TEXT　Ami Barnes
PHOTOS　Ray Chang
Editor　Levarcy

Amid the sweltering summer heat, the watery southeastern corner of Yangmingshan National Park offers a welcome, naturally air-conditioned escape. Hop on the S18 bus at MRT Jiantan Station, and in under 30 minutes, you will have swapped the city streets for terraced farms and bamboo groves cooled by a lacework of streams and old irrigation canals.

The S18 terminates at Pingding Ancient Canal Hiking Trail entrance. Alight here, pay your respects to the gods of Xihe Temple, and head up the creek-bounded Lane 370. Keep your eyes peeled for a map and fingerpost beside some steps on the left – this marks the start of the 120-minute loop trail that includes the Daqitou Trail and the Pingding Ancient Canal Trail.  (Hiking in either direction works, but clockwise involves more steps upfront, while anti-clockwise means the first chunk of ascent is done on the road.)

The trail (clockwise) leads up past ramshackle farmers’ huts, where, on weekends, you can purchase hyperlocal vegetables to add to your evening meal. A stream cascades down a rocky channel on the left, and up beyond the lean-tos, the pleasingly organic curves of old paddy terraces hug tight to the contours of the land, their retaining walls manifesting small pockets of usable land where previously there had just been a steep slope. Only about half remain in active cultivation, with the rest mostly having been colonized by algae, frogs, and other critters.

While we’re on the subject of things that hop and slither, note that the trails featured on these pages present excellent night-hiking opportunities. The combination of farmland, trees, and waterways makes for a fabulously biodiverse landscape – herpetologists will find plenty to excite them, and you stand a reasonable chance of spotting various types of snakes and nocturnal mammals like giant flying squirrels and masked palm civets. (The last S18 heads back down into the city core around 11 pm, so public transport isn’t a problem, but you’ll need to bring a torch because the trail is entirely unlit.)

At the top of the terraces, the trail dips into the dappled shade of a bamboo grove. The steps here are shallow, making it easy to set a slow, steady pace as you climb, and with each gained increment in elevation, the species mix broadens as the farmed woods transition to the untamed. During a visit earlier this year, lizards and skinks basked in sun spots, and a recently excavated hole surrounded by caramel-colored earth offered evidence of a pangolin’s ant buffet. 

The trail begins to level out as it approaches Qingfeng Pavilion. Sitting at more or less the mid-point of the loop and immediately after its most protracted climb, this is an excellent spot to pause and break the journey. It’salso a trail hub, with several paths fanning out that offer longer adventures. (Straight ahead, Majiao Historic Trail leads experienced hikers past Mt. Xinzuntou and up to Qingtiangang Grassland; left drops into Pingding Village, where you can connect with the route featured on the following pages; a sharp left doubles back to return to where you started via the slightly more challenging Mt. Ewei Trail.) However, to return to the route at hand, head right following the signage directing you towards Pingding Ancient Canal.

After a short descent, you’ll meet the first of three historic irrigation canals, arriving just at the point where the waterway dives into a 60-meterlong tunnel hewn through the rock. Pingding Ancient Canal (built in 1835) is the oldest of the trio. All three divert water from Neishuang Creek and were vital for the early settlers who developed this region. Despite their age, the canals still irrigate much of the area’s farmland, and if you’ve got extra time, it’s well worth taking a wander along one or two of them to let the sound of running water wash away worldly stresses.

Getting back on track, follow the Pingding Ancient Canal contraflow for a couple of hundred meters, then take the steps heading down on the right. The steps intersect with two more waterways. First up is Pingding New Canal (built in 1849, that “new” has aged into something of a misnomer), then the youngest, Dengfeng Canal (1909). On the far side of this canal, steps continue downwards towards the gurgling hiss of Neishuang Creek. Along the way, you’ll pass the Taoran Pavilion, but be warned, this is not somewhere you want to unpack your sandwiches – the table bears a neat cross formed of guano, indicating it’s a popular bat hangout after dark.

Next, you’ll cross Taozijiao Bridge, which is green with cushioned moss, and you’ll want to take a moment to imbibe the stream’s cool breath before continuing because the trail has one final climb – a sting in the tail, if you will. Fortunately, the ascent is brief, and no more than five minutes later, the path reaches a junction. Turn right here, descending through more bamboo wood, then over the creek one final time before you rejoin the road. (Side note: on fine spring evenings, the creek bed at this location is excellent for firefly viewing.) From here, it’s an easy roll all the way down the road back to where the S18 dropped you off.

A Shorter 60-Minute Trail Option

If two hours sounds like too much of a commitment, this one-hour route connecting Shilin’s Xishan Village with the higher settlement of Pingding is a slightly shorter option. Instead of riding the S18 to its final destination, alight at Jiaokeng Bridge and backtrack a short distance to pick up Lane 181 of Sec. 3, Zhishan Road running uphill alongside a creek.

The first noteworthy landmark arrives after just 200 meters in the form of the grand yet solemn Puyi Yuan – a Buddhist temple and meditation center – opposite which you’ll find a fingerpost marking the start of the Pingxi Trail.

Steps first thread through bamboo-cultivation terraces before ducking into the cover of mixed broadleaf forest. At the top of the steps, bear left to follow a narrow farm road into a tiny hamlet. The signpost here appears to direct you left in front of the first house, but you actually need to head to the right of the house and then turn left to proceed through a passageway immediately behind it.

Where the road (quite soon) runs out, the trail reappears, heading down a short flight of steps before cutting through more farmland. This next stretch is the most scenic part of this hike – a dense wall of trees hedges the right, while a timeless landscape of stepped terraces spreads down the slope to the left. The only indication that you haven’t slipped back a century or more is music blaring from farmers’ portable speakers as they tend their crops. On the far side, the open farmland gives way to trees, and rivulets of diverted water add their cooling melody to the soundscape. (Listen, too, for the sharp, uncannily bird-like call of Swinhoe’s frogs.)

Dense canopy shelters the remainder of the climb, but once the trail spits you out at the edge of Pingding Village, you’ll be fully exposed to the sun again. This small, elevated village is best known for its annual sakura display (Jan-Feb), and Mt. Ewei Terraced Field Sleeper Trail – a photogenic, undulating walkway that dips and arches over the farmland like a soaring dragon. At the top of the terraces, you’ll also find a cluster of cafés, making it a great spot to stop for refreshments before hopping aboard either bus 303 or S19 to return to the city’s urban world.

🔎
Daqitou Trail | 大崎頭步道
Dengfeng Canal | 登峰圳
Jiaokeng Bridge | 礁坑橋
Majiao Historic Trail | 瑪礁古道
Mt. Ewei Trail | 鵝尾山步道
Mt. Ewei Terraced Field Sleeper Trail | 鵝尾山水田木棧道
Mt. Xinzuntou | 新圳頭山
Neishuang Creek | 內雙溪
Pingding Ancient Canal Hiking Trail | 坪頂古圳步道
Pingding New Canal | 坪頂新圳
Pingxi Trail | 平溪步道
Puyi Yuan | 普宜苑
Qingfeng Pavilion | 清風亭
Qingtiangang Grassland | 擎天崗草原
Taoran Pavilion | 陶然亭
Taozijiao Bridge | 桃仔腳橋
Xihe Temple | 溪和宮

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

Text　Jenna Lynn Cody
Photos　VISION
Editor　Levarcy Chen

Overlooked for years in favor of more touristy areas, including nearby Yongkang and Lishui streets, Chaozhou Street and its surrounding neighborhood are coming into their own as a haven for artisanal masters with a focus on quality and the “slow life.” On its face, Chaozhou Street may look like just another city street, but walking from its more concrete-dominated western end to the leafy east brings visitors past indie brands, restaurants, coffee beaneries, and more.

Starting from the western end, visitors will pass Uni Jun, which sells handmade soaps and offers beginner and advanced soap-making classes. Uni Jun is the brainchild of Yang Jun-xiong and Xiao Jiahong, a master soap-maker who studied the technique in Central Asia. Their philosophy is subtractive: eliminating unnecessary preservatives, fragrances, and foaming agents.

What sets Uni Jun apart is its singular focus on aged horse-oil and tussah silk soap – a combination developed over years of research. Horse oil’s rich unsaturated fatty acids nourish and repair the skin barrier, while the addition of silk yields a notably smooth, non-drying lather that suits Taipei’s humid climates particularly well.

UNI JUN 手工皂坊
🚩74, Sec. 2, Hangzhou S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist.
📞(02) 2557-9656
🔗facebook.com/unijunsoap
🕝Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:30pm

Next on our Chaozhou Street itinerary is Maison Temps-Rêves, a bookshop with an artsy, multilingual offering that’s heavy on coffee-table books – mostly picture and photography books – as well as storybooks that can be appreciated by children and adults alike. The shop also acts as a gallery space and hosts lectures and book chats.

In English, the French “Maison Temps-Rêves” means “Dreamtime House.” French is not the only language represented, however: there are also books in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and more. With a focus on picture books, this isn’t a problem for the monolingual reader: one can still enjoy, for example, a book of pixelated Lego-like scenes depicting images and landscapes from Tokyo without being able to read Japanese. At Maison Temps-Rêves, perusing a picture book might feel like appreciating a small exhibition, watching a movie, or experiencing a journey. 

MAISON TEMPS-RÊVES 童里繪本洋行
🚩15, Chaozhou St., Zhongzheng Dist.
📞(02) 2391-8676
🔗www.maisontempsreves.com
🕝Tue-Fri 12:00pm-6:00pm; Sat-Sun 11:00am-6:00pm

Walking further east from Maison Temps-Rêves, you’ll see an older-style Taiwanese building decked out with holographic second-story windows and phthalo-green – specifically Pantone 5463, a color named “Chaozhou Green” by the designers – paint and zellige-like tiles.

This is LivinGreen, a restaurant and café housed in a historic building constructed in 1963 that once served as a police station and dormitory. In 2018, design and branding duo 2 by Wu&Chen renovated the space, a project that won the firm a 2019 Taipei Architecture Renovation Award and 2020 iF and Golden Pin Design awards, among other accolades.

Don’t miss the noodle bar, with mouthwatering offerings such as Dry Mesona Noodles with Spicy Cumin Chicken and Dry Beetroot Noodles with Prawns & Goose Oil currently on the menu. Or stop in for a cup of herbal tea and try a slice of its daily special fruit tart.

LIVINGREEN 貳房苑
🚩76, Chaozhou St., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2391-2866
🔗www.2twgreenlife.com
🕝Wed-Sun 11:30am-7:30pm

As you continue east, Chaozhou Street narrows considerably and becomes leafier and more residential after crossing Jinshan South Road. This is the beginning of the more attractive, but also more touristy, Yongkang Street neighborhood.

At the intersection of Chaozhou and Yongkang streets sits Jinan Market – Showa-cho Antique Market. Housed in a former wet market space on the first floor of an old apartment building, the market offers a mix of twenty or so eclectic stalls selling a range of Taiwanese and Japanese antiques, with a heavy focus on ceramics.

This is a beloved spot for browsing old Japanese-era collectibles, retro ceramics, vintage posters, and curious trinkets that reflect Taiwan’s layered cultural history. It’s a great place to soak up the nostalgic atmosphere and hunt for rare finds.

Jinan Market – Showa-cho Antique Market 錦安市場．昭和町文物市集
🚩60, Yongkang St., Daan Dist.
🔗facebook.com/jiinaan60
🕝2:00pm-9:30pm

Across the street from the antique market, and technically on Yongkang Street rather than Chaozhou Street, Tzang Tian Coffee Bean is a coffee purist’s destination. Coming from Chaozhou Street, you’ll know it by the scent of roasting coffee beans that wafts into the intersection: this small shop has a big presence.

