[), 39 Changan West Rd, nearest MRT station - Zhongshan (on Danshui line) [22].
Taiwan's rst art space dedicated to contemporary work. The red brick, former Taipei City Hall is easy to locate on an otherwise
unexceptional road. Open Tues-Sun, 10AM-6PM. Admission NT$50.
Taipei Artist Village (([jy|), near Shandao Temple Station, Exit No. 1, walk to Tian Jin St. and turn right to Beiping E. Road.
[23]. This village provides residency programs for Taiwanese artists and others from around the world. They provide gallery and studio
space for artists. They also have a few cafes which are excellent for a mid-day break while exploring Taipei. The space is open during
normal weekly business hours and you are free to roam around the village.
Taipei Story House ((p[) The house is in the same plot of land as the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (see above listing). Tel: +886 2
2596-1898 [24]. This tea merchant's 19th century European style house has been converted into a space for telling the story of Taipei and
tea. There are permanent exhibits on these subjects as well as visiting exhibitions and the occasional traditional music concert. The patio
serves as a tea garden, which offers pleasant views over the Danshui River and beyond. Open 9AM-6PM. Admission NT$30.
National Museum Of History ([g][), 49 Nanhai Rd, Tel: +886 2 2361 0270 [25]. This museum is in Taipei Botanical Garden,
which is famous for its varied selection of exhibits, including Tang dynasty tri-color pottery and Shang dynasty bronzes. Open Tues-Sat
10AM-6PM, closed Mon. Admission NT$20.

National Taiwan Museum
National Taiwan Museum ([[][), 2 Xiangyang Rd, Tel:+886 2 2382 2699 (Nearest MRT station 'National Taiwan University
Hospital' on the Danshui line.) This museum is in 'Peace Park' (near Taipei Main Station) in a splendid Baroque and Renaissance style
building. Opened in 1899, it was Taiwan's rst museum and focuses on anthropology and the fauna and ora of the island.
Miniatures Museum of Taiwan ()][), B1, 96 Jianguo North Rd, Sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2515-0583 [26]. This is a small, private
museum that is a monument to patient and steady hand. The 40 bulb chandelier, which is the size of grain of rice, is one of the many
impressive pieces on display. Transportation from the Main Station on buses 307, 527, alight at Nanjing East Road and the Jian-guo North
Road intersection. The museum is in the same building as Thai Airways. Open Tues-Sun 10AM-6PM (last admittance 5PM). Adults
NT$180, concessions NT$150, children NT$100.
Su Ho Memorial Paper Museum (j9q][), 68 Changan East Rd, Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2507-5539 [27]. This museum was
founded by Su Ho Chen, one of Taiwan's last few masters of papermaking, and who was killed in 1990 in a plane crash. You can enjoy
exhibits about paper, and make your own sheet of paper here. Open Mon-Sat 9:30AM-4:30PM (Closed Sun and Spring Festival).
Admission NT$100, NT$180 with paper making.
Discover Center Of Taipei ((]/[), 1 Shifu Rd, Tel:+886 2 2757-4547[28]. Located just inside the main entrance of Taipei City Hall,
this is a good place to know the history and culture of Taipei City. Open Tues-Sun 9AM-5PM, closed Mon. Admission is free. Nearest MRT
station is Taipei City Hall.

Museum of Drinking Water
Museum of Drinking Water (]>][), 1, Siyuan St near the Tai-da campus. The Museum of Drinking Water was completed in 1908,
and is the rst pumping station and ltration plant in Taipei. The museum is in Taipei Water Park. (see Theme Parks section) Open: 9AM-
6PM (tickets offer till 5PM), closed Mon. The nearest MRT station is Gongguan on Xindian Line.
Beitou Hot Spring Museum ((j][), [29] was built by the Japanese as Taiwan's rst public bathhouse in 1913 and it was the
biggest hot spring bathhouse in East Asia in its day. Free. Closed Mondays.
Tittot Museum (j[(][), 16, Ln 515, Zhongyang North Road sec.4. Tel:+886 2 2895 8861 [30]. Just east of Guandu MRT station
on Danshui Line, this is the rst glass works museum in Taiwan and Asia. Open Tues-Sun, 9AM - 5PM. Adults, NT$100, concessions
NT$50, Group tickets NT$80.
[edit] Parks

Daan Forest Park
Daan Forest Park (9[[;[) is one of Taipei's newest parks. The park rests on 26hectares in central Taipei bordered by Xinyi Road,
Jianguo South Road, Heping East Road, and Xinsheng South Road. Due to its size and location, it is also known as Taipei Central Park.
Bus lines 15, 52, 235, 278, 284, 20, 22, Xinyi Main Line service this park.
Taipei Botanical Garden ([) The gardens are nearest MRT station 'Xiaonanmen' on the green line between the MRT Ximen station
and MRT C.K.S Memorial Hall station. This beautiful garden has inspired the citizens of Taipei for over one hundred years. The lotus ponds
are a hallmark of the park and are especially captivating when the these symbols of peace are in full bloom and swaying in the summer
breeze. The gardens are close to the National Museum of History. (see Museums/Galleries section)

228 Peace Park
228 Peace Park (..11;[) This park is on the north side of Katagalan Boulevard and the MRT station 'National Taiwan University
Hospital' on the Danshui line. The park was founded by the Japanese in 1907, and was originally called New Park (j;[). The name was
changed in 1996 to commemorate those killed in the 228 Incident of 28 February 1947. The park is popular with practitioners of taichi and
senior citizens playing Chinese chess. The National Taiwan Museum marks the northern entrance to the park. (See Museums/Galleries
section.)
Zhongshan Fine Arts Park (|y;[) This park is south of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. The open green space and many stabiles
are on display in the park.
Dajia Riverside Park (9j,,;[) This park is a 12km long green belt on the south bank of the Keelung River. One of the beautiful
banks in Taipei. Basketball, tennis, and badminton courts are available, as are bicycles for rent. The Red 34 bus between the MRT
Yuanshan station (Danshui Line) and Dajia Riverside Park.
Zhishan Garden (http://zcegarden-en.webgo.com.tw) - A beautiful park on top of a hill between the Shilin and the Tianmu district. It's just a
10 minutes walk from Zhishan metro station. There are several temples and shrines scattered across the hill and there is a nice boardwalk
around the area offering some nice views across the city.
[edit] Temples/Heritages
[edit] West Taipei

Longshan Temple
Longshan Temple (|) [31] This temple is where countless generations of Taipei citizens have come to pray and seek guidance at
times of trouble. As the temple is dedicated to Guanyin (the Buddhist representation of compassion) it is ofcially dened as Buddhist, but
there is a great amount of folk religion mixed into the fabric of the beliefs at this temple. However, if you want to feel the real heartbeat of
Taipei, one that is far removed from the skyscrapers and shopping malls of East Taipei, this is the place to come. It just oozes with
character, although don't come expecting to nd teachings on meditation. The area around Longshan Temple, Wanhua, is one of the
original districts of Taipei. And, while much of the traditional architecture has been lost, the area still maintains a traditional feel. It is here
that the blind masseurs congregate to offer their skill. Likewise, this is the area where the Taiwanese come to learn who they should marry
or what to name their children by consulting one of the many fortune tellers that set up shop along the roads and alleys around the temple.
The temple is located at 211 Guangzhou Road (near junction with Guilin Road) and is open daily from 5AM to 10PM. The nearest MRT
station is 'Longshan Temple' on the Ban-Nan Line.

Zhongshan Hall
Red Theater (j|) [32] The Red Theater just sits directly outside the southwest exit of MRT Ximen station, near the Ximending
shopping area. It was Taiwan's rst modern market as well as a theater in Japanese rule before, now there is an exhibition hall and a small
playhouse.
Zhongshan Hall (|) [33] North of Ximen MRT station. The buildings were completed in the period of Japanese rule on December
26, 1936. In 1945, The former Taipei City Hall was renamed as Zhongshan Hall. In 1992, the building has been identied to Second
monuments of the country. Later it was assigned as a cultural space that hosts cultural and art events.
In the South of Datong District, Dadaocheng (9j|) is a historic heart of Taipei. Dadaocheng, it can be literally translated as large open space
for drying rice in the sun. There is one of the oldest communities in Taipei. Getting this old area, you can take the Danshui Line (Red Line) MRT
to Shuanglian Station. From Exit 2, walk west down Minsheng West Road (about 15 minutes).
Dihua Street (j) This street located alongside the Danshui River in Dadaocheng, rows of old shophouses from late 1880s hold
Taiwan's oldest wholesale dried goods market. On Dihua Street Section 1, Xiahai City God Temple (j,g@) was built in 1859. City
God (gj), who watched over the citizens in the district and decided a person's fate after death. Today this temple remains the area's
religious and social center, and one of Taipei's most important places of worship. Every Chinese New Year, Dihua Street is the most popular
place in Taipei where local residents buy snacks and sweets for Chinese New Year festivities.
West of Dihua Street and Xining North Road, there is a small, short lane called Gui-De Street ()jj) (it was previously called Western
Houses Street). This lane once fronted the Danshui River. In the 1880s, the world famous Formosa Oolong Tea came from a nearby wharf.
At the time, many wealthy merchants invested in building along the lane in order to attract international trading rms. One was Chen Tian-
lai (A.D. 1872-1939), a Taiwanese tea merchant, who was fabulously rich for his time. His home was one of the model Taiwanese
residences on this land and his neo-Baroque home is still standing. (No.73 Gui-De Street)

Baoan Temple
Dalongdong (9|) is at the Datong District's north end, north of Dadaocheng and is one of the oldest communities in Taipei. Baoan Temple
and Confucius Temple are both famous historical sites located in this area.
Baoan Temple (]) [34], 61 Ha-mi St, the nearest MRT station is 'Yuanshan' on the Danshui Line. Construction began on this temple
in 1805 and it was completed 25 years later. Baoan is a Taoist temple and one of the leading religious sites in Taipei. The temple's main
deity is the emperor Baosheng, the god of medicine. The mural paintings and sculptures that adorn the the building are considered some of
the most impresive in Taiwan, and the temple won acclaims in the 2003 UNESCO Asia-Pacic Heritage Awards.

