Taipei 101

Understand

As home to the Taipei City Hall, Taipei Convention Hall, the Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei 101, Taipei City Hall, and various shopping malls and entertainment venues, the East District is considered the most modern and cosmopolitan district of Taipei. 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.

Getting there

The East District is fully or partly served by MRT red, blue, green and orange lines, depending on the line. In addition it is also served by a number of bus lines.

See

1 Daan Forest Park (大安森林公園). The park rests on 26 hectares 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. Free. 2 Discover Center Of Taipei (台北探索館), 1 Shifu Rd (Taipei City Hall Stn), ☏ +886 2 2757-4547. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00, closed M. Located just inside the main entrance of Taipei City Hall, this is a good place to know the history and culture of Taipei City. Free. 3 Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區), No. 133, Guangfu South Road, Xinyi District, ☏ +886 2 2765 1388. Daily 09:00-18:00. in 2011, the park turned into a full fledged art center. Now it is a hub for cultural activities and exhibits. You can walk around the park and see the old structures as well as the new exhibits, restaurants, and the Eslite mall. Within the Eslite mall you can participate in various activities including glass blowing, jewelry and soap making. 4 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館) (SYS Memorial Hall stn, MRT Blue Line). 09:00-18:00 (temporarily closed until 2026). 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 on 16 May 1972, with the majestic architecture and placid landscape covering an area of some 115,500 m². 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 during the day by motionless military honor guards, along with a library of 400 seats storing over 1.4 millions books. A changing of the guard ceremony is conducted every hour on the hour from 09:00 to 17:00, with a rifle twirling performance. The 100-m 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. (updated Feb 2025)

5 Taipei 101 (臺北 101) (Taipei 101 stn, MRT Red Line). (臺北國際金融大樓) is rich in symbolism. This 101-floor, 508-meter high skyscraper is designed to resemble bamboo rising from the earth, a plant recognized in Asian cultures for its

Do

1 Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail (Xiangshan Hiking Trail / 象山步道) (From the Xiangshan Station head south and after 500 m the path starts to the east.). A short walk from Taipei 101 in Xinyi District. Very steep steps lead up into a shaded, forested hill overlooking the city. Elephant Mountain, about 200 m high, is one of the Four Beasts Mountains, and paths from here go up to higher peaks in Nangang. (updated Jan 2018)

Buy

There are a variety of department stores in this area since this is the financial centre of the city.

Shopping malls 1 Taipei 101 Mall. Attached to the tower is a large, upscale mall. While most of the stores are from the same brand-names as stores in other major cities around the world, the mall also features several homegrown Taiwanese luxury brands, and even the international brands often have items designed exclusively for the Taiwanese market. Even if you don't plan to buy anything, the open and spacious design of the structure itself definitely makes it worth a visit. A supermarket specializing in imported food items is located in the basement. 2 Shin Kong Mitsukoshi (新光三越). Xinyi branch of the department store chain, this is the largest department store in Taiwan, occupying four different buildings.

Specialty items The Yongkang Street area is one of the best places in Taipei for souvenirs and handcrafts. The area is also home to a number of shops specializing in natural soaps and balms. In addition to the area adjacent to Yongang Park, Lishui Street (which runs parallel to Yongkang Street) has a number of elegant and stylish shops specializing in traditional clothes, tea, and pottery.

Fingertip Art (一針一線), No11, Lane 6, Yongkang Street,, ☏ + 2 3322 6136. A two-storey (first floor and basement) handicraft and local souvenir shop. Stylish and affordable goods. Friendly and very helpful staff. (updated Jan 2018) 3 Jianguo Holiday Jade Market (假日玉市). Located under an elevated expressway, reaching from Renai Road & Jianguo South Road intersection down Jianguo Road, till Xinyi Rd. In addition to jade, flowers 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 18:00. (updated Jan 2018) Potala, Lane 51, Da'an Road. (behind the old Sogo Store on Zhongxiao East Road), ☏ +2 2741 6906. A wide selection of Buddha statues, prayer flags, Buddhist chanting CDs. Staff speak English. (updated Jan 2018) Xunyilu Art Boutique, No.12, Lane 2, Yongkang Street, ☏ +2 2393-0900. 11:00-21:30. An interesting and eclectic mix of traditional handicrafts with contemporary souvenirs. Helpful staff. (updated Jan 2018)

Eat

Night markets 1 Tong Hua Night Market (Linjiang Night Market), Alley 1, Lane 40, Linjiang Street, Da’an District (Primarily located along Linjiang Street (臨江街), east of the main gate at the intersection with Tonghua Street (通化街)). Su 18:00-00:00, M-Sa 18:00-02:00. This night market caters for the more adventurous eaters. The market featuers not only local foods but dozens of exotic delicacies, including inexpensive Malaysian, Japanese and Taiwanese snacks. Free. (updated Jan 2018)

