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Taipei, Taiwan (March 2011)

Taipei is the capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. It includes such gems as the National Palace Museum, which has the world's largest and most valuable collection of Chinese art and artifacts. The Republic of China took over the island in 1945 following Japanese surrender after the Second World War. After losing Mainland China to the Chinese Communist Party in the Chinese Civil War, Taipei became the provisional capital of the Republic of China in December 1949. Since the 1980’s, Taipei has gone from an “ugly duckling” of Asian cities to a swan. Taipei was formerly a congested and polluted metropolis with mostly unattractive architecture, with the exception of some temples and colonial architecture. After martial law ended in the 1980’s, and over the next several decades, a metro system was built easing the traffic problem, environmental laws were strengthened cleaning up the pollution and urban planning transformed the city by adding parks and by replacing ugly buildings with attractive ones. Today, Taipei is one of Asia’s most livable and vibrant cities as well as a great place to visit.
Taipei, Taiwan cover page.
Taipei, Taiwan cover page.		 Map of Taiwan with the star indicating Taipei.
Map of Taiwan with the star indicating Taipei.		 View of the National Concert Hall at the north end of Liberty Square in Taipei.
View of the National Concert Hall at the north end of Liberty Square in Taipei.		 Cornice and rooftop details of the National Concert Hall.
Cornice and rooftop details of the National Concert Hall.
The National Concert Hall as seen from Liberty Square.
The National Concert Hall as seen from Liberty Square.		 Side view of the National Concert Hall with flowers.
Side view of the National Concert Hall with flowers.		 Across from the National Concert Hall at the south end of Liberty Square is the National Theater.
Across from the National Concert Hall at the south end of Liberty Square is the National Theater.		 The National Theater as seen from from Liberty Square.
The National Theater as seen from from Liberty Square.
Entrance gate to Liberty Square with its impressive archways.
Entrance gate to Liberty Square with its impressive archways.		 Liberty Square serves as the site of mass gatherings, red-carpet ceremonies and outdoor festivals and concerts in Taipei.
Liberty Square serves as the site of mass gatherings, red-carpet ceremonies and outdoor festivals and concerts in Taipei.		 Side view of the entrance gate to Liberty Square with azaleas blooming.
Side view of the entrance gate to Liberty Square with azaleas blooming.		 View of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall at the east end of Liberty Square.
View of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall at the east end of Liberty Square.
Chiang Kai-shek (1887 – 1975) was the founder of modern-day Taiwan, which he ruled from 1945 until his death in 1975.
Chiang Kai-shek (1887 – 1975) was the founder of modern-day Taiwan, which he ruled from 1945 until his death in 1975.		 The memorial was designed by architect Yang Cho-cheng. It opened on April 5, 1980, on the 5th anniversary of the leader's death.
The memorial was designed by architect Yang Cho-cheng. It opened on April 5, 1980, on the 5th anniversary of the leader's death.		 Detail of the top of the memorial.
Detail of the top of the memorial.		 Stairs leading up to the memorial hall.
Stairs leading up to the memorial hall.
Design adorning the center of the stairs.
Design adorning the center of the stairs.		 Female lion sculpture at the base of the stairs. Note the baby lion.
Female lion sculpture at the base of the stairs. Note the baby lion.		 Looking back at Liberty Square from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Looking back at Liberty Square from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.		 View from the top of the stairs of the memorial hall looking back at Liberty Square.
View from the top of the stairs of the memorial hall looking back at Liberty Square.
Me posing at the top of the stairs with Liberty Square behind me.
Me posing at the top of the stairs with Liberty Square behind me.		 I arrived at the Chiang Kai-shek memorial just in time to view the changing of the guard.
I arrived at the Chiang Kai-shek memorial just in time to view the "changing of the guard."		 Soldiers in front of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek.
Soldiers in front of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek.		 Rifles lifted during the changing of the guard ceremony.
Rifles lifted during the "changing of the guard" ceremony.
The soldiers were also twirling their rifles.
The soldiers were also twirling their rifles.		 Facing each other with rifles lifted.
