Jiannan Station’s name really does nothing to clue us foreigner’s in to how many great attractions are right outside its doors. But it’s got so much going for it! A huge ferris wheel, a fantastic butterfly hike, an Imax theater and tons of shopping.
FERRIS WHEEL
Jiannan station is on Taipei’s MRT Brown line. Right across the street from this station is one of Taipei’s largest malls, Miramar Entertainment Park. Now to be honest, I don’t get excited about mall’s … unless, of course, they are part amusement park! Miramar has a huge Ferris wheel mounted high on the fifth floor overlooking the city. Its the first thing that catches your eye as you walk out of Jiannan Station. On the weekdays it costs about $5 USD ($150NT) to take a spin on it ( on the weekends its an extra dollar fifty at $300NT)
If you care to wait a little extra in line they have 2 glass bottom cabins – which of course Josh and I took! We went on a weekday evening and the line wasn’t bad at all – we maybe waited 20 minutes. The ride is just one rotation around the slow wheel, but you get a great view of the city and I’m sure it would be beautiful at night too!
Random Displays & an IMAX theatre
This mall also has a an IMAX theatre. Oh and here’s another random fun fact about life in Taiwan, often movies here are released up to a week before they would be released in the States! So make your friends jealous and hit up a “pre-release” of some highly anticipated movie. And before or after the show have fun taking pictures with whatever big random displays they currently have up in the courtyard.
Food & Shopping
If your hungry there is a TGIF Fridays and Movenpick in the mall as well as a whole basement floor food court… Although we highly suggest crossing the street (opposite of the ferris wheel) and hitting the super cute food pod, Food Republic, located under Carrefour. It’s got everything from a Singapore restaurant to a Buddhist vegan restaurant in there!
*Expat note: Carrefour, RTmart and Amart are three big general retail chain stores here in Taipei (think the closest your gonna come to a Walmart) There’s also an Ikea and a couple Costcos in Taipei (you can get to one of the Costcos by bus from Jiannan station in about 15 minutes) And then there are the Daiso stores which are basically a Japanese $ store! Everything in the store is $39 NT (so just over $1 USD) except some of the snacks which can be a little more.
Also… Butterflies
One of my very favorite places in the whole city is this butterfly trail literally just steps off of Jiannan Station Exit 1. Check out our posts about it!