Things to Do in Taiwan

Treasure Hill, one of Taipei’s oldest historical settlements, underwent a major transformation in 2010, transforming it into a living artists’ village, complete with performance spaces, galleries and shops squeezed together along the narrow alleys and stairways of the hillside community.

The settlement dates back to the 1940s when its illegally built structures served as an antiaircraft base for the military. The entire neighborhood was closed off in 2007 to allow for its restoration and preservation, and when the government reopened Treasure Hill in 2010, 22 of the original families moved back in to participate in the Treasure Hill Artists Village Program.

Paoan Temple, one of the most popular and significant religious sites in Taipei, dates back to 1760 when immigrants from Southern China built the original wooden temple. Dedicated to the emperor-deity Paosheng, god of medicine and healing, Paoan in its current form has stood since 1805 after more than 25 years of construction.

Many local Taiwanese visit the fully functioning temple to pray for health and wellness, particularly with pregnant women. Besides Paosheng, you’ll find a shrine to the goddess of birth with her 12 aides inside the temple bell tower. All the wood and stone used to build the temple were brought from China, and the structure exhibits many of the typical characteristics of Chinese temple architecture, like the wooden dragon pillars and colorful wooden carvings.

Paoan tends to be less crowded than Longshan Temple and much more colorful than the Taipei Confucius Temple. If possible, plan your visit during a temple festival to see Paoan Temple at its best and most colorful.

Taipei’s Presidential Office Building has housed the offices of the president and his staff since 1949. The stunning colonial-style building was constructed in 1919 to serve as the Japanese occupation headquarters but was severely damaged by bombing during World War II. The entire structure was rebuilt in 1946 in the same style as the original, and its distinctive brickwork is an excellent example of Japanese-era architecture in Taiwan.

The five-story red brick building has an eleven-floor tower at its center. At the time it was built, it was the tallest building in Taipei. On weekday mornings, the Presidential Office Building is open for tours, giving visitors the chance to see exactly where the president works. Even if you don’t take the tour, it’s worth stopping by just to see the building’s facade.

The historic monuments of Taiwan’s oldest city, Tainan, make a great alternative to the skyscrapers of Taipei. Settled by the Chinese in 1590, Tainan was used by the Dutch as a trading center in the mid-17th century before being taken by the Chinese again, who long used it as the island’s capital.

Traces of all these phases are evident throughout the city. Must-see sites include Anping Fort and Chikan Towers, both originally Dutch fortresses, and the Eternal Golden Castle, built by the Chinese for the same purpose.

Tainan is also renowned for its elegant temples, including the extensive Zhuxi complex with its serene pagodas and sentry elephants, and the calm oasis of the Confucius Temple.

The 8-mile (12.9 kilometer) stretch of track known as the Pingxi Branch Rail Line, falls a bit off the beaten tourist path but is a day well spent for its charming old-school train experience and excellent stops along the way, most notably the towns of Shifen, Jingtong and Pingxi.

The Pingxi Branch Rail Line was completed in 1921, and until the late 1980s, it was used exclusively as a mining train, transporting coal south from the mountains of Northern Taiwan. Today, the train whisks passengers through a wooded gorge area, past waterfalls, trail heads and old mining towns. It’s an inexpensive and easy way to get out of the city for a day and see the Taiwanese countryside.

Trains only pass along the line every hour or so, but because many of the stops and attractions are relatively close together, it’s possible to walk from one station to the next if you’ve just missed a train. Pick up a line map and schedule at the station before you head out so you’ll know when and where you need to be to catch the next one.

Tung trees, characterized by their clusters of white blossoms that emerge in late spring, were once widely cultivated by the Hakka ethnic group throughout Taiwan. The blossom has become a cultural symbol of the Hakka, and each spring, people from around the country come to see the beautiful trees in bloom along the Tucheng Tung Blossom Trail

Near the trail’s halfway point, you’ll find Tung Blossom Park, an open performance space and recreational where you can stop to admire the blossoms. At night, the space lights up as hundreds of fireflies take to the air.

Each year at the end of April through early May, the Tucheng Tung Blossom Trail and Tung Blossom Park serve as sites for the Hakka Tung Blossom Festival. With a full lineup of music, dance performances and cultural exhibitions, the festival is a great time to visit and learn about the culture of the Hakka people when the Tung trees are at their best.

Modeled after the oldest and largest Confucius temple in the philosopher’s hometown in Shangdong, China, the Taipei Confucius Temple displays all the characteristics of traditional Chinese temple architecture, including intricately carved wooden pillars, brightly painted roof tiles and sculptures. Unlike other Chinese temples, the Taipei Confucius Temple houses no likenesses of Confucius and bears no inscriptions. According to local legend, no one can match the literary prowess of Confucius, making inscriptions inauspicious.

The temple was originally built during the Qing Dynasty but was subsequently demolished during the Japanese occupation. The temple as it stands today was erected in 1930, though it briefly served as a Shinto shrine during World War II until Taiwan was given back to the Republic of China government in 1945.

Each year on September 28, the temple hosts a festival commemorating Confucius’ birthday with music, chanting, burning of incense and a large feast. If you’re interested in attending the event, buy your tickets early as they always sell out.