Itinerary

1. Route A, Route B, and Route C

   • Meet with the guide as per the agreed location. Choose one of the three routes that are listed as follows:

   Route A: Lungshan temple - Traditional market - CKS Memorial Hall - Ximending - Dadaocheng

   • Lungshan Temple is a famous old temple in Taiwan. It is for worshipping Guanshiyin Budda and other divine spirits. The temple was built in 1740 during Qing Dynasty. Due to natural disasters and damages caused by men, the temple was restored several times. The doors, beams, and poles are beautifully decorated. There is a pair of bronze dragon poles in the front hall and four pairs of dragon poles in the middle hall. The sculptures are delicate. There are also exquisite wood sculptures. The well and Budda setting in the main hall are highly appreciated among them. The temple has many Chinese poems, verses and lyrics on signs. These add a touch of literature in addition to the religious and sightseeing value.
   • Taiwanese traditional markets have a unique charm that gives you a sense of the vibrant local lifestyle.
   • The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a national monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. The Memorial Hall is white with four sides. The roof is blue and octagonal, a shape that picks up the symbolism of the number eight, traditionally associated with abundance and good fortune in China. Two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps representing Chiang's age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance. The ground level of the memorial houses a library and a museum documenting Chiang Kai-shek's life and career, with exhibits detailing Taiwan's history and development. The upper level contains the main hall, where a large statue of Chiang Kai-shek is located and where a guard mounting ceremony occurs at regular intervals.
   • Ximending has been called the "Harajuku of Taipei" and the "Shibuya of Taipei". Ximending is the source of Taiwan's fashion, subculture, and Japanese culture. Ximending has a host of clubs and pubs in the surrounding area. This area is in the northeastern part of Wanhua District in Taipei and is also the most important consumer district in the Western District of Taipei. The well-known Ximending Pedestrian Area was the first pedestrian area built in Taipei and is the largest in Taiwan.
   • In the late 1880s, Dadaocheng started to prosper in light of the opening of Tamsui Harbor. It has since become the keystone of economic and cultural development. In Dadaocheng, you will see extravagant Baroque architecture, traditional Hokkien bungalows and brilliant red-brick western houses. Historical buildings, traditional folklore centres, tea houses, fabric stores, Chinese pharmacies and local eateries alike are rich in history. A new everyday aesthetics derive in the vintage neighbourhoods of Dadaocheng, where century-old stores meet with contemporary innovation.

   Route B: National Palace Museum - New Beitou - Tamsui 

   • The National Palace Museum was established in 1925 in Beijing; it has a permanent collection of nearly 700,000 pieces of Chinese artifacts and artworks, many of which were moved from the Palace Museum as well as five other institutions throughout mainland China during the ROC retreat, making it one of the largest of its type in the world.
   • The museum's collection encompasses items spanning 8,000 years of Chinese history from the neolithic age to the modern period. Most of the collections are high-quality pieces collected by Chinese emperors. The National Palace Museum shares its roots with the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City of Beijing, whose extensive collection of artwork and artifacts was built upon the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
   • Hailed as the "paradise of hot springs" by the New York Times, Beitou boasts bountiful resources and a long history. A famous tourist destination includes Beitou hot springs, Yangmingshan National Park, and Guandu Scenic Area.
     Beitou has become a big tourist hub because it can meet modern tourists' needs, including those interested in culture.
   • Tamsui District is a seaside district in New Taipei, Taiwan. It is named after the Tamsui River, meaning "freshwater". The town is popular as a site for viewing the sun setting into the Taiwan Strait. Though modest in size (population 184,192), it has a large role in Taiwanese culture.

   Route C: Traditional market - Taipei Zoo - Maokong Gondola 

   • Taiwanese traditional markets have a unique charm that gives you a sense of the vibrant local lifestyle.
   • The Taipei Zoo sometimes referred to as the "Muzha Zoo", is a public zoological garden in Wenshan District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is the most famous zoological garden in Taiwan and a leader in conservation, research and education, and recreation. It is one of the largest zoos in Asia, with a total area of 165 hectares, of which more than 90 ha are developed.
   • With a total length of 4.03 kilometres, the Maokong Gondola is the first gondola system in Taipei City.
   • The three most beautiful times to take the gondola are in the midst of rain, when the sun is setting, and when the city's lights are shining at night. As the gondola passes over the undulating terrain, you can glimpse moving Metro trains, the park along the Jingmei River, and the "giraffe" incinerator. When you reach the second stop, the gondola takes a big turn, and you will get a panoramic view of the landscape, including vehicles moving along the freeway below. After passing the Zhinan Temple Station, you will enter a steep V-shaped gully; the gondola ride's climax is an unforgettable experience.
     The final stop is at Maokong, where numerous tea plantations and tea shops are located. Many visitors specially make the trip here to have tea and chat. Make sure to visit a tea shop and order the famous “Muzha Tieguanyin” or “Wenshan Pouchong tea” when you visit Maokong. The trip will be worth your while when you taste the delicious speciality tea and meal combo and view the stunning scenery of Taipei Basin.