Confucius Temple
Confucius Temple (]@) [35] - Just next to Baoan Temple, the Confucius Temple was built in 1879 when the Qing Court changed Taipei
into a prefecture of the Province of Fujian, China. It was established to serve as the largest educational center in northern Taiwan. Every
September 28th, a large number of people from Taiwan and abroad come here to watch a solemn Confucius birthday ceremony and eight-
row dance. The temple is located at 275 Dalong St, the nearest MRT station is 'Yuanshan' on the Danshui Line.
Xingtian Temple (|) [36] is located at the corner of Minquan East Road and Songjiang Road. The temple was built in 1967 and was
devoted to Guangong (A.D. 162-219), a famous deied general who lived during the Three Kingdoms period, and he is an important
character in the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The temple forbids the killing of animals as an offering, so you will see
offerings of only fresh owers, fruits and tea on the main altar. Many believers feel that this is a very efcacious temple, and it is frequently
thronged with people praying for help and seeking divine guidance by consulting oracle blocks. Outside the temple, the underground
pedestrian passages under the Minquan - Songjiang intersection are lled with fortune-tellers and vendors who take commercial advantage
of the temple's popularity.
[edit] City Gates
Even though very little ancient architecture remains in Taipei, four of Taipei's ve original city gates still stand. The city walls which surrounded
the old city and the West Gate were demolished by the Japanese to make way for roads and railway lines. Of the four gates still standing, the
Kuomintang renovated three of them in its effort to "sinicize" Taipei and converted them from the original southern Chinese architecture to
northern Chinese palace style architecture, leaving only the North Gate (beimen (| or more formally Cheng'en men )|) in its original
Qing Dynasty splendour today. This gate sits forlornly in the trafc circle where the Zhonghua, Yanping and Boai roads meet.
[edit] Itineraries
One day in Taipei - if you have only one day to spare and would like to catch a feel for the city.
[edit][add listing] Do
[edit] Hot Springs (g)

Wulai Hot Springs
Hot springs come in various brands in Taipei, ranging from basic, to plush spas at ve star hotels. The basic free 'rub and scrub' type public
baths are run by the city. Most hotels offer the option of a large sex-segregated bathing area that generally consists of several large baths of
various temperatures, jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath and also private and family rooms (NB: the law in Taiwan states that for safety reasons,
individuals are not allowed to bathe in the private rooms, and there must be at least two people). Some hotels also have outdoor baths (
), which offer restful views over the surrounding country-side. Prices range from around NT$300 to NT$800. Public hot spring etiquette
requires that bathers thoroughly wash and rinse off their bodies before entering the bath, do not wear clothing, including swim wear (though this
is not the case for mixed-sex public areas) in the bath and tie up their hair so that it does not touch the water. Finally, people with high blood
pressure, heart disease or open wounds should not enter the baths.
There are three main places to have a soak in the Taipei area:
Beitou ((j)
Wulai ()>)
Yangmingshan National Park (|||)
[edit] Hiking
Hiking is a popular exercise in Taipei. The main hiking spot in Taipei is Yangmingshan National Park (|||[g;[). There are dozens of
hiking trails in the park.
Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail ()|) - A short walk from Taipei 101 in Xinyi District. Steep steps lead up into a shaded, forested hill
overlooking the city. The entrance is poorly signposted. Elephant Mountain, about 200M high, is one of the Four Beasts Mountains, and
paths from here go up to higher peaks in Nangang.
[edit] Festivals & events
Taipei hosts numerous festivals throughout the year, but as many follow the lunar calendar the dates according to the Gregorian calendar are
inconsistent. Unless you possess a lunar calendar, it is recommended you check the Taiwan Tourist Bureau's events section before planning to
attend an event.
The Golden Horse Chinese Language Film Festival [37]. This is often referred to as the Oscars of the Chinese lm world, and while lms
in the awards section are all in Chinese, they have English subtitles and, there is also a large non-competition foreign language section.
The Lantern Festival is a dazzling display of lanterns and lasers which runs for several days around the fteenth day of the lunar new
year. While the main city event is held at the Sun Yat-San Memorial Hall and Taipei City Hall grounds, Renai Road perhaps offers the most
elegant display, with the whole tree-lined boulevard transformed into a delicate tunnel of lights. Pingxi in Taipei County celebrates the
festival with the release of huge lanterns that oat serenely across the night sky, carrying with them the dedications and aspirations of those
who release them.
Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of the Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (born 340 BC), who drowned himself in a river out
of despair that his beloved country, Chu, was being plundered by a neighboring country as a result of betrayal by his own people. The
festival is marked by races of colorful dragon boats held at various locations throughout the island, with one of the best places to view a
race in the Taipei area being the Bitan River in Xindian. Special sticky rice balls called zongzi (pronounced like "dzongdz") are also eaten
on this day. The festival falls on the fth day of the fth lunar month.
Taipei International Travel Fair, Taipei World Trade Center.
Taipei Film Festival ((|). [38]. An international festival with two award sections Taipei Award Nominees and International New
Talent Nominees. Films are shown at several venues throughout the city.
[edit] Theme Parks
Children's Recreation Center [39] is an amusement park located on Zhongshan North Road Sec. 3, nearest MRT station is 'Yuanshan' on
Danshui Line. The center was created by city government in 1991. It has old-fashioned rides, folk art museum, IMAX theater and more.
This place is great for younger kids.
Taipei Water Park (]>[]) 1 Shiyuan Street [40] is situated in Gongguan area and was newly opened in 2007. The park is built
around the Museum of Drinking Water. Many facilities are all about water. The most popular are water slides and swimming spas. But the
facilities are open only in summer (entry included with the museum ticket)
Taipei Zoo ((}[), 30 Xinguang Rd Sec. 2 [41]. Nestled in a tight, lush valley, Taipei Zoo has all the leisurely charm of a large park,
but for your NT$60 you also get the enjoyment of wandering through trees and along lanes with a variety of animals and birds. Unlike many
traditional zoos, the animals here are not conned to cages, but allowed to roam freely in open paddocks, and it is a very clean and well
maintained facility. Furthermore, due to the city government's education policy, the zoo is very much an integral part of Taipei life. So much
so in fact, that when an old elephant, Lin-Wang ([[), became ill and died several years ago, several generations turned up, many with
tears in their eyes, to say their farewells. The zoo is in the suburb of Muzha. The entrance is just outside the terminal stop on the Muzha
MRT line, 'Taipei Zoo'.
[edit][add listing] Buy
It is often said that L.A. has no center. In contrast, one could say that Taipei is all center, and as such it has been given the epithet - "the
emporium without end." Basically, however, the main shopping area can be divided into two districts: East and West. West Taipei is the old city
and is characterized by narrow streets packed with small shops. The Western district is also home to most government buildings and the Taipei
Main Station. East Taipei boasts wide tree lined boulevards and the four main shopping malls are located in this area. Popular shopping
destinations in East Taipei consist of the area around the ZhongXiao-DunHua intersection and Taipei 101.
[edit] Shopping malls/areas

Xinyi District
Xinyi District is the seat of the Taipei mayor's ofce and the Taipei city council. The Taipei Convention Hall, the Taipei World Trade Center,
Taipei 101, Taipei City Hall, and various shopping malls and entertainment venues make Xinyi the most modern cosmopolitan district of
Taipei. Xinyi District is also considered the nancial district of Taipei. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is also in the district. Much of the
district used to be wetlands, explaining the abundance of space for construction projects as this was one of the last places in Taipei to be
developed. The district is arguably the premiere shopping area in Taipei, if not all of Taiwan. Xinyi District is anchored by a number of
department stores and malls. In addition, numerous restaurants are located in the area, especially American chain restaurants.

Taipei 101 Mall
Taipei 101 Mall (see Landmarks section)
Shilin Night Market has stores selling hand bags, clothing, and more. Most of the merchandise consists of imitations. To get there, take
the MRT Tamsui Line to Jiantan Station. The food court is located directly across the street from the station with the rest of the night market
spreading out to the north.
Miramar Entertainment Park is a standard shopping center with the usual merchandise. It houses one of two IMAX theatres in Taiwan
(the other is in the Science Discovery center) as well as the Miramar ferris wheel which offers great views of Taipei city.
Eslite Mall (\ Chengpin) is an upscale market-style shopping center with a 24 hour book shop (with a good English selection) on the
second oor and ethnic music store in basement. 245 Dunhua South Road (near intersection with Renai Road). However, as of January
2010, this is the only Eslite Mall that opens 24 hours.

Miramar Entertainment Park
Breeze Center (j|j| Weifeng Guangchang), 39 Fuxing South Rd, Sec. 1 (near the intersection with Civic Boulevard) Tel:+886 2 6600-
8888. Open: 11AM-9:30PM Sun-Thur, 11AM-10PM Fri-Sat.
The Core Pacic Living Mall (]T Jinghua Cheng), reportedly Asia's largest shopping center under one roof, has many stores open 24
hours a day. It also has a large food court, cinema complex, and the nightclub Plush (located on Bade Rd near intersection with Guangfu
South Rd).
East Taipei is the main shopping area of Taipei, also it is located at the center of Taipei. The busiest part of this area is in between MRT
Zhongxiao Dunhua Station and MRT Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station (Bannan Line). The axis of this shopping area is Zhongxiao East
Road, Sec. 4, which is surrounded by numerous of department stores. "SOGO" has three branches in this area, mainly sales various of
boutique. Another notable one is Mingyao Department Store which has the agship store of Uniqlo in it.
East Taipei is also famous for the small stores inside the alleys. Having massive ow of people for both fancy and local dinning, 216 Lane with
Din Tai Fung and 688 Beef noodle is always crowded in holidays. On the other hand, Daan Road in the other side of the area, has more
elegant clothing shops. Beside the intersection of Zhongxiao East Road and Daan Road stands Bistro 98, a ten-story building with stylish
restaurants. Other alleys also have an interesting array of small shops and boutiques. Buddha Statues, prayer ags and other artifacts
associated with Tibetan Buddhism can be purchased at Potala, 2F, 2-4, Lane 51, Da'an Rd. Tel:+886 2 2741-6906. The staff speaks English
and the prices are reasonable. For those interested in all things Nepalese you should check out Jay Shiva Shamyoo Himalayan Handicrafts,
located in the basement of 1 Lane 146, Zhongxiao East Road, sec. 4. Tel:+886 2 2740 2828.

Breeze Center
Those interested in picking up inexpensive electronic goods and cameras should wander the lanes and alleys around Kaifeng Sreet and
Zhonghua Road (near Taipei Main Station).
Computer buffs will enjoy a visit to Guanghua Digital Plaza (Tjj]), originally called Guanghua Market (T||). Specializing
in computer and electronic goods, this market has the largest number of stalls selling hardware and software under one roof in Taiwan, and
all at very competitive prices. While there, check out the enormous DVD and VCD selection (remember to check DVD region codes) and
used book stores. The old location on Bade Road. under the Xinsheng overpass was demolished in January 2006, and all of the shops
have moved to a new building at the southwest corner of Civic Boulevard and Xinsheng North Road in July, 2008, a short walk from the old
location. The new building comprises of six oors: the rst oor contains an exhibition area for new products and a food court; the original
vendors of the old market are located on the second and third oor; oors four and ve include vendors and shops from the Xining
Electronic Market; and the sixth oor houses product repair centers.

Core Pacic Living Mall
The Station Front Area (y) is a section of downtown Taipei just south of the Taipei Railway Station. It is a bustling area lled with shops
and stores of all kinds, but it is particularly well known for it's high concentration of bookstores due to the bloom of bushibans (as know as
cram schools). In recent years, stores specializing in electronics and computer hardware has also grow fastly. Electronic and computer
junkies take note, some smaller vendors will allow you to bargain down prices on large purchases (i.e. a custom built PC). Popular places
in this area to shop for computer hardware and software include:
Nova, a four storey collection of small computer and electronics vendors in what can be described only as a high tech bazaar (located
across the street from the railway station on the west side of the Shinkong Mitsukoshi department store).
K-Mall, located in the former Asiaworld department store on the east side of Shinkong Mitsukoshi, this trendy mall specializes in
electronics of all kinds and is a location for large companies such as Asus, Samsung, Benq, and Acer to showcase their newest
products.
The Taipei Zhongshan Metro Shopping Mall (Easy Mall) is a long underground shopping area that houses several stores selling all
manner of items, not necessarily limited to electronics. A few stores in the Easy Mall carry current and vintage video games, hardware
and software. They also perform hardware modications on consoles. The Easy Mall is accessible through the basement of Taipei
Railway Station.

