Editing Taipei (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Aerial panorama of Taipei city's west side facing the Tamsui River.jpg|thumb|Aerial panorama of Taipei city facing the Tamsui River]]

===Tourism===
{{See also|List of tourist attractions in Taipei}}
Tourism is a major part of Taipei's economy. In 2013, over 6.3 million overseas visitors visited Taipei, making the city the 15th most visited globally.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mastercard_GDCI_2014_Letter_Final_70814.pdf |title=2014 Global Destination Cities Index |publisher=MasterCard |access-date=10 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916112828/https://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mastercard_GDCI_2014_Letter_Final_70814.pdf |archive-date=16 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The influx of visitors contributed US$10.8 billion to the city's economy in 2013, the 9th highest in the world and the most of any city in the Chinese-speaking world.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407090030.aspx |title=Taipei makes list of world's top 15 tourist destinations: survey |publisher=Focus Taiwan News Channel |date=9 July 2014 |access-date=10 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714161719/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201407090030.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Commemorative sites and museums====
{{wide image|CKS_Panorama.jpg |1000px |A panorama of the [[Liberty Square (Taipei)|Liberty Square]] looking east, with the National Concert Hall (left) and the National Theater (right)}}

[[File:National Palace Museum Taipei1.jpg|thumb|The [[National Palace Museum]] ]]

[[File:Taipei 228 Memorial Museum face 20070928.jpg|thumb|The 228 Memorial Museum]]

[[File:台北紀州庵.jpg|thumb|Kishu An Forest of Literature]]

[[File:National Concert Hall at night 2013.jpg|thumb|The [[National Concert Hall (Taiwan)|National Concert Hall]] illuminated at night]]

The [[National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall]] is a monument, landmark and tourist attraction that was erected in memory of General [[Chiang Kai-shek]], former [[President of the Republic of China]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cksmh.gov.tw/eng/index.php |title=National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=9 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408020421/http://www.cksmh.gov.tw/eng/index.php |archive-date=8 April 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The structure stands at the east end of Memorial Hall Square, site of the [[National Concert Hall (Taiwan)|National Concert Hall]] and [[National Theatre (Taiwan)|National Theater]] and their adjacent parks as well as the memorial. The landmarks of Liberty Square stand within sight of Taiwan's [[Presidential Office Building (Republic of China)|Presidential Office Building]] in Taipei's [[Zhongzheng District]].

[[File:National Taiwan Museum front 20070912.jpg|thumb|The [[National Taiwan Museum]]]]
The [[National Taiwan Museum]] sits nearby in what is now [[228 Peace Memorial Park]] and has worn its present name since 1999. The museum is [[Taiwan]]'s oldest, founded on 24 October 1908 by Taiwan's [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Japanese colonial government]] (1895–1945) as the Taiwan Governor's Museum. It was launched with a collection of 10,000 items to celebrate the opening of the island's North–South Railway.<ref name="ntminfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.ntm.gov.tw/en/about/1a.aspx |title=National Taiwan Museum: History |publisher=National Taiwan Museum |access-date=9 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422025208/http://www.ntm.gov.tw/en/about/1a.aspx |archive-date=22 April 2008}}</ref> In 1915 a new museum building opened its doors in what is now [[228 Peace Memorial Park]]. This structure and the adjacent governor's office (now [[Presidential Office Building (Republic of China)|Presidential Office Building]]), served as the two most recognizable public buildings in Taiwan during its period of [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]].<ref name="ntminfo" />
[[File:Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines 20190629.jpg|thumb|[[Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines]]]]
The [[National Palace Museum]] is a vast [[art gallery]] and [[museum]] built around a permanent collection centered on [[Ancient China|ancient Chinese artifacts]]. It should not be confused with the [[Forbidden City|Palace Museum]] in [[Beijing]] (which it is named after); both institutions trace their origins to the same institution. The collections were divided in the 1940s as a result of the [[Chinese Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/newshour/news/story/2007/02/070208_taipei_museum.shtml |title=Taipei's National Palace Museum |access-date=4 June 2008 |publisher=BBC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112051135/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/newshour/news/story/2007/02/070208_taipei_museum.shtml |archive-date=12 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="npmwashpo">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/03/AR2007060300069_pf.html |title=Ancient China's treasures go digital |newspaper=Washington Post |date=3 June 2007 |access-date=9 August 2009 |first=Dan |last=Nystedt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721082924/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/03/AR2007060300069_pf.html |archive-date=21 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The National Palace Museum in Taipei now boasts a truly international collection while housing one of the world's largest collections of artifacts from ancient China.<ref name="npmwashpo" />

