Taipei 臺北

About Taipei

Wanhua’s Longshan Temple introduces the older city, while Taipei 101 and Xiangshan show the dense Xinyi district from two different heights. The National Palace Museum is a separate northern excursion with galleries of Chinese art.

Organise the city by neighbourhood rather than crossing it for every stop. A Wanhua and Ximending outing works differently from a Xinyi skyline day; Maokong’s tea hills also deserve their own transport plan.

The city's early urban development centered on the Qing-period settlements of Mengjia (艋舺) and Dadaocheng (大稻埕), together with the walled city completed in 1884. These three areas were collectively called San Shijie (三市街), forming the old urban district. Taipei City was established in 1920 with these three areas as its basis.

Six satellite towns were incorporated into the city in 1968. From the 1980s, commercial activity shifted eastward along Zhongxiao East Road (忠孝东路) toward the developing Da'an District (大安区) and Xinyi District (信义区). The Xinyi Planned Area (信义计划区) became a center of this development, and the city's administrative offices moved there during the 1990s.

What to look for

• Longshan Temple and Wanhua reveal the older city’s religious life.
• Taipei 101 and Xiangshan offer complementary skyline views.
• The National Palace Museum adds a substantial art-focused visit.

The surrounding area

Northern city base for Dihua Street, the Palace Museum and a separate Maokong tea outing.

Location & getting there

Getting to Taipei

Taipei Main Station is a major transfer hub for conventional rail, high-speed rail, metro and buses. Use the MRT line serving your chosen neighbourhood; some destinations, including the National Palace Museum, require an onward bus or taxi connection.