“If we don’t rebel, if we’re not physically in an active rebellion, then it’s spiritual death.”
1. DHARMA DRUM MOUNTAIN NUNG CHAN MONASTERY
BEITOU DISTRICT — The architecture here is quite impressive. It’s a local favorite for photoshoots and for good reason. Many people like to take pictures in front of the pond with the building in the background, but don’t forget to check out the wide-open vista out back.
2. NING XIA NIGHT MARKET
DATONG DISTRICT — This market has some pretty interesting things. There’s a gay sauna located right at the entrance of the market and a guy likes to visit with his pig and feed it in the middle of the street here. This is also sort of a red light district.
3. ZHISHAN ROOFTOP
SHILIN DISTRICT — This rooftop bridge is very easy to see from ZhiShan Station on the Red Line MRT. The view from the top is epic enough. Add in the bridge and a wide angle lens and it’s perfect.
Even if you can’t get on the roof the building still makes for great material fron the ground.
4. THE XIQU CENTER OF TAIWAN
SHILIN DISTRICT — This building works really well for portraits. The grey slanted lines on the walls work great. Plus it’s very clean and open. No matter the time of day you're likely to find some cool lighting or interesting perspective at this place.
5. YUAN JUE FALLS
NEIHU DISTRICT — This a great spot very close to the MRT that leads to a pretty photogenic hiking trail and waterfall. There’s also a few options to walk further up the falls or up to a temple for a city view depending on what you prefer.
6. XIMEN STREET ART
A really cool area full of artwork inspired by the latest movies.
WANHUA DISTRICT — Local businesses and the movie theaters in Ximen hire artists to decorate the streets here. They usually update the walls every 2–3 months. They art here creates amazing opportunities for photography. I love coming here to shoot.
7. WULAI WATERFALL
WULAI DISTRICT — Wulai is a great place known for its hot springs, waterfall, and aboriginal culture. It’s about 45 minutes outside of the city but well worth the trip. Easiest way to get here is by catching bus 849 from Xindian Station.
8. WARSHIP ROCK
BEITOU DISTRICT — I found this spot because suddenly a bunch of people started posting the same photo on Instagram. Well this place didn’t make me Instagram famous, but it did provide some awesome views of TianMu district. The rock formations are pretty cool and the way to the top was not difficult to hike at all.
Location: Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan 112
9. WANLI UFO VILLAGE
WANLI DISTRICT — WanLi UFO village is always under threat of removal by the property owners. These houses were built to lure rich people out to Taiwan’s north coast. But the project failed as the weather in winter here is miserable, and it’s quite far from Taipei where most of Taiwan’s economic opportunity is.
Get here via Bus 1815 from Taipei.
10. HONGFAN SEAFOOD BAR/RESTAURANT
SHILIN DISTRICT — The light here are really nice and there’s tons of pedestrians/smokers which will allow for some good street shots. I recommend a wide-angle lens because the sidewalk isn’t huge and there’s a lot of neon to capture.
11. THOUSAND ISLAND LAKE
SHIDING DISTRICT — Where does the water come from? That’s the question I asked a girl I was dating back in 2015 and she answered that she thinks it comes from this place. So one Sunday we hopped on my scooter to come check it out. I’m really glad we did.
12. TAIPEI LED STREET
DATONG DISTRICT — At this street near Taipei Main Station the stores are full of LED lights, Chinese lanterns, and other decorations that make for great backdrops. Trust me when I say you’ll have a good time shooting on this street.
13. SCOOTER WATERFALL
DATONG DISTRICT — This place is insane. Can you believe this happens every day? The best time to come here is before 9:00 a.m. on a weekday if you want to capture scenes like this. Scooter waterfall is a dramatic representation of a real problem in Taipei. This place is choking to death on scooters. Imagine if they all had to drive cars though…
14. SANDIAOLING FALLS
RUIFANG DISTRICT — It was a pretty romantic experience every time I was here. Each time there was a light rain which made the hike a little bit challenging and messy, but the overall vibe was beautiful. This place would be worth it even if there was just one waterfall, but Sandiaoling features 3 of them.
15. LONGSHAN TEMPLE
WENHUA DISTRICT — Walls of lanterns surround the entrance of the temple. Inside locals and tourists jostle for space and worship chants fill the air. The streets around the temple are filled with small markets and strange massage parlors.
16. LIN SEN NORTH ROAD
ZHONGSHAN DISTRICT — This area is known for its bars, spas, and hotels that mainly accommodate rich locals and Japanese tourists. It has narrow alleys filled with Japanese-inspired lanterns and architecture. You may even be able to trick you went to Japan with your photos here.
17. JIANTAN UNDERPASS
ZHONGSHAN DISTRICT — This underpass near Shilin Night Market is a true piece of art. It has been posted all over Instagram a million times by now. A photo from this place was even among the finalists in the ‘Shot on iPhone’ contest a few years ago. But it’s still fun to watch people capture it in different ways. This place has endless potential.
