Over breakfast we chatted with two ladies on a weekend break from Japan who were sitting at the next table. They had both visited England and one had fond memories of the Cotswolds. We assured them that Japan was high on our list of places to visit, which they thought was nice.

Before leaving home, we’d booked a 10.00 a.m. tour of the Presidential Office Building which is located in the Zhongzheng district. This Baroque style building is a famous historical landmark in Taipei and was designed during the period of Japanese rule and completed in 1919. Uncertain exactly how long it would take us to get there, we arrived at 9.40 a.m. but were allowed in without delay despite noticing long queues snaking around the exterior of the building. Entrance is from the northern gate next to the Bank of Taiwan building and clearly pre booking saved us a great deal of time, tours being free of charge. It’s necessary to take passports / ID for checking but this was a quick formality and we were soon ushered onto an English speaking tour with two people from Finland. Other tour groups seemed to have around 30 people but as Taiwan receives relatively few western visitors we were fortunate to be in such a small group.

Our friendly female guide took us through the main entrance which is dominated by a large bust of one of the founding fathers of the Republic of China (ROC), Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. The one hour tour provided us with a good introduction to the history of Taiwan and was very enjoyable.

After the tour had finished we set off to visit the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (CKS) a few blocks away but a small detour followed as to get there we needed to pass the 2-28 Peace Memorial Park so we decided to take a little look around there first. The 2-28 Peace Memorial Park contains memorials to victims of the pivotal event in modern Taiwanese history which took place on 28th February 1947, the killings known as the 2-28 incident. In the centre of the park stands a memorial and strolling along paths we came across attractive ponds, pavilions and a bandstand.

Our phone map gave the impression that the CKS Memorial Hall was close by but we had to hurry along to arrive in time for the Changing of the Guard at 12.00 noon as there were numerous large roads to cross where we repeatedly had to wait for the crossing to turn green.

There are 89 steps leading to the entrance of the blue roofed octagonal neoclassical memorial to the former president, 89 being significant as this denotes the age at which he died. The Memorial was erected in 1980 in honour of General Chiang Kai-Shek the former president of the Republic of China.

The ceremony takes place on the upper floor of the memorial hall on the hour and fortunately we managed to secure a good central position just before crowds built up.Promptly at 12.00 noon the guard change commenced and with much pomp and ceremony the guards marched like clockwork soldiers adjusting their gun positions in unison with each other, finally exchanging places on the pedestals vacated by the retiring guards.


Conveniently, CKS Memorial Hall has its own MRT station so we jumped on board for the short journey to the Taipei Botanical Gardens. Admission here is also free of charge but perhaps springtime isn’t the best season to visit as there were very few flowering shrubs and, although well landscaped, it was mostly a sea of green.

Still, we rested our legs on a bench overlooking the lotus pond whilst taking a drink from our water bottles. Referring to our map, we noticed that the Longshan Temple was within walking distance so we headed that way stopping off for some delicious mugs of frothy coffee in a small, independent cafe on the way. Cappuccino doesn’t seem to exist on the menu in most cafes here so we had to settle for Latte, but Taiwanese Lattes are more like our Cappuccinos anyway!

Feeling energised after our coffee break we continued on our way, by chance passing an entire street selling birds of varying sizes from small sparrow like birds to large parrots, hanging from hooks in ornamental cages. There seemed little activity but it was fun to observe as we strolled by.

Soon, we arrived at Longshan Temple, it’s definitely worthy of a visit, incredibly ornate with elaborate carvings, teeming with worshippers and tourists with a waterfall feature in its grounds. Noticing a nearby bakery, we bought some egg custard tarts and found a bench in the square outside the MRT station to sit and eat them.

We then hopped back on the MRT to the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, a former tobacco factory in a park setting. The former manufacturing spaces now contains the Red Dot Design Museum and the Puppetry Art Centre of Taipei, whilst the factory worker’s homes have been transformed into galleries, cafes, craft shops and boutiques. We came here on the suggestion of a Taiwanese interior designer we’d shared a table with in McDonalds at Hong Kong airport. At weekends this area comes to life with a craft market, artisan food stalls and street entertainers but despite it being a quiet Monday afternoon it was still fascinating to see how the factory had been brought back to life, retaining its huge chimney.

Just a few minutes walk from here we found a hidden gem, IKEA House. Now you might think it very strange that we would travel over 6,000 miles to spend time in an IKEA store but this is a completely different concept from the giant blue and yellow warehouses we are all so familiar with!

