Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, a dense and walkable city of night markets, hot springs, temples, and mountain trails set in a basin ringed by green hills. Its skyline is anchored by Taipei 101, while the National Palace Museum holds one of the world's great collections of Chinese imperial art. Taipei pairs an efficient metro, a famously food-obsessed street culture, and easy access to hot springs and tea-growing hills within the city limits.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Taipei.
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1
Spanish presence in northern Taiwan
Spain builds Fort San Salvador at Keelung and Santo Domingo at Tamsui before the Dutch expel them in 1642
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2
Han settlement of the Taipei basin
Qing-era land-clearing charters open the Taipei basin to Han settlement, displacing Ketagalan Indigenous communities
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3
Longshan Temple founded
Fujian settlers found Longshan Temple in Monga (Wanhua) as a community and worship centre
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4
Tamsui opened as a treaty port
After the Second Opium War, Tamsui becomes a treaty port, driving tea trade in Dadaocheng
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5
Taipei walled city completed
The Qing builds a fortified walled city with five gates, including the still-standing North Gate
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6
Taiwan becomes a province
Taipei becomes the provincial capital; Liu Mingchuan modernises the island with railways and telegraph
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7
Japanese rule begins
The Treaty of Shimonoseki cedes Taiwan to Japan; Taipei becomes the colonial capital
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8
Governor-General's Office completed
The Renaissance-style red-brick building opens; today the Presidential Office Building
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9
Return to Republic of China
Japan's surrender ends 50 years of colonial rule and Taiwan comes under ROC administration
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10
February 28 Incident
A crackdown on protests begins in Taipei and spreads islandwide, starting decades of martial-law repression
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11
Government relocates to Taipei
Chiang Kai-shek's government retreats to Taipei after the civil war, bringing the Palace Museum collection
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12
Martial law era
Taiwan lives under one of the world's longest periods of martial law until it ends in 1987
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13
National Palace Museum opens in Shilin
The museum building in Waishuangxi opens to display the imperial collection
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14
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall completed
The memorial opens five years after Chiang's death
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15
First direct presidential election
Taiwan holds its first direct presidential vote, cementing its democratic transition
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16
Taipei 101 opens
The tower becomes the world's tallest building and a symbol of modern Taiwan
Historical sites
Places where Taipei's past comes alive.
Presidential Office Building
Completed in 1919 as the Governor-General's office in Renaissance-Baroque style, damaged in 1945 bombing and restored; now the presidential seat.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free; bring passport
228 Peace Memorial Park and Museum
Site of the former radio station tied to the 1947 uprising; memorial and museum on the 228 incident and White Terror.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Museum NT$20 (approx $1); park free
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Memorial hall in white marble and blue tile honoring the former president; Liberty Square outside has hosted democratic protests.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Commemorates the founder of the Republic of China; features a bronze statue, a changing-of-guard and a public park.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
North Gate (Chenglong Gate)
One of the five gates of the Qing walled city and the only one to retain its original style; located beside an elevated road.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
Longshan Temple
Taipei's oldest major temple; rebuilt after a 1945 bombing but still displays elaborate Fujianese temple craft.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
Bopiliao Historic Block
Restored Qing-era street with brick arcades, an old-town district and exhibitions on Wanhua's history.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free (special exhibits vary)
Fort San Domingo (Tamsui)
Originally built by Spanish in 1628 and rebuilt by the Dutch; later used by the British consulate. One of Taiwan's oldest buildings.
Where: Taipei
Admission: NT$80 (approx $3)
Beitou Hot Spring Museum
The former public bathhouse built in 1913, now a museum documenting Beitou's onsen culture.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
National Taiwan Museum
Neoclassical building with Greek columns opened in 1915 as a memorial to the governor Kodama Gentaro; houses Taiwan's natural history collection.
Where: Taipei
Admission: NT$30 (approx $1)
Taipei Confucius Temple
Confucian temple built in 1939 and based on classical southern Fujian style.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
Baoan Temple
Taoist temple built in 1805; restoration finished in 1995 and earned UNESCO Asia-Pacific recognition in 2003.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
Lin An Tai Historical House
Traditional Fujian courtyard house moved and rebuilt in Binjiang park; shows a merchant family's residence.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
Jing-Mei Human Rights Cultural Park
Former military court and detention site; presents the White Terror and Taiwan's transition to democracy.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free
Taipei Guest House
Baroque residence built in 1901 as the Governor-General's residence; later hosted state guests.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free (limited hours)
Dadaocheng Historic District
Tea-trade neighborhood with Baroque and Minnan shophouses on Dihua Street; birthplace of Taiwan's modern commerce.
Where: Taipei
Admission: Free