Ximending, the area with youth.
Ximending (y|H) is the trendy shopping area just west of Downtown. It's popular with local students. If it's pink, plastic, and imported
from Japan, you can probably nd it on sale in a store here. Visit BM should you looking for nightlife activities. To get to Ximending, take the
MRT Blue (Bannan) Line and get off at Ximen Station.
Zhongshan North Road (|() is a tree-lined boulevard featuring numerous international and local brands. Gucci and Louis Vuitton
are among the brands who operate stores along this street. This road, particularly along the second section, is also famous for its
numerous wedding picture studios and gown boutiques. It is possible to nd a great deal for wedding portraits here as competition is
stiff. This road runs parallel to the MRT Red (Danshui/Beitou) line.
[edit] Handicrafts
Weekend Jade Market (j) Located under an elevated expressway, reaching from Renai Road & Jianguo South Road
intersection down Jianguo Road. till Xinyi Rd. In addition to jade, owers and many other kinds of handcrafts and jewelry can be purchased.
There are actually three different markets, the Weekend Jade Market, Weekend Flower Market and Weekend Handicrafts Market in this
same location. As the names suggest, they are open only on weekends until 6PM.
For handicrafts, visit the Chinese Handicraft Mart (T[) [42], 1 Xuzhou Rd (on corner of intersection with Zhongshan South
Roadd).
Pottery enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Yingge in Taipei County (Take train, and get off at Yingge Station). Old Street is a crescent of
beautiful pottery shops interspersed with coffee shops and tea houses.
[edit] Trekking/backpacking gear
Mountain Hard Wear, 7 Ln 284, Roosevelt Rd, sec. 3, Gongguan (nearest MRT - Gongguan) Tel:+886 2 2365-1501, plus a few stores
within a few doors of each other are professional trekking and backpacking stores offering a wide range of high quality equipment. These
stores are just north of the junction with Zhongxiao West Rd on Zhongshan North Rd, sec 1 (west side of the road).
[edit] Books
Taipei has great book shops, and roads such are Chongqing South Road, are packed with stores specializing in Chinese language
books. The following book stores all have good selections of English titles:
Eslite (\) Eslite offers a good selection at most of their branches, although the 24 hour agship store (2F, 245 Dunhua South Rd.
Tel:+886 2 2775-5977) has the best selection. Eslite Book Store and shopping mall (11 Songgau Road), which incidentally is the largest
book store in Taiwan, have the greatest selection. The Songgau Rd branch is located next to MRT Station 'Taipei City Hall'.
Page One on the fourth oor of the shopping mall at Taipei 101(tel+886 2 8101-8282) has a very large and varied selection of English titles.
Caves Books (}) has two branches (54-3 Zhongshan North Road, Sec 2, near Yuanshan MRT Station. tel +886 2 2599-1166). This is a
temporary location, while the old store is demolished and rebuilt. The other branch (5, Le 38, Tianyu St, Tianmu. Tel:+2 886 2874-2199) is
one of the original book stores in Taipei specializing in English titles. And, although it has been surpassed by the newer arrivals, it is still a
good place to pick up a popular novel and English language text books.
Lai Lai (>>), 4F, 271 Roosevelt Road, Sec 3. Tel:+886 2 2363-4265 This shop has a small but interesting selection of English material.
Crane Publishing Company, 6F, 109 Heping E Rd, Sec 1. Tel+886 2 2393-4497, 2394-1791 - Specialists in English language text books
and teaching material.
Bookman Books, Room 5, 2F, 88 Xinsheng South Road, Sec 3. Tel+886 2 2368-7226 - This is an excellent collection of English literature
books, albeit a little expensive.
Mollie Used Books, 17, Alley 10, Lane 244, Roosevelt Road sec 3. Tel:886 2 2369-2780 - You'll nd a reasonable selection of English
titles here.
NB: In order to protect the environment, a government policy rules that plastic bags cannot be given freely at stores in Taiwan, but have to be
bought (NT$1) - bakeries being an exception as the items need to be hygienically wrapped. Re-usable canvas and nylon bags are sold at most
supermarkets.
[edit] Learn
[edit] Buddhism
The internationally acclaimed Chan (Zen) Master Sheng-yen (who passed away in Feb 2009) has a monastery in Beitou where there are
regular meditation meetings with instruction given in English. See Beitou page for more information.
In recent years, Tibetan Buddhism has become very popular in Taiwan, and the Taipei area alone boasts more than fty centers. So, on
any given night there will be teachings and rituals being held in the city. Taipei has become a regular port of call for many of the well known
rinpoches. While most teachings are given in Tibetan with translation into Chinese, some are given in English. For information on
teachings, check notice boards at vegetarian restaurants. (For purchase of Buddha statues and other Buddhist artifacts, see 'Potala' under
listings for 'Buy')
The international Buddhist foundation The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation has its headquarters in Taipei. The
foundation publishes books on Buddhism in various languages (including English) which it offers for free. For detailed information check the
foundations web site: [43]
[edit] Universities
[edit] Public Universities

National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University ([[9=) [44] Taiwan's uncontested number one university. Colloquially known by the shortened
Taida.
National Taiwan Normal University ([[{9=) [45] Colloquially known by the shortened Shida, one of the oldest universities in
Taiwan. NTNU runs the Mandarin Training Center, an excellent program teaching several levels of Mandarin Chinese in semester-long
segments.
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology ([[}9=) [46], is the rst technical university in Taiwan.
National Taipei University of Technology ([(}9=) [47]
National Chengchi University ([|9=) [48] - Taiwan's leading national university focused on humanities and social sciences.
Colloquially known by the shortened Zhengda.
Taipei National University of the Arts ([(y9=) [49] Established in 1979, this university focuses on the arts and includes the
colleges of music, theatre arts, dance and Cultural Resources.
Taipei Municipal University of Education ((;9=) [50] Established in 1895 and later renamed, the Taipei Munipal University
of Education has three colleges education, humanities and art, and science.
[edit] Private Universities
Soochow University (99=) [51]. Soochow University has been a private university since 1900, making the oldest private university in
the nation. The university provides high quality education that prepares students to make signicant contributions to the nation. There are
now 5 schools and 23 departments. The enrollment is about 13,000.
Ming Chuan University (j]9=) [52]. As Taiwan's top international university, MCU's three campuses welcome students from all over
the world. Whether you are interested in pursuing a degree in Communications, Design, Management, Technology, Languages, Law, or
Tourism, MCU offers a unique world class educational experience.
Taipei Shih Chien University (]9=) [53]. The Shih Chien University, formerly known as "Shih Chien College of Home Economics"
was founded in 1958 by Tung-Min Shieh. In 1979 the school was renamed "Shih Chien College of Home Economics and Economics", in
1991 the school was upgraded to become "Shih Chien College of Design and Management". In 1997 the school was again upgraded to
become "Shih Chien University".To date, a total of 52,958 students have graduated from this school.
Shih Hsin University (jj9=) [54]. The mission of Shih Hsin University is to continuously strengthen itself as an institution emphasizing
both liberalism and humanism. Within four colleges, Shih Hsin University currently has 19 departments and 3 graduate institutes, 19 offer
bachelor degrees, 17 offer master degrees, and 2 offer PhD degrees. The four colleges are: College of Journalism and Communications,
College of Management, College of Humanities and Social Science, and the College of Law.
Chinese Culture University ([59=) [55]. Over the last thirty years, Chinese Culture University has been reorganized many times.
The Ministry of Education granted the University permission to establish studies in philosophy, Chinese, Eastern languages, English,
French, German, history, geography, news, art, music, drama, physical education, domestic science,and architecture. It was founded in
1962 and has 12 colleges.
[edit] Language
Mandarin Training Center [56]. National Taiwan Normal University (Shida), 162 Heping East Rd, sec. 1. Tel+886 2 2321-8457 & 2391-
4248. Fax:886 2 2341-8431, e-mail: mtc@mtc.ntnu.edu.tw. This school, which is part of Shi-da University, has seen generations of students
passing through its doors and it remains one of the most popular schools in Taiwan for serious students of Mandarin.
International Chinese Language Program National Taiwan University (Taida) [57]. This program, which used to be called the IUP
program, has a long history of Chinese language training, especially for advanced learners and primarily targeting graduate students,
scholars and professionals studying in China and Taiwan. It has very small classes, very high quality instructors and textbooks, but may be
considerably more expensive than the alternatives. Only students who expect a very intensive experience, usually with a year or more of
time to dedicate to study, should consider this program.
Mandarin Daily News Language Center [58], more commonly known locally as Guo-Yu-Ri-Bau, 2F. 2 Fu-zhou Street. Tel:886 2 2391-
5134 & 2392-1133 ext. 1004. Fax:886 2 2391-2008. Along with the Center for Chinese Language and Culture Studies, this is one of the
most popular schools in Taiwan for serious students of Mandarin.
Maryknoll Language Service Center [59] Rm. 800, 8 Fl., Chung Ying Bldg.2 Zhongshan North Rd., Sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2314-1833~5.
Conveniently located near a Taipei Station MRT stop exit, the Maryknoll Language Service Center offers Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Hakka
classes. This is *the* place to study Taiwanese. Mostly one-on-one tutorials although you may be able to arrange a group class.
[edit] Taichi
Unless you have a recommendation, the best way to nd a good teacher is to visit a park at sunrise and check out the scene for yourself. If
you spot a group that impresses you, approach one of the students and inquire about joining them. Most teachers will be happy to have a
new student, though some old masters may 'play hard to get.' In the latter case, persistence is required. Most teachers will expect some
sort of fee for their tuition. However, as it is considered impolite to directly ask the teacher this question, use a fellow student as mediator.
Furthermore, when offering the money on the alloted day, place it in a red envelope (hongbao - available at all convenience and stationary
stores) and slip it to the teacher subtly. Offering cash openly to a teacher of a traditional art or religion is considered undignied and
demeaning. Most parks host tai'chi groups, but the most popular places are the grounds of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (nearest
MRT station - CKS Memorial Hall) and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (nearest MRT station - SYS Memorial Hall) as well as 228 Peace Park
(formerly known as New Park - nearest MRT station - National Taiwan University Hospital).
[edit] Chinese Cooking
Jodie's Kitchen Cooking School [60] offers Taiwanese and Chinese cooking classes. 2F, 29-1 Zi Yun St. Tel: +886 2 2720-0053
Many community colleges, such as Zhongzheng Community College [61] and Tamsui Community University [62] offer weekly cooking
courses. These include Chinese, Italian and Thai cooking, for example. The classes are in Chinese or Taiwanese language only. The prices
are quite low because the colleges are government-funded.
[edit] Work
Teaching English (or to a lesser extent, other foreign languages) is perhaps the easiest way to work in Taiwan. Work permits will be hard to
come by and will take time. Consult your local Taiwan consulate/embassy/representative as far in advance as possible.
It should be noted that anyone staying in Taiwan for an extended period of time can FIND English teaching work, albeit technically illegally. If
you are staying as a student or for some other long term purpose, it should be noted that many people are teaching English (or some other
language) for pay without a permit in Taipei and elsewhere in Taiwan.
[edit][add listing] Eat
Taipei probably has one of the highest densities of restaurants in the world. Almost every street and alley offers some kind of eatery. Of course,
Chinese food (from all provinces) is well represented. In addition, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Italian cuisines are also popular.
Basically, East Taipei, especially around Dunhua and Anhe Roads, and also the expat enclave of Tianmu are where to clash chopsticks with the
rich and famous, whereas West Taipei offers more smaller, homey restaurants.
Due to the sheer number of restaurants, it is almost impossible to compile a thorough list, but below are a few recommended restaurants
catering to specialist tastes.
[edit] Night markets ()
Several night markets () are located in each district. Some are open during daytime, and all are open until around midnight. Night markets
consists of restaurants and stores at the permanent locations and little booths along the center. Every night market has a huge variety of food,
so any night market you nd is a good bet for good food. Because of the vast selection, the recommendation is to go with a few people and
share the food. Vendor food is generally safe to eat, but use common sense though if you have a sensitive stomach!
The most famous one in Taipei is the Shilin Night Market ([). It is easilly accessible via the MRT at either the Jiantan (,) or Shilin
([) stations.
Locals in Taipei view Shilin as touristy, with food catering to the tastes of mainland visitors. Another excellent option is Ning Xia Yeshi.
Some of the best known night market snacks are:
Oyster omelet
$]]; --chian
Tianbula
?]; tinbl
Literally "Sweet, not
spicy", is a Taiwanese
version of Tempura.
Stinky tofu
_[; chuduf,
Mango ice
j; mnggu4b'ng
Pan fried pork buns
]; shu.ji#nb#o
Taiwanese sausage
[; xi#ngchng
Pearl milk tea
)l,; zh3nzh+ n(ich
a classic drink invented by
a tea vendor in Taichung.
Braised soy bean and
tea eggs
&,; l,dug#n,
chydn
braised soy bean and tea
eggs
Oyster vermicelli ($]]; - m'-sa2)
Fried chicken llet (/j; j'pi)
Stir fried cuttlesh (){|; sh3ngch(o hu#zh')
Spareribs with herbs (j|; yodn pig,)
Aiyu Jelly ()j; i-y-b'ng)
Soy braised foods (|; l,wi)
[edit] Chinese cuisine