Feeling curious, we were duty bound to step inside, and yes, it is small, located over four floors with rooms furnished as in an ordinary house but with IKEA furniture and accessories. There’s a small cafe counter on the ground floor where one can feast on the ever popular Swedish meatballs or, like us, opt for warm cinnamon buns and cups of coffee.

Taking these on a tray, we went upstairs finding some comfortable chairs in the living room to enjoy our afternoon snack. This ‘room’ was also furnished with cosy sofas, a dining room table and chairs, customers being able to sit where they pleased. Other floors contained the kitchen, equipped with IKEA products with seating around the breakfast bar and kitchen table. There was even a fully furnished bedroom where it was permitted to sit on the bed but obviously climbing in and going to sleep was not allowed!

Using the IKEA WI-FI I tried to find out if there were more IKEA houses around the world, but it doesn’t appear to be the case, not even in Sweden, it’s spiritual home. Our thoughts were that it was a splendid concept, showcasing IKEA products in a realistic setting. Small items can be purchased here whilst larger items can be ordered. The only problem I can foresee is that as it’s so comfortable and welcoming and the staff are only located on the ground floor, that some people might overstay their welcome!

Our final stop of the late afternoon was another short trip on the MRT, this time to the Ximending district – a youth culture hub favoured by students and a frenzy of neon lights, sports and electronic stores, the entire area buzzing with activity. A wander through the locality followed before returning to our hotel for a well earned rest.

By mid evening we were feeling re-energised so off we went on the MRT again, this time taking the Green Line to its terminus at Zhongshan, the home of the Raohe Night Market. A bright illuminated archway welcomed visitors into this night market which was bustling with activity and temptation at every step of its 600 metre long street. Next to the market lies the Ciyou Temple illustrated in my feature photo above.

It’s always a good sign if certain stalls have long snaking queues, the locals must know these are the best places to buy their snacks from, so we joined one such queue where a production line of at least five people were preparing black pepper pork buns, one person was rolling dough whilst another added meat and cabbage before being placed in an Aga type oven. Delicious couldn’t really describe them, they were delectable with a crispy base combined with a mouthwatering, peppery succulent inside – I’m sure we’ll be looking out for them again. Weaving our way through the crowds, stalls were offering anything from shoes and clothes to electronic devices. Fairground type games seemed a popular evening activity with locals trying their hand at darts, shooting balloons and throwing hoops over objects to win soft toys or some other small prizes. By the time we had reached the far end of the night market we had been tempted to try some sausages, pork skewers and at least one healthy item – freshly squeezed watermelon juice! Certainly a feast for our senses.

Back near the MRT stands a tall clock which played a tune at 10.00 p.m. as we were passing with characters popping out of doors above the clock face as the bells chimed.