Founder and operator Lin Shi-bo started his coffee beanery on the premise that he simply loves coffee and hopes to run a business that is familiar and integrated into the neighborhood. Tzang Tian sells hand-roasted coffee beans from around the world, but the shop is most famous for its unparalleled selection of Taiwanese beans. Lin personally travels to the small, sometimes hard-to-reach coffee plantations to select locally-sourced beans from Taitung, Tainan, Nantou, and other island areas.

Tzang Tian Coffee Bean 藏田咖啡豆專賣
🚩91, Yongkang St., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2392-7770
🔗instagram.com/tzangtiancoffeebean
🕝Tue-Sun 2:00pm-8:00pm

Beside Tzang Tian, a narrow staircase leads to Archive & Secondary Research on the second floor of the same building. A curated vintage shop, the focus here is squarely on “archival” fashion, that is, garments that are significant for their contribution to design history or clothing construction technique. Founded by a team of design scholars and curators, the shop rejects the “fast fashion” cycle.

This is the place to find rare, influential pieces from both well-known and avant-garde designers, from household names such as Maison Margiela to revolutionary Japanese designers such as Rei Kawakubo. By treating clothing as wearable history rather than disposable goods, the space serves as a vital bridge between fashion’s radical past and its sustainable future.

Archive & Secondary Research
🚩91-1, Yongkang St., Daan Dist.
🔗instagram.com/archive_and_secondary_research
🕝Fri-Mon 1:00pm-7:00pm

Near the eastern end of Chaozhou Street sits Yearscake, a traditional-style Taiwanese pastry shop founded 70-plus years ago. Originally focused on baked goods for weddings and other celebrations as well as offerings for ancestral rites, Yearscake now offers smaller baked goods for a wider market. Especially popular treats include the milk powder and salted egg yolk cake, pineapple cake, and small meat pastries.

Now led by the third generation, the shop has undergone a thoughtful rebranding and renovation that honors its roots while embracing a fresh identity. Its new Chinese name, pronounced yi-de-he-zhi, blends characters drawn from the names of all three generations of owners – a quiet tribute to the family legacy behind every pastry. The rebranding also introduced reimagined store space, where the heritage of a traditional Taiwanese pastry shop is woven with a contemporary aesthetic, creating an experience that feels both nostalgic and new.

Yearscake 宜德和志
🚩149, Chaozhou St., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2394-9889
🔗www.0223218374.com
🕝10:00am-9:00pm

A visit to Chaozhou Street might naturally end at nearby Thètion, a high-concept tea shop with a minimalist aesthetic that caters both to modern tea-lovers and design-conscious consumers. 

Thètion’s English name is a portmanteau of thè, the French word for tea, and “nation” – literally “tea nation.” The Chinese name, however, evokes the “planting of rain,” that is, the vital mountain mists that nourish high-altitude tea harvests. Specializing in expertly curated oolongs and rare pu-erhs, Thètion functions as both a boutique and a sanctuary. The shop’s minimalist tasting space emphasizes the “mountain-to-cup” journey, focusing on the distinct terroir of Taiwan’s mountain areas.

Like its neighbors on Chaozhou Street, from Uni Jun to LivingGreen to Tzang Tian, Thètion champions a “slow living” philosophy, offering a refined, meditative escape from the city’s bustle.

Thètion 蒔雨雲山
🚩25, Ln. 2, Qingtian St., Daan Dist.
📞0905-811-931
🔗www.thetiontea.com
🕝12:00pm-7:00pm

🔎
2 by Wu&Chen | 雙好設計
Chaozhou Street | 潮州街
Chou De-sheng | 周德勝
Chou Tian-he | 周天和
Chou Yang-zhi | 周揚志
Jinhua Street | 金華街
Lin Shi-bo | 林詩博
Taipei Architecture Renovation Award | 台北老屋新生大獎
Xiao Jia-hong |蕭家弘
Yang Jun-xiong | 楊俊雄
Yi-he | 宜和餅店
Yongkang Street | 永康街

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

Text　James Baron
Photos　Chen Cheng-Kuo
Editor　Levarcy Chen

With its blend of traditional and contemporary architecture and its vibrant street scenes, Taipei provides a tantalizing backdrop for photographers. The city also offers a range of options to see photography exhibitions and shop for quality cameras and accessories in attractive stores that themselves double as subject matter for photographers. Here are a few suggestions for a photography-themed outing around the city.

PHOTOGRAPHY MUSEUM

An ideal choice for starting a tour of Taipei with a focus on photography is the National Center of Photography and Images (NCPI), which is centrally located opposite Taipei Main Station. Constructed in 1937 as the Taiwan headquarters of a Japanese shipping firm with international operations, this museum’s building later housed the Taiwan Navigation Co. and the former Taiwan Provincial Highway Bureau. Today, a permanent exhibition titled Trans-Communication highlights the evolution of the building’s function, noting that, in its current guise as a photo repository, its “transit, exchange and communication” purpose has been maintained.

Regular exhibitions of contemporary works appear alongside thematic displays from the NCPI archive of more than 13,000 images and other assets. Exhibitions often feature pioneers such as Deng Nan-guang (鄧南光), Chang Tsai (張才), and Lee Ming-tiao (李鳴鵰) (the so-called “Three Musketeers” of Taiwanese photography), the photographs being powerful testaments to the dramatic sociopolitical shifts Taiwan has undergone. Lenses have frequently been directed at the marginalized and vulnerable – indigenous peoples, political dissidents during democratization movements, and victims of natural disasters, powerfully evoking Taiwan’s resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

Restoration work on the building began in 2015, with the center opening to the public in 2021. The L-shaped interior optimizes gallery flow and accentuates the striking stairs at the core, an element that prompts visitors to reach for their cameras. Fusing occidental components, including a sturdy colonnade, with Japanese motifs such as a pagoda-type tower, the façade of the neoclassical structure makes for an equally pleasing photo op when departing for the next destination in this list. 

NATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGES 國家攝影文化中心
🚩70, Sec. 1, Zhongxiao W. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist.
📞(02) 8978-7040
🔗ncpi.ntmofa.gov.tw 
🕝Tue-Sun 10:00am-6:00pm

PHOTOGRAPHY SHOPS

The roughly 25-minute walk from the NCPI building to Taipei’s historic Dadaocheng neighborhood takes you past myriad other photogenic locations, including Taipei’s North Gate (also known as Beimen), a top-grade national historic site and the best-preserved of the four remaining portals to Taipei’s now-long-gone city walls.

Arriving at Dadaocheng’s historic and tourist-popular Dihua Street, you’ll get a good view of old Taipei. The narrow, usually bustling thoroughfare has inspired imagemakers across media over the years, with Kuo Hsueh-hu’s 1930 painting Festival on South Street perhaps the most iconic impression. The 2014 movie Twa-Tiu-Tiann (Taiwanese for the Mandarin “Dadaocheng”) also provided a memorable snapshot of the area.

While much of the architecture along the street dates from the 1895~1945 Japanese era, the timber-framed storefronts with sliding doors reveal Qing Dynasty touches. Among these is the understated exterior of the Olympus Plaza Taipei, which opened in 2019, in a building that had previously served as a private residence, paediatric clinic, and trading firm during its 100-year history. The building, proud recipient of the 2022 Taipei Architecture Renovation Award, is itself a popular photography subject.

Bisecting the interior at knee level is a sturdy log emblazoned with the Olympus logo, the concentric growth rings creating a neat metaphor for a focusing lens. Suspended above, vertical pendant lighting warmly illuminates the products showcased on the display counter.

In addition to a range of cameras, from the vintage Olympus twin-lens reflex models of the 1950s to the latest action devices from Insta360, the store offers photography-related souvenirs and paraphernalia, including artisan camera straps from Jouer8, a Taichung-based brand. A studio and an exhibit space where visual arts are intermittently showcased are located on the upper floors.

OLYMPUS PLAZA TAIPEI
🚩142, Sec. 1, Dihua St., Datong Dist.
📞(02) 2553-8826
🕝11:00am-7:00pm (closed on first Mon of month)
www.olympusplaza.tw

If the Olympus Plaza Taipei communicates style and refinement, the premises of the House of Leica take understated elegance to the next level. Tucked down a leafy lane off Qingtian Street in Daan District, close to the tourist-popular Yongkang Street area, the building is easily overlooked by passing pedestrians. But for the small red orb jutting out from the front-courtyard wall, displaying the cursive white script of the Leica logo, one might mistake this building for one of the area’s restored historical houses, which are off-limits to the public.

The mellow blue-gray clapboarding of the wooden bungalow, which once served as a dormitory for faculty at Taihoku Imperial University (now National Taiwan University), contrasts with the gleaming surfaces and cabinets of the interior and the glass roof, which floods the space with natural light. Latest cameras, sports optics, and accessories from the German brand are presented. A central washitsu-type space (minus the usual tatami mats), outfitted with a coffee counter that is powered by a handcrafted La Marzocco machine, is used for exhibits, events, and courses presented under the Leica Akademie program.

Emphasizing the brand’s global outreach, recent expositions have included winners of the 2025 Leica Oskar Barnack Award, named for the company’s founder. These are focused on underrepresented regions such as the “breakaway” state of Transnistria in Moldova and the plight of marginalized groups, such as Venezuelan immigrants in Mexico. Near the entrance is a bookcase stocked with coffee-table collections from agencies such as Magnum and giants of photography such as Lee Friedlander.

HOUSE OF LEICA TAIPEI QINGTIAN 台北徠卡之家
🚩3, Ln. 6, Qingtian St., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2391-2593
🕝10:00am-8:00pm

PHOTO GALLERIES 

Books are the focal point at Lightbox, a photography library situated a 15-minute walk from the Leica showroom. Run as a nonprofit, Taiwan-focused space, with an emphasis on inclusivity, Lightbox provides a serene, minimalistic space for browsing and contemplation. While the lion’s share of the volumes that line the shelves are photography-focused, plenty are not. Instead, an eclectic mix of works, loosely themed around the idea of impressions, is found.

The library houses many limited-edition and rare photography books, with numerous out-of-print volumes. Among them, the Taiwan Photographic Album, published in 1908 during the Japanese era, preserves the landscapes and customs of Taiwan from a century ago. Other noteworthy works are army physician Rene Coppin’s French-language account of the Sino-French War of 1884~1885 and the contemporary photo essay Becoming Taiwanese by Liang-Pin Tsao, which documents the reinvention of Japanese Shinto shrines in Taiwan as martyrs’ shrines in the post-WWII era.

Regularly hosting lectures, educational tours, and industry events such as the biennial New Wave Photography Award, Lightbox is a must for visitors looking to gain an understanding of Taiwan’s photography environment.

LIGHTBOX 攝影圖書室
🚩19, Ln. 269, Sec. 3, Roosevelt Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2367-8161
🔗www.lightboxlib.org
🕝Thu-Sat 2:00pm-7:00pm

Close to the attractive riverside parklands of Zhongshan’s Dazhi neighborhood, YellowKorner offers limited-edition prints from world-renowned photographers. This branch of the Paris-founded gallery chain opened in 2021, its remit to bring internationally acclaimed photographic artworks to collectors in Taiwan.

Among the most prominent collectibles is a monochromic portrait of pop-art maestro Andy Warhol brandishing a Polaroid camera with his own image dangling from the device’s ejection slot. Part of a 500-print run, the image was captured by Italian lensman Oscar Toscani.

