Taipei Things to Do Tips by chewy3326

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念;堂) (Zhong Zheng Ji Nian Tang) is a massive white and blue memorial hall built to commemorate Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Zhong Zheng) (Jiang Jie-shi), who played a major part in the early expansion of the Republic of China and had many more accomplishments later in life. Built in the late 1970's and opened in 1980, this 70-meter high beautiful marble hall contains a giant bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek. 89 steps lead from the open square below to the doors of the memorial. The two giant bronze doors open at 9:00 and close at 18:30 each day. Outside the memorial hall are two small parks, each with a pond, shade, and a bridge.

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Directions: CKS Memorial Hall MRT Stop, Danshui Line

Each hour, from 9:00 to 17:00, there is the changing of the guard at the CKS Memorial Hall. This 10-minute long process involves 5 soldiers, 2 of which replace the two guards which have stood by the giant statue of Chiang Kai-shek for an hour in sweltering heat. There is small show of weaponry, which is admireable because of the precision of the guards. Still, what is to be most admired about the guards at the CKS Memorial Hall is that they must stand absolutely still, barely blinking for an hour, in humid Taiwan weather that often tops 35 degrees C.

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Directions: CKS Memorial Hall MRT Stop, Danshui Line

The lower level of the CKS Memorial Hall is often missed by visitors who head to the upper level and then leave. The lower level basically acts as a museum and exhibits the life of Chiang Kai-shek. You'll find Chiang Kai-shek's sedan, as well as various photos and paintings of him. An exhibit about his life starts with him joining the Nationalist party and his work with Sun Yat-sen. In the tumultuous early days of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek was a key general of Sun Yat-sen, who in 1911 had overthrown the Qing Dynasty. Soon, Chiang was in command of the Whampoa Military Academy, and built a loyal and strong military force. In 1926-27, Chiang launched the Northern Expedition and by doing so created a division between the Nationalists and Communists. He soon succeeded in reuniting China from various warlords. However, the Japanese soon began occupying China, causing the Sino-Japanese War, which lasted from the early 1930's until 1945. Afterwards, civil war continued between the Communists and Nationalists, and Chiang and two million Chinese nationalists were forced to flee the mainland to Taiwan, where Chiang lived the rest of his life.

You can also find the CKS Memorial Office in the lower level; it is basically a model of Chiang Kai-shek's office with a wax model of him.

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Directions: CKS Memorial Hall MRT Stop, Danshui line

Although the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is impressive in the daytime, it is equally beautiful after nightfall. You could spend a good amount of time walking in the area and viewing locals playing sports or excersing; you could also catch a show or a concert at either the National Theatre or the National Concert Hall. Both Taipei 101 and the Shin-Kong Life Building are illuminated in the evening, which creates a very beautiful scene.

Many of my photos taken after nightfall are rather fuzzy, so I'll apologize first. Be sure to bring a tripod (not one of those crappy lightweight ones, though) if you plan to take any photos.

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Directions: CKS Memorial Hall MRT stop, Danshui Line

Completed in 1980, only a few years after the death of ROC president Chiang Kai-shek, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park has a massive courtyard that leads up to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and is flanked by the National Theatre and the National Concert Hall (If you can't tell the difference, when you enter through the main gate, the National Concert Hall is on your left, and the National Theatre on your right). There are three gates to the park (and the memorial hall), of which I only passed through one, the Gate of Centrality and Perfect Uprightness (which is the main, and largest gate). I can't really tell you about the other two.

There is a flag raising ceremony here each morning at 6:30, but that's something I haven't seen (and that I will try to see in my next visit to Taipei). You're also likely to run into some of Taipei's major political figures while you're here (When I was at the CKS Memorial Park at night, I saw Li Wenjen, a protestor who went on a five-day hunger strike to try to get Chen Shuai-bien to resign from office; there were many more demonstrations similar to that one while I was in Taiwan).

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Directions: CKS Memorial Hall MRT stop, Danshui Line

508-meter tall Taipei 101 dominates the Taipei skyline, and it's no wonder. Completed in 2004, Taipei 101 is currently the world's tallest building, with 101 stories. The building is shaped like a stalk of bamboo, with 8 sections of 8 stories each. The building has a very beautiful design, when compared to other modern skyscrapers. The building has observatories on its 89th and 91st floors. Taipei 101 closes at 22:00 every night.