Din Tai Fung Shrimp
Dumplings
Tien Hsiang Lo (), B1, 41 Minquan East Rd, Sec. 2. (The Landis Taipei Hotel). Tel:+886 2 2597-1234, [63]. Authentic Hangzhou
cuisine. Reservations are recommended.
Pearl Liang (,{[,F|@), 2F, 2 Songshou Rd (Grand Hyatt Taipei). Tel:+886 2 2720-1200, [64]. Offers unique, fresh, live seafood
and dim sum.
Shang Palace (), 6F, 201 Dunhua South Rd Sec. 2. (Far Eastern Plaza Hotel). Tel:+886 2 2378-8888, [65]. Specialize in Cantonese
and regional Chinese cuisines. Note: Dim sum is available for lunch only.
The Pengs' Traditional Hong Kong Cuisine (jg[), Guangfu South Road, Lane 240, No. 49 (Close to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall MRT
Station, Exit #2). Tel:+886 2 2772-9839, [66]. Opened approximately 30 years ago, both the food and the decor of the restaurant have not
changed since. Known for being more authentically 1980s Hong Kong than most restaurants in Hong Kong today.
Din Tai Fung ()q), 194 Xinyi Rd Sec. 2 (Entrance of Yongkang Street). Tel:+886 2 2321-8928, [67]. Famous for its steamed pork
dumplings. Worth a detour. Several locations in Taipei and worldwide. Gets very crowded even on weekdays so book in advance.
Taiwan Pa (/j[), 1F, No.155, Sec.2,AnHo R.d Tel:+886 2 2732-7010 . Business Hour: 8:00p.m-3:00a.m
(Mon.-Sat.)Famous for mix-taiwanese tapas. Great collection of local wine http://www.chinapa.com.tw/taiwanpa/
Peking Do It True ((), 506 Renai Rd Sec. 4. Tel:+886 2 2720-6417. This is the place to go if you crave good Beijing cuisine.
Visitors may be surprised to see a large photo of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush on the wall, taken when he ate at the restaurant
during his trip to Taiwan in 1994.
Yin-Yih Restaurant (|@), 2F 18 Jinshan South Rd Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2341-7799. Dedicated to old style Yangzhou cuisine.
Shan Xi Dao Xiao Mian (|y,]), 2, Lane 118, Heping East Road Sec. 2. (@ Fuxing S Road, near Technology Bldg MRT station, is in
an alley of Taiwan National University) Tel:+886 2 2378-7890. Serving knife cut noodles, which are known for their chewy texture. As the
name suggests, a block of noodle dough is held and the noodles are cut straight off of the block. Cheap and very popular, but no English
menus.
Yongkang Beef Noodle (7)|]), 17, Lane 31, Jinshan South Road Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2351-1051, [68]. One of the top-twenty beef
noodle shops in Taipei. Note: Yongkang Beef Noodle occupies the former location of Lao-Zhang Beef Noodle, which now located next to it.
Kiki Restaurant (Kiki j/|@), 28, Fuxing South Road Sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2752-2781, [69]. Just Opposited the Breeze Center, This
restaurant serves authentic Szechwanese peppery hot pot.
[edit] Taiwanese cuisine
Soy Milk King of the World (j9), 284 Yonghe Road Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 8927-0000. Near the MRT Dingxi Station, located just
outside of Taipei City, in Yonghe City. It's the original "Yonghe Doujiang" (from which all other places copied), it's open 24-hours and it's
cheap!Soy Milk King of the World [70]
Xian Ding Wei Restaurant (F|), address ()]|): (9[67()), tel ([): 02 2567 3331. Near to MRT
ZhongShan Station, just take a taxi to go, should cost you around NT$100 max.
Tainan Tan-tsu-mien Seafood Restaurant (]]]), 31 Huaxi Street. Tel:+886 2 2308-1123. Legendary in the Huaxi Street Tourist
Night Market (Snake Alley).
Ching-Yeh (||@), 10, Lane 105, Zhongshan North Road Sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2571-3859. The most famous Taiwanese restaurant in
Taipei, beside the Zhongshan North Road.
Shinyeh's Table (|{), 2F 201 Zhongxiao East Road Sec.4. Tel:+886 2 2778-8712. Near the MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, located
right inside the Tongling Department Store. It's the newest Taiwanese cuisine restaurant in Taipei. Menu has English.
Taiwan Pa (/j[)Busniess Hour 8:00pm-4:00am 1F,No.155,Sec.2,Anho Road, Taipei, Tel:+886 2-2732-7010 Great variety of new trend
Taiwanese tapas !
Niu Ba Ba (688 Beef Bowl) (|||]) Zhongxiao East Road, Sec. 4, Alley 27, Lane 216, No. 16 ((9l[216(27)16
) Tel: 886-2-2778-3075 The most expensive beef noodle soup to be had in Taiwan. On average this dish costs 120 NT. Owner Tony
Wong has bowls ranging from a few hundred all the way to 10,000 NT (~300 USD). The simple decor belies the intricate process Wong
uses to deliver beef noodles for Taipei's foodies.
[edit] Thai cuisine
Thai Guo Xiao Guan (q[@[), 219 Tingzhou Rd Sec. 3. (Near National Taiwan University) Tel:+886 2 2367-0739. This small Thai
restaurant is in Gongguan.
Thai Heaven Restaurant (q[), 60 Roosevelt Rd Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2392-5969. [71]. Near Taiwan Normal University (Shi-da) this
restaurant serves re-hot Thai cuisine. Try the Moon Shrimp Cake and Green Papaya Salad.
Thai Star,Fu Xing N. Rd. Alley 231 #2. Tel: (02) 2719 6527 Shrimp Toast, Beef Stew, Chicken, Papaya Salad are most famous dishes!
Andy Cuisine Restaurant q|[). Banqiao City, Taipei County. ||T[j58 Banqiao City, Huaxing Street No. 58 this is the
main restaurant but they have other branches at the Xinpu MRT stop and Jiangzicui MRT stop. Food is out of this world. Curries, Bbq'd
chicken/pork, salads are good. Spicy though, just ask for "xiao la" if you would like it not as hot. Its located off two MRT stops on the
Yongning-Nangang MRT station just minutes from downtown Taibei. [72]
[edit] Japanese cuisine
Mitsui Japanese Cuisine ()|), 30 Nong-an St. Tel:+886 2 2594-3394.[73]. The best Japanese cuisine in Taipei.
Mei Guan Yuan ([[), 36 Emei St, Tel:+886 2 2331-0377. Located in Ximending Pedestrian Area. This restaurant has served authentic
Japanese sushi and sashimi since 1946. (Note there's another restaurant opposite the road from this with exactly the same name - that's
the old location of this restaurant and doesn't serve as good sushi.)
Shabu Sen(F), 63, Minquan East Road, Sec. 1 (Tel:+886 2 2596-9568). This place serves great Japanese/ Taiwanese style hot pot
dishes. It is a family run restaurant. The environment is clean and refreshing. The owner Ms. Chiu hand picks her ingredients daily from the
market. My favorite is the kobe beef pot and mushroom pot. The price is very reasonable with well selected ingredients. English menu
available.
San Niu Da An Rd, Sec. 1, Alley 169 #3 Tel: (02) 2708-3959 Fresh sashimi and tempura shrimp. Less expensive than most Japanese
restaurants of this quality. Clean, comfortable environment.
[edit] Korean
Korean P&L B.B.Q Restaurant (P&L [)|), 47, Longquan Street. Tel:+886 2 2362-1637. Located near the Taiwan Normal University
(Shida) and in Shida Night market, this small place serves traditional Korean barbecue, kimchi hot pot and spicy rice cakes.
Pusan House (|[), 10, Lane 13, Pucheng Street (second lane on right off Shi-Da Road when traveling from Heping East Road).
Tel:+886 2 8369-3919. A small, clean korean restaurant in Shida area. Popular with students.
He Jiang All You Can Eat Korean BBQ for under NT$500. Fu Xing S. Rd Sec. 1 #5 Fl.3 Tel: (02) 2578 3573, 0933738970
[edit] Italian
PaPaGio' Italian Restaurant (@||{9(|@), 22, Alley 6, Lane 170, Zhongxiao East Rd., Sec 4. Best accessible by MRT since
it's next to Exit 5, Zhongxiao Dunhua Station. Wide selection of authentic Italian food, featuring appetizer, pizza, risotto, meat, seafood
courses, and great dessert. Run by Italian chef.
[edit] Vietnamese
Thanh Ky, 1, Lane 6, Yongkang Street. Tel:+886 2 2321-1579. Always busy and popular with Vietnamese expats and locals. Rice noodle
soup with spicy beef and curried beef or pork is a specialty.
[edit] Indian
Calcutta Indian Curry House (]|l@[), 70 Xining South Road (at E'Mei Street), Basement Level of the Wannian Shopping
Complex. (Ximen Ding District) Tel:+886 2 2389-3878 - One of the more popular Indian restaurants, conveniently located in the Ximen Ding
district. Moved in early-2012 from their prominent Kunming Street location to the basement food court level of the Wannian Shopping
Complex. A bit hard to nd, but denitely worth it.
Tandoor Indian Restaurant (|l|@), 10, Lane 73, Hejiang Street. Tel:+886 2 2509-9853. [74].
Out of India (l|j), 26, Lane 13, Pucheng Street (second lane on right off Shi-Da Road when traveling from Heping East Road).
Tel:+886 2 2363-3054 - food ok, but not great value.
Namaste Curry, 2F. 16, Lane 316, Roosevelt Road sec 3 (near Gongguan MRT Station). Tel:+886 2 2362-9538 - friendly and warm
atmosphere - good reasonably priced food, but lunch menu was so-so.
Carnegie's, Anhe Road, Section 2, No.100 (near Far Eastern Hotel). Tel:+886 2 2325-4433 - While not an Indian restaurant per se,
Carnegie's features many Indian dishes, and they have an excellent "Curry-Out" menu if you feel like bringing a curry or two home with you.
[edit] Middle Eastern
Sababa, 8, Alley 54, Lane 118, Heping East Road, Sec. 2 (across from the Xinhai Road entrance to Taiwan National University). Tel:+886 2
2738-7769, and 17 Lane 283, Roosevelt Road, sec 3. Tel:+886 2 2363-8000 [75]. Authentic Middle Eastern cuisine served in a warm and
cozy atmosphere.
[edit] International
Flavors restaurant, Ren Ai Rd. Sec.4 No.13 Alley 26 Lane 300 Tel:+886 2 2709-6525. Located on a back street of busy Renai rd with a
lush garden in front and warm and cozy atmosphere inside. One of the few real western restaurants with a western chef. Flavors serves
great grilled steaks including rare meat like venison, amazing selection of appetizers in a casual ne dining way. Flavors have been voted
Taipei's best unexpected nd in 2008. Details on [76].
Grandma Nitti's Kitchen, 8, Lane 93, Shida Road. Tel:+886 2 2369-9751. Located in the Shida area, this restaurant serves a great
selection of dishes such as burgers, sandwiches, pastas, Greek omelets, Tex-Mex fajitas and more. Very popular with American language
teachers and students.
JB's, 148, Shida Road. Tel:+886 2 2364-8222. A European pub and restaurant in Shida area serving traditional European fare on the rst
oor. The second oor features the main bar and activity center. Steak pie and sh and chips offered here are some of Taipei's best.
Forkers, No. 8, Alley 10, Lane 223 Chung Xiao East Rd. Sec. 4. +886 2 2771 9285. Burgers, quesadilla, sandwiches, salads, etc. Details
on [77].
KGB Kiwi Gourmet Burgers, Shida Rd, Lane 114, no. 5. Tel (+886) "2" 2363 6015. Come out of Taipower MRT Exit 3. It is opposite the
Wellcome supermarket in the lane. Excellent gourmet burgers in a relaxed cafe style setting. There are 11 NZ beef burgers, 10 free range
chicken burgers, 3 NZ lamb burgers and 9 vegetarian burgers. Opened by 2 kiwis, everything is made on site to high standards. There are
NZ beers, real milkshakes, fruit yoghurt smoothies, Rooibos tea, Savanna & Hunters cider. This the website [78]
[edit] Pizza
Pizza is easy to nd in Taiwan with major chains such as Pizza Hut and Domino's. Besides the usual variety, Taiwan also has its localized
variants e.g. seafood supreme, pepper steak, corn, peas etc.
Alleycat's Pizza, B1, 6-1 Lishui Street (near the intersection of Xinyi Road and Jinshan South Road). Tel:886 2 2321-8949 [79]. Generally
considered by ex-pats to be the only edible and best traditional Italian pizza in Taipei.
Casa Della Pasta, 7-1, Lane 11, Zhongshan North Road, sec 2. Tel:886 2 2567-8769. Reasonably priced pizzas. Authentic Italian decor
and staff are quite friendly.
Mary Jane's Pizza, No. 89 Wenzhou St. Taipei (near Taida) Tel:886 2 2369-5333. Great thin crust pizza at reasonable prices, they also do
delivery.(About 180 to 300 for a pizza) [80].
Faust, Renai Rd. (Across form the southside of Sun Yat-Sen memorial.). Great pizza, not greasy at all. Awesome selection of German
beers from Faust brewery in Germany. edit
So Free, Gongguan Station. Cheap and amazing selection of vegetarian pizzas.
[edit] Steak
Ruth's Chris Steak House (), 2F, 135 Minsheng East Road, Sec 3. Tel:+886 2 2545-8888, [81]. Perhaps Taipei's best-known and
best American steakhouse.
Wang Steak House (\j), 169 Nanjing East Road, Sec 4. Tel:886 2 8770-7989, [82]. An upscale chain steakhouse known for its
signature "Wang steak".
Lawry's Steak House, B1, 105 SongRen Road. Tel:886 2 2729-8555 [83]
Jimmy's Kitchen, 77 Ren Ai Rd., Sec. 4, B1 Tel:886 2 2711-7750 kobe steak, rib eye, let mignon, and many other cuts
[edit] Vegetarian
Vegetarian food () is also common fare, with the city boasting more than two hundred vegetarian restaurants and vendor stands. Another
Taipei specialty is vegetarian buffets. They are common in every neighborhood, and unlike the 'all-you-can-eat' buffets listed below (which
charge a set price, usually ranging from NT$250 - NT$350 including dessert and coffee/tea), the cost is estimated by the weight of the food on
your plate. Rice (there is usually a choice of brown or white) is charged separately, but soup is free and you can rell as many times as you like.
NT$75-120 will buy you a good sized, nutritious meal. Note that many of these veggie restaurants are Buddhist in nature and so meals do not
contain garlic or onion (which traditionalists claim inames passion).
Lotus Pavilion Restaurant, B1, 153-155 Xinyi Road, Sec. 4 (entrance in alley behind Changhwa Bank. Tel:+886 2 2703-5612). An
upscale all-you-can-eat buffet.
Heart of the Lotus Garden, 2F No. 108 Xinsheng North Road, Sec. 2 (near intersection with Jinzhou Street - Tel:+886 2 2560-1950). This
is another upscale all-you-can-eat buffet.
Om Ah Hum, No. 6, Alley 18, Lane 60, Taishun Street (off Shida Road - Tel:+886 2 2362-3919. Located in traditional wooden building and
emphasizes fresh and natural vegetarian dishes. While the red toy poodle inside the restaurant claims all the attention, don't forget to try
the casserole and the aky crust soup which are house specialties.
For a special Taipei street experience, check out the veggie vendor outside No. 30, Lane 216, Zhongxiao East Road Sec. 4 (in the alleys
behind the Dunhua South Road Eslite Mall and book store). The rice noodles are especially delicious and cheap and a plate of their
dougan (dried tofu) makes a great side dish.
Armillydo, 13, Lane 170, Xinsheng South Road, Sec. 1 (enter from Lane 243, Xinyi Road, sec 2 - Tel:+886 2 2358-2677). Organic
restaurant with Zen style decor. (only tea, no longer lunch & dinner)
King Join, No 18 Shin-Wei Rd (Tel 02-2701-3225). Traditional Chinese setting. [84]
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit] Bars/clubs