The [[Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines]] stands just {{cvt|200|m|ft|sp=us}} across the road from the National Palace Museum. The museum offers displays of art and historical items by [[Taiwanese aborigines]] along with a range of multimedia displays.

The [[Taipei Fine Arts Museum]] was established in 1983 as the first museum in Taiwan dedicated to [[modern art]]. The museum is housed in a building designed for the purpose that takes inspiration from Japanese designs. Most art in the collection is by [[Taiwanese people|Taiwanese]] artists since 1940. Over 3,000 art works are organized into 13 groups.

The [[Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall|National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall]] near [[Taipei 101]] in [[Xinyi District, Taipei|Xinyi District]] is named in honor of a founding father of the [[Republic of China (1912–49)|Republic of China]], [[Sun Yat-sen]]. The hall, completed on 16 May 1972, originally featured exhibits that depicted revolutionary events in the [[Republic of China (1912-1949)|Republican period of China]]. Today it functions as multi-purpose [[social center|social]], [[educational]], [[concert]] and [[cultural]] center for Taiwan's citizens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yatsen.gov.tw/en/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409051648/http://www.yatsen.gov.tw/en/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=139 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 April 2015 |title=The History of memorial hall |publisher=National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall |access-date=16 December 2016}}</ref>

[[File:台北當代藝術館.JPG|thumb|[[MoCA Taipei|Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei]], also known as "old city hall"]]
In 2001 a new museum opened as [[MoCA Taipei|Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei]]. The museum is housed in a building that formerly housed Taipei City government offices.<ref name="tfaminfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.mocataipei.org.tw/_english/1_about/0_overview.asp |title=From History to Contemporary |publisher=Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei |access-date=9 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223094112/http://www.mocataipei.org.tw/_english/1_about/0_overview.asp |archive-date=23 February 2009}}</ref>

====Taipei 101====
[[Taipei 101]] is a 101-floor [[landmark]] [[skyscraper]] that claimed the title of [[World's tallest structures|world's tallest building]] when it opened in 2004, a title it held for six years before the [[Burj Khalifa]] in [[Dubai]] was completed. Designed by [[C.Y. Lee & Partners]] and constructed by [[KTRT Joint Venture]], Taipei 101 measures {{cvt|509|m|ft|abbr=on}} from ground to top, making it the first skyscraper in the world to break the half-kilometer mark in height. Built to withstand typhoon winds and earthquake tremors, its design incorporates many engineering innovations and has won numerous international awards. Today, the Taipei 101 remains one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world and holds [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]]'s certification as the world's largest "green" building. Its shopping mall and its indoor and outdoor observatories draws visitors from all over the world. Taipei 101's [[New Year's Eve]] fireworks display is a regular feature of international broadcasts.

====Performing arts====
The [[National Theater and Concert Hall]] stand at Taipei's [[Liberty Square (Taipei)|Liberty Square]] and host events by foreign and domestic performers. Other leading concert venues include [[Zhongshan Hall]] at [[Ximending]] and the [[Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall]] near [[Taipei 101]].