Facing each other with rifles lifted.		 Statue of Chiang Kai-shek with flags on both sides of him and an impressive ceiling decoration.
Statue of Chiang Kai-shek with flags on both sides of him and an impressive ceiling decoration.		 The flags are the national flag of Taiwan.
The flags are the national flag of Taiwan.
Close-up of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek.
Close-up of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek.		 One of the two remaining guards after the ceremony was completed.
One of the two remaining guards after the ceremony was completed.		 Note the painted wall design behind him.
Note the painted wall design behind him.		 Close-up of the second guard.
Close-up of the second guard.
He was statuesque and expressionless as I took his picture.
He was statuesque and expressionless as I took his picture.		 Northern view of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as I was leaving.
Northern view of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as I was leaving.		 I exited through this garden with rhododendrons blooming.
I exited through this garden with rhododendrons blooming.		 Close-up of a rhododendron bush and view of a north exit gate.
Close-up of a rhododendron bush and view of a north exit gate.
The gate exited to ZhōngShān South Road in Taipei.
The gate exited to ZhōngShān South Road in Taipei.		 Details at the top of the gate. Generally, the more animals, the more important is the structure.
Details at the top of the gate. Generally, the more animals, the more important is the structure.		 View of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall through the gate at ZhōngShān South Road.
View of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall through the gate at ZhōngShān South Road.		 My next stop on the tour was to the Martyrs' Shrine dedicated to all the men who have given their lives fighting for Taiwan.
My next stop on the tour was to the Martyrs' Shrine dedicated to all the men who have given their lives fighting for Taiwan.
Again, I got there just in time to witness the changing of the guard.
Again, I got there just in time to witness the "changing of the guard."		 The soldiers were lifting their bayonets high as they performed their ceremony.
The soldiers were lifting their bayonets high as they performed their ceremony.		 They were standing rigid at attention.
They were standing rigid at attention.		 Close-up of one of the guards.
Close-up of one of the guards.
Performing in flawless unison.
Performing in flawless unison.		 The changing of the guard ceremony is very impressive and not to be missed.
The "changing of the guard" ceremony is very impressive and not to be missed.		 Note the arched entrance gate of the Martyrs' Shrine with the changing of the guard ceremony wrapping up.
Note the arched entrance gate of the Martyrs' Shrine with the "changing of the guard" ceremony wrapping up.		 View of the entrance gate after the ceremony was over.
View of the entrance gate after the ceremony was over.
Looking towards the Martyrs' Shrine while walking away from the entrance.
Looking towards the Martyrs' Shrine while walking away from the entrance.		 Chinese gazebo-like structure at the Martyrs' Shrine with azaleas blooming.
Chinese gazebo-like structure at the Martyrs' Shrine with azaleas blooming.		 Close-up of the Martyrs' Shrine.
Close-up of the Martyrs' Shrine.		 Female lion sculpture with a baby.
Female lion sculpture with a baby.
Male lion sculpture with his paw resting on a ball.
Male lion sculpture with his paw resting on a ball.		 View from the interior courtyard of the Martyrs' Shrine.
View from the interior courtyard of the Martyrs' Shrine.		 Main interior building.
Main interior building.		 Side view of the building.
Side view of the building.
Interior of the Martyrs' Shrine.
Interior of the Martyrs' Shrine.		 Me saluting the martyrs with the guards standing by.
Me saluting the martyrs with the guards standing by.		 Guard standing at attention with the courtyard and Martyrs' Shrine buildings in the background.
Guard standing at attention with the courtyard and Martyrs' Shrine buildings in the background.		 Another view of the guard standing as motionless as a statue.
Another view of the guard standing as motionless as a statue.
Details of columns and ceiling designs at the Martyrs' Shrine.
Details of columns and ceiling designs at the Martyrs' Shrine.		 Elaborate decoration at a corner of the building and of the cornice.
Elaborate decoration at a corner of the building and of the cornice.		 Records are stored in this room. Note the exquisite tiles on the ceiling.
Records are stored in this room. Note the exquisite tiles on the ceiling.		 Another view from the interior courtyard of the main building of the Martyrs' Shrine.