A cold can of Taiwan Beer at
Fulong Beach

Entrance to Beau Bar
Beau Bar, The New Gentlemen In Town, is the latest addition to Taipei's Bustling bar scene. Located in the heart of Taipei, No. 11, Ln. 408,
Sec 4, Ren'ai Road, Da'an Dist. Beau serves delicious signature and classic cocktails. Its cosy vintage decor and warm settings makes
Beau a great place for intimate events and parties. Website link: [85]
Roxy Rocker, 10 minute walk from Guting station. Aimed for people who want to talk and listen to a plethora of rock, metal, punk, etc.
Great in house selection of tunes and requests are encouraged.
Myst, #12-9F, ATT4FUN Building, Song Shou Rd., Xinyi Dist. ((j{]|129F) Tel (English):09 5891 4777. Tel (Lounge/Booth
Reservations):09 1143 9997. Currently the hottest night club in Taipei. Often cited as having the best view of the Taipei 101 building. Large
and active dance oor. Wednesday night is ladies night.
Sparks, B1, No.45, Shi-fu, Rd. (Taipei 101 Shopping Mall) ([45B1. Located at the base of Taipei 101. Busy scene.
Luxy, 5F, 201 Zhongxiao E. Road, Section 4, near the Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT station [86]. One of the most well-known clubs in Taipei.
Luxy has two levels: the lower level has a side room playing house/techno and a main room playing hip-hop; the upper level is a lounge
with a small dance oor over-looking the main room. Cover charge goes up after 11PM. Get there early to avoid a line.
Ziga Zaga, No.2, Song Shou Road Grand Hyatt Taipei [87]. This club specializes in cocktails and Italian cuisine - both the service and food
are excellent. It's popular with locals and expats. Ladies Night is on Wednesday nights. As of 2/8/2013, Ziga Zaga is ofcial close for
business.
The Wall Live House, B1, 200 Roosevelt Road, Sec 4, 2930-0162 [88]. Mostly Taiwanese bands playing everything from rock to reggae.
Carnegies, 100 Anhe Road, Sec 2. Tel:+886 2 2325-4433. With an outdoor patio, it's perfect for those who prefer a quieter and less smoky
atmosphere. The scene is geared toward the 30+ expats and locals.
Indian Beerhouse, 196 Bade Road, Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2741-0550. Its a beer house with a dinosaur skeleton themed decor. Customers
can enjoy the greasy night-market style snacks with kegs of beer. All you can eat and drink for around NT$580. Update: Bar has closed
down since 2010.
Taiwan Beer Bar, 85 Bade Road, Sec. 2. A godsend for the thirsty budget traveler in a city of pricey bars, this is most certainly the
cheapest bar in town. It's attached to the brewery where Taiwan Beer is made, close to the intersection of Bade and Jianguo Roads. The
restaurant is located in an inconspicuous warehouse deep inside the brewery entrance. What it lacks in ambiance it more than makes up
for in value. NT$50 per mug of Taiwan Beer, NT$100 per liter. Interior and exterior seating are available. This is a great place to nd the
rare Taiwan Draft Beer, which has a 2-week expiration and usually can only be found in a few restaurants and stores in the same city as the
brewery.
Standing Room, 508 ChangChun Road,Taipei. It is the standing style bar and restaurant with a traditional Japanese hors d'oeubres, with
world wide classic beverages. Its perfect location to have the quick dinner and drink for a busy business person. open Mon-Sat, "Happy
Hour" everyday open-8:30PM.
My Place Bar & Restaurant, No.3-1 Lane 32 Shuang Cheng St, (02)2591-4269. Still going strong after 25 years. Serves great food, has
two bars, pool table, and shows live sports on multiple screens. There is outside seating for smokers. One of the premier bars in Taipei for
watching the upcoming World Cup. Happy Hour selected beers $100, specail draught beer $100 all night.
The Brass Monkey, No.166 Fuxing N. Road, Tel: +886 2 2547-5050. Great atmosphere with live sports shown on big screens. Theres
always something going on - its never a regular night. Friendly staffs are ready to serve you with good food and a wide selection of drinks.
Go have a dance on their famous Thursday ladies nights.
Fourplay Cuisine, 67 Dongfeng Street ((9]9j67) Tel: 0227083898. Hours: Mon-Thurs 6pm-1am. Fri&Sat 6pm-2am. A
quiet bar/restaurant with creative drinks. Your shot may include a helium balloon, a water pipe, re or dry ice.
[edit] Tea houses
Taiwan's speciality tea is High Mountain Oolong ((|), a fragrant, light tea) and Tieguanyin ([, a dark, rich brew).
Wisteria House ()]), 16 Xinsheng South Road, Sec 3. Tel:+886 2 2363-7375 [89]. Wisteria is set in a traditional house, complete with
tatami mats, and is a great place to spend an afternoon relaxing with friends and soaking up the atmosphere of Taiwan.
Hui Liu (j), No 9, Lane 31, Yongkang Street. Tel:+886 2 2392-6707. Located next to the small and verdant Yongkang Park, Hui Liu is a
modern style tea house. In addition to serving Chinese tea, Hui Liu is also famous for its organic vegetarian meals and hand made pottery.
Teng (]]), 29, Lane 61, Linyi Street (between Renai Road, sec 2 and Xinyi Road, sec 2). Tel:+886 2 2321-9089. A rustic tea house and
art studio in the heart of Taipei.
The mountainous Maokong area of Muzha in the Wenshan district of the city has dozens upon dozens of teahouses, many of which also offer
panoramic views of the city. Its especially spectacular on a clear evening. A Maokong Gondola (cable car) system [90] services the Taipei Zoo
MRT station to Maokong. The S10 bus comes up from the Wanfang Community MRT station.
[edit] Juice Bar
Nothing is better on a hot and humid Taipei day than a refreshing glass of juice made from a huge assortment of fresh fruit!
Happy Fruit Juice Bar (3[), 53 Yongkang Street. Tel:+886 2 2343-2393. Located next to the California Grill burger place on
Yongkang Street near JinHua intersection, Happy Fruit Juice Bar is a fresh fruit juice bar decorated with a greek cafe interior. The store is
family owned and run by a mom and four sisters. They serve tea, fresh fruit juice, milk pearl tea and other drinks. It's a great place to grab
something cool and refreshing on a hot day. Also, Happy Fruit Juice bar's right beside the Mofo burger joint...so it's a perfect place to get a
healthy drink to wash down that burger afterwards, or to simply sit down at after a trek through Yongkang St!
[edit] Cafes
While traditionally a nation of tea drinkers, in recent years the Taiwanese have really embraced the cafe culture, and all the usual chains can be
found here in abundance. For cafes with more character, roam the back streets near National Taiwan University between Xinsheng South Road
and Roosevelt Road. More cafes are located in the area around Renai Road, Section 4 and Dunhua South Road. There are also some
interesting and characterful places between Yongkang Park and Chaozhou Street, and in the alleys around Shida Road. However, for a
particularly impressive range of styles, visit Bitan in Xindian, where all the cafes offer restful views over the river and mountains beyond (though
can be noisy at weekend).
Salt Peanuts (23, Lane 60, Taishun Street, near Shida) is highly recommended for its laid back atmosphere and great selection of retro-
rock.
Cafe Moda Taipei, 1F, No 11, Lane 49, Sec 1, Anhe Road, Daan District (Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT Station exit 3, turn right on the rst lane,
after 4 blocks you will nd it on your left side)), +886-2-8771-7608, [91]. 11AM-10PM. For people who prefer the new concept of a
boutique cafe, the specialty of this place by far are the 100% Organic Guatemalan quality coffee beverages they offer in a cozy ambient
mixed with art fashion and great music. A small but fancy terrace is perfect for enjoying beverages on a fresh day. They also have imported
beer, wine, tea, juices and other snacks in their menu, including cheese and Italian fruit cake. They have a multicultural staff uent in
Chinese, English, and Spanish (German and Japanese depending on the day you go), so feel relaxed if Chinese is not your mother tongue
as this place is geared for expats and locals that prefer a stronger kind of gourmet organic coffee. Coffee beverages between NT$120 and
NT$200. edit
Minimal Cafe, 106(Taipeiqj42( Tai4Shun4 Jie1 Lane 2, #42, Daan District, Taipei City, +886-2-2362-9734, [92]. This cafe is
famous for having many resident cats living inside of it (49, according to the wait staff). In fact, the owner of this cafe loves cats so much,
stray ones are adopted, spayed/neutered, then allowed to live in the cafe. Thus, as you drink your beverage, don't be surprised if cats are
checking you out. This cafe is indeed clean despite all the cats, and has tasty mid-range priced desserts and coffee, as well as
salads/meals. The cats are friendly, if not always looking for a warm lap to sleep on. The younger cats might jump from lap to lap, just to
nd a playmate, even if the wiser, older cats do not care for such schenanigans. edit
Coffee Lab. No. 6, Lane 64, Section 2, Zh&ngXio East Road, Jhongjheng District Taipei City. This small coffee shop roasts their own
beans on site. 3 resident cats keep patrons company as they sip carefully crafted lattes.
Cafe Flat White 106(9] 7)j41(12. An excellent and airy cafe serving a ne selection of coffees, light eats and
delicious desserts. Local art is on display on the walls.
GaBee. No 21, Min Sheng East Road, Section 3, Alley 113, [93]. Probably the best cafe in Taipei for coffee lovers. Winner of the 2008
Barista championships, they take coffee and latte art very seriously. The wafes are excellent too.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Budget
[edit] East Taipei
Royal Best Hotel, 385 Xinyi Road, sec. 4, +886 2 2729-5533 (royalbes@ms.hinet.net). Located in the centre of Taipei, and only a 5 minute
walk to the MRT station. Spacious and comfortable rooms decorated in a Victorian style decor.
Ever Green Hotel, 73 Xinyi Road, sec. 2, +886 2 2394-4796. Somewhat shabby hotel that is at least clean and comfortable. Rooms are
small, although the restaurant and breakfast on site is excellent.
Fu Hau Hotel, 9 Fuxing South Road, sec 2, +886 2 2325-0722 (service@fuhauhotel.com.tw). Centrally located and close to Da-an MRT
Station.
Donghwa Hotel, 156 Nanjing East Road, sec 4, +886 2 2579-6162 (donghwahotel@hotmail.com). Good value hotel that provides guests
with a warm and homey experience.
KDM Hotel, No.8, Sec. 3, Jhongsiao E. Rd., Da-an District, +886 2 2721-1162. Decent, standard budget hotel without trimmings, but in a
desired location, near all the commercial businesses and entertainment avenues.
The Meeting Place, No.20, 768 Bade Road, sec 4, +886 2 2782-6056 (). Large common room, organized events, great value.
JV's Hostel, 2F, No. 57, Aly. 50, Ln. 39, Tonghua St., Da-an District, Taipei city, Taiwan 106, 0983780359 (local), +886 983 780 359
(overseas), ("jvshostel.taiwan@facebook.com"). https://www.facebook.com/jvshostel.taiwan . http://www.jvs-hostel.blogspot.com . Located
near Linjiang St. (Tonghua) night market in a hearty neighborhood. The Da-an MRT stop is not too far. It can be tough to nd the right lane,
alley, and number, so ask around. JV's hostel has 6-bed dorms and rooms. There's a common room with a projector and sofas, a
microwave, and shared bathrooms on each oor. The staff is amazing, well-educated, and helpful. Many residents have stayed here long-
term and are able to call it a home.
[edit] West Taipei
Good Ground Hotel (([9j)) No.6, Lane 27, Chengdu Rd., Taipei City, Taiwan TEL+886 2 2371 8616 FAX+886 2 2361
9197 [94]. Located 5 minutes walk from Xi Men Ding Metro Station.
One Star (g)) 18 Chongqing South Road, sec 1. Tel:+886 2 2388-7269. Fax:+886 2 2388-2983 [95]. Located across from Taipei
Main Station. Rooms from NT$1,740. Modern, clean and well appointed, with features such as at screen tvs and air conditioning in rooms,
as well as spacious bathrooms. Staff are very friendly.
New Mayower Hotel, 1 Chongqing South Road, sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2311-0212. Large and comfortable rooms and with modern amenities.
[edit] Hostels

