Taipei

Views & landmarks

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is a 508-meter, 101-story skyscraper that was the world's tallest building from its 2004 opening until the Burj Khalifa surpassed it in 2009. It remains Taiwan's tallest building and still ranks among the tallest in the world.

Museums & galleries

National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum traces its roots to a museum founded in Beijing in 1925, later relocated to Taiwan and reestablished in Taipei's Shilin District in 1965. It holds a vast collection of imperial treasures from China's dynasties, letting visitors explore Chinese art history and court culture through ceramics, calligraphy, painting, and jade all in one place. In 2015, a southern branch also opened in Taibao, Chiayi County.

Heritage & monuments

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a national monument built to honor former president Chiang Kai-shek during Taiwan's martial-law era. Its octagonal structure, with striking white walls and a blue roof, houses a large seated statue of Chiang atop a broad staircase, and an hourly changing-of-the-guard ceremony draws visitors.

Temples & religious sites

Taipei Grand Mosque

Located in Da'an District, this is Taiwan's largest and oldest mosque, also known as the Zheng He Mosque. As the center of Taiwan's Muslim community, it features arched windows, a dome, and arabesque patterns quite distinct from the island's other temples and shrines, making it a fascinating stop for travelers interested in religion or architecture.

Views & landmarks

Shin Kong Life Tower

Completed in 1993, Shin Kong Life Tower was among Taiwan's tallest buildings at the time, standing 245 meters tall with 51 floors. The Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store occupies floors B2 through 12, while the upper floors serve as office space, including Shin Kong Life Insurance's headquarters.

Zoos & aquariums

Taipei Zoo

Taipei Zoo, in Taipei's Wenshan District, is a major zoo covering more than 90 hectares of developed area, making it one of the largest in Asia. It displays animals such as pandas, elephants, and tropical birds in themed sections organized by continent, making it well suited to a full day of leisurely exploring.

Temples & religious sites

Bangka Lungshan Temple

Longshan Temple, in Taipei's Wanhua District, is a Taiwanese folk-religion temple built in 1738 by immigrants from Fujian to honor Guanyin. Alongside Chinese Buddhist elements centered on Guanyin, it houses shrines to Taoist and folk deities such as Mazu and Guan Yu, making it a place to see Taiwan's distinctive blend of faiths in one space.

Culture & venues

National Theater and Concert Hall

The National Theater and National Concert Hall are two performance venues facing each other across Liberty Square in Taipei's Zhongzheng District, completed in 1987. The theater stands on the south side of the square and the concert hall on the north, with the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to the east.