There are many viewpoints of Taipei 101, since it's sort of hard to miss; one of the best places to photograph it is at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (Guofu Jinianguang). Another good viewpoint is a small park near the Taipei City Hall.

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Directions: Near Taipei City Hall, off Renai Rd; within walking distance of Taipei City Hall MRT Stop, Blue Line

The 89th floor of Taipei 101 offers the best overall view of Taipei, allowing you to see the entire city from 400 meters up. It is true that the ride up is rather expensive (NT 350), but it is worth it. Admission to the observation tower includes the elevator ride up (in the world's fastest elevator) and an audio guide to the view, as well as a 20% coupon for ice cream at the 89th floor. The elevator ride itself is quite amazing; the elevator leaves the fifth floor and reaches the 89th floor in 37 seconds, traveling at over 650 meters a minute, making it the fastest elevator in the world.

The view from the 89th floor is unbeatable. To the north, you can see the Datun Mountain group, which includes Yangmingshan, as well as the Keelung River, Songshan Airport, the two MacArthur Bridges, Neihu, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei City Hall, and the World Trade Center. To the east is the city of Keelung, Keelung Mt, and Sishoushan (Four beasts Mountain). To the south is the Xueshan Range and suburbs of Taipei. To the west, you can see the Danshui River, the Straits of Taiwan, Shin-Kong Life Building, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Danshui Fisherman's Wharf, Guanyin Shan, and Taipei Main Station. The audio guide, as well as various plaques, help you identify various parts of the view.

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Directions: Elevator ride starts from the fifth floor of Taipei 101

The 91st floor outdoor observatory is likely the highest anyone can be in a building for at least a few years. For an extra NT 100, you can walk up two floors from the indoor 89th floor to the outdoor 91st floor. While you do so, you'll see signs saying 'Mind the gap'. Be sure to look down into the 'gap' of the stairwell; you can look straight down for 96 floors to the 5th level basement. Many people may at first be disappointed by the 91st floor because of it's rather high concrete wall and a tall railing which blocks a good part of the view. But at least from here, there aren't tinted windows, making colors more natural. Before returning to the 89th floor, be sure to watch a free short movie about the construction of Taipei 101.

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Directions: Two floors up from the 89th floor observatory

Though most visitors of Taipei 101's 89th and 91st floor observatories come during the day, visiting again after sunset is also amazing. During the summer, the sun will set before 19:00, and during winter, after 16:00. As soon as the sun sets, the city of Taipei lights up and the view becomes quite impressive. Although sights such as the Datun Mountain Peaks, Danshui River, Guanyin Shan, and the Xueshan Range are no longer visible, streets and buildings are illuminated and become quite a beautiful sight (especially the Shin-Kong Life Building, on the other side of Taipei). Also be sure to look straight down for a view of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and World Trade Center illuminated. But overall, the most impressive part of the view is probably the bright lights of Renai Rd, which lies just below the building.

After nightfall, there isn't much of a difference between the view on the 89th and 91st floors, since it's impossible to set up a tripod on the 91st floor. The last elevator goes down at 22:00 every night, but if you stay until then, you'll end up going down with Taipei 101 employees and security guards.

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Directions: Elevator starts at 5th floor of Taipei 101 building

As of August 2006, Taipei 101, at 508 meters, is the tallest building on earth, and is also the first building ever to reach the 500-meter mark. Taipei 101 also can claim the tallest roof and tallest occupied floor in the world. The two elevators to Taipei 101's 89th floor observatory are the fastest in the world; going up takes 37 seconds and coming down takes 45 seconds (I think, but I don't remember exactly). The maximum speed of the elevator (going up) is 1010 meters per minute and coming down the elevator has a speed of 600 meters a minute. In the center of the building you'll find a massive 800-ton damper that helps the building hold steady against earthquakes and high winds (things that are all to common on an island regularly hit by deadly earthquakes and typhoons). The damper can be seen from the 89th floor observatory of the building. At the moment, the 91st floor observation deck is also the highest observation deck in a building.

Taipei 101 replaced the Petronas Towers as the tallest building(s) in the world, which in turn replaced the Sears Tower; however, a planned building in Dubai will eventually replace Taipei 101.

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