Close by is the Rainbow Bridge which crosses the river. Taking a short stroll, it was extremely quiet here with virtually no-one else in sight except for a couple of people who had brought their street food to one of the riverside benches. After yet another fast paced today we returned to our hotel, loving every moment so far of our time in Taiwan.
If you have enjoyed reading this post you may also like:
So many good memories from our trip. We were impressed by the memorial to Chiang Kai Shek and also by the seriousness of the 6 1/2 foot tall 100 pound guards when the school girls would try to make them laugh. It was a great visit. Thanks for sharing. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
So pleased these posts in Taipei are bringing back fond memories for you Allan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Day 13. Taipei Zoo and the Maokong Gondola – Love Travelling Blog
Pingback: Day 9. Leaving Hong Kong and heading to Taiwan – Love Travelling Blog
Pingback: Day 15. Starting the day in Daan Park, Taipei – Love Travelling
Pingback: Day 14. Paper Lanterns in Pingxi and Shifen – Love Travelling
Pingback: Day 13. A visit to the Taipei Zoo followed by a ride on the Maokong Gondola – Love Travelling
Pingback: Day 12. Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum – Love Travelling
Pingback: Day 9. A fond farewell to Hong Kong and a first visit to Taiwan – Love Travelling
Pingback: Day 10. A visit to Yangmingshan National Park and Beitou Hot Springs – Love Travelling
Wow that IKEA house was a find! It’s so cute too. Love your photos, seems like an awesome trip ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just loved Ikea House, wish there were more of them around!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a packed but fun day you had in Taipei! I’m amazed at how much you got to see in one day. 🙂 I’m very interested in the IKEA House and hopefully would have the opportunity to check it out this summer as well as some of your other stops. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you for your interesting comments about our fun filled day in Taipei. Do try and visit IKEA House if you have time, it’s really nice.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Isn’t it a great place?? It’s a wonderful museum. Enjoy the rest of your travels!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words. Taiwan is such an interesting and beautiful country.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed reading this Marion. It’s funny whilst I was in Beijing and visiting IKEA I would always see Chinese asleep in beds agdctes under the covers. It was hilarious.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s unbelievable Sue, it must be taking testing out the mattresses to a new level! Thanks always for your welcome thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The night market looks so good!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Rashmi, the Night Markets in Taiwan were all very good, so interesting to stroll round and very tempting.
LikeLike
The night market looks great!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, it was really nice with so much food to tempt us.
LikeLike
Great blog and beautiful narration… Just like being there!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Raj for your inspiring comments. It’s so pleasing to read that you are enjoying reading my blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure it mine! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a heck of a long day, congratulations! At our age it would take a week. Where next in your Asia tour?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you for your kind words. We continue our explorations around Taiwan!
LikeLike
Photography captures the mood. Well done!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you for your inspiring thoughts.
LikeLike
A very nice post. I love the mix of cultural activities and street scene in your itinerary. My aim is to be eating my way around town and everywhere we go in Taiwan. Foods are such an integral part of traveling. You seem to embrace it too.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks again for your inspiring thoughts on my most recent post on Taipei. The Taipei Night Markets are very interesting and excellent value.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed taking the journey with you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Ian for taking the time to read this post and letting me know you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely love the bustle of night markets! Interesting looking food and very atmospheric with the colourful lanterns. And the Ikea House… Sounds like you had a very nice day!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for your welcome thoughts Piia. The Taiwanese Night markets are irresistible and such good value and I’m so pleased we had the opportunity to visit Ikea House, it was so interesting!
LikeLike
Such a fascinating day, I loved reading about all the things you got up to – you managed to do and see so much, this is exactly what I like to do. The Ikea house looks like a much more fun experience than in the regular shops – my son loathes Ikea but I think even he would enjoy it here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for reading this post Joy, there’s so much to see and do in Taipei I don’t think I could ever get bored and finding that tiny IKEA was such fun. We don’t live anywhere near one so it’s not very often I go. They are like a maze you can’t find your way out of but I always end up buying all sorts of things so their layout obviously works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those botanical gardens look incredibly inviting, and I’d be all over that latté! 😉 And that night market… well! I’d spend hours there. 😬 But it’s the IKEA house that’s captured my imagination! 😂 Thanks for taking us along on your travels in Taipei.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Sheri for your inspiring comments on my latest Taiwanese post. The IKEA House was such an unusual find and such fun, and as for the night markets well they were amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pictures and great descriptions. I felt like I was on the tour through the city with you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your inspiring comments. Taiwan is such an interesting island to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing! Gives me some ideas for the next time I visit. Look forward to hearing about the rest of the trip.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you David for your kind words and pleased to read you have enjoyed visiting Taiwan too.
LikeLike
Great post. We learned so much. The significance of the number of steps. Thank you for teaching us with your travel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So pleased you enjoyed reading my post once again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots for us to learn. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the night market photos!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Monique for your kind words. The Night markets in Taipei are amazing and so very cheap!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! the memorial for General Chiang Kai-Shek reminds me a lot of the Lincoln Memorial in DC 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words and comments. I have been to the Lincoln Memorial but it was about 25 years ago so my memories are dim and distant!
LikeLike
Wow – I never thought too much about visiting there until reading this and seeing all your awesome shots. What an amazing places!! The IKEA store was funny too 😃
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your kind words and I’m so pleased I might have persuaded you to visit Taiwan. It was so funny to visit the mini IKEA store.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did
LikeLiked by 1 person
Super interesting post, as always, and really beautiful photos. Love the IKEA house. Have a great weekend! Marcus
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Marcus for your kind words. How funny to find a mini IKEA in Taipei! Hope you are also enjoying a good weekend too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Taiwan looks incredible, hadn’t really thought about it before. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Taiwan is beautiful and certainly a very interesting place to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is awesome!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so pleased you have enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure’s all mine!
Keep posting, keep inspiring!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Finance and Business News Updates.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The presidential building looks incredible. Hope you continue to have a wonderful time!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Taiwan is a very interesting country to visit and we are enjoying our stay very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope I make it out there sooner or later. Definitely on the list!
LikeLiked by 1 person