Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
area with excellent examples of both late-Qing and Japanese-era shops. The red-
brick arcades here are popular spots for photos.
Returning to Longshan, head north, staying on the left to enjoy the row of shops
selling Buddhist statuary. At Guiyang St check out the exquisite Qing-era stone pil-
built in 1856.
Head to
Qingshui Temple
, founded in 1787. Note the fine Qing-era temple
design: single-storey halls and sweeping swallowtail roof. Both the outer dragon
pillars and dragon and tiger side carvings hail from the 18th and early 19th centur-
ies.
Cut up to Changsha St and follow to the remains of the
Xi Ben Yuan Temple
,
once the largest Japanese Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.
Retrace your steps and head down Hanzhong St, followed by Neijiang St. At No
ture built in 1908 as Taipei's first public market. The area you are now in is called
Ximending, a reference to the former west gate(ximen)of the former Qing-era city
walls.
Now cross the road (note how the streets have widened) to
Zhongshan Hall
(
Click here
), built in 1936 at a time when architectural tastes were changing from
Western classical hybrids to more modernist designs. The hall is a mix of both.
Continue up Yanping S Rd to
Taipei Futai Street Mansion
. The two-storey
former office, built in 1910 in a Western style, is the only surviving building on Futai
St from that era. Just up from here is the
North Gate
(the only remaining Qing-
era gate that has its original appearance) and the
Taipei Beimen Post Office
,
built in 1930.
Head back down Bo'ai Rd and then along Hengyang St, noting the Japanese-era
shops and the pleasant arcades (covered walkways, a traditional Taiwanese
design).
1915, it was the first major public building under Japanese colonial rule. The
Land Bank Exhibition Hall
(
Click here
)
across the way was the most architectur-
ally advanced structure in Taiwan when completed in 1933, yet it still incorporated
traditional arcades into the outer structure.
restored in 1947. Originally the office of the Japanese colonial governor, the build-
ing faces east to the rising sun, and the design (as seen from the air) also forms
the character (sun), part of (Riben, Japan).
Now head to
Taipei Guest House
, built at the turn of the 19th century and
widely considered the most beautiful baroque-style building from the Japanese