18. JIUFEN
RUIFANG DISTRICT — This old mining village has turned into a tourist hotspot. It went from being a gold mine to an Instagram mine. Millions each year flock to these lanterns to get their best shot. But this place also offers a lot for those hoping to avoid the crowds…
19. JIANMIAN MOUNTAIN
NEIHU DISTRICT — It’s great for cheerful models seeking that perfect IG shot, cynical photographers escaping their thoughts, and everybody else in between. It can get a little crowded at the top, but there are multiple ways up which spreads the traffic out nicely on the trail.
20. IMMORTAL ROCK TRAIL
WENSHAN DISTRICT — I discovered this spot by accident. There’s some stupid rule in Taiwan that says you can only open a bank account at the branch closest to your home. I had just moved so after opening my account I found myself in an area I had never been before. Then I saw a sign for a hiking trail.
I was not shocked at all that the trail led to a temple since pretty much every hiking trail leads to one. If there’s no temple there will at least be a small shrine or something. However I was shocked by the view. There was a huge balcony with stunning panoramic views of the whole city.
21. HEMEI MOUNTAIN
XINDIAN DISTRICT — The trail to get here is basically a set of wooden stairs. It’s really close to the Bitan Bridge and shouldn’t take to long to get to the peak. There’s both a good mountain view and a good city view.
22. ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN
XINYI DISTRICT — This is Taipei’s answer to Hong Kong’s Victoria peak. Sure the skyline is not as impressive, but it’s still a pretty epic view with great potential. I’m pretty sure anybody visiting Taiwan knows about Elephant Mountain but I had to include it just in case…
Location: Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
23. DADAOCHENG
DATONG DISTRICT — This area has gotten a few makeovers in recent years but still holds a uniquely Taiwanese historic vibe. The buildings here have been preserved since the Japanese colonial era and look quite nice.
There are lots of unique shops and museums, but also modern bars near the water. And young models like to come here and do photoshoots with traditionally Chinese dresses.
24. BEITOU MARKET
BEITOU DISTRICT — This is a part of Beitou that most tourists won’t see. This is the real Beitou. Every day people come here to wheel and deal, others come to get drunk. There’s a community center near the outdoor market where old folks like to party. If you come here to do candid street shots I promise you don’t be disappointed.
25. SONGSHAN CI HUI TEMPLE
XINYI DISTRICT — There’s two temples here both of which are elaborately decorated with tons of goodies inside. Not only that but if you go around back there’s a nice hiking trail leading along Elephant Mountain.
26. GUANDU TEMPLE
BEITOU DISTRICT — Nearby there’s a little village near the water with lots of vendors. As you approach the temple there are small shops with Joss paper and other things you can use to make offerings to the gods.
27. BISHANYAN KAIZHANG SHENGWANG TEMPLE
A really cool temple with a huge balcony overlooking Taipei from the north.
NEIHU DISTRICT — There are a lot of cool hallways here and a huge balcony with panoramic views of the city. It’s a bit up the mountain but buses from the MRT run up here pretty regularly.
28. TAO ZHU YIN YUAN BUILDING
XINYI DISTRICT — The twisting design kind of reminds me of a Transformer. Either way, this new skyscraper is probably the most photogenic of all given it’s unique shape. It was even featured on CNN a few times for its uniqueness.
29. SHANGRI-LA’S FAR EASTERN PLAZA HOTEL
DAAN DISTRICT — There are two towers and if you go inside you get one of the best views of Taipei 101. There is so much to work with here in terms of photo-taking. Reflections, patterns, close-ups, etc. This building has potential for it all.
Luckily you don’t have to do much sneaking to get to the view. There’s a restaurant that lets you sit right next to it. Both times I came to shoot here nobody bothered me and I hear they even have pool parties here in the summer.
30. GRAND HOTEL
An iconic building with endless photo potential.
ZHONGSHAN DISTRICT — This was the first hotel that hosted foreign diplomats since the handover of power in 1945. Today it’s a popular destination for important banquets, high-budget travelers, and celebrity visitors.
31. TAIPEI OCEAN HORIZON BUILDING
DANSHUI DISTRICT — There is a new MRT being constructed nearby which may hinder good photos, but with a good zoom lens and some creativity you should be able to avoid unwanted objects.
32. ZHONGSHAN SPA
DATONG DISTRICT — The neon here is pretty beautiful and the reflections of it off all the S-Classes parked outside provide great shooting potential. The guard outside will look at you a little weird for shooting there but they’re nice.
33. DRAGON RESTAURANT
ZHONGSHAN DISTRICT — There’s a lot of small alleys and interesting people to shoot here. Even without the neon sign this place is worth checking out and wandering around. Just don’t get too distracted as it’s right in the red light district.
34. JIANTAN MOUNTAIN
SHILIN DISTRICT — Most first-time tourists to Taiwan will likely visit Shilin Night Market, but most of them are missing out on this amazing view of it that’s only 30 minutes away. Granted, I’ve taken people up here and they hated it, and the trail can be a little confusing, but I think the view is worth the gamble.