Another view from the interior courtyard of the main building of the Martyrs' Shrine.
Interesting window with flowers to commemorate the martyrs.
Interesting window with flowers to commemorate the martyrs.		 These red door are very distinctive at the Martyrs' Shrine.
These red door are very distinctive at the Martyrs' Shrine.		 The doors have beautiful brass hardware.
The doors have beautiful brass hardware.		 Close-up of the brass door knocker.
Close-up of the brass door knocker.
Plate depicting the Battle of Shanghai at the Martyrs' Shrine, where 60,000 Chinese were killed fighting the Japanese in 1937
Plate depicting the Battle of Shanghai at the Martyrs' Shrine, where 60,000 Chinese were killed fighting the Japanese in 1937		 Depiction of the Canton Uprising in 1911. It resulted in the overthrow of the Manchu Monarchy and the formation of Taiwan.
Depiction of the Canton Uprising in 1911. It resulted in the overthrow of the Manchu Monarchy and the formation of Taiwan.		 View of the entrance gate as I left the Martyrs' Shrine.
View of the entrance gate as I left the Martyrs' Shrine.		 The shrine's magnificent Ming Dynasty architectural style is similar to that of the Taihe Dian Imperial Palace in Beijing.
The shrine's magnificent Ming Dynasty architectural style is similar to that of the Taihe Dian Imperial Palace in Beijing.
The shrine is huge. More than 33,000 square meters of fields surround it.
The shrine is huge. More than 33,000 square meters of fields surround it.		 The next stop on my itinerary was the Taiwan Arts and Handicraft Center, where I bought some refrigerator magnets.
The next stop on my itinerary was the Taiwan Arts and Handicraft Center, where I bought some refrigerator magnets.		 View of the Lungshan (Dragon Mountain) Temple, Taipei's oldest and most popular temple (built in 1738 and rebuilt in 1953).
View of the Lungshan (Dragon Mountain) Temple, Taipei's oldest and most popular temple (built in 1738 and rebuilt in 1953).		 Legend is that someone left a lantern of Kuanyin hanging on a tree. It began giving off light and granting wishes to people.
Legend is that someone left a lantern of Kuanyin hanging on a tree. It began giving off light and granting wishes to people.
Hence, local people built a temple there. It is known as a meeting place of the gods since over 100 deities worshipped here.
Hence, local people built a temple there. It is known as a "meeting place of the gods" since over 100 deities worshipped here.		 Ornate incense burner outside of the temple.
Ornate incense burner outside of the temple.		 Shrine inside Lungshan Temple with a magnificent golden dragon.
Shrine inside Lungshan Temple with a magnificent golden dragon.		 Another sculptural depiction of a dragon.
Another sculptural depiction of a dragon.
This is illuminated with the names of people who have contributed to the temple.
This is illuminated with the names of people who have contributed to the temple.		 Another shrine in the Lungshan Temple with an incense burner in front.
Another shrine in the Lungshan Temple with an incense burner in front.		 Golden depiction of a creature that looks like a cross between a horse and a dragon.
Golden depiction of a creature that looks like a cross between a horse and a dragon.		 People with incense worshipping at the Lungshan Temple.
People with incense worshipping at the Lungshan Temple.
Opulent details embellishing the temple.
Opulent details embellishing the temple.		 A chivalric portrayal of a swordsman fighting a dragon.
A chivalric portrayal of a swordsman fighting a dragon.		 A regal painting in the temple of (perhaps) an ancient king.
A regal painting in the temple of (perhaps) an ancient king.		 A majestic painting of a noble-looking subject.
A majestic painting of a noble-looking subject.
As I left the Lungshan Temple, I admired these dragons on the rooftop.
As I left the Lungshan Temple, I admired these dragons on the rooftop.		 Close-up of one of the dragons.
Close-up of one of the dragons.		 The National Palace Museum in Taipei is the national museum of Taiwan.
The National Palace Museum in Taipei is the national museum of Taiwan.		 It houses the world's largest and most valuable collection of Chinese art.
It houses the world's largest and most valuable collection of Chinese art.
The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qing Dynasty.