A new venue, the [[Taipei Performing Arts Center]] opened in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Basulto |first=David |title=OMA's Taipei Performing Arts Center breaks ground |url=http://www.archdaily.com/209174 |publisher=ArchDaily |access-date=9 August 2012 |date=12 February 2012 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410213920/https://www.archdaily.com/209174/omas-taipei-performing-arts-center-breaks-ground |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Yen |first=William |date=11 January 2022 |title=Taipei Performing Arts Center to open doors for trial run in March |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202201110020 |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=Focus Taiwan}}</ref> The venue is near the [[Shilin Night Market]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1102380&lang=eng_news&cate_img=240.jpg&cate_rss=news_Supplement_TAIWAN |title=Taipei Performing Arts Center promises to become world-class architecture |publisher=Taiwan News |date=8 November 2009 |access-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604134639/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1102380&lang=eng_news&cate_img=240.jpg&cate_rss=news_Supplement_TAIWAN |archive-date=4 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and houses three theaters for events with multi-week runs. The architectural design, by [[Rem Koolhaas]] and [[Office for Metropolitan Architecture|OMA]], was determined in 2009 in an international competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=899161&lang=eng_news |title=Winning designs for Taipei Performing Arts Center on display |publisher=Central News Agency |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201202026/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=899161&lang=eng_news |archive-date=1 December 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The same design process is also in place for a new [[Taipei Center for Popular Music]] and [[Taipei City Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/07/25/2003418450 |title=Taipei invites architects &#124; Taipei Times, 2008.07.25 |publisher=Taipeitimes.com |date=25 July 2008 |access-date=4 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923213713/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/07/25/2003418450 |archive-date=23 September 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Shopping and recreation====
{{Main|Shopping in Taipei}}
Taipei is known for its many [[Night markets in Taiwan|night market]]s, which include the [[Shilin Night Market]] in the [[Shilin District]]. The surrounding streets by Shilin Night Market are extremely crowded during the evening, usually opening late afternoon and operating well past midnight. Most night markets feature individual stalls selling a mixture of food, clothing, and consumer goods.

[[File:Ximending at night.jpg|thumb|The busy streets of [[Ximending]] at night]]

[[Ximending]] has been an area for shopping and entertainment since the 1930s. Historic structures include a concert hall, a historic cinema, and the [[Red House Theater]]. Modern structures house karaoke businesses, art film cinemas, wide-release movie cinemas, electronic stores, and a wide variety of restaurants and fashion clothing stores.{{sfnp|Kelly|2007|p=99}} The pedestrian area is especially popular with teens and has been called the "[[Harajuku]]" of Taipei.<ref>{{cite book |last=Iwabuchi |first=Kōichi |title=Feeling Asian modernities: transnational consumption of Japanese TV dramas |publisher=Hong Kong University Press |year=2004 |page=111 |isbn=962-209-632-8}}</ref>

The newly developed [[Xinyi District, Taipei|Xinyi District]] is popular with tourists and locals alike for its many entertainment and shopping venues, as well as being the home of [[Taipei 101]], a prime tourist attraction. Malls in the area include the sprawling [[Mitsukoshi|Shin Kong Mitsukoshi]] complex, Breeze Center, Bellavita, Taipei 101 mall, [[Eslite Bookstore]]'s flagship store (which includes a boutique mall), The Living Mall, ATT shopping mall, and the Vieshow Cinemas (formerly known as Warner Village). The Xinyi district also serves as the center of Taipei's active nightlife, with several popular lounge bars and nightclubs concentrated in a relatively small area around the Neo19, ATT 4 FUN and Taipei 101 buildings.

The thriving shopping area around [[Taipei Main Station]] includes the [[Taipei Underground Market]] and the original Shin Kong [[Mitsukoshi]] department store at [[Shin Kong Life Tower]]. Other popular shopping destinations include the [[Zhongshan Metro Mall]], [[Dihua Street]] and the [[Guang Hua Digital Plaza]]. The [[Miramar Entertainment Park]] is known for its large Ferris wheel and [[IMAX]] theater.

