Historical Buildings - Taiwan Travel Blog

Old Maolin Village Site (Teredeka) 舊茂林遺址區 (得樂的卡)

Byforeignersintw October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

Old Maolin （舊茂林 aka 得樂的卡 (Teredeka) aka Mangzai Village 「芒仔社」、aka Maya Village 瑪雅社）is was one of the original three villages of the Rukai Tribe in Maolin. Later, they abandoned it in the wake of an attack by Japanese police officers. Later, Maolin Village was relocated to its current location further down the Zhuokou River. The…

Hsinchu Glass Museum 新竹市立玻璃工藝博物館

Byforeignersintw October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

The Hsinchu City Glass Museum is housed in the former Hsinchu State Assembly Hall that dates back to the Japanese Era. Now it houses an amazing collection of art that mainly focuses on glasswork. Next door, there are also opportunities to do some DIY glassmaking. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip…

Green Island 綠島, The Best Place for Diving in Taiwan

Byforeignersintw June 20, 2026June 20, 2026

Green Island is a paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Once a prison for political enemies of the KMT, it is now a tourist hot spot. It is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in Taiwan, one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world, and it also includes amazing volcanic…

Tianmu Historic Trail 天母古道

Byforeignersintw June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

Tianmu Historic Trail (aka water pipe road trail 水管路步道) is a short, fun hike with great views of the surrounding area. The trail was originally built by the Japanese to provide fresh water to residents below, and still includes a large Japanese-era water pipe and water station. Now it is a popular hike for locals…

Coastal overlook showing a sandy beach, calm blue water, and distant two sea stacks with green cliffs on the left; foreground bushes and a railing frame the scene.

Guide to Jinshan and Wanli 金山萬里旅遊指南

Byforeignersintw June 16, 2026August 1, 2026

Jinshan and Wanli are hidden gems for tourism in northern Taiwan. Here you can find beaches, hot springs, delicious food, amazing geological formations, and much more. There is something to do here every time of the year. Don’t skip this area of Taiwan during your next trip. 🏯 Planning your trip to Jinshan and Wanli?…

Twin Candlestick Islets 燭臺雙嶼

Byforeignersintw June 12, 2026August 1, 2026

The Twin Candlestick Islets (aka Candlestick Islet 燭臺嶼) are a beautiful natural wonder off the coast of Jinshan in New Taipei. There is a scenic trail (Shitoushan Hiking Trail 獅頭山步道) that lets you soak in the beautiful views of the islets from the coast. It is definitely worth a trip for lovers of Earth’s natural…

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Pingxi and Shifen 平溪懶人包

Byforeignersintw April 20, 2026April 21, 2026

Pingxi District of New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan. With a total of 7 stations along the Pingxi Railway Line (plus 2 if you count Ruifang and Houtong), there are endless places to explore, eat, hike, and enjoy Taiwan’s history, culture, and natural beauty all in one place. 🏯…

Shifen Waterfall and Old Street Travel Guide, Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Byforeignersintw April 20, 2026April 21, 2026

Shifen Waterfall, Taiwan’s widest waterfall, is a must-visit scenic spot near Shifen Train Station. Surrounded by restaurants and gardens, it offers stunning views. Shifen Old Street is renowned for sky lanterns and local cuisine, but the practice poses environmental concerns. The area’s history and rich tourism have evolved from its coal mining past.

Jiantanshan 劍潭山

Byforeignersintw April 16, 2026April 17, 2026

Jiantanshan is perhaps the most scenic and beautiful hike in Taipei City, offering a panoramic view of the entire city from Shilin and Zhongshan Districts of Taipei. Here you can see Songshan Airport, downtown Xinyi, the 101, the Yuanshan Hotel, and north along the Tamsui River. The hike is relatively easy, and there are many…

Ultimate Taroko National Park Travel Guide, Explore the Deepest Marble Gorge on Earth 太魯閣國家公園懶人包

Byforeignersintw April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

If you only have a few days in Taiwan and you want to go somewhere outside of Taipei, you should definitely go to Taroko National Park. On an island full of mountains, rainforests, beaches, and abounding natural beauty, Taroko might just take the top spot as the most beautiful scenic area in Taiwan. Taroko National…

Taroko Gorge Travel Guide (太魯閣), Taiwan’s Most Breathtaking Geological Feature

Byforeignersintw April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

If you only have a few days in Taiwan and you want to go somewhere outside of Taipei, you should definitely go to Taroko Gorge. On an island full of mountains, rainforests, beaches, and abounding natural beauty, Taroko Gorge might just take the top spot as the most beautiful scenic area in Taiwan. Taroko National…

Taroko Gorge 2026 Current Status (Post-Earthquake) 太魯閣地震後的狀況

Byforeignersintw April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

Sadly, due to a recent earthquake, much of Taroko Gorge, Hualien’s most famous landmark, is no longer accessible to the public. However, the visitor’s center is still open, and the road through Taroko is still open three times a day if you have your own vehicle. In this blog, we will take you on a…

Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) Guide 松山機場指南

Byforeignersintw April 13, 2026April 14, 2026

Songshan Airport is the closest airport to Taipei City, and conveniently lies within the city borders. The airport offers many domestic flights and flights to and from other countries throughout Asia. In this guide, we will show you the ins and outs of this airport and what services are available if you ever travel through…

