The Blue Line takes you right through the heart of Taipei City. And while it may be possible to go your whole time without ever hopping the orange line or purple line, if you’re going to use MRT at all you’re almost sure to use the Blue Line. But that’s ok, because it has lots to offer! So the next time you’re on the Blue Line and wondering which station to get out and explore, here’s some ideas 🙂
(green font = link to blog on that place or activity, blue font = link to google maps pin)
The Blue line’s – SUn Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Station
This is definitely makes the top five list of Taipei’s most iconic buildings (with Taipei 101, Chang-Kai Check Memorial Hall, the Grand Hotel, and Martyrs Shrine rounding out the top 5). It’s a large, lovely building. And unlike other places we highly suggest you go here on the weekend! Being here when its full of locals enjoying the space is the best part. It’s a hugely popular youth hangout space. And ok maybe throngs of loitering teens doesn’t sound particularly enjoyable. But these teens come here for one main reason. To practice with their dance routines. Street dance is extremely popular here! So as you take in the grandeur and classic artistry of the building, you can simultaneous watch the modern dance culture thriving at under its awnings! You’ll also get a nice view of Taipei 101 from here.
The Blue line’s – Shandao Temple Station
While the name of this stop would lead you to believe the big site to see here is the Temple, but we think it’s actually the art spaces of Huashan 1914 Park that makes this a stop worth taking. Well, that, plus it’s famous breakfast shop!
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
This large complex used to be The Taipei Brewery of the Taiwan Provincial Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bueau. Which is to say it would have been worth going to see just as an abandoned architectural point of interest… the old meandering brick buildings are really enchanting! But it’s not just that, this space has been repurposed as a art exhibition center, workshop and event space slash park. It covers 7.21 hectares and the grounds and old buildings are always a great for pictures and you never know what lovely, strange or curious experience you might stumble upon there.
(One time we went around Christmas and found a huge tour Japan exhibition set up and outside they had made a big pile of real snow for people to touch and take pictures with!
Fuhang Soy Milk – Do breakfast like a local in the know!
A local friend invited us to join her at this favorite breakfast shop one Saturday morning. I’d been wanting to try Youtiao (sometimes described as Taiwan’s breakfast donut or churro). And Manya told us this was considered one of the best places in Taipei for them. The line would be long she warned. But the food would be cheap and fresh. She was right on all counts!
The line literally wrapped out the door, down the stairs, and around the block! But it was pretty fast moving. Less than 30 min. later we had fresh fried pastries in hand and a steaming bowl of soy milk to go with it. I personally decided that Youtiao isn’t quite as sweet as what I want in a breakfast donut. So I probably wouldn’t wait in line again… unless friends visited and wanted to try. It is a cool experience. When I posted pictures on facebook a lot of my Taiwanese friends expressed amazement that we’d been there! It’s definitely the place to try local cuisine that locals have given their overwhelming stamp of approval on!
The Blue line’s – Taipei Main Station
If you never step foot in Taipei Main station some will question whether you ever really came to Taipei. This is the hub for pretty much every form of public transit on the island. It’s a bit of a mad house, but it’s Asia right?! It’s part of the experience. And this area is packed full of great places to see, things to do and food to eat. So much so that we wrote a whole blog post just on this station. But here’s a few highlights.
Underground Shopping
Taipei main station is connected to MULTIPLE sprawling underground shopping malls! They are a huge eclectic mix of restaurants, book stores, clothing, food & nick knack stands of all types, with the occasional random event happening in the corridors! For more details check out our Taipei Main post.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
This Spring 2018, the MOCA featured over 100 powerful photos by National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry. .
Another interesting old building a rich history now used as a vessel for art! This building goes back to the Japanese colonial period. It was a school then, but now it provides a different service to the community! Filled with an eclectic ever changing array of modern art that goes anywhere from stunningly beautiful to strange and disquieting, the MOCA is quite possibly my favorite museum in Taipei. You never know what you’ll get BUT hey, it’s only $50 NT to get in!
Directions: We suggest using exit M4 so you can see the permanent outdoor art installations before heading around the corner to the museum itself (use those handy underground maps to see exactly where the MOCA is in relation to this exit. Hours: Tues – Sun, 10 – 6
Outdoor MOCA Installations
Don’t miss out on all the MOCA Installations around the corner from the actual museum! If you take exit M4 out of Taipei main station you will find yourself in the middle of this whimsical urban park.
Directions: take exit M4 and you’re there.
Taiwan National Museum, Peace Park, 2/28 Museum, & The Landbank Exhibition Hall
Yes! There’s a lot to see here! Everything from a historic bank to a sombering memorial, to dinosaur bones and Greco -Roman architecture. Oh and of course, a beautiful park. Also easily accessed via the Red Lin’s NTU Station., we have lots more info about this area on our Red Line page for that station.
Directions: This area is the opposite direction of the MOCA. If you want to hit both in one trip we suggest the MOCA first. Then go return to the metro mall out to exit M8. Follow google maps from there. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk away. Once there you’re just a couple of minutes from the Red Line’s NTU station so you might want to grab that instead of returning to Taipei Main.
The Blue line’s – LonGshan Temple Station
There are a few stations that have the word “temple” in their name. And the shere number and variety of temples all over Taipei is impressive. You’d be hard pressed to go on a 10 minute walk anwhere in Taipei without walking by at least one temple. And I will say that is definitely a reminder that you’re not in Kansas anymore! But if you want to make a point of going to a temple, as opposed to just stumbling upon them here and there, Longshan is the one to go to. It’s huge. Its over 200 years old. It has fountains and coi fish and waterfalls in the courtyard! And simply its the most famous temple in Taipei. If you’re curious to learn more, there’s a nice article about it in the Smithsonia,.
Bopilao historic street
According to guidetotaipe.com there’s also “the historic Bopiliao (剝皮寮), a walking street with Qing Dynasty architecture and a museum” just one block east of the temple.
There’s also a nice large park in front of the temple. On the evening we went we were lucky enough to catch a free Japenese drum performance there!
The Blue line’s – Banqio Station
Banqia station itself can be a destination point, especially around Christmas time. This very large MRT and Train station is known for going all out in its Christmas décor! Depending on where your homebase is in the city, Banqio may be your best launching point out of the city too as BOTH the regular train and the HSR (highspeed rail) stop here.
The Blue line’s – Fuzhong Station
he lin family Mansion and Garden
This historic site is supposed to be just a 10 minute walk away from Fuzhong Station. An beautiful and impressive estate by many accounts, containing a shaded pool area, library, and large residential compound. And the gardens are praised as one of the most beautiful private gardens in Taiwan. It appears to be open from 9:00 – 5:00 except maybe Sundays and every 3rd Monday?