Taipei maintains an extensive system of parks, green spaces, and nature preserves. Parks and forestry areas of note in and around the city include [[Yangmingshan National Park]], [[Taipei Zoo]] and [[Daan Forest Park|Da-an Forest Park]].  Located {{cvt|10|km|mi|sp=us}} north of the city center, [[Yangmingshan National Park]] is visited for its cherry blossoms, [[hot springs]], and sulfur deposits. It is the home of writer [[Lin Yutang]], the summer residence of [[Chiang Kai-shek]], residences of foreign diplomats, the [[Chinese Culture University]], the meeting place of the now defunct [[National Assembly of the Republic of China]], and the [[Kuomintang]] Party Archives. The [[Taipei Zoo]] was founded in 1914 and covers an area of 165 hectares for animal sanctuary.

[[Bitan]] is known for boating and water sports. [[Tamsui District|Tamsui]] is a popular sea-side resort town. Ocean beaches are accessible in several directions from Taipei.

====Temples====
[[File:Longshan Temple - Right entrance.jpg|thumb|Built in 1738, [[Lungshan Temple (Taipei)|Bangka Lungshan Temple]] is one of the oldest temples in the city.]]

Taipei has a variety of temples dedicating to Deities from [[Chinese folk religion]], [[Taoism]] and [[Chinese Buddhism]]. The [[Lungshan Temple (Taipei)|Bangka Lungshan Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|艋舺龍山寺}}), built in 1738 and located in the [[Wanhua District]], demonstrates an example of architecture with southern [[Chinese architecture|Chinese influences]] commonly seen on older buildings in Taiwan. [[Bangka Qingshui Temple|Qingshui Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|艋舺清水巖}}) built in 1787 and Qingshan Temple ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|艋舺青山宮}}) together with Lungshan Temple are the three most prominent landmark temples in Bangka or Wanhua District.

Other temples include [[Dalongdong Baoan Temple|Baoan Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|大龍峒保安宮}}) located in historic [[Dalongdong]], a national historical site, and [[Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple|Xia Hai City God Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|大稻埕霞海城隍廟}}), located in the old [[Twatutia|Dadaocheng]] community, constructed with architecture similar to temples in southern [[Fujian]].<ref name="temples">{{cite web |url=http://english.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1100397&ctNode=30283&mp=100002 |title=Longshan Temple, Baoan Temple, and Xiahai City God Temple: Taipei's Glorious Heritage-Site Temples |publisher=Department of Information Technology |date=29 January 2009 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629113955/http://english.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1100397&ctNode=30283&mp=100002 |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref> The [[Taipei Confucius Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|臺北孔子廟}}) traces its history back to 1879 during the [[Qing dynasty]] and also incorporates southern Fujian-style architecture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.uro.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xitem=1186909&ctNode=34442&mp=100002 |title=Taipei Confucius Temple |publisher=Datong District Office, Taipei City |date=26 May 2010 |access-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815181556/http://english.uro.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xitem=1186909&ctNode=34442&mp=100002 |archive-date=15 August 2011}}</ref> [[Ciyou Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|松山慈祐宮}}) in Songshan District, [[Guandu Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|關渡宮}}) in Beitou District, [[Hsing Tian Kong]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|行天宮}}) in Zhongshan District and [[Zhinan Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|指南宮}}) in Wenshan District are also popular temples for locals and tourists. [[Xinsheng Road|Xinsheng South Road]] is known as the "Road to Heaven" due to its high concentration of temples, churches, and other houses of worship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.dorts.gov.tw/news/newsletter/ns248/rp248_07.htm |title=Transformation of "Liugong Canal" – Looking Back on Xinsheng South Road |publisher=Department of Rapid Transit Systems |date=1 October 2008 |access-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912131402/http://www2.dorts.gov.tw/news/newsletter/ns248/rp248_07.htm |archive-date=12 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1104101&ctNode=27830&mp=100002 |title=About Daan District |publisher=Taipei City Government |access-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307135429/http://english.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1104101&ctNode=27830&mp=100002 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Shandao Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|善導寺}}) built in 1929 and located in Zhongzheng District, is the largest Buddhist temple in Taipei. [[Fo Guang Shan]] has a modern temple known as Fo Guang Shan Taipei Vihara ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|佛光山臺北道場}}) in Xinyi District, while [[Dharma Drum Mountain]] owns the Degui Academy ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|德貴學苑}}), an education center in Zhongzheng District and the [[Nung Chan Monastery]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|農禪寺}}) in Beitou District. [[Linji Huguo Chan Temple]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|臨濟護國禪寺}}) in Zhongshan District was commenced in 1900 and completed in 1911, it is one of the very few Japanese style Buddhist Temples that was well-preserved in Taiwan.