Xinzhuang Old Street 新莊老街

Byforeignersintw March 21, 2026March 21, 2026

Xinzhuang Old Street has it all (aka Xizhuang Temple Street or Xinzhuang Temple Street Night Market 新莊廟街夜市). Not only is it a historical commercial area dating back to the Qing Dynasty, but it is also a daytime shopping area, a night market, and the religious center of Xinzhuang District of New Taipei. This place is…

Historical Buildings | Museums | Taipei | Taiwan History

Nangang Tire Factory Smokestack 南港輪胎工廠煙囪

Byforeignersintw March 21, 2026March 21, 2026

Nangang Tire Factory was once the industrial hub of Eastern Taipei in the late 1900s. However, as Nangang became a new revitalized area in Taipei City, the old industries were removed, and the Nangang Tire Factory was destroyed in about 2014. However, the Nangang Tire Factory Smokestack still stands today as a historical monument to…

Huashan 1914 Creative Park 華山1914文化創意產業園區

Byforeignersintw March 21, 2026March 21, 2026

Huashan 1914 Creative Park is a former industrial area in Taipei dating back to 1914 that used to produce wine and camphor, and is now an art and exhibition space. Here you can find lots of historical buildings, harking back to the industrial era of Taipei City. Now you can find endless art shows and…

Taipei Museum Guide, Discover the Best Museums in Taipei 臺北博物館指南

Byforeignersintw March 20, 2026March 21, 2026

Taipei is full of some of the best museums in Taiwan. Besides the National Palace Museum, there are dozens of museums in Taipei that can provide you with deeper insights into Taiwan’s unique history and culture. Hopefully, this list will give you some more ideas on where to visit during your next trip to Taipei. Depending…

Xuehai Academy (Gao Ancestral Hall) 學海書院 (高氏大宗祖祠)

Byforeignersintw March 18, 2026March 21, 2026

Xuehai Academy is the last remaining Qing Dynasty-era academy in Taipei. It was once the center of learning in Taipei nearly two centuries ago, but later fell into disrepair. It was later converted into an ancestral hall and maintained by the Gao Family. Currently, it is under renovation, but hopefully it will open to the…

Taiwan National Railway Museum 國家鐵道博物館

Byforeignersintw March 18, 2026March 21, 2026

Taiwan’s National Railway Museum, also known as the Taipei Railway Workshop, is an amazing view into the historical railways of Taiwan, as well as historical buildings, railway cars, maintenance techniques, and the people who worked here in the past. Here you can get an in-depth experience of what it was like to work for Taiwan’s…

National Taiwan Museum (Natural History / Dinosaur Branch) 國立臺灣博物館古生物館

Byforeignersintw March 16, 2026March 21, 2026

Land Bank Exhibition Hall of National Taiwan Museum (國立臺灣博物館古生物館, aka National Taiwan Museum Natural History Branch, or as I like to call it, the Dinosaur Museum) is an impressive museum in Taipei featuring fossils and palaeontological exhibits showing the animal history of Taiwan and the world. It also features the history of Taiwan’s Land…

National Taiwan Craft Research Institute (NTCRI) Taipei Branch 台北當代工藝設計分館

Byforeignersintw March 16, 2026March 21, 2026

The National Taiwan Craft Research Institute (NTCRI) Taipei Branch 台北當代工藝設計分館 is a free museum that features modern craftmanship in Taiwan, and is meant to inspire the next generation of craftspeople in Taiwan. It is also housed in a beautiful round building reflecting Chinese architecture of the central China plains. It is definitely worth a stop…

Taiwan National Museum of History 國立歷史博物館

Byforeignersintw March 15, 2026March 21, 2026

Taiwan’s National Museum of History in Wanhua District was built over a former Japanese guest house and was later expanded to its current size to include six floors. It was also recently renovated, including a large exhibit on the historical significance of the building itself, but it also includes many artifacts and art exhibits. 🏯…

The Best Places to Eat Near Beitou Hot Springs 北投溫泉美食-英文指南

Byforeignersintw March 14, 2026March 20, 2026

Beitou is one of the best day trips near Taipei and a popular tourist location. As a result, many restaurants have opened in the area, especially around Xinbeitou MRT Station. In this guide, we will tell you how to enjoy food in this area like a local and eat your way through Beitou. Please note…

Wuji Tianyuan Temple 無極天元宮

Byforeignersintw February 25, 2026February 25, 2026

Wuji Tianyuan Temple is a popular Taoist temple in Tamsui District of New Taipei, popular for its amazing cherry blossoms every spring. The temple features a large circular tower with great views of the surrounding area. There are also many gardens around the temple to explore. 🏯 Planning your trip to Taipei? 🏮 Here are…

Taishan Gouzaiqian Old Street 泰山溝仔墘老街

Byforeignersintw February 12, 2026February 12, 2026

Taishan Gouzaiqian Old Street is a small historic area of the Taishan District in New Taipei City. Here you can find old brick buildings, temples, and a century-old well, which were once the heart of a bustling commercial area in their time. This is not a touristy old street, but you can find lots of…