Elsewhere, works by local photographers such as Po Chen, who first came to prominence in 2010 with an album documenting Indian shantytowns, are also available. Po Chen has more recently focused on images of serene marine vistas, which are credited for their “soothing effects” that “should be prescribed for anyone wanting to embark on the path of zen.”

Developed at the gallery’s own laboratory, high-quality prints of photographs come with QR codes that can be scanned to generate tamper-proof authentication certificates. 

YellowKorner
🚩91, Lequn 2nd Rd., Zhongshan Dist.
📞(02) 2595-3039
🔗yellowkornertw.com
🕝Tue-Sat 10:00am-7:00pm; Sun 10:00-6:00pm

🔎
Beimen | 北門
Dadaocheng | 大稻埕
Dazhi | 大直
Dihua Street | 迪化街
National Taiwan University | 國立臺灣大學

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

Text　Han Cheung
Photos　Chen Cheng-Kuo
Editor　Levarcy Chen

The city of Taipei offers a wide range of ideas for those looking to go beyond the usual dinner-and-movie routine, with options that range from scenic escapes to hands-on experiences. This is a city where couples can move easily from a quiet café or teahouse retreat in the mountains to a fast-paced interactive gaming facility in the heart of the city.

Big, seemingly always bustling Taipei is a surprisingly romantic city for couples, where quaint alleys, mountain lookouts with sweeping night views, and hidden-away cafés serve as countless intimate escapes. The city also features love-themed installations, like the LOVE sign at Taipei 101, riverside love locks, and seasonal light displays, as well as arts, crafts, and diverse other playful activities that are enjoyable for two.

Those looking to unwind, embraced by Mother Nature, can head to the high hills surrounding the city core, including those within Yangmingshan National Park and the Maokong tea-growing area, both just a short ride away from downtown. Besides exploring their trails and viewpoints, visitors can cozy up with a cup of artisanal coffee or a pot of locally grown tea. Set amid lush greenery with open views, these spots are intimate retreats far removed from the city below.

For a change of pace, Taipei’s urban-core cultural spaces offer a wide range of immersive and interactive experiences. Museums, design stores, creative studios, and even restaurants and cafés invite couples to engage and collaborate through exhibitions or hands-on activities that let them create personal keepsakes together.

Couples in the mood for something more high-energy can also tackle shared challenges such as escape rooms and virtual-reality games. While these activities may not be romantic in the traditional sense, they create moments of teamwork, spontaneity, and even lighthearted competition, often creating some of the most memorable moments of a date.

These richly varied experiences highlight Taipei as a city where romance is not just about where you go, but what you do together.

❤︎ ⁠Yangmingshan・Coffee

Escape on a date to the tranquil Yangmingshan American Military Housing community, just outside Yangmingshan National Park, home to wooden bungalows with sloped roofs and leafy yards that evoke a dreamy slice of American suburbia. Just a short distance from Chinese Culture University, this neighborhood offers an unexpected detour from busy central Taipei.

Built from American-provided plans, the secluded enclave of 217 homes housed US military officers, advisors, and their families stationed in Taiwan during and after the Korean War. The houses are spaced amid open lawns and feature chimneys and fireplaces for cultural familiarity.

After the US severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, the community was gradually vacated, with many houses later leased or left to fall into disrepair. Today, around 150 still stand. Starting in the 2010s, parts of the area began reopening to the public as homey cafés, restaurants, and cultural spaces perfect for couples to spend some quality time together.

Nearby, on the other side of Gezhi Road (格致路), is another example of adaptive reuse of derelict structures. Housed in a Japanese-style building dating to 1937, Cama Coffee Roasters is the flagship outlet of a premium experiential brand launched by the otherwise ubiquitous Cama Cafe chain. In place of the signature bright-yellow signage you will see at each branch is a subdued stone monument with metal lettering, leading to an estate with dark roof tiles and bold wood trims, set amid lush greenery.

Inside, the white masonry façade gives way to timber-frame wings with covered walkways and open decks at the rear. Large windows frame views of the surrounding bamboo groves and garden, ideal for a post-coffee stroll and selfie-taking. The cozy interior includes a roasting laboratory, where you can observe the process and sign up for DIY classes to learn how to select beans and roast them to your taste, for a fun experience with your date. The menu includes brunch sets, salads, and desserts such as the Forest Bûche.

Apart from this café, there are several other restaurants, cafés, and bakeries in the community, perfect to explore during a romantic afternoon. Yangmingshan is, of course, also a great park for outdoor activities together, especially hiking along its many trails. Recommended for leisure walks are the Yangming Park and Erziping Trail.

CAMA COFFEE ROASTERS 豆留森林
🚩70, Gezhi Rd., Shilin Dist.
📞(02) 2861-1218
🔗camacoffeeroasters.com
🕝Mon-Thu 9:30am-6:30pm; Fri-Sun 9:30am-7:00pm

❤︎ ⁠Maokong・Tea

A different kind of romantic mountain escape awaits in Maokong, accessible by a scenic Maokong Gondola ride from the Taipei Zoo Station. The journey is part of the experience, lifting you above the city and over rolling slopes with distant skyline views. A popular option is a “crystal cabin,” fitted with a glass floor that allows you to look straight down at the treetops below.

Maokong has long been known for its tea farms and rustic traditional teahouses, where you purchase a packet of tea and slowly brew it over lingering conversation. A visit is meant to be unhurried, with time to sit, sip, and take in the soothing scenery; any remaining tea can be taken home. In addition to its signature Tieguanyin (鐵觀音), a heavily roasted oolong, the area is also known for lighter, more delicate Baozhong (包種茶) and other varieties.

Among Maokong’s numerous options, Chenxi Tea House, not far from Maokong Station, stands out for its hillside position and spacious outdoor seating, with views stretching across the surrounding mountains and the city beyond. The food menu offers a range of mostly tea-infused desserts, such as tea jelly and Tieguanyin Basque cake.

Located close to the gondola station, Maokong Teahouse is a more compact spot known for its tea ice cream and tea-baked eggs, which take two days to prepare. There are Tieguanyin and Baozhong flavors, each topped with a cat-shaped biscuit – also infused with tea. Called “Meow Meow” Ice Cream, these cute icy treats are perfect for taking selfies to remember a fun date in Maokong.

Those tired of sitting can explore walking paths that wind through the tea plantations. The Tea Center Trail, for example, leads to the Maokong Potholes, small, round erosion-created holes in the riverbed rock that give the area its name.

Since many teahouses stay open late and serve full meals, you can take your time taking in the twinkling city lights in the distance in an intimate, conversation-friendly setting without feeling like you need to rush back home.

CHENXI TEA HOUSE 晨曦茶坊
🚩53, Ln. 34, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd., Wenshan Dist.
📞(02) 2936-4336
🔗instagram.com/chenxi_r16
🕝Mon-Thu 9:30am-12:00am; Fri-Sun 9:30am-3:00am

MAOKONG TEAHOUSE 貓空茶屋
🚩16-8, Ln. 38, Sec. 3, Zhinan Rd., Wenshan Dist.
📞(02) 2936-6066
🔗www.mktea.tw
🕝Tue-Sun 10:00am-7:00pm

❤︎ ⁠Art Museum Visit

Showcasing works by Western and Asian masters, the Fubon Art Museum offers a more contemplative date option in the heart of Taipei’s Xinyi shopping district. Established by Fubon Financial Holding in 2024, the museum has presented thematic exhibitions primarily featuring such major modern artists as Rodin, Van Gogh, Giacometti, Miró, and Calder, as well as works from the Fubon Art Foundation’s private collection.

The minimalist building, defined by clean lines and light-filled gallery spaces, is topped by a striking red crane used to install large artworks and maintain the façade. It was designed by celebrated Italian architect Renzo Piano in collaboration with Kris Yao from Taiwan. Piano also designed the adjacent Fubon Life Tower, currently the third-tallest building in Taipei.

Anchoring the museum is a tranquil, landscaped outdoor plaza dotted with irregularly shaped bright-orange benches and itself anchored by a large humanoid installation by Jaume Plensa. This is composed of characters and letters from multiple languages, the Chinese characters for “light” and “love” calligraphed by museum director Maggie Tsai. The plaza space is commonly used by couples relaxing before or after visiting the galleries.

The museum is compact and straightforward to browse through, with high ceilings and shifting natural light across the interior, and features Taiwan’s largest column-free exhibition hall. Walking through the museum together is quite an experience, with the beautifully curated natural light putting you instantly in a good mood.

Featuring emerging and established artists, the museum’s exhibitions are often inspiring and give you plenty to talk about. An entire exhibition can generally be seen in under two hours, making it easy to pair the visit with dinner or a walk around Taipei 101 and the surrounding malls, all within walking distance.

FUBON ART MUSEUM 富邦美術館
🚩79, Songgao Rd., Xinyi Dist.
📞(02) 6623-6771
🔗www.fubonartmuseum.org
🕝Wed-Mon 11:00am-6:00pm

❤︎ ⁠DIY Fun

A hands-on stop for couples who enjoy creative activities together, Object Taipei Store specializes in customizable accessories featuring cute, quirky illustrations. One of the most popular items is the No Face doll, which can be decorated with embroidered “wappen” patches.

The brand originated in Seoul in 2013, showcasing the work of emerging local artists, and quickly became a major draw for locals and tourists. It later expanded to Osaka and Nagoya in Japan before arriving in Taipei last year. The street-level storefront is tucked into an alley in the trendy Zhongshan District, known for its boutiques, select shops, lifestyle stores, and cafés.

In the center of the brightly-lit store is a large grid-display table with colorful wappen patches and other attachable components. Customers can make simple keyrings by linking them to a “podo” chain, or arrange them on stock items such as cardholders, coin purses, and cup sleeves. Blank dolls by different designers are available, including a Soso love heart version that’s a favorite with sweetheart couples, who often create one each and hang it on their bags.

The appeal for dates lies in the shared decision-making process and the small keepsakes couples leave with. The staff can help with the selection when needed and take care of the ironing, which takes about five minutes. Exclusive to the Taipei store is a milk tea-colored No Face doll, as well as patches featuring Taiwanese cultural motifs such as bubble milk tea, blue-and-white plastic slippers, and the iconic three-color ga-ji shopping bag. The store also presents selected stationery, lifestyle, and decorative goods and spotlights rotating artists, whose work is exhibited in the showroom across the street.

OBJECT TAIPEI STORE
🚩32, Ln. 62, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan Dist.
🔗www.object-tw.com
🕝12:00pm-8:00pm

❤︎ ⁠Cool Experiences

Just two people are enough to enter LOST Taiwan, an escape room operation in Taipei, where couples can bond through solving puzzles together under time pressure. Twenty different scenarios are spread across four branches in Taipei: two in the Ximending area, one in the East District, and one near Taipei Main Station. The experiences generally last for about an hour, making it easy to fit into an evening out, with plenty of dining and drink options near each location.

Players can race to retrieve an ancient artifact from Easter Island as a storm closes in, stop the release of the spirit of Qin  Shi Huang (first emperor of China) while being trapped in a tomb, pass the admission test to a magic academy aboard an interdimensional train, or attempt a high-stakes bank heist by sneaking into a tightly guarded bank vault to switch out banknotes with counterfeits.

Puzzles range from logic and pattern recognition to hands-on tasks that require coordination and communication. Rooms feature themed settings and interactive elements, and players are sometimes provided with usable items. Most experiences follow a linear progression, allowing players to work through challenges step by step. Staff provide instructions before the game and monitor progress throughout, offering hints when needed. Both instructions and the games themselves are available in English. 