Homey Hostel's Common Area
Homey Hostel, 7F., No.180, ChangAn W. Rd., Taipei City, Taiwan, +886 2 25504499 (homeyhostel@gmail.com), [96]. checkin: 15:00;
checkout: 11:00. Beside Taipei train station, very easy traveling to any city of Taiwan. within 10- mins commuting time to all major
attractions, and interesting spots of Taipei. friendly, helpful and intimate atmosphere for travelers. 5 minutes to subway and straight bus
from airport. NT570-630/bed. edit
Taipei Backpackers Hostel, 2F No.113, Kunming Street, Taipei, +886-2-23752877 (tbphostel@gmail.com), [97]. checkin: 13:00;
checkout: 12:00. 5 minutes from Ximen MRT station, one of the famous shopping areas in Taipei. From NT380/night. edit
Travel Talk Taipei Backpackers, 2F, No.96, Sec.2,Minquan E. Rd., Taipei city (by), +886-918319868 (traveltalktaipei@hotmail.com).
checkin: 14:00-21:00; checkout: 11:00. 5 minutes from Hsing Tien Kung MRT station,The international airport bus stop & city bus stop is
just right in front of the hostel.there are famous temple( Hsing Tien Kung ), traditional morning market, local food shops, future teller shops
and foot massage & Spa stores around. The staff is very helpful and friendly and gives good advice to activities in Taipei. From
NT400/night. edit
The Meeting Place, 1F, No. 20, Alley 1, Lane 768, Section 4, Bade Rd., (themeetingplacetaipei@gmail.com), [98]. checkout: 12 Noon. Tel:
+886-(0)2-2782-6056. A new hostel near Songshan Station and Houshanpi MRT, with a very large common area, free internet and guest
computers, and other amenities. NT$300/night (US$11) and up. edit
Camels' Oasis Hostel, 2F.-1, No.78, Ningbo W. St., Taipei city, +886233936749 (camelsoasis@so-net.net.tw), [99]. Cheap but decent,
clean hostel in a good location, only 5 mins walk from MRT C.K.S memorial hall station. NT$300/night. edit
Taipei Visitors Hostel, 100 Roosevelt Rd, Wanlong, Taipei. This hostel is more like a shared accommodation than a hostel. Visitors are
able to choose the duration of their stay. The company has two locations and unlike normal hostels, all rooms are separate, each containing
a double bed. Prices start at 3000NT per week.
Taiwanmex, No. 66, Changan W RoAd, 9th Floor., (taiwanmex@hotmail.com). One block north of Taipei station, closer to Zhongshan
station, exit R4 of the shopping mall. This hostel has multiple buildings near Zhongshan station; the cheaper rooms are good value but tiny.
Clean rooms, multiple bathrooms, internet PCs and showers at NT$450 per night; cheaper doubles are NT$600. No real community room
like other hostels, but quiet and great for actually sleeping. Toll free number 0800-060-468. Run by an awesome Mexican ex-pat named
Raul. Spanish and English spoken. NT$450/night. edit
Amigo Hostel, No. 14, Lane 157, Yonghe Road. Sec. 2, Yonghe, [100]. . An old favorite, though it is no longer in its old location. Closest
MRT: Dingxi. Cheap, basic hostel that has 24hr wi access. US$7/night. edit
Eight Elephants Hostel, Jin-Jiang Street, Lane 48, Alley 4, No. 6, 1F (near Shida) (3min walk from Guting Metro station (Exit 2)),
(EEhostel@gmail.com), [101]. Rated best hostel in Taiwan for 2008 by HostelWorld.com. A very clean and stylish hostel. Helpful info for
travelers and job-seekers. From $550 NTD per night.. edit
Happy Family Hostel 1 & 2, 2, Lane 56, Zhongshan North Road Sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2581-0176; Mobile: 0937-195-075. [102]. Happy
Family is an old favorite in the city and it's managed by the very friendly and helpful John Lee. A shared room goes for NT$300 per night,
while rates for a single run from NT$400-NT$700. Cheaper rates are available for long term stays.

