One of the multiple so-called global cities in Asia is located in the northern part of Taiwan, an island officially known as the “Republic of China” (ROC).
Taipei is the capital city of this country in East Asia and a huge metropolis with over 7 million inhabitants, a figure that includes the nearby city of Keelung.
This also means that about one-third of the entire population of Taiwan lives in this metropolitan area.
The city is a popular tourist destination and combines traditional architecture with modern skyscrapers, a mix often found in big cities in Asia.
This bustling city has a lot to offer to visitors, that’s for sure. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most famous buildings in Taipei, Architecture that you simply have to see when you visit the city.
1. Taipei 101
If you want to start your journey in Taipei in style, why not start it by visiting the most prominent landmark in the city, right?
Taipei 101 is an amazing skyscraper and by far the tallest structure in Taipei. It stands 509.2 meters (1,671 feet) tall which made it the tallest skyscraper in the world as well between 2004 and 2009 when it was surpassed by Burj Khalifa. The name of the building refers to its floor count.
What makes this structure so fascinating is its remarkable architectural design, which is a mix of traditional Asian architecture and modern features. The way the skyscraper moves up resembles a pagoda, a tiered tower often seen in Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and China.
The most popular attraction inside the tower is its observation deck which is located at a dazzling height of 449.2 meters (1,474 feet) above the ground, a must-visit attraction in Taipei to get an amazing view of the city and its surroundings.
Official website: Taipei 101
2. Longshan Temple
Longshan Temple is officially known as Bangka Lungshan Temple is a popular Chinese folk religious temple. It’s located in the Wanhua District which is the oldest district in Taipei.
It was built by Chinese settlers in the year 1738, even though it has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times during its extensive history.
The most recent reconstruction of the temple dates back to shortly after World War II as many parts of the structure were destroyed by American bombers at the end of the war.
The temple has been one of the most important gathering places in the city for Chinese settlers in Taiwan and has become one of the most famous buildings in Taipei as well.
Official website: Lungshan Temple
3. National Palace Museum
One of the largest collections of any kind in the world can be found in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
This enormous museum has a collection of nearly 700,000 artifacts from the entire history of China, dating back from the Neolithic age to modern times. This means that the collection encompasses 8,000 years of Chinese history.
Many of the artifacts in the permanent collection of this museum were items collected by China’s Emperors.
In that sense, it shares a resemblance with the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, and it’s there that this museum was originally established as well in 1925.
The Taipei branch was established in 1965 and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city today with nearly 4 million yearly visitors.
Official website: National Palace Museum
4. Presidential Office Building
The Presidential Office Building wasn’t named as such for the leader of Taiwan but the President of the people’s Republic of China. It’s located in the Zhongzheng District where most government buildings can be found.
The building was constructed between 1912 and 1919 during the Japanese rule on the island. Because of that, it was designed by a Japanese architect named Uheiji Nagano and originally housed the office of the Governor-General of Taiwan.
The enormous structure features a 130 meter-wide (426 feet) façade and the 60 meters (196 feet) high tower was the tallest building in Taiwan upon completion. Today, it’s the office of the Chinese President in Taiwan.
5. Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel was initially established in the year 1952 and the main building was completed over 2 decades later in 1973. Its located in the Zhongshan District and has become one of the most famous buildings in Taipei.
The building has a height of 87 meters (275 feet) which makes it one of the tallest buildings in the world that features traditional Chinese architecture. It was also the tallest building in the city between 1973 and 1981.
The hotel is owned by a non-profit organization called the “Duen-Mou Foundation” and has been visited by some of the most important world leaders in history.
Official website: Grand Hotel
6. National Taichung Theater
The National Taichung Theater is the main opera house in Taipei and can easily be described as one of the ultimate architectural highlights in the city. It was naped after the Taichung district in central Taipei where it’s located.
The opera house opened its doors in the year 2014 and was designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, an expert in creating conceptual architecture.
The main auditorium can seat just 2,014 spectators, despite the building covering an area of 57,685 square meters (620,920 square feet)
Official website: National Taichung Theater
7. Taipei Fine Arts Museum
The Taipei Fine Arts Museum is another modern structure in the city that can be found in the Taipei Expo Park, a multi-functional park in the Zhongshan District of Taipei.
The building was the first venue in Taiwan to solely focus on exhibitions for contemporary art. It was opened in the year 1983 and replaced a building that once served as the United States Taiwan Defense Command.
The architectural style of the building resembles the buildings designed in Japan during the Metabolism Movement. The Capsule Tower, one of the most remarkable buildings in Tokyo, is one of the most iconic examples. The museum in Taiwan was designed by a local architect who gave it his spin.
Official website: Taipei Fine Arts Museum
8. Taipei Dome
The Taipei Dome is also sometimes referred to as the “Farglory Dome” and is a multi-purpose domes stadium located in the Xinyi district in central Taipei.
It’s one of the most remarkable buildings in Taipei because the construction was suspended in 2015 and the work has only been resumed since 2020. This means the 40,000-seat dome will finally be completed.
The Taipei dome will be used for both sporting events and concerts, and it’s hard to imagine a more amazing venue than this in the heart of a sprawling city like Taipei.
9. National Taiwan Museum
The National Taiwan Museum is both the national museum and the oldest museum in Taiwan. It’s another structure that was completed during Japanese rule on the island as it was officially opened in 1908.
The most famous building of the museum is the neoclassical structure that is situated within 228 Peace Memorial Park in the Zhongzheng District of the city.
The structure was designated as a National monument of Taiwan in 1998 and is used for a wide variety of exhibitions. The two permanent exhibitions focus on Taiwan’s pre-history and indigenous cultures.
Official website: National Taiwan Museum
10. National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is another national monument of Taiwan that has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Taipei.
It was built in honor of the Chinese political leader and former President of the Republic of China named Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975). He was the President of China between 1928 and 1949 and the Director-General of Taiwan between 1949 and his death in 1975.
The monument is the centerpiece of a large landscaped park and is huge. It reaches a height of 76 meters (249 feet) and was constructed between 1976 and 1980.
Official website: National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