Budget AiYu's Dream Journey Grass Jelly (愛玉之夢遊仙草), Tonghua Street No. 56 (臺北大安區通化街56號) (Close to the Tonghua nightmarket), ☏ +886 2 2706 1257. Great Ai Yu Jelly, Grass Jelly, and Tofu Flower desserts. Recommendations: 愛玉綜合冰 (ai yu zong he bing);仙草綜合冰(xian cao zong he bing);豆花綜合冰 (dou hua zong he bing -- warning: this contains peanuts, but you can ask for it without them -- "不要花生" (bu yao hua sheng)). Ai Yu is only found in Taiwan. Kiki Restaurant (Kiki 老媽餐廳), 28, Fuxing South Road Sec. 1 (opposite Breeze Center), ☏ +886 2 2752-2781. This restaurant serves authentic Szechwanese peppery hot pot. Mani Mani, 19, Lane 233, Dunhua South Road, Sec 1, ☏ +886 2 2771 2569. 11:30AM-9PM. Innovative vegan meals. Chic and warm environment. (updated Jan 2019) Thanh Ky, 1, Lane 6, Yongkang Street, ☏ +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. The Pengs' Traditional Hong Kong Cuisine (彭家園), Guangfu South Road, Lane 240, No. 49 (Close to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall MRT Station, Exit #2), ☏ +886 2 2772-9839. Opened in the 1980s, 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. Yin-Yih Restaurant (銀翼餐廳), 2F 18 Jinshan South Rd Sec. 2, ☏ +886 2 2341-7799. Dedicated to old style Yangzhou cuisine. 2 Yongkang Beef Noodle (永康牛肉麵), 17, Lane 31, Jinshan South Road Sec. 2, ☏ +886 2 2351-1051. One of the top-twenty beef noodle shops in Taipei. Yongkang Beef Noodle occupies the former location of Lao-Zhang Beef Noodle, which is now located next to it. 3 KingSpicy J (辣王忠麻辣乾麵), No. 12, Aly. 25, Ln. 118, Wuxing St, ☏ +886 2 2736 9797. The infamous restaurant known for its spicy noodle challenge, with rare people able to pass. If you are a fan of spicy foods, you will enjoy their spicy noodle, with four levels and the Challenge level. The third level is considered very spicy in other Taiwanese restaurants. Anyone interested in the Challenge level must have tried the fourth level, then

Drink & nightlife

Coffee Taipei has thousands of indie cafés, but most share similar atmospheres, menus, and designs. The ones listed below stand out for their distinctive character.

a.se Cafe, 1F, 95 Yunhe Street, Daan District (in a small road leading off Taishun Street. A ten minute walk from Taipower Building MRT Station, exit 2.), ☏ +886 2 2369 0003. Daily: 10:00-20:00 (closed on some national holidays). Elegant and relaxed interior. Distinctive mismatched furniture. Charcoal gray walls. Warm lighting, Outdoor seating. Excellent coffee. Very friendly and warm service. Dull, elevator music. 1 Cafe Moda Taipei, 1F, No 11, Lane 49, Sec 1, Anhe Road, Daan District (Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT Station exit 3, turn right on the first lane, after 4 blocks you will find it on your left side)), ☏ +886 2-8771-7608. 11:00-23:00. 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 fluent 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. 2 Minimal Cafe, 106台北市Taipei泰順街2巷 Tai4Shun4 Jie1 Lane 2, #42, Daan District, ☏ +886 2-2362-9734. 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 find a playmate, even if the wiser, older cats do not care for such shenanigans. Martinez Coffee, 26-28, Lane 243, Jinhua Street (A two minute walk from Yongkang Park), ☏ +886 2 23582568. A coffee shop and supplier of high quality coffee. Elegant and relaxing interior. Outdoor seating. Cakes and dessert Out of Office Coffee Roastery, 207 Jinhua Street, Da-An District (A five

Sleep

Budget 1 Fu-Hau Hotel (富濠飯店), No.9, Sec. 2, Fuxing South Rd (close to Da-an MRT Station), ☏ +886 2 2325-0722, [email protected]. 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.

Mid-range 2 Les Suites Daan Taipei (台北商旅大安館), 135 Daan Road Sec. 1 (short walk south from the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station), ☏ +886 2 8773-3799, fax: +886 2 8773-3788, [email protected]. 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. Royal Best Suites (Royal Best Hotel), 385 Xinyi Rd, Sec. 4 (5 minutes walk west of Taipei 101 MRT station), ☏ +886 2 2729-5533, [email protected]. Spacious and comfortable rooms decorated in a Victorian style decor. 3 Taipei Fullerton Fu-Xing South (台北馥敦), 41 Fuxing South Road, sec. 2 (short walk from the Daan MRT station), ☏ +886 2 2708-3000. Tastefully decorated and geared toward business travelers. Very polite and attentive staff. Free wifi 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.

Splurge 4 Le Méridien Taipei (台北寒舍艾美酒店), 38 Songren Rd, ☏ +886 2 6622-8000. One of Taipei's newest international hotels. 5 Grand Hyatt Taipei (台北君悅大飯店), 2 Songshou Rd, ☏ +886 2 2720-1234, [email protected]. 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. From NT$9000. 6 Howard Plaza Hotel (台北福華大飯店), 160 Renai Rd, Sec. 3, ☏ +886 2 2700-2323. 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. 7 Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (香格里拉台北遠東國際大飯店), 201 Dunhua South Rd, Sec. 2., ☏ +886 2 2378-8888. Asian-inspired interior design that impresses with the attention to detail. 5-star hotel. 8 W Taipei (台北W飯店), 10 Zhongxioa East Road, Sec. 5, ☏ +886 2 7703 8888. Opened in 2011.