Things to do in Taipei, Taiwan: The Best Historic Sites

One of the few remaining old Taipei homes, this charming building was meticulously dismantled and rebuilt on new land in 1984.

dedicated to Paosheng Tati, the God of Medicine

The "Lin Yu-tang House" sits at the base of Yangminshan. It was constructed in 1966 and was designed by Lin himself. It served as his residence for the last ten years of his life. This structure represents the Chinese "shiheyuan" style combined with Spanish architectural influences, incorporating eastern and western styles as well as fusing modern and classic beauty. The indigo colored glaze complements the white walls and the addition of the purple latticework gives it the elegance of refined art. Entering through the western style door and passing through to the veranda, one can see the sunlit garden in which the silhouette of the Spanish style spiral pillar stretches as the warm sunlight lengthens its shadow. On October 1, 2005 , Soochow University accepted the Department of Cultural Affairs' commission to manage Lin's residence and as the research place for the study of Lin's works.

The Dr. Yin Hai-Kwong Residence was completed in 1945 in Alley 16, Lane 18, Wenzhou St., a neighborhood designated by Taihoku Imperial University (present-day National Taiwan University, or NTU) during the Japanese colonial. They were intended for professors’ dormitories, and nestled in a kind of lushness that was unique to academia. After relocating from mainland China in 1949, Dr. Yin Hai-Kwong taught philosophy at Taihoku Imperial University while contributing articles of political criticism to the Free China Journal. As a man who would rather die a critic than live muted, Dr. Yin was a warrior fighting with a pen despite the rigorous censorship. He stood up bravely against the then-authoritarian regime with unbridled political criticism, exerting a strong influence on Taiwan’s progress toward democracy, as an iconic figure in the history of Chinese liberalism. The residence is a one-story, Japanese-style wooden structure built on a triangular base, adjacent to the other dormitories. In May 2003, the Taipei City Government designated it as a historic site that housed a significant collection of cultural assets. The Dr. Yin Hai-Kwong Foundation in November 2008 took over the operation and maintenance of the residence, recently serving as a facility for NTU’s outdoor education activities.

Xinfu Market was established in 1935, and has been designated as the historical site of Taipei City in 2006. Once restored by Taipei City Market Administration Office, JUT GROUP gains 9-year right of management and renews the design of the market. JUT foundation is entrusted to manage the market and let it to be part of its Project UrbanCore. From 2017 on, U-mkt—named after the distinct U-shaped form of Xinfu Market—has been endowed with the honor to be the base for the studies of traditional market culture and everyday life, and the platform to boost up the public participation concerning rebirth of old town.

museum207 is located at No. 207, Section 1, Dihua Street, Taipei. Constructed in 1962, the ownership of this building changed hands several times after its sale by the original owners in 2006. The building was designated a "Historic Building" by the Taipei City Government in 2009. It was acquired by Ms. K.C. Chen in 2016. Ms. Chen was the founder and sponsor of Taipei Story House from 2003-2015, being the first individual person to sponsor the preservation and revival of a heritage site in Taiwan. On April 15, 2017, as an initiative to promote the preservation and revival of heritage buildings in Taiwan, Ms. K.C. Chen founded museum207 in this historic area of Taipei. Through her sponsorship of the museum's operation and its diversified cultural activities, it is hoped that the revival of this beautiful old building will inspire visitors to cherish heritage buildings as well as the rich cultural history of Taiwan. The Historic Building The site of museum207, built in 1962, was the hom