Taipei Blog | Things to Do and See

Taipei Fine Arts Museum: A Window to the Present and Future Taiwan

July 20, 2018 By // by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

The Taipei Fine Arts Museum, which is located at 181 Zhong Shan North Road, was established in 1983 at the place where the United States Taiwan Defense Command used to stand. The idea to build this museum was conceived by the Taipei municipal government in 1976. The local government sought to build a museum that would help improve the city’s cultural life and promote an appreciation for the arts. Its construction began in 1980 and was completed three years later. The museum formally opened on August 8, 1983. Its first exhibition was displayed on December 24, 1983. The museum is the first in Taiwan to sponsor modern art exhibitions.

fine arts museum, taiwan, taipei — Taipei Fine Arts Museum

The architecture of the museum was inspired by the architectural styles of the Japanese Metabolist Movement. The design was finalized in 1978. Kao Er-Pan was in charge of the museum’s design and was the lead architect for its construction. Yuan Shan Second …

Other Taipei Parks

July 19, 2018 By // by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

Taipei has a number of famous lovely parks like the Yangmingshan National Park and the Taipei Zoo. Aside from these, there are other Taipei parks that are a must see for tourists. Taipei is a modern city that is richly surrounded by nature, so when you travel to the city, make sure you take time to visit its relaxing and wonderful parks.

taipei, taiwan, daan park — Amphitheater inside Da’an park

Da’an Forest Park offers some of the most scenic views in Taipei. Compared to other Taipei parks, Da’an Forest Park is huge and is among the biggest in the city. The park sits on an area that used to be a place for military officers, which was developed and converted …

Other Taipei Museums

July 18, 2018 By // by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

Taipei has a lot of famous museums like the National Palace Museum and the National Taiwan Museum, but it also has smaller and interesting ones that are worth a visit. Other Taipei museums that you should include in your itinerary when you travel to the city are the Taipei Astronomical Museum, the Lin Liu-Hsin Puppet Theater Museum, the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, and the Museum of Jade Art. A visit to each of these and even to other Taipei museums will enrich your knowledge about Taiwan’s culture.

astronomical museum, taiwan, taipei — Taipei Astronomical Museum

The Taipei Astronomical Museum opened on November 7, 1996. It aims to promote the study of astronomy and help people know more about astronomy through various exhibitions and displays. The museum has a unique design that arouses the curiosity of people …

The Grand Hotel: A Modern Hotel that’s Traditional in a Lot of Ways

July 17, 2018 By // by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

The Grand Hotel is found in Zhongshan District. It stands out from the other buildings because of its unique design. Unlike other hotels in Taipei, this hotel is designed like a tall Chinese palace. Constructed using traditional Chinese architecture, the building is colored red and has a two-layered red roof with wooden brackets and flying rafters. It is such a splendid structure that its name is so fitting for its one of a kind exterior. At 285 feet high, the building is one of the highest structures in the world that fall under the Chinese classical building design. It also held the record for Taiwan’s tallest building from 1973 to 1981.

grand hotel, taiwan, taipei — The Grand Hotel

The hotel is owned by a nonprofit organization called Duen-Mou Foundation of Taiwan. This classic Taipei landmark has …

Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines: Keeper of Taiwan’s Aboriginal History

July 16, 2018 By // by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

The Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines was established primarily to collect artifacts related to the nine indigenous tribes of Taiwan. The museum also conducts research about these Aborigines and sets up programs that do not only educate about their history but also promote the preservation of their culture. As of 2006, the Aborigines comprised about 2% (468,602) of the entire Taiwanese population. They commonly live on the mountainous areas of the eastern part of Taiwan. They are related with the inhabitants of ancient Oceania.

shung yee museum, taiwan, taipei — The Shung Ye Museum

The museum is found near the National Palace Museum. It is impossible not to notice this building because of its unique architectural …

Taipei Temples and the Road to Heaven

September 25, 2017 By // by Sarah Cruz Leave a Comment

If you are visiting Taipei, be sure to include in your itinerary a trip to the Taipei temples and the Road to Heaven. The Road to Heaven is simply Xinsheng South Road, a major road in Taipei that is also sometimes called 8th Avenue. It earned the nickname Road to Heaven because of the places of worship found along its stretch. You will see different temples, churches, shrines, and mosques along Xinsheng South Road, which makes the place worth a visit.

baoan temple, road to heaven taipei — Beautiful Baoan Temple

Among the places of worship that you will find in the Road to Heaven are Baoan Temple, Taipei Confucius Temple, and Xingtian Temple. You will be amazed at the variety of structures and the different architectural styles of these places of worship. Before going to …