This guide uses the following
price ranges for a standard
double room:
Budget below NT$2,500
Mid-range NT$2,500-5,000
Splurge NT$5,000+
On My WayTaipei
International Youth Hostel
On My WayTaipei Hostel, No. 82, Guang Ming Rd., Beitou District, Taipei City 112, Taiwan (Near by BEITOU MRT Station), [103].
checkin: 16:00; checkout: 12:00. Taipei International Youth Hostel,One of the very rst legal hostel in Taipei !Female only oor. free wi, free
coffee & tea, Bicycle parking inside. 600. edit
Taipei Key Mall Traveler Hostel, 15F-2, 50 Zhongxiao W. Rd. Sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2331-7272, 2381-2550. This hostel is located opposite
the Taipei Main Station on the 15th oor of the building where the K-Mall is located, next to the tall Mitsukoshi building. NT$490 per night
per person and includes breakfast, NT$250 for children under 12.
Taipei Hostel, 6F, No. 11, Lane 5, Linsen N. Rd, [104]. Well-known for its numerous facilities, helpful staff, and excellent rates. Ideal location
near the MRT station and several restaurants. Dorm: NT$300 (NT$1500/week). Single bed room: NT$500 (NT$2500/week). edit.
World Scholar House, 38, Lane 2, Songjiang Road. Tel:+886 2 2541-8113 [105]. A clean and conveniently located hostel. Dorm and
private rooms available, with the rates running NT$350-NT$500.
[edit] Mid Range
[edit] East Taipei
Les Suites Ching-Cheng Hotel, 12 Chingcheng Street (one minute walk from Nanjing East
Road MRT Station (Muzha line)), +886 2 8712-7688 (info.cc@suitetpe.com, fax: 8712-
7699), [106]. A small and very comfortable hotel, centraly located. The manager is very kind
and will help you nd good local restaurants and places to visit. edit
Les Suites Daan Taipei ((|g9[) [107], 135 Daan Road Sec. 1. Tel: +886 2 8773-3799, Fax : 886-2-8773-3788. Calming
ambiance is felt throughout this hotel, with soft lighting and muted colour palette adding to the mood. Staff are helpful and professional, and
a complimemtary afternoon tea is served downstairs in the internet terminals, making it a perfect stay for the business traveller.
Hotel B (Baguio Hotel), 367 Bade Road, sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2771-8996. Cozy and well equipped hotel at a reasonable price, located at the
heart of Taipei. Renovated in 2009 with brand new rooms and friendlier services. [108]
Taipei Fullerton 41 ((}), 41 Fuxing South Road, sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2708-3000. [109] Tastefully decorated and geared toward
business travelers. Very polite and attentive staff. Free wi in the lobby only, not in the rooms (but rooms do have ethernet ports and cables
for laptops, and there is a good business center in the lobby). Surrounded by restaurants and convenience stores, and a trivially short walk
from the Daan MRT station.
First Hotel, 63 Nanjing East Road, sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2541-8234. Ten story hotel that has received mixed reviews due to the poor customer
service and somewhat shabby rooms.
[edit] West Taipei
Cosmos Hotel ([9[)), 43 Zhongxiao West Road, sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2361-7856 [110]. In front of Taipei Main Station. The dated
decor brings down the tone in this otherwise comfortable hotel. Service standard in the hotel was good with staff being responsive but not
very knowledgeable.
Hotel Flowers, 19 Hankou Street. Tel:+886 2 2312-3811. Decent value for money, take note that the rooms are extremely small.
YMCA, 19 Xuchang Street. Tel:+886 2 2311-3201 [111]. A great nd! Upscale budget hotel in a great location. Clean. English speaking staff
is friendly and will go out of their way to help you and make you feel at home. Near main station. Has A/C, good selection of cable channels
(including English), fridge, in house restaurant. Rooms on the street side have a balcony.
The Leofoo Hotel (/{]), 168 Changchun Road. Tel:+886 2 2507-3211. [112]. Aging, although solid choice for those on a budget with
clean and comfortable rooms.
[edit] Splurge
[edit] East Taipei
Agora Garden (/[), 68 Songgao Road. Tel:+886 2 8780-5168. [113]. Located a short walk from Taipei 101 and Taipei World Trade
Center. Spacious rooms that have great balcony views over Taipei. However, the decor and some amenities are quite outdated. Loctaion is
close to high end shopping and the Taipei 101 building.
Le Meridien Taipei ((,)), 38 Songren Road. Tel:+886 2 6622-8000. [114]. One of Taipei's newest international hotels.
Grand Hyatt Taipei ((j9[)), 2 Songshou Road. Tel:+886 2 2720-1234. [115]. Next to Taipei 101 and Taipei World Trade Center,
at the very heart of the New Taipei, a burgeoning business, shopping and entertainment district. Stunning, top end hotel with sleek and
modern furnishings. Room service is prompt and delicious.
Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (|(9[j9[)), 201 Dunhua South Road, sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2378-8888. [116]. Asian
inspired interior design that impresses with the attention to detail. One of the best 5 star hotels in Taipei.
Westin Hotel Taipei (/_), 133 Nanjing East Road, sec. 3. Tel:+886 2 8770-6565. [117] Great for business travellers, this 5 star hotel
is well equipped for business functions with expansive meeting space and a business center offering secretarial support and translations.
Eight restaurants and a hotel piano bar are the perfect way to unwind after a day of busy meetings.
Howard Plaza Hotel ((T9[)), 160 Renai Road, sec. 3. Tel:+886 2 2700-2323. [118]. Centrally located and convenient for MRT.
Rooms are spacious with walk in closets and fresh fruit and water is provided for daily. Internet access is fast and free.
The Sherwood Hotel (yT[)), 111 Minsheng East Road, sec. 3. Tel:+886 2 2718-1188. [119] Five star European hotel situated in the
business district. Staff can be overly attentive but speak good English. The gym, pool and sauna are open until 10PM each night and are
very clean.
[edit] West Taipei
Regent Taipei (((T)), 41 Zhongshan North Road sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2523-2828.[120] Sophisticated top end luxury hotel that
displays elegance throughout its rooms and building. Large rooms, helpful staff and wonderful amenities.
Ambassador Hotel Taipei (([9[)), 63 Zhongshan North Road, sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2551-1111. [121] While the outside facade may
look old and dated, the interior sparkles with fresh, modern colours and features. The bathrooms are big and clean and tiled with marble
while the room is well equipped and maintained. Although there are non smoking oors, there is the distinct smell of cigarettes in the air so
be aware.
Caesar Park Taipei ((9[)), 38 Zhongxiao West Road, sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2311-5151. [122] Walking distance to the Presidential
Palace, the hotels location is its biggest drawcard. Rooms are rather soul less and the breakfast buffet is standard, though edible.
Ritz Landis Hotel ({9[)), 41 Minquan East Road, sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2597-1234. [123] One of the city's most luxurious hotels,
the Ritz has a comfortable sophistication that everyone can enjoy. Each of their 100 rooms is equipped with the most modern technology
like temperature and humidity control, phones with dataports for fax or modems and voice mail service and cable tv. Guests can also dine
in two of the most famous restaurants in the city at their hotel, the Tien Hsiang Lo and Paris 1930, both serving fresh, tasty cuisine.
Sheraton Hotel Taipei ((>]9[)), 12 Zhongxiao East Road, sec. 1. Tel:+886 2 2394-4240. An older hotel located in an area
isolated from shops and other amenities. However, it offers a high overall standard in the rooms and the service.
[edit] Contact
[edit] Dialing code
The area dialing code for Taipei is 02. From overseas, dial +886 2 XXXX XXXX
[edit] Tourist and emergency numbers
Tourist Information Ofce: 9F, 290 Zhongxiao East Road., Sec. 4. TEL:2349-1500 There is also a branch tourist ofce next to the ticket
purchasing counters at Taipei Main Station, and near exit 16 in the Metro Mall underground shopping plaza that runs between MRT the
Zhongxiao-Fushing and Zhongxiao-Dunhwa Stations.
Tourist Information (emergency number) - Tel:+886 2 2717-3737.
[edit] Telephone
Mobile phone coverage is relatively good in Taipei. Among the major providers are Chunghwa Telecom (Tj), Taiwan Mobile ([9{
9), Vibo ([j) and Far EasTone (]j). Taipei has both GSM 900/1800 and 3G networks and roaming might be possible for users of
such mobile phones, subject to agreements between operators. Most payphones work with telephone cards ([) which are available at all
convenience stores.
[edit] Hospitals
Chung-shan Hospital (|j) A small hospital popular with expats. 11, Lane 112, Renai Road, Sec. 4. Tel:+886 2 2708-1166. Nearest
MRT: 'Zhongxiao-Dunhua' (a fteen minute walk).
Buddhist Tzu-chi Hospital (,j) A very friendly and efcient hospital with an especially caring environment. Jianguo Road, Xindian
City. Tel:+886 2 6628-6336, 6628-9800.
Mackay Memorial Hospital ()jj) One of the best hospitals in Taipei. 92 Zhongshan North Road Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2543-3535.
Nearest MRT Station: Shuanglian.
National Taiwan University Hospital (9j) One of Taiwan's largest and most famous hospitals. 1 Changde Street. Tel:+886 2
2312-3456. Nearest MRT Station: NTU Hospital.
Taiwan Adventist Hospital (j) This hospital has English-speaking staff. 424 Bade Road Sec. 2. Tel:+886 2 2771-8151.
Yang-ming Hospital (||j) Popular with the Tianmu expat community. 105 Yusheng Street, Shilin.
[edit] Major airlines
Cathay Pacic ([q) +886 2 2715 2333
China Airlines (T) +886 2 2715 1212
EVA Airways (;) +886 2 2501 1999
KLM Asia ({|_g) +886 2 2711 4055
Delta () +886 2 2772 2188
Singapore Airlines (j]j) +886 2 2551 6655
Thai Airways (q[) +886 2 2509 6800
For up-to-date information on cheap ights, check the advertisement pages of one of the three local daily English newspapers (see
'Media'section below).
[edit] Media
Taiwan has a very free and liberal press. There are three daily local newspapers available in English, the China Post [124], the Taipei Times
[125], and the Taiwan News [126]. Note that most media in Taiwan has a political slant; the China Post is more pan-blue while Taipei Times and
Taiwan News are more pan-green.
Free magazines and information are available from the following:
Centred on Taipei [127] is a free monthly designed for expats living in Taipei, but it is also very useful for visitors. It can be found in many
of the major hotels throughout Taipei, and also in many businesses in the Tian Mu area.
This Month in Taiwan is a free magazine that lists events and has an exhaustive directory of useful numbers in Taiwan. It can be found at
tourist ofces and major hotels.
POTS [128] is a free weekly where you can nd out what is going on in the Taipei art, club, and bar scenes. There is a eight page English
supplement every week with extensive listings. Pick it up at bars like Bobwundaye, The Living Room, or Odeon 2.
FTV English Edition [129] This show is an hour of English news shown on Channel 53 (2005) on the local TV station Formosa TV (FTV)
at 11PM every night. The program features 30 minutes of local news, as well as cultural events. The show is archived online.
[edit] Internet cafes
Internet cafes are plentiful, especially in the maze of alleys between Taipei Main Station and Peace Park. However, you may have to wander
around (and look up and down as many are on higher oors or in the basement) before nding one. Some computers are coin operated.
Internet cafes are known as wang-ka in Chinese (a combination of wang, the Chinese word for 'net', and ka an abbreviation of 'cafe'.)
Below is a list of a few recommended internet cafes:
B1 is on corner of Shida Road and Lane 117 This internet cafe is a two minute walk from MRT station Taipower Building, exit 3.
Aztec, 2F. 235 Zhongxiao East Road, sec. 4.
LHH Cyber Cafe, 28 Guangfu South Road.
Skywalker Multimedia Entertainment Center, B1, 119 Minsheng East Road, sec. 2.
Taipei also has a city-wide wi service called Wiy [130]. For a small fee, you can buy a card that gives you unlimited internet access nearly
anywhere in the city for a day or a month. The card costs NT$100 for 1 day of unlimited access and NT$500 for 31 days of unlimited access
and can be purchased in Starbucks Coffee Shops, 7 eleven stores or online ( connect via wi to wiy network for details).
[edit] Stay safe
Taipei is one of the safest cities you will ever visit, and violent crime is extremely rare. However, as in many large cities, pickpockets operate in
crowded areas, and so you should be vigilant in night markets.
Local police are a resource you can turn for help, and many ofcers speak at least basic English.
Central Weather Bureau [131] In addition to giving a seven day forecasts for Taipei, this website also has detailed maps showing the
path of an approaching typhoon and up-to-the-minute information of earthquakes, giving their location and magnitude.
English-Speaking Police:+886 2 2555 4257 / 2556 6007
Emergency numbers:
Police: 110
Ambulance, Fire brigade: 119
[edit] Get out
Tamsui, an old port town northwest of Taipei, is the main scene of the Taiwanese movie - Secret by Jay Chou. It's very popular with
tourists.
Jiufen is a former gold mining town located on the northeast coast is now a popular tourist destination.
Fulong is in the eastern coast of Taipei County. There you will nd a coastal town with an excellent beach. Every July, don't forget to attend
the three day Ho-hai-yan Rock Festival.
Yingge is famous for its high concentration of potters and ceramic makers.
Taroko Gorge Here, the Liwu River cuts through 3,000-foot marble cliffs. The area around the gorge is also identied as Taroko Gorge
National Park.
Hsinchu is a city with an old heritage and modern science park.
Shei-pa National Park spans mountains and rivers and is in Hsinchu County has great hiking trails.
Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County is a crystal clear lake embedded into lush mountains.
March 17, 2013 by Lee Teck Meng
Taiwan Taipei 101 (Q[101)
This was our eleventh (and last) day in Taiwan. With a few hours to spare before our ight in the afternoon, we decided to go Taipei 101 ((
101), the iconic skyscraper of Taiwan. To me, a visit to Taipei 101 is more symbolic than anything else. Yes, the view at the top of the
observatory decks (level 89th and 91st) is great but if you have see anything from Shanghais Oriental Pearl Tower, Melbournes Eureka Tower,
Las Vegas Stratosphere or even Singapore Flyer, you have seen it all.

Though Taipei 101 is not connected directly by the MRT, you can take a free bus shuttle from Taipei City Hall Station (Exit 2). Also, I did mention
in my earlier posting that you should always check out i-bon (available in most 7-11 convenience stores) rst for any discounted tickets. I
managed to get a good deal for my Taipei 101 Observatory admission tickets (buy one adult pass and get one child pass free) at i-bon.