The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qing Dynasty.		 The National Palace Museum was originally established as the Palace Museum in Beijing's Forbidden City in 1925.
The National Palace Museum was originally established as the Palace Museum in Beijing's Forbidden City in 1925.		 Chiang Kai-shek moved many pieces following the surrender of the Japanese and as a result of the Chinese Civil War.
Chiang Kai-shek moved many pieces following the surrender of the Japanese and as a result of the Chinese Civil War.		 This worsened the rift between the 2 Chinas, since Chiang Kai-shek moved the priceless art from Mainland China.
This worsened the rift between the 2 Chinas, since Chiang Kai-shek moved the priceless art from Mainland China.
Sign at National Palace Museum commemorating of the 100th anniversary of founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 1912.
Sign at National Palace Museum commemorating of the 100th anniversary of founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 1912.		 View from the terrace of National Palace Museum of the entrance to the museum.
View from the terrace of National Palace Museum of the entrance to the museum.		 Note the arched entrance gate.
Note the arched entrance gate.		 This unusual obelisk adorns the pathway to the National Palace Museum.
This unusual obelisk adorns the pathway to the National Palace Museum.
No trip to Tapei would be complete without riding the excellent Metro (Metropolitan Rapid Transit System).
No trip to Tapei would be complete without riding the excellent Metro (Metropolitan Rapid Transit System).		 Platform leading to the Taipei Metro.
Platform leading to the Taipei Metro.		 View of the Metro station from the top of the escalator stairs.
View of the Metro station from the top of the escalator stairs.		 The trains came frequently and were on time.
The trains came frequently and were on time.
My train was approaching. I went 7 stops to Taipei 101 from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to Sun-Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.
My train was approaching. I went 7 stops to Taipei 101 from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to Sun-Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.		 Interior of a Taipei Metro train. It was clean and modern.
Interior of a Taipei Metro train. It was clean and modern.		 Taipei Metropolitan Rapid Transit System map.
Taipei Metropolitan Rapid Transit System map.		 Upon leaving the Metro station, I spotted these bikes which are part of a new public bike rental system in Taipei named U-bike.
Upon leaving the Metro station, I spotted these bikes which are part of a new public bike rental system in Taipei named U-bike.
This cute Chinese girl was dressed for the spring weather.
This cute Chinese girl was dressed for the spring weather.		 View of Taipei 101 World Financial Center, the 2nd tallest building in the world (as of March 2011) after Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
View of Taipei 101 World Financial Center, the 2nd tallest building in the world (as of March 2011) after Burj Khalifa in Dubai.		 View of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, which was built in 1972 on his 100th birthday.
View of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, which was built in 1972 on his 100th birthday.		 I am getting closer to Taipei 101, my destination.
I am getting closer to Taipei 101, my destination.
I passed by the Taipei City Hall. I should have gotten off at that Metro station since it is closer to Taipei 101.
I passed by the Taipei City Hall. I should have gotten off at that Metro station since it is closer to Taipei 101.		 One of several entrances to Taipei 101.
One of several entrances to Taipei 101.		 View from below looking to the top of Taipei 101. It is an imposing building.
View from below looking to the top of Taipei 101. It is an imposing building.		 I took escalators from the shopping center on the ground floor to the 5th floor to get to the elevator going to the observatory.
I took escalators from the shopping center on the ground floor to the 5th floor to get to the elevator going to the observatory.
From here, on the fifth floor, is the elevator to the observatory.
From here, on the fifth floor, is the elevator to the observatory.		 View from the observatory of Taipei 101.
View from the observatory of Taipei 101.		 It was a bit overcast, so the views were limited.
It was a bit overcast, so the views were limited.		 Taipei 101 dwarfed the buildings below.
Taipei 101 dwarfed the buildings below.
View of Tiger Mountain from Taipei 101.
View of Tiger Mountain from Taipei 101.		 The damper of Taipei 101 is suspended from 4 floors. Its pendulum sways to offset movements in the building caused by wind.
The damper of Taipei 101 is suspended from 4 floors. Its pendulum sways to offset movements in the building caused by wind.

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