Besides large temples, small outdoor shrines to local deities are very common and are commonly found next to roads as well as in parks and neighborhoods. Many homes and businesses may also set up small shrines of candles, figurines, and offerings. Some restaurants, for example, may set up a small shrine to the [[Kitchen God]] for success in a restaurant business.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wikimania2007.wikimedia.org/wiki/About_Taipei_5:_Religions |title=About Taipei 5: Religions – Wikimania 2007, The International Wikimedia Conference |publisher=Wikimania2007.wikimedia.org |date=26 July 2007 |access-date=27 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227123246/http://wikimania2007.wikimedia.org/wiki/About_Taipei_5:_Religions |archive-date=27 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Festivals and events===

Many yearly festivals are held in Taipei. In recent years some festivals, such as the Double Ten Day fireworks and concerts, are increasingly hosted on a rotating basis by a number of cities around Taiwan.

When [[New Year's Eve]] arrives on the [[solar calendar]], thousands of people converge on Taipei's [[Xinyi District, Taipei|Xinyi District]] for [[parade]]s, outdoor [[concerts]] by [[Mandopop|popular artists]], [[street performer|street shows]], round-the clock [[nightlife]]. The high point is the countdown to midnight, when [[Taipei 101]] assumes the role of the world's largest [[fireworks]] platform.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taipei 101 New Year's Eve fireworks set hopeful tone for 2021 (Video) {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} 2021-01-01 01:37:00 |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4091103 |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Taiwan News |date=January 2021 |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906183007/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4091103 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Taipei [[Lantern Festival]] concludes the [[Lunar New Year]] holiday. The timing of the city's lantern exhibit coincides with the national festival in [[Pingxi, Taipei|Pingxi]], when thousands of fire lanterns are released into the sky.<ref name="tourism">{{cite web |title=Chapter 19 Tourism |work=Republic of China Yearbook 2008 |publisher=ROC Government Information Office |url=http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/ch19.html |access-date=14 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105024855/http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/ch19.html |archive-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> The city's lantern exhibit rotates among different downtown locales from year to year, including [[Liberty Square (Taipei)|Liberty Square]], [[Taipei 101]], and [[Zhongshan Hall]] in [[Ximending]].

On [[Double Ten Day]], patriotic celebrations are held in front of the [[Presidential Office Building (Republic of China)|Presidential Office Building]]. Other annual festivals include [[Qingming Festival|Ancestors Day (Tomb-Sweeping Day)]], the [[Duanwu Festival|Dragon Boat Festival]], the [[Zhong Yuan Festival]], and the [[Mid-Autumn Festival|Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncake Festival)]].<ref name="tourism" /> [[Qing Shan King Sacrificial Ceremony]] ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|青山王祭}}) is a century-old grand festival that is held annually in [[Wanhua District]].

Taipei regularly hosts its share of international events. The city recently hosted the 2009 [[Summer Deaflympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.2009deaflympics.org/bin/home.php |title=Your Favorite Ebook Site - |website=english.2009deaflympics.org |access-date=26 July 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604085734/http://english.2009deaflympics.org/bin/home.php |archive-date=4 June 2013}}</ref> This event was followed by the [[Taipei International Flora Exposition]], a [[garden festival]] hosted from November 2010 to April 2011. The Floral Expo was the first of its kind to take place in Taiwan and only the seventh hosted in [[Asia]]; the expo admitted 110,000 visitors on 27 February 2011.