You should definitely try to get a few photos at Jiantan Underpass before you head up here. And if you’re looking to do some street photography in the area I recommend heading over to Ming Chuan University nearby.
35. JIANNAN NIGHT VIEW
ZHONGSHAN DISTRICT — This spot is located right under a tunnel that connects NeiHu and Shilin. The old mountain road is quite narrow but still safe and fun by scooter. I don’t recommend driving a car or walking up here.
You should definitely stop by Taipei Koxinga Temple either before or after visiting here.
36. LAOMEI REEF
SHIMEN DISTRICT — I discovered this spot on Instagram and wanted to try my hand at capturing it. Turns out this was one of my best shots ever. There was a bit of danger involved though.
The rocks here are really slippery. I saw another photographer here slip and hit their head. They were carted away in an ambulance. So if you come here please be careful. Good spots nearby include Baishawan Beach and Shimendong.
Location: Shimen District, New Taipei City, 253
37. FULONG BEACH
FULONG BEACH — Perhaps Taiwan’s most famous beach. And for good reason. It’s quite clean provides a huge open area with lots of shops and amenities nearby, but unlike many other popular tourist areas in Taiwan it has not been overrun with government megaphones and food vendors… yet.
38. MAOKONG
WENSHAN — The name ‘cat empty’ refers to when the village used to have lots of cats that left when the tea industry declined a hundred years ago here.
Maokong has been plastered all over promotional material and every blogger, YouTuber, and Instagrammer is sure to visit here on their paid visit to Taiwan. Nonetheless, I still think you should go. The first reason is the sky-lift. As long as you go off peak hours the wait isn’t too long. It’s cheap to ride and the views are amazing.
Once you’re there you’ll see tons of food vendors offering things like sausage, rice, and ice cream. There’s multiple hiking trails and ways you could go, all of which offer something unique. My favorite places to visit in MaoKong are: Yinhe Cave, Maokong Potholes, and ZhiNan Temple.
Location: Wenshan District, Taipei City, 116
39. YEHLIU
WANLI DISTRICT — I really like this place because of all the opportunities to play with perspective. It’s a good spot for any kind of photography. Obviously the landscape is cool. Portraits would work well here. And there’s endless content for candid street shots among the tourists.
40. BITAN BRIDGE
XINDIAN DISTRICT — So as the picture here demonstrates, there’s quite a lot going on here. As a photographer I enjoy shooting people and scenery from the bridge, and then walking along the boardwalk until I’ve had enough.
This place keeps getting renovated and upgraded by the government and the improvements have expanded the boardwalk and areas for people to explore.
41. BEITOU THERMAL VALLEY
BEITOU DISTRICT — The reason I say kind of is because all you can really do at this place is look. However there is a public bath nearby where people can use the hot springs for quite cheap. As per Taiwanese culture though, there are a bunch if weird and annoying rules.
If you’re willing to trek even further there’s a free hot spring park called Fuxing Hot Foot Spa where you can dip you feet in not too far away.
42. THOUSAND-HAND GUANYIN STATUE
SANZHI DISTRICT — This statue is part of a temple that is under construction and has become quite the Instagram sensation in recent years. I don’t have a telephoto lens so it was a bit hard to capture in the same fashion of others, but here’s my best attempt.
43. WUJI TIANYUAN TEMPLE
DANSHUI DISTRICT — Temples like this in Taiwan are crazy rich. They maintain the gardens and buildings very well and are always adding aesthetic improvements. This is why I often recommend temples as good places to shoot.
Temples are a great way to get access to backgrounds such as expensive marble or well-manicured gardens usually reserved for the super rich in their secret lairs.
44. XINYI ROAD BRIDGE
XINYI DISTRICT — This is perhaps the best location to get a shot of Taipei 101. Just set your tripod up on the bridge and you’re good to go. Afterwards head over to Tong Hua Night Market and get some food/market shots.
45. TONGHUA NIGHT MARKET
DAAN DISTRICT — This is a great market for getting all kinds of photographic content. The food here is also pretty great. It’s located not too far from Taipei 101 and a lot of upscale bars. So there are plenty of reasons to ink this place into your Taipei destination checklist.
46. TIANMU COOL CAR STREET
SHILIN DISTRICT — There are a few specialized repair shops on this street so the shops have to park the cars in random spots. Plus this is one of the richest neighborhoods in Taiwan so your chances of seeing really nice cars is very high. It’s a really good spot to wander and just see what pops up.
47. ZI QIANG TRADITIONAL MARKET
BEITOU DISTRICT — Taiwan’s traditional markets are always fun to visit for the rawness and character of the people that occupy them. Today I was impressed by the toughness of the workers here out in record breaking heat. I can’t imagine what they go through considering how tired and hot I was just after 40 minutes of walking and shooting.
48. QIANSHUIWAN SEASIDE PARK
49. WUFENGQI FALLS
JIAOXI TOWNSHIP — This waterfall trail is pretty nice. There’s 3 different waterfalls that are all really photogenic. The best way to get here