LOST Taiwan promises that the adventures are not scary, and there won’t be any live actors in the rooms. However, there might be special seasonal horror themes, giving couples the chance to find out how they react to facing their deepest fears together – and whether their date is the type to grab their hand or hide behind them. A small number of rooms require at least three participants, so it’s best to check in advance.

LOST TAIWAN
🚩6F, 4, Chengdu Rd., Wanhua Dist.
📞(02) 2314-2383
🔗losttw.com
🕝Mon-Fri 1:00pm-8:30pm; Sat-Sun 11:45am-8:30pm

A more tech-driven option, Viveland VR allows couples to explore digital worlds, take on challenges, defeat enemies, and even compete against each other. Offering a diverse range of VR devices and games, the arcade is located in Syntrend Creative Park, a multistory electronics and gaming mall that’s worth exploring on its own.

After a short briefing, players put on headsets and are guided into a shared virtual space, where they can see and interact with each other as avatars. Using handheld controllers, they move, grab objects, and complete tasks within the game, with staff on hand to assist if needed.

According to staff, escape room-style games are the most popular choice for couples, as they require close collaboration and effective communication. One standout is Prince of Persia: The Dagger of Time, where players must escape the Fortress of Time to stop an evil magi. In House of Fear, the puzzles are relatively simple, but players are trapped in a creepy abandoned house with jump scares and spine-chilling encounters.

Shooting games are also a favorite. Couples can team up to fend off zombie hordes using a varied arsenal of weapons in Dead Corps, or square off against each other in a fast-paced, futuristic game of laser tag in Versus. And sometimes, a good old arcade classic like a high-speed car-racing game is all it takes. 

Viveland rotates its selection of games so that returning visitors can find new scenarios to try. It is advisable to check availability and book ahead, especially for visits during weekends or peak hours. English versions of the games are available. 

VIVELAND VR
🚩3F, 2, Sec. 3, Civic Blvd., Zhongzheng Dist.
📞(02) 7701-0231
🔗www.vive.com/tw/Viveland
🕝Sun-Thu 11:00am-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:00am-10pm

🔎
Chinese Culture University | 中國文化大學
Erziping Trail | 二子坪步道
ga-ji | 茄芷
Kris Yao | 姚仁喜
Maggie Tsai | 翁美慧
Maokong | 貓空
Maokong Potholes | 貓空壺穴
Syntrend Creative Park | 三創生活園區
Tea Center Trail | 茶展中心步道
Ximending | 西門町
Yangmingshan National Park | 陽明山國家公園
Yangming Park | 陽明公園
Yangmingshan American Military Housing | 陽明山美軍宿舍群

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

Halal, which means “lawful” or “allowed” in Arabic, in dietary terms refers to food standards permissible under Islamic law, focusing on cleanliness, humane animal treatment, and ethical sourcing. In recent years, Taipei has become a popular Muslim tourist destination and is internationally recognized as Muslim-friendly. From larger restaurants serving food from various Muslim countries to authentic Turkish cuisine, halal beef noodles, and fast food, the city’s halal dining options are constantly improving.

Mouna Restaurant

On a quiet stretch of Yanping South Road near the Taipei Botanical Garden, Mouna serves up some of the best halal food in Taipei, with dishes originating across the Muslim world, from Morocco to northern India. Moroccan lamps hang from the ceiling, and a zellige tile pattern adorns the walls. Comfortable seating rounds out a spacious dining area, with a buffet set up at one end for busy times and large groups.

Owner and proprietor Mouna’s story of founding her eponymous restaurant is tinged with both tragedy and inspiration. A native of Morocco, she met her late Taiwanese husband and moved to Taipei to start a family. After his passing, she stayed to raise their children, opening a small shawarma stand in Maji Square near MRT Yuanshan Station. Her food was popular enough that it turned into counters at high-end department store food courts and a stall at the Ningxia Night Market. After hearing from Indonesian and Malaysian tourism officials that there “was no halal food in Taiwan” despite her locations being halal, she decided to open a restaurant.

The concept at Mouna is not food from a specific country, although dishes from Mouna’s native Morocco are on the menu. Instead, it is a halal dining experience; more generally, each dish is executed with admirable skill. Travelers from across the Middle East and Southeast Asia come to Mouna for everything from hummus to tajine (a slowcooked stew) to curry.

The hummus and babaghanoush (an appetizer with a creamy dip) are quite possibly the best in Taipei. Biryani (a mixed-rice dish) with lamb and rosewater is served on gilded, onion-domed platters. Lamb and chicken kebab, fresh from the grill, arrive sizzling at the table. Moroccan dishes such as cubed beef with plums and chicken with preserved lemon are served in ornate tajines, some colored a deep turmeric yellow and embellished with designs, others painted in detailed patterns. Snacks and sides include luscious flatbread with perfect chewiness and peanuts tossed in the restaurant’s own blend of spices.

Mouna Restaurant 暮娜餐館
🚩252, Yanping S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist.
📞(02) 2389-6093
🔗instagram.com/mouna_restaurant
🕝Tue-Sun 11:00am-2:30pm, 5:00pm-9:30pm

Safranbolu Turkish Restaurant

Mention Turkish food in Taipei, and the first word on the lips of many people in the know will be “Safranbolu.” Located at the intersection of Jilin and Nanjing East roads near MRT Songjiang Nanjing Station, this restaurant has been serving up authentic Turkish fare for years.

Running a halal restaurant comes with specific challenges, as some ingredients are difficult to import, and others are subject to price fluctuations and other factors. “There’s only one halal chicken supplier in Taiwan, so they can change prices at will,” proprietor Recep Cetin points out. “All of what we use has to be halal, and that’s very important.”

At Safranbolu, all the chefs are from Turkey, and they cook their native foods with gusto. There are different chefs for different types of food, as Cetin believes in matching the best-suited people to each kitchen task.

The grilled meat platter for groups is popular, piled high with succulent lamb chops, shish kebabs (skewered and grilled cubes of meat), grilled chicken, and beef köfte (meatballs) served on mounds of buttery pilaf. Turkish dips with homemade bread or balloon lavash (a type of flatbread that puffs when cooked) go quickly, especially the ezme, a spicy pepper and tomato salad with herbs, and mutabal, a yoghurt, roasted garlic, and roasted eggplant dish.

▲Turkish dips with homemade bread

The lahmaçun and pide taste exactly as they would in Turkey. Lahmaçun is a flatbread that has both a crispy and tender mouthfeel, topped with spiced ground lamb and herbs, best eaten when wrapped around a serving of salad in a tangy dressing. Pide, a boat-shaped flatbread dish, consists of a fluffier bread topped with cheese, meat, and occasionally egg, and is sometimes called “Turkish pizza.”

The individual meat dishes at Safranbolu are not to be missed. Adana Kebab is a type of shish kebab that is spiced and grilled. Or try Ali Nazik, featuring a mutabal base topped with grilled lamb. Beyti Kebab, which features tender grilled minced meat wrapped in flatbread and melts in the mouth, is also popular.

Safranbolu Turkish Restaurant 番紅花城土耳其餐廳
🚩60, Sec. 2, Nanjing E. Rd., Zhongshan Dist.
📞(02) 2522-2939
🔗facebook.com/safranboluturkishrestaurant
🕝11:00am-10:00pm

Halal Chinese Beef Noodles

Located just a few minutes’ walk from MRT Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station, the first signs that this otherwise unassuming beef-noodle joint is a standout are evident before you walk in: a street-level sign in Arabic, several Michelin stickers, and the line that often forms outside.

In fact, Halal Chinese Beef Noodles is not only halal, as the name proclaims, but has also been a Michelin-recommended restaurant. It earned a place on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for seven consecutive years before that.

The noodles come in two varieties, clear broth and red-braised broth, both of which are simmered for hours to develop an unctuous, meaty flavor. The clear broth allows diners to enjoy a purer beef flavor, while the red-braised broth contains more herbs and spices. Tender beef cuts such as shank, neck, and short rib are sourced from freshly slaughtered Taiwanese cattle. The restaurant also offers Middle Eastern-style flatbread, as well as dishes for larger groups.

Halal Chinese Beef Noodles 清真中國牛肉麵食館
🚩1, Aly. 7, Ln. 137, Yanji St., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2721-4771
🔗facebook.com/halal.chinese.beef.noodle
🕝Thu-Tue 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:00pm-8:30pm

Furger

This takeaway spot in the Gongguan Shopping District provides a combination of halal-certified vegetarian burgers and fast, friendly service popular with the local university crowd, especially Muslim students. Breakfast is a busy time, with the shop opening at 7:30am. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill vegetarian burger joint offering just one type of patty with different toppings. Rather, Furger has sweet potato, taro, mushroom, and mountain yam burgers on the menu, with one especially popular option, the truffle burger, imitating a steak and truffle burger. Other options include a numbing-spice mushroom burger and a lion’s head mushroom burger.

Patrons pair their burgers with tea or lemonade, with an intriguing salted lemonade drink available. Tea options include green, oolong, and honey-scented black tea, which isn’t sweetened with honey but rather has a natural honey aroma. Sides include fried mushroom “chicken nuggets,” fries, and sweet-potato balls. 

Furger 芙格漢堡
🚩2, Ln. 52, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Zhongzheng Dist.
📞0910-033-568
🔗facebook.com/future_burger
🕝7:30am-8:30pm

Fried Chicken Master

This is not just the only halal-certified fried chicken franchise in Taiwan (there are several branches in the city, including one in the Gongguan Shopping District); it has also branched out internationally, with stores in Southeast Asia. In operation since 2015, its outlets deliver crispy and juicy fried chicken seasoned with a proprietary marinade that highlights local Taiwanese flavors.

There is a wide array of fried chicken on offer. Flavors include Taiwanese salt and pepper, Thai spicy sauce, and Chinese hot sauce, as well as powdered flavorings such as cheese, black pepper, plum, and seaweed. The half and whole chicken options are popular, but customers can also choose wings, boneless chicken breast, chicken tenders, or chicken cartilage. Chicken gua bao (“Taiwanese hamburger”), fried chicken breast, and thigh are also on offer, along with a variety of set meals. In true Taiwanese fashion, fries are not the only side dish. Hash browns, purple sweet-potato fries, and Taiwanese radish cake all rank highly with customers.

©Fried Chicken Master

In true Taiwanese fashion, fries are not the only side dish. Hash browns, purple sweet-potato fries, and Taiwanese radish cake all rank highly with customers. 

Fried Chicken Master 炸雞大獅
🔗www.chickenmaster.com.tw

Beyond the above halal dining options, you can find a comprehensive Halal Travel Guide online at travel.taipei/en/must-visit/halal, featuring Muslim-friendly attractions, facilities, and services throughout the city. Muslim travelers are warmly welcomed to explore Taipei with confidence and peace of mind.

🔎
Gongguan Shopping District | 公館商圈
gua bao | 刈包
Maji Square | 集食行樂
Ningxia Night Market | 寧夏夜市
Taipei Botanical Garden | 台北植物園

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

Text　Ami Barnes
Photos　Ray Chang
Editor　Levarcy Chen

The northern arc of the Taipei Metro’s Brown Line offers numerous options for outdoor adventures, and one spot especially ripe for the picking is the Baishihu area. Up here in Neihu’s hills, you’ll find a fine filigree of footpaths and farms that are tailor-made for the pedigree of hiker who thinks a trail without a coffee stop is no trail at all.