Taipei 101 is both a shopping mall and ofce building. The shopping mall is from B1 to Level 6 and most of the shops are selling up-market
branded stuff. Since our sole purpose of being there was just to go onto the observatory, we bypassed all the shops and went straight to the
observatory ticketing booth at level 5.
From the lift lobby at level 5, it takes exactly 37 seconds to reach the indoor observatory deck at level 89 and thats at least 30km/hr. Its quite
amazing that we didnt feel any discomfort during the ascend. In fact, the lift was very stable.
At level 89 (382m above ground), you will get a birds eye view of the city. You can also get a free rental of an audio guide (available in eight
languages) from the Multimedia Guide Counter, which will give you a more detailed explanation of the view from your position in the
observatory.

At 382m, you are naturally above the cloud

Pretty Trees
Taiwan, as we know it, is an island sitting on top of the Pacic Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where tens of thousands of earthquakes
happen every year. Even though only a fraction of that can be felt by the people, we are looking at hundreds to thousands per year; a number
that is not small by any denition. So what protects Taipei 101, a building standing at 508m tall, from these shakes? The answer lies with the
clever usage of mass dampers or more commonly known as Damper Babies as marketed by Taipei 101. These dampers serve as steel
pendulums and will sway to offset the movements in the building caused by strong wind or earthquake (upto 7 degree tremour on the Richter
scale). Do spend some time on the Level 89, where the actual dumper is open to the public, as its quite educational.
Damper Babies
The real damper

Besides offering of the best view of Taipei city (on a clear day), the observatory also has a gift shop that sells exclusive souvenirs at reasonable
prices. I am not a souvenir collector but we did buy a postcard and posted to ourselves from the mailbox at the observatory. Simple activities like
this was enough to make the kids happy. I guess the airmail from one of the highest post ofces in the world is quite exciting to them.
A fully functional mailbox at level 89, Taipei 101

Writing a postcard to her mommy

When we rst arrived at the observatory, the rst thing that caught Alycias attention wasnt the view nor the damper babies. Its the Bigtom ice-
cream at the Sky Cafe! I promised her that we would rest at the cafe after we were done and heres my promise

There is an outdoor observatory at level 91 but unfortunately it was closed during our visit due to bad weather. Then at level 88, i.e. one level
down from where we were, is a collection of jewelry arts. These exquisite art pieces were made from Taiwans coral gemstones, jade and other
precious stones.
On the way down to Level 88 from Level 89

Phew! I have nally completed the all the postings for our Taiwan 2011* trip and I hope you have enjoyed all the postings so far. Im sorry that it
took me 1 year and 3 months to complete the writeup for the trip and I hope I will do better for our other trip, Taiwan 2012*!
Useful Information Taipei 101 (Q[101):
Directions:
Take MRT to City Hall station
Take Exit 2 to board the free bus shuttle to Taipei 101
Useful Links:
i-bon
Taipei 101 Website
Observatory Opening Hours:
09:00 ~ 22:00 hrs
Outdoor Observatory at level 91 may be closed if the weather is bad
Ximending
Ximending
Ximending at night
Ximending (Chinese: y|H; pinyin: X#mnd#ng; WadeGiles: Hsi-men-ting; Pe%h-&e-j': Se-mn5g-teng; Romaji: Seimon-ch&; sometimes
Ximenting) is a neighborhood and shopping district in the Wanhua District of Taipei, Taiwan. It was the rst pedestrian zone in Taiwan.
Contents
1 Overview
2 Access
3 History
3.1 Name
3.2 Origin
3.3 Theater street
3.4 Historic sites
4 Popularity
5 Transportation
6 See also
7 External links
8 References
Overview
Ximending has been called the "Harajuku of Taipei" and the "Shibuya of Taipei".
[1][2][3][4]
Ximending is the source of Taiwan's fashion,
subculture, and Japanese culture. Ximending is also the main LGBT district of Taiwan, with a host of many clubs and pubs surrounding the
area. This area is in the northeastern part of Wanhua District in Taipei and it is also the most important consumer district in the Western District
of Taipei. The well-known Ximending Pedestrian Area was the rst pedestrian area built in Taipei and is the largest in Taiwan.
[5]
Ximending is a popular shopping district for young people.
Access
Because many bus lines gather on Zhonghua Road, Ximending is also an important area for bus transfers. Ximending is also accessible via exit
6 of the Taipei Metro Ximen Station (Banqiao Line and Xiaonanmen Line).
History
Name
The Ximending Pedestrian Area is named after the administrative division Seimon-ch& (y|H), which existed during Japanese rule, referring to
an area outside the west gate of the city. The area of Seimon-ch& included modern-day Chengdu Road ([), Xining South Road (y=]),
Kunming Street ([|j), and Kangding Road ()). However, today the Ximending Pedestrian Area not only includes Seimon-ch& but also
Wakatake-ch& ({|H) and Shinki-ch& (jH). The historical spelling of this area was Hsimenting, which is based on the Wade-Giles
romanization of Mandarin Chinese. The use of the character H is unusual in a Chinese context; it is a ch& (a part of a ward) in the Japanese
municipality system.
Ximending side alley at night.
Origin
The name of Ximending was derived from its position outside the west gate of Taipei City. In the beginning during Japanese rule, Ximending
was an area of wilderness, through which there was a road connecting the west gate of Taipei to the town of Bangka.
[2]
Later, the Japanese
decided to follow the example of Asakusa in Tokyo to set up an entertainment and business area.
[2]
The earliest entertainment facilities
constructed included the Taihokuza in 1897, Eiza (now called New Wanguo Market) in 1902, and the Red House Theater in 1908.
[6]
Theater street
Ximending became a well-known theater street in Taipei in the 1930s and grew even more prosperous after the defeat of Japan. In the 1950s,
every theater was full to capacity and scalpers ran wild. Gradually, more theaters opened one after another; At one point, Wuchang St Section 1
had over ten theaters. However, in the 1990s, as Taipei City developed toward the Eastern District and away from Ximending, it began to lose
business. In 1999, the city government and local stores established Ximending as a pedestrian area, prohibiting the entrance of vehicles on
weekends and national holidays, a move that attracted young consumers and brought back business.
[5]
Today, Ximending has over twenty
theaters and six thousand vendors, and is a popular area for small concerts, album launches, and street performances. It is also home to the
Red Envelope Clubs set up in the 1960s.
The historic Red House Theater in Ximending.
Historic sites
Because of its history, Ximending is home to several historical sites. Built during the Japanese occupation, Ximending Mazu Temple is an
important historical temple. Originally opened as a market, the Red House Theater is another prominent building from the Japanese era.
The namesake West Gate was torn down in 1905. Chunghwa Market used to extend to this area, but was demolished in 1992.
Popularity
Ximending attracts an average of over 3 million shoppers per month.
[5]
It has been called the "Harajuku of Taipei". The local bookstores sell
Japanese magazines, books, CD albums, and clothing, making it a haven for the "Harizu", or Japanese culture adorers.
[2]
Individual vendors
gather in the streets as well as the large business buildings, such as Wannien Department Store and Shizilin Square during the day, and
Wanguo Department Store and Eslite 116 later at night.
Due to the density of young people, Ximending is comparable to Shilin Night Market and the Eastern District to be areas with the highest crime
rates. In addition, Ximending is well known for student prostitution.
[citation needed]
Transportation
Ximending is accessible within walking distance North West from Ximen Station of the Taipei Metro.
See
National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine
For other titles including Martyrs' Shrine, see Martyrs' Shrine (disambiguation).
Coordinates: 254)49.65*N 12131)57.91*E
National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine
Republic of China
For war dead of the Republic of China
Established 1969
Location Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan
The National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine (Chinese: [[|) is a shrine in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, dedicated to the war
dead of the Republic of China.
Built on Chingshan Mountain and overseeing the Keelung River in Taipei's Zhongshan District in 1969, the Martyrs Shrine recalls the
architecture of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing's Forbidden City. The structure houses the spirit tablets of about 390,000 persons killed,
among other engagements, during the Xinhai Revolution, Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War, and the First
and Second Taiwan Strait Crises.
[1]
A changing of the honor guard from the various branches of the Republic of China Military, similar to the
rituals at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, take place at the shrine.
The Martyrs' Shrine was the site of the funeral of Chiang Ching-kuo in 1988. On March 29 (Youth Day, commemorating the Huanghuagang
Uprising) and September 3 (Armed Forces Day) of every year the President of the Republic of China leads the heads of the ve Yuans
(branches of government) to pay their respects to the martyrs by bowing and offering incense.
[2]
Similar shrines are located in each locality in
Taiwan, and similar ceremonies are led by county magistrates and city mayors.
Although the Martyrs Shrine is located in Taiwan, most of the soldiers were born on Mainland China. Taiwan was ruled by Japan throughout
World War II, and about 200,000 Taiwanese who lived under Japanese rule served in the Japanese Imperial Army.
Paifang
Changing of the Guard
Entrance building
Main shrine
A jiatu on the main shrine
A pavilion on the site
Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market is a popular destination after dark
Chinese [
Interior of the Shilin Night Market food court
Inside the food court, many hawkers sell food from their stalls
Besides food, many vendors sell clothes, jewellery, and other goods
Shilin Night Market (Chinese: [; pinyin: Shln Ysh) is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan, and is often considered to
be the largest and most famous night market in the city.
Contents
1 Overview
2 Historical development
3 Getting to Shilin Night Market
4 Famous foods
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Overview
The night market encompasses two distinct sections sharing a symbiotic relationship: a section formerly housed in the old Shilin Market
building, containing mostly food vendors and small restaurants; and the surrounding businesses and shops selling other nonfood items. The
food court holds 539 stalls, and the second oor serves as a parking lot for 400 cars.
[1]
In addition to the food court, side streets and alleys are lined with storefronts and roadside stands. Cinemas video arcades and karaoke bars
are also prevalent in the area. Like most night markets in Taiwan, the local businesses and vendors begin opening around 16:00. As students
begin returning home from school, crowds reach their peak between 20:00 and 23:00. Businesses continue operating well past midnight and
close around 01:00 or 02:00.
Tourist trafc has increased in recent years due to the opening of the Taipei Metro system. The night market is closest to Jiantan Station on the
Tamsui Line (Red Line) as it's known by locals. From the platform of Jiantan Station, riders can see the enclosed food court located across the
street from the MRT station.
Historical development
The night market is located near the former location of a wharf on the Keelung River (Traditional Chinese: g; Hny, P'ny'n: J'lng).
Agricultural produce from farms in Shilin being shipped to other ports such as Banka and Dadaocheng would typically be sold in this area. The
daytime Shilin Market was formally established in this area in 1909, and the market was inaugurated in 1913.
[2]
With the inux of customers,
many new businesses and food vendors began to establish themselves in the area and the Shilin Night Market was born.
Shilin Night Market has since become the largest and most well-known night market in Taiwan, especially with regards to food, and is a favorite
focal point for Taipei's night life among residents and visitors alike.
Due to safety, sanitation and re hazard concerns, the old Shilin Market structure was demolished in October 2002 by the Taipei City
Government; the food vendors formerly based within the old structure were relocated to a newer temporary structure a few hundred meters
away, next to the metro Jiantan Station.
[3]
Plans for the renovated site began in 1999 work began in 2006 after the relocation of the vendors to
the temporary site.
[2]
The renovated site is expected to re-open on 25 December 2011..
Getting to Shilin Night Market
There are several ways to get to Shilin Night Market. You can take the Taipei Rapid Transit System Danshui line (AKA the "Red Line") to Jiantan
Station, or take bus routes 216, 217, 218, 203, 224, 266, 269, 277, 280, 308, or 310 to the Jiantan MRT Station, Min Chuan University, or Xiao
Bei (Hsiao Pei) Street.
Famous foods
Fried chicken steak ()/j)
Literal translation: "Small bun wrapped in large bun" (9|@|)
Fried buns (])
Peanut candy ({|)
Oyster omelet ($]])
Tempura (?])
Lemon aiyu jelly (]|))
Pearl milk tea ()l,)
Stinky tofu (_[)
Oyster vermicelli ($]])
See also
Night markets in Taiwan
List of night markets in Taiwan

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