Wetland and Flower Fields

Leave MRT Dahu Park Station via Exit 1 and follow the signs up Dahu Shanzhuang Street towards Dagouxi (Dagou Stream) Ecology and Water-Control Park. In the ten minutes it takes to reach the battalion of owl-like stone sculptures guarding the entrance to the park, you’ll pass a couple of convenience stores where any last-minute provisions can be grabbed. Beyond the strigine statues, two flights of steps lead up to a pavilion atop a low rise, then dip down to meet the stream. (Insider tip: check out the Formosan ash trees flanking these steps; they bear deep scars from the ginormous rhino beetles that emerge here every year around Dragon Boat Festival.)

Built following 2001’s devastating Typhoon Nari, which caused flooding and mudslides in the vicinity, the park is a nifty bit of urban infrastructure that serves triple duty as a flood-control zone, wildlife habitat, and place for locals to relax, exercise, and touch grass. A rocky trail follows the meandering watercourse, and where the stream doglegs around a shelter, a broad pool accessible by steps invites visitors to partake in a little wading. During the warmer months, you’ll find picnic mats crowding the banks, while kids wade through the shallows, buckets and nets in hand. In late winter and early spring, you can also enjoy walking past colorful fields of flowers curated by the city government.

And it’s not just humans that are drawn by the clear, fish-filled waters; the park attracts plenty of feathered visitors too. Egrets and herons are regular sights, along with a small flock of Muscovy ducks that paddle up and down the stream, and on quiet days, keen-eyed walkers might catch the electric-blue flash of a departing kingfisher.

Waterfall With Fireflies

Three bridges carry you out of the park and onto the next section of trail. The third of these is a dainty wooden affair with a roof and a view overlooking a small waterfall. Local retirees (and their dogs) frequent its shaded benches to shelter from the elements and read the papers or listen to portable radios. Beyond the bridges, a steady flow of hikers winds up and down the undulating streamside path. Steep steps on the left divert some of the walkers to the summit of Carp Hill (Mt. Liyu), and then the trail enters its prettiest portion. The trees separating the path from the stream melt away, and you suddenly find yourself strolling through a natural tunnel – leafy canopy above, while to the right, mossy boulders so green as to be almost luminous litter the creek bed.

Keep your eyes peeled along this stretch, and you should spot a simple stone shrine perched on the far bank, which can be accessed by hopping from stone to stone. The temple’s resident deity observes comings and goings along the stream. If you visit at dusk or after nightfall, the warm red glow of votive candles emanates from the small doorway, exuding a quiet sense of protection against the thickening shadows.

In fact, when the air starts to warm up, dusk is a great time to visit this riverside path – that’s when its rich riparian diversity becomes apparent. It’s a veritable herping heaven. Supple-toed tree frogs cling to branches, and toads squat in the middle of the path, recalcitrantly rejecting all attempts to shoo them out of harm’s way. Unsurprisingly, given the all-you-can-catch frog buffet on offer, snakes are also pretty common visitors – you might spot the Taiwan habu, red-banded snakes, greater green snakes, big-eyed rat snakes, bamboo pit vipers, and Taiwan slug snakes just in the short corridor between the wooden bridge and Yuanjue Waterfall, to be visited momentarily. Extra-lucky night hikers may even catch sight of a masked palm civet or hear the indignant alarm call of a giant flying squirrel.

As the sound of Yuanjue Waterfall starts to grow louder, you come to a metal bridge of dubious structural integrity that spans the stream. Don’t cross it just yet, but put a mental pin in your map as you continue onwards. Before long, the path arrives at the base of the waterfall. Circular pavilions have sprouted here like oversized concrete mushrooms, while giant boulders in the middle of the watercourse offer ample opportunities for photos or waterfall watching. A little further away from the water, there’s a grassy patch, which – every April or May – bears witness to the courtship dances of fireflies.

For hikers seeking a straightforward ending to their outing, taking the main trail leading up to the left of the waterfall would see you arrive at Yuanjue Temple (Neihu’s oldest Buddhist center of worship) in roughly ten minutes, and a further ten minutes would bring you to the grand, city-facing structure of Bishan Temple. However, if feeling adventurous, it is time to return to that mental map pin.

The Look of A Dragon

Unlike the earlier well-established paved trail, there’s little – save for a couple of hand-tied hiking tags – to indicate that the path on the far side of the bridge leads anywhere worthwhile. The first couple of hundred meters feel more like a private farming track, but soon you’ll find yourself ascending steeply through dense secondary forest using interwoven roots for footholds and pulling yourself up using fixed ropes.

After 10-15 minutes, the trail arrives at a rocky overlook. You can see high-rises clustered far down below along the Keelung River (into which Dagou Stream flows). The vantage point presents an opportune spot to catch your breath and rally your muscles before tackling the final climb to Dragon Boat Rock.

Named for its resemblance to a stone boat, this 10-meter quartz sandstone vessel floats proudly on a choppy ocean of greenery. Its eastern face – port, to use the appropriate boat terminology – slopes down to meet the trees at a forty-five-degree angle. Etched into it are two fissures running the full length that provide much potential for fun photos that make it seem as if you’re dangling precipitously off a ledge. Meanwhile, the boat’s starboard edge is marked by a genuinely perilous sheer drop, so exercise caution when venturing up to admire the views of distant central Taipei.

When you disembark from the stern, follow the stone-surfaced trail to a crossroads. At this point, the easiest and fastest way to return to civilization would be to turn left and follow the path until it joins Bishan Road. There is actually a bus stop right at the trailhead, so you could just wait for the next S2 Shuttle service back to MRT Neihu Station, or you could cool down by following the winding road back through strawberry farms. And for those who have a surfeit of energy (and experience navigating some of Taipei’s wilder trails), there is an opportunity to extend your walk further by heading straight over at the four-way junction and climbing past Mount Kaiyan and onwards to Bishan (Mt. Bi) before curving back to Bishan Road and its welcoming eateries either via Tianshui Yuanyang Lake or Mt. Daluntou.

Strawberry Picking Season

In addition to hiking trails and grand views, this corner of Taipei has a third ace up its sleeve: Baishihu Agricultural Recreation Area. The primary attraction in this elevated agricultural agglomeration is its collection of pick-your-own strawberry farms. From December to May, the area’s greenhouses overflow with rows of ripening red berries growing vertically on easy-pick trellises, and many establishments offer DIY activities, such as making jam or vinegar (pre-booking is strongly advised).

Interspersed among the farms are cafés serving the usual lineup of sweet treats that appear wherever Taiwanese gather for recreation and restaurants of a rustic persuasion, where heartier fare is on the table. Celebrated by holding the Neihu Strawberry Festival, during the strawberry season visitors can also enjoy a stroll across the recently reopened Baishihu Suspension Bridge. The 116-meter pastel-purple span is designed to resemble the rippling of a soaring dragon’s spine, and connects the main cluster of farms with the commanding structure of Bishan Temple.

🔎
Baishihu Agricultural Recreation Area | 白石湖休閒農業區
Baishihu Suspension Bridge | 白石湖吊橋
Bishan (Mt. Bi) | 碧山
Bishan Temple | 碧山巖
Carp Hill (Mt. Liyu) | 鯉魚山
Dagouxi Ecology and Water-Control Park | 大溝溪生態治水園區
Dragon Boat Rock | 龍船岩
Mt. Daluntou | 大崙頭山
Mt. Kaiyan | 開眼山
Neihu Strawberry Festival | 內湖草莓季
Tianshui Yuanyang Lake | 甜水鴛鴦湖
Yuanjue Temple | 圓覺寺
Yuanjue Waterfall | 圓覺瀑布

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

Text　Jenna Lynn Cody
Photoa　VISION
Editor　Levarcy Chen

Taipei’s East District is typically considered to span the greater area around Zhongxiao East Road running east from the Zhongxiao-Fuxing intersection, including lanes to the north and south. The area, easily accessible by the Taipei Metro’s Blue Line, is known mostly for its brightly-lit shopping streets and has a lot to offer. From the sleek contemporary exhibitions at JUT Art Museum to quiet photography bookshops, bustling dumpling houses, stylish vintage stores, and inventive cocktail bars, a day in the East District reveals the neighborhood’s mix of creativity, flavor, and local charm.

The East District is commonly thought of as a destination for shopping, eating, and not much else. The area also has some notable cultural attractions, however, rewarding those who look a little deeper.

Just to the east of National Taipei University of Technology and within walking distance from MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station, an unassuming office building hides a small gem: the JUT Art Museum. The museum focuses on urban art and architecture, curated in a space that is both sleek and calming. JUT’s collection and exhibitions are focused on the themes of “the city” and “the future” seen through contemporary art.

The facility was designed by Japanese architect Jun Aoki and designer Atsuki Kikuchi as a calm, refined space that integrates with the visual language of Taipei. A changing lineup of international exhibitions, lectures, and cultural programs is hosted, engaging visitors in dialogues about art and urban architecture.

JUT Art Museum 忠泰美術館
🚩178, Sec. 3, Civic Blvd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 8772-6178
🔗jam.jutfoundation.org.tw
🕝Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun 10:00am-6:00pm; Fri 10:00am-4:00pm

Museums aren’t the only cultural offering. The East District is also home to unexpected storefront s for those in the mood to contemplate and learn.

Located a short walk southeast from the JUT Art Museum is moom bookshop, a quiet bookstore focused on photography books. The shop manages to be both buzzing with visitors and quiet as a church; the dominant sound is the leafing of pages as patrons enjoy pictures from innumerable eclectic photography collections. One wall is heavily focused on Asia. Another displays books on minimalist shelves, turning the books themselves into art.

This treasure trove has just about any photography book that a person could want, including books showing Japanese toilets, the outlines of gabled roofs from buildings that have been torn down, New York in the 1970s, and cats in mid-century advertisements. It’s a bookshop where it doesn’t matter what language you read; anyone can stop in for a few relaxing moments.

moom bookshop
🚩16, Aly. 8, Ln. 251, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2750-4001
🔗moom.com.tw
🕝12:00pm-8:00pm

After walking past the two SOGO department stores that are located kitty-corner to each other along Zhongxiao East Road, to the east of the SOGO Zhongxiao Branch you’ll come to a leafy walking area commonly referred to as Dinghao Plaza. This is where the creative Hangout Market comes alive every weekend. The real culinary attractions in the area, however, are hidden underground, in the basement of the Dinghao Mall.

Stacks of bamboo steamers and a long queue greet you at Ding Hao Zi Lin, the local-favorite steamed-dumpling house. Don’t worry about joining the line: tables turn over quickly, so you should be seated within a couple of minutes. The restaurant is justifiably famous for its pan-fried potstickers, but the steamed dumplings, hot and sour soup, and pork or beef pancake rolls are also popular.

Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings 頂好紫琳蒸餃
🚩B1, 97, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2752-0962
🕝11:00am-9:00pm

For a burst of healthy hydration, head to HOW & the Juice, next to Ding Hao Zi Lin. Fresh, seasonal fruit is used to make treats that many call the best juices in the East District. Drinks here pair well with the food consumed at the two eateries introduced on this page. You can grab drinks with names like It’s Not “a” Strawberry Juice, made with pineapple, apple, raspberry, and lemon. Other options include the Kiwi Pineapple Juice, the Apple Pineapple with Celery, and also The Boss’ Choice.

HOW & the Juice
🚩B1, 97, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2771-4145
🕝12:00pm-8:30pm

If you’re jonesing for some heat, you’ll find May Jing Red Chili Wonton, which specializes in one of Taipei’s tastiest, spiciest dishes. May Jing is designed like a night market stall, with classic red-and-white signage and seating along a bar behind which the food is prepared. A variety of Sichuan-style dishes is offered, from hot and sour soup with or without wontons to dry dan-dan noodles and other classics such as pork rib noodles or soup.

May Jing Red Chili Wonton 美景紅油抄手
🚩B1, 97, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2781-9004
🔗mayjingwonton.com
🕝Tue-Fri 11:00am-3:30pm, 4:30pm-8:30pm

This area isn’t just known for meals and drinks; there are many pastry and confectionery shops worth visiting as well.

Buy gifts of local pastries for your favorite people at Sun Tone, advertised as the “King of Filling.” This shop offers everything from pineapple cakes to peanut rolls. Founded in Taiwan and beloved across the country, the Sun Tone chain is known for its dedication to traditional flavors made with carefully selected local ingredients. The pineapple cakes have been called “the perfect mix of sweet and savory,” and the taro pastries, mung bean cakes, and milk butter cakes also receive rave reviews.

▲Egg Yolk Pastry and Taro Pastry from Sun Tone

Sun Tone 三統漢菓子
🚩B2, 45, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Daan Dist. (SOGO Zhongxiao Branch)
📞0902-653-730
🔗www.suntone.com.tw
🕝Sun-Thu 9:00am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 9:00am-10:00pm

Some of the best Japanese mochi in Taiwan can be found at Meigetsudo, a Japanese confectionery founded in 1935. Meigetsudo is known for preserving traditional wagashi craftsmanship from the Japanese era (1895~1945). Wagashi are small treats typically enjoyed with tea. The shop specializes in handcrafted sweets made with natural ingredients using classic techniques. These include seasonal namagashi – high-end wagashi sweets that should be eaten fresh – and baked treats.

▲Strawberry daifuku and yuzu daifuku

Meigetsudo 明月堂和菓子
🚩B3, 300, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Daan Dist. (SOGO Fuxing Branch)
📞(02) 8772-0335
🔗www.meigetsudo.com.tw
🕝9:30am-7:30pm

Although the East District is generally known for its fashionable shopping malls, it also has niche boutique shops tucked away in its backstreets. The most fashionable people know to look for vintage and eclectic finds in the lanes and alleys northeast of the Zhongxiao-Dunhua intersection.

Trendy people in Taipei shop at The Cellar, a vintage store located close to Civic Boulevard, known for its curated and funky clothing selection. The shop specializes in high-quality vintage and secondhand pieces from Japan, Europe, and the U.S., as well as popular Taiwanese brands. The vibe here is distinctly “Japanese vintage” with a Taiwanese twist: this is a place where you go to build a unique wardrobe. The Cellar’s employees will even help you craft and style outfits from its racks, so even the most fashion-challenged person can emerge looking cool and creative.

The Cellar 地窖日常
🚩B1, 1, Aly. 35, Ln. 181, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2771-0385
🔗cellarshops.com
🕝2:00pm-10:00pm

Just a short walk southeast from The Cellar, GoodsForEye is exactly what the name implies: a style-forward glasses shop favored by Taipei’s tastemakers. Customers love the service here, with staff not only helping patrons adjust frames and prepare lenses but also giving tips and suggestions on which glasses suit them best.

The shop carries a thoughtfully curated mix of international and independent eyewear brands, making it a top destination for those who see glasses as both a fashion statement and an everyday essential.

GoodsForEye
🚩71, Ln. 161, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2771-2800
🔗www.goodsforeye.com
🕝2:00pm-10:00pm

After dark, the East District transforms from a shopping and food haven into a trendy neighborhood for nightlife. Bistros and Bars in Taipei love to experiment with local ingredients in their food and drink, from jujube to sesame to Taiwanese tea, and East District Plus‘ recommendations are no exception.

A few blocks northeast of the SOGO department store, Bar Mood looks like a sleek science lab, with a front standing area filled with white-and-gray marble tables. Inside, behind curtains, a plush lounge awaits, featuring intimate seating and a dark-wood bar framed by elaborate floral displays. Bar Mood, included in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list multiple times, takes an ingredient-focused approach, sourcing herbs and flowers from across Taiwan. Seasonal botanical cocktails include offerings redolent of cucumber, basil, lemongrass, lime, and smoked marshmallow foam, or drinks made with herbal tea, longan, jujube, goji, and Jinxuan tea.

Bar Mood 吧沐
🚩53, Ln. 160, Sec. 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Daan Dist.
📞0905-773-621
🔗instagram.com/barmood_taipei
🕝Sun-Thu 6:00pm-1:00am, Fri-Sat 6:00pm-2:00am

Silk & Linen, a 3 minutes’ walk from Bar Mood, is a stylish bar known for its creative cocktails and elevated small plates that are international with a Taiwanese sensibility. A cozy and moody space, it offers a relaxed atmosphere with comfortable seating perfect for dates, celebrations, or a night out with friends. Guests praise the inventive drink menu, which mixes classic spirits with local flavors like black sesame, oolong tea, plum, and charcoal kumquat, as well as thoughtfully crafted dishes like Butter Chicken, curry crab toast, and meat rolls. Some drinks play on Silk & Linen’s name, with names like Amber, Wool, Cement, and Cotton.

© Silk & Linen

Silk & Linen
🚩28, Ln. 19, Sec. 1, Daan Rd., Daan Dist.
📞(02) 2772-2339
🔗instagram.com/bar_silknlinen
🕝Sun-Thu 7:00pm-1:00am, Fri-Sat 7:00pm-4:00am

🔎
Dinghao Mall | 頂好名店城
Dinghao Plaza | 頂好廣場
East District | 東區
SOGO Fuxing Branch | SOGO 百貨復興館
SOGO Zhongxiao Branch | SOGO 百貨忠孝館

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

Text　Rick Charette
Photos　VISION
Editor　Levarcy Chen

Taipei City is a top regional destination for digital-savvy young travelers, and its potently wide blend of the cultural pursuits Zoomers find irresistible has put it on the radar for experience-hunters from lands further afield as well.

High-energy urban hubs, niche subcultures, “slow living” hipster enclaves, quirky interactive experiences… the Gen Z traveler desires curated aesthetic experiences to be shared on social media. The focus is on candid, nostalgic, or “real” imperfect moments, bold visuals (neon, 3D art, retro), and local cultural immersion (food, festivals).

What draws Gen Z travelers to Taipei? Four distinctive cultural pursuits have emerged as defining experiences: stan culture – from concert venues to idol merchandise shops and random play dance gatherings; immersive photo experiences at retro-styled booths and atmospheric studios; café hopping through heritage neighborhoods in search of Instagram-worthy spaces serving Taiwanese-fusion drinks; and hands-on crafts offering therapeutic respite from digital life. These activities reflect Gen Z’s desire for parasocial connection, visual storytelling, nostalgic aesthetics, and meaningful creative expression.

Taipei delivers on all fronts, with world-class performance venues like the Taipei Dome and Taipei Arena drawing international idols, atmospheric neighborhoods like Dadaocheng and Wanhua housing vintage photo studios and heritage cafés, and specialized workshops offering everything from Taiwanese pastry-making to personalized perfume creation. The city’s compact, metro-connected layout makes it easy to dive deep into each experience, while its blend of Japanese-era heritage, Korean pop culture influence, and distinctive Taiwanese character creates a unique East Asian cultural crossroads.

And now, a more detailed dive into specific spots and experiences where Gen Z is making its mark around the city:

✦Stan Culture

For Gen Z, stan culture centers on “idols” – carefully curated figures with specific aesthetic styles and strict image management – rather than traditional celebrities. What distinguishes this culture is interaction through social media engagement and offline events like concerts and fan meetings. Taipei’s venues are ideally suited to support these interactive fan experiences.

Stargazing Venues

Any city seeking Gen Z traveler consideration must have international-caliber concert venues to entice top global talent, and Taipei supplies with a dynamic duo, the Taipei Dome and Taipei Arena, both striking award-winning architectural artworks and iconic city landmarks. The freshly minted Taipei Dome, doors thrown open in late 2023, is a multi-purpose domed stadium used both for cultural performances and sports events, with seating reaching up to 40,000 for the former. The Taipei Arena is a multi-function sporting/cultural events complex that is comparatively modest in size, though still large; the main arena is used for concerts, with seating for up to 13,000. Their distinctive shapes have given rise to the dome and arena being affectionately called in Chinese the “Big Egg” and “Little Egg,” respectively.

Among the recent big-name performers at the Dome has been Super Junior, G-Dragon and i-dle, at the Arena, BABYMONSTER and Ayumi Hamasaki. Perhaps the most anticipated upcoming shows will be put on by TWICE at the Dome later in March 2026.

Note that the first-rate Taipei Metro system has stops right at the doorstep of both these venues, and all other locations presented hereafter are either very close to or just a short distance away from a metro station. While using the system, you’ll likely see lightbox messages created by fans, addressed to favorite idols (see the Fandom Culture section below), and metro-system announcements sometimes incorporate iconic pop tracks or even special greetings from idols to their fans. Beyond this, the city government has recently commenced creating city landscapes in support of colors, check-in spots, and banners.

Merch Shopping

Idol shops are retail spaces themed on pop idols, selling related merchandise, with some also staging fan events. Gen Z focuses on unique, shareable experiences like interactive photo opportunities, live performances/demonstrations, and curated environments (with a specific music or décor theme, for example). These shops provide a space for fans to gather and make it convenient for them to find partners for filming dance challenges and exchanging merchandise.

The K-MONSTAR chain, which has three Taipei branches, is a K-pop merchandise specialist – albums to photocards to apparel and accessories to much beyond. It emphasizes genuine product s from K-pop idols, ensuring authenticity for collectors, and regularly stages fan interaction events. Another dedicated K-POP store is PLATBUM, located near the MRT Zhongshan Station. It specializes in a wide range of idol albums and official merchandise.

When you think of Japanese kawaii cutesy, you think of pink. As you turn into the fanfancy+ shop in the Garden City underground retail/dining complex at the Taipei Dome, prepare yourself for a pink onslaught. This specialty concept store is a fandom realm dedicated to Japanese pop-culture figures, especially anime and J-pop. The first overseas branch of the Japanese fanfancy+ brand, all stock is Japanese-brand merchandise. It’s designed to be a fan community space as well as a shop. Providing more than just collectibles, clothing, and accessories, it’s a veritable fan experience destination. There are themed mini-areas where fans can take photos with their favorite characters or merch, and Taiwan-exclusive items, such as photo frames, are also available.

Random Play Dancing

A hot new Gen Z phenomenon in East Asia is Random Play Dancing (RPD), adapted from the K-Pop dance challenge. It is a spontaneous group challenge where fans gather at a spot designated on social media (no registration required), and snippets of popular songs are played, allowing anyone who knows the choreography in question to jump into a center circle to strut their stuff. Originating with Korean variety shows like Weekly Idol, RPD events happen in public spaces or online, letting fans showcase their skills on famous choreographies from different idols, blurring the lines between audience and performer, fostering fan connection through shared passion for top music hits and their iconic moves. In Taipei, RPD gatherings mostly happen in the posh Xinyi District and Ximending.

Fandom Culture

Prior to Gen Z coming of age with money to spend, fandom culture in Taipei/Taiwan was most exuberantly expressed in the form of Japanese comic/anime culture. Over the past decade, younger generations have become hot for all things (South) Korean, and for Gen Z, it is K-pop. In tandem with this has been the import of Korea-style idol-worshipping, such as billboard/LED wall messages created by fans, rented multimedia advertising trucks, cafés where fans meet for special gatherings, such as the celebration of an idol’s birthday, and even idol messages scrolling on the façade of the giant Taipei 101 tower.

A prime example of the fandom café is the revealingly named IDOL coffee, located along a narrow, quiet lane not far from Taipei Main Station, the city’s major transportation hub. A bright space done up in blonde-hue woods, a rotating display of idol posters with personalized messages brackets the entrance door, and idol photos and figurines fill up the interior. Celebratory balloon-spelled birthday wishes adorn the walls most days, accompanied by dedicated parties for the idol of the day. Other types of support events are also regularly held, especially for idols’ upcoming Taipei concerts.

✦Photo Studios/Booths

Vintage and retro-style aesthetics – especially Y2K elements and a sense of “perfect imperfection” – have become defining trends for Gen Z. Grainy textures, dated tones, and slightly flawed compositions are embraced as expressions of authenticity and attitude. This is why photo booths, retro-style portraits, and old-school CCD cameras have surged back into popularity. With Gen Z, two new phenomena have taken hold: specialist photo studios and new-style photo booths.

Yingshing Candy Shop is such a studio. It is located in the old, heritage rich Wanhua neighborhood, not far from the famed Bangka Lungshan Temple. This studio offers diverse shoot-sets looking like, for example, an old-time Japanese general store and traditional Japanese home with a tatami area filled with iconic Japanese-style bric-a-brac. You hire studio photographers for different-style shoots – portrait, fashion, cosplay, and wedding photography. Diverse theme apparel is available, allowing you to effortlessly style and shine in every frame.

As for the photo booth trend, these spots often feature cameras mounted on the walls, ceiling, and floor. They incorporate vintage and film-inspired effects, along with distinctive settings such as subway cars, airplane restrooms, and elevators. A variety of props and accessories are also available, and digital copies of the photos can be downloaded via QR code for instant sharing on social media.

One of the most popular spots is the Lucky Star Photo Booth by SNAPPP in the Dadaocheng neighborhood just off Dihua Street, famous for its heritage shops and architecture. This destination celebrates old-time Taiwanese culture with four photo booths in the old Fuji/Kodak style, featuring classic Taiwanese background/foreground props: pachinko tables, fruit-stand racks, old-time movie posters, convex road-safety mirrors….

There are also several SNAPPP outlets in the city. These are photo service and community hubs with a strong focus on film (analog) photography culture, selling film and gear, staging photo events/contests, and magazine projects, etc.

✦Café Hopping

It seems every generation in Taiwan under 50 loves café lingering, each cohort in each locale having its distinguishing set of prized café hangouts and café-character style. Research shows that Gen Z natives spend far more time thinking of good food and drink than other generations, and love to share their café and restaurant discoveries with their peers via Instagram and other social media platforms, especially through reviews and comments – with pretty pics + short videos.

Another characteristic is café hopping, that is either following peer recommendations and trying a new café experience each outing, or going to more than one café in a day alone or with friends to experience the best of peer-recommended best at each.

What determines which cafés become Taipei Gen Z favorites? The golden trio: “good-looking, photogenic, delicious.” The first refers to the décor; in Taipei, three favored styles are artsy hipster, raw industrial, and nostalgic old house. The second means the food and drinks are easy to photograph and present. The last is more than just food and drink taste, also including whether the price-performance ratio is enough to warrant a repeat visit.

Two joints currently at the zenith of local Gen Z popularity are TWATUTIA COFFEE & Co. and Ao Tao Zu Cafe. TWATUTIA is in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, and its richest in heritage architecture, Dadaocheng, which started as a riverport trading in regional goods in the mid-1800s. “Twatutia” is the transliteration for the Taigi (Taiwanese Hokkien 台語) pronunciation of “Dadaocheng.” The theme here: vintage-décor café in a re-missioned old low-rise commercial/residential building, where a tea shop originally operated. The décor is industrial-style, with mottled exposed-concrete walls, exposed ceiling piping and wiring, plus such furnishing touches as a vintage retail counter and weighing machine.

The café serves premium coffees from around Taiwan and the world, plus traditional Taiwanese pastry treats, and sells a curated selection of lifestyle items on the second floor, including café-themed merchandise. Amongst the coffee selections, the Gen Z crowd is sweetest on the Coconut Sweetened Latte, while the mooncakes are their dearest baked-goodie choice, followed by the pineapple cakes and mungbean cakes.

Ao Tao Zu Cafe is another Dadaocheng denizen, also in a mid-20thcentury commercial/residential low-rise renovated and given a new purpose. Open till midnight, it is one of this neighborhood’s few late-night cafés. Step beyond the gleaming-white exterior, which has the look of a Mediterranean seaside villa, and you step into the Taiwan of yesteryear, the premises retro-busy with such icons of past times (primarily the 1960s~1980s) as white-ceramic-tile walling and vintage table lamps, radios, speakers, and beverage bottles. The Z-favored coffee choices feature flavorings quintessentially Taiwanese: Brown Sugar Cappuccino, Sesame Latte, and Tieguanyin Cappuccino. From the edibles side, it’s the hot things that get the Zoomers salivating, particularly the Chinese dumplings and chicken wings, with the lemon tart commonly called on as a sweet exclamation point to the experience.

✦Crafts

Gen Z treats crafts like therapeutic medicine, finding community and connection through group participation in pastimes associated with “slow living” and the simpler times of their grandparents. These slow hobbies provide regenerative respite from digital fatigue, affordable creative recreation, plus, often, usable practical physical skills. Such sustainable, screen-free self-expression births personalized “Grandma core” items that merge the nostalgic with the modern, and of course, these one-of-a-kind works of art are shared with peers on social media.

ABC Cooking Studio has two franchises in the city, with the flagship outlet in the Taipei 101 complex. Founded in Japan in 1985, the enterprise has outlets throughout East Asia. Its stated mission is to convey the value of food culture through its beginner-friendly hands-on cooking, breadmaking, and dessert classes. The experience is designed to make your cooking studio a social place, perfect for groups of friends or, if coming on your own, to share with new friends.

There are 1-day sessions specially designed around festive themes and unique ingredients; mini-classes that utilize semi-finished products and multifunctional cooking utensils to help you quickly prepare dishes within one hour; and, most in demand, 1~2-hour tablet-based sessions (English available) that allow you to learn at your own speed, conducted in the large, bright, and comfy studio with you sitting at your own individual-table workstation – a friendly approach for sometimes socially anxious Gen Zers. Staff can also provide simple English assistance.

Among the most popular class choices is Taiwanese pastries; create your own culturally iconic mung-bean cakes, pineapple cakes, double-flavor mugwort cakes (taro and adzuki bean), or peanut mochi pork floss scones.

Close to the city’s renowned Dongmen Market, and just a few blocks from Yongkang Street, the core of a popular trendy eatery/boutique neighborhood, CAME perfume is an elegant studio space featuring a red-brick façade and, inside, clean white walls and ceiling offset by deep-black furniture and sash-window frames.

Relaxing, immersive DIY perfume experiences are what’s on offer, crafting your own personalized fragrance from scratch – each session is 90 minutes, your choice of bottle size (session fee varies), and your own workstation along a large, long worktable shared with others. This enables you to work peacefully on your own or work in collaboration with a group.

A complete set of perfume-making tools is provided at each workstation, which is outfitted with a laptop, with instructions provided via headphones, ensuring comfort for socially introverted Zoomers. “Live” instructors are also on hand, with good English guidance available. The laptop guidance is clear, easy to follow even for beginners, and you are able to both adjust the playback speed and replay sections, learning at your desired pace. Mix from an assortment of 60 fragrance ingredients displayed on the in-house fragrance wall, all of which are explained to you, all guaranteed safe to use and environmentally harmless. Each personalized fragrance is a masterpiece of artistry, making the perfect city souvenir – a personalized signature “scent of Taipei.”

🔎
Ao Tao Zu Cafe | 初二咖啡
Dadaocheng | 大稻埕
Dongmen Market | 東門市場
IDOLcoffee | 愛豆應援咖啡
Lucky Star Photo Booth by SNAPPP | 小福星拍貼機
SNAPPP | 寫真私館
Taipei Arena | 台北小巨蛋
Taipei Dome | 台北大巨蛋
TWATUTIA COFFEE & Co. | 大稻埕咖啡
Ximending | 西門町
Yingshing Candy Shop | 影心菓子舖

🗺️Click here to see aforementioned spots on Google Map

This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Original content can be found on the website of Taipei Travel Net (www.travel.taipei/en).

"The tickets are really limited—you fight for them and still might not get one," explains Jessica Ho. When the Sky Becomes a Canvas: Inside Taiwan's Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

There’s a moment—right before hundreds of sky lanterns release simultaneously—when thousands fall silent. Then the sky erupts with glowing orbs floating upward like a river of light. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (February 27 in Pingxi, March 3 in Shifen) transforms an old survival signal into one of the world’s most breathtaking celebrations.

What Nobody Tells You About Attending

Here’s the reality: the festival is stunning, but getting there independently requires serious planning.

The Transportation Challenge

The Pingxi Line—a charming railway perfect for day trips—becomes overwhelmed during the festival. Wait times stretch to hours, trains arrive packed, and many people can’t board. One friend waited three hours at Shifen Station after the festival, watching train after train pass without space.

Jessica Ho, who attended last year’s festival, found the shuttle bus system surprisingly efficient despite the challenging terrain. “The shuttle bus flow was actually pretty good,” she recalls. “It really didn’t take long, we didn’t wait that much. Though the mountain roads are truly winding and bus seats are limited—about 30 minutes.” Still, she emphasizes the importance of planning ahead and being patient with the logistics.

Critical update: The Pingxi Line from Ruifang is under maintenance due to typhoon damage, with replacement buses until January 30, 2026. For the February 27 festival, verify if train service has resumed. March 3 should have normal operations, but always check before going.

2026.02 Update:

The Pingxi Line has now completed repairs following typhoon-related damage, and train services have resumed normal operations.However, due to Taiwan’s weather conditions and seismic activity, service adjustments may still occur at short notice. We strongly recommend checking the official Taiwan Railways (TRA) website 1–2 days before departure for the latest service updates.

Securing Your Lantern Release: Two Options

Want to release your own lantern? You have two ways to secure your spot:

Option 1: Online Pre-registration (NT$200)

Register through the official festival website and pay NT$200 to guarantee your participation. You’ll receive an activity number that you’ll exchange on festival day (between 14:00-17:00) for your lantern voucher plus a small gift. One voucher represents one lantern for four people to share, when you registered the amount, one order meaning one side of lantern—if your group has fewer than four, staff will pair you with other participants. Keep your activity number safe (no reissue if lost), and note that payments are non-refundable.

These online slots sell out quickly, so register as early as possible when registration opens.

Option 2: Free On-Site Tickets (Limited)

Free tickets are distributed at the festival service counter starting at 10:30 AM each day, first-come-first-served. One voucher covers one lantern for 2-4 people to share. These are extremely limited and run out fast—many people arrive well before 10:00 AM to queue. Miss this window, and you’ll watch from the sidelines rather than participate in the mass release.

“The tickets are really limited—you fight for them and still might not get one,” explains Jessica Ho. She arrived at 2 PM thinking she’d be early enough, only to find tickets long gone. “I still stayed and watched, and it was beautiful—but knowing I could’ve participated if I’d just arrived earlier… that hurt.”

This isn’t about showing up for the 5:00 PM event—it’s about securing your spot hours earlier. Without a ticket, you’re still welcome to attend and witness the spectacle, but there’s a profound difference between being in the ceremony versus observing from outside.

The Practical Realities

Tens of thousands of people in dense crowds. Long food lines. Limited restrooms with significant queues—a tourist center next to the venue has facilities, plus portable restrooms. Unpredictable March weather with temperatures around 15-20°C and possible drizzle. The festival runs rain or shine. Plan for a late return, potentially past midnight with public transportation delays.

Jessica suggests a strategic approach: “Arrange food before noon, eat and explore at Pingxi Old Street, then have the lantern release as the finale. As more people arrive later, I could slowly make my way over.” Her timing—leaving Taipei at 10 AM and returning around 9 PM—allowed her to experience everything without feeling rushed.

The Alternative: Organized Tours

For those wanting guaranteed participation without the 10 AM scramble, specialized tours include pre-secured lantern releases, transportation logistics, optimal timing to avoid chaos, and cultural context from guides. Small group tours (18-20 people) maintain intimacy while handling the complications that can otherwise overshadow the magic.

The Hidden Gem: Pinglin’s Tea Country

Here’s a local secret: about 30 minutes before you reach the main festival areas, Pinglin offers a completely different pace—Taiwan’s tea heartland, where the atmosphere is deliberately slow and refreshingly uncrowded.

The Pinglin Tea Museum sits elegantly beside the mountains, offering context about centuries of tea cultivation that shaped this region. Walk through Pinglin Old Street, where elderly shop owners sell locally produced oolong alongside homemade tea snacks. It’s the perfect alternative for those who want cultural richness without battling festival throngs—or an ideal stop if you’re arriving early and need somewhere peaceful before evening events.

The mountainous Pinglin area’s economy historically relied on tea farming and coal mining. When both declined, communities struggled. The sky lantern festival became part of the region’s reinvention, bringing tourism that supports local families while preserving traditions. Understanding this backstory—whether experienced in Pinglin’s quiet streets or Pingxi’s festival chaos—transforms the experience from a pretty spectacle into something with deeper resonance.

The Mass Release: Why People Travel Halfway Across the World

Around 5:00 PM as dusk settles, if you secured a ticket, you’ll receive your lantern—a surprisingly large paper balloon with a bamboo frame. Four sides, four chances to write your heart’s desires.

Watch the crowd for inspiration. Grandparents brush Chinese characters wishing health and longevity (健康, 長壽). Young couples declare love and dreams (愛, 幸福). Students plead for exam success. Parents pray for their children’s safety (平安, 快樂). Some write entire paragraphs, others simply names of departed loved ones. You’ll see wishes in English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Spanish—the sky understands all languages.

What do people actually wish for?  Jessica laughs when asked about her lantern message: “Get my Taiwan ID card, make a fortune! No, seriously, I wrote about achieving success first, then getting my Taiwan residence permit.” The mixture of practical hopes and grand dreams—that’s the beauty of these floating prayers.

Then comes the signal. Paper rustles as fuel packs ignite. Lanterns inflate rapidly, tugging against eager hands. Then—up they go. Hundreds of glowing orbs ascending together as a coordinated wave, their warm light reflecting in thousands of upturned faces.

“The moment of releasing the lanterns—it’s moving, a feeling of rebirth pounding in your chest,” Jessica describes, her voice still carrying wonder. “So many lanterns, it feels like watching the sunrise at Alishan.” When asked how the reality compared to photos and videos she’d seen online, she pauses thoughtfully: “No difference, really. But being there, feeling it—that’s something no screen can capture.”

This is why people cry. It’s not just the beauty—it’s realizing you’re part of something bigger. Your hopes and dreams merge with the elders from Japan, the backpackers from Germany, and the family from Singapore. For a few minutes, nationality, language, age—none of it matters. Everyone’s just human, hoping for better days.

The lanterns drift higher, spreading across the dark sky like stars being born. Some cluster together as companions. Others venture solo into darkness. All carry their secret messages skyward until they’re tiny flickering lights against the vastness above.

Why This Tradition Matters

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival represents something Taiwan does exceptionally well—taking traditional practices that could have faded and reimagining them for contemporary relevance while respecting cultural roots. It’s a living culture that evolves while maintaining its soul, welcoming everyone regardless of origin or language.

When asked if she’d recommend the festival to friends, Jessica doesn’t hesitate: “Absolutely. But I’d tell them: come prepared, arrive early, don’t expect it to be easy—but expect it to be worth it. Every bit of the hassle, every hour of waiting, it all fades when those lanterns go up. You’ll understand why people keep coming back.”

Your lantern is waiting. Your wishes are ready—the mountains of Pingxi call.

Practical Information

2026 Festival Dates:
– February 27th: Pingxi District
– March 3rd: Shifen Square, Pingxi District
– Main releases: 5:00-8:00 PM both days

Getting There:

By Train (once service resumes):
– Taipei Main Station → Ruifang Station (30-40 min, ~NT$76)
– Transfer to Pingxi Line → Pingxi or Shifen Station (25-30 min, ~NT$15)
– Total journey: ~1.5-2 hours
⚠️ Important: Pingxi Line under maintenance until Jan 30, 2026. Check TRA for updates before Feb 27 festival.

By Bus:
– Line 795 from MRT Muzha Station to Shifen (~90 min, ~NT$45)
– Infrequent service (30-60 min intervals)

What to Bring:
– Warm layers (temperatures 15-20°C / 59-68°F)
– Rain gear (umbrella or raincoat)
– Comfortable walking shoes
– Snacks and water
– Fully charged phone/camera + portable charger
– Cash (many vendors don’t accept cards)
How to Secure Your Lantern Release:

Option 1: Online Pre-registration (NT$200, Recommended)
– Register and pay at official website
– Receive activity number (keep it safe—no reissue if lost)
– Exchange on festival day 14:00-17:00 for lantern voucher + gift
– One lantern shared by 4 people (staff will pair smaller groups)
– No refunds after payment
– Register early—these sell out quickly

Option 2: Free On-Site Tickets (Extremely Limited)
– Distributed at festival service counter from 10:30 AM
– One lantern for 2-4 people to share
– First-come-first-served, very limited quantity
– Arrive before 10:00 AM to queue
– Once gone, no second chances

Critical Success Tips:
– Register online early for guaranteed participation, or arrive before 10:00 AM for free on-site tickets
– Without a voucher, you can watch but not participate in releases
– If you have online registration: exchange between 14:00-17:00 (late exchanges forfeit your spot)
– Arrange food and exploration before noon, save lantern release as the finale
– Check weather forecast and transportation updates before going
– Be patient with crowds—they’re part of the experience
– Plan for late return (potentially past midnight with public transportation)

Festival Tours:
For guaranteed lantern releases and organized logistics, specialized tours handle transportation, timing, and cultural context while including stops at Pinglin Tea Museum and traditional old streets.
Learn more: 2026 Cultural Sky Lantern Festival Tour

Official Festival Information:
New Taipei City Government 2026 Pingxi Sky Lantern offical website: https://skylantern.ntpc.gov.tw/#/info?tab=4

Related Reading:
Write Your Wishes on the Wind: Why Pingxi’s Sky Lantern Is a Must-Do – Year-round sky lantern experiences and cultural background

Text　Hollie Younger
Photos　VISION
Editor　Levarcy Chen

Taipei’s older neighborhoods, such as Dadaocheng, are known for their numerous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shops, which offer ingredients like ginseng (人蔘), goji berries (枸杞), and jujubes (紅棗). If you want to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s old herbal ways, consider taking a DIY class that allows you to smell, taste, and work with a variety of herbal ingredients to concoct your own Coke-inspired brew.

The class is offered by Caomuzhushi (草木竹石), a group that provides cultural experiences and states that its mission is to “promote Taiwanese farmers and handmade-crafts designers.”

Our classroom for the day (Caomuzhushi does not have a fixed location) is a quiet and airy studio on the third floor of an old narrow-front building featuring a Baroque façade, located right in the center of the action on historic Dihua Street. The edifice is sandwiched between bustling shops selling all sorts of dried goods, their storefront wares wafting herbal aromas.

For the past two years, Caomuzhushi (lit. Grass, Wood, Bamboo, and Stone) has been offering specialized experiences to reinvent classic flavors. The team teaches how to craft herbal versions of cola, coffee, chocolate, etc., using TCM herbs and other locally sourced ingredients to promote sustainable living and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of this historical area.

We have signed up for a two-hour herbal DIY class that’ll take us through the history of cola, from its invention to the famous carbonated soft drink in red-labeled bottles people consume today. We’ll then be taught how to create an herbal version with a homemade brew of cinnamon, cloves, and a host of other traditional ingredients you might never have even heard of before.

TCM is an ancient practice still widely used across East Asia to this day, balancing yin and yang (陰陽), observing the body’s qi (氣), or energy, and relieving all manner of ailments. Our class serves as a crash course in TCM, allowing us to understand how the ingredients can aid in cooling the body down on hot summer days or heating it during chilly winter days, how they can help with digestion or with lowering blood pressure, and, more importantly for our experience, how they taste in a self-made brew.

Our teacher, Qiqi, first takes us through a fun presentation running through the history of cola and how it has been consumed through time. We then explore its present-day forms the world over, including the Japanese brand Iyoshi Cola (伊良可樂), a pop-culture icon in Taiwan, and the modern-day Coca-Cola brand, known for its fizziness and high levels of sugar. This leads us to the health benefits of our own brew, in which only a limited amount of brown sugar will be used, a somewhat healthier alternative to white sugar or corn syrup, and we learn about the drink’s medicinal benefits.

Qiqi gives us an overview of the ingredients we’ll be working with, from sealwort, favored by fasting Daoist ascetics, to the potentially poisonous nutmeg, which can induce hallucinations if improperly consumed. Then we get to the brewing. Qiqi asks us to smell and test each of 17 ingredients before we pick six to eight for our colas, depending on personal taste and medicinal needs.

I select slightly sweeter ingredients such as dried jujubes and mulberries, and those beneficial for women’s health, including ginseng. Meanwhile, my friend chooses a more bitter selection, suitable for someone more accustomed to traditionally used herbal ingredients, which is sweetened with dried chrysanthemum flower.

Next, I measure out each of the ingredients: a piece of cinnamon bark, a handful of jujubes and mulberries, and five grams each of goji berries, cloves, and tangerine peel. Then it’s time to bring the ingredients to a boil in a dash of water, followed by simmering the mix for 25 minutes.

While we wait, Qiqi brings us tastings of two of his special cola recipes, one more sweet with an herbaceous aftertaste, and one more bitter with a hit of classic TCM aromatics. Once our brews have simmered down into a deep amber liquid, we turn off the heat and add in brown sugar to taste, stirring until it turns to that deep mahogany cola color.

Qiqi helps us to strain out the liquid into a jug before we each measure 200ml for our mini take-home glass bottles. We each apply a “herbal cola” label, and voilà, we have a keepsake of our time on Dihua Street (迪化街). Once we get home, we can simply mix one part cola to two parts soda over ice to enjoy our very own brew. Before we leave, Qiqi prepares leftover cola so we can try our creations on the spot. Sweet, floral, and herbaceous, they go down a treat.

This herbal-cola DIY class is especially great for cultural experience activities, team-building sessions, educational trips, and even family outings, with participants receiving an introduction to traditional local industries and practices, and taking home some unique souvenirs.

Caomuzhushi 草木竹石
🔗www.caomuzhushi.com
🔗instagram.com/caomuzhushi.___
🕝Reservations can be made via the LINE app; Upcoming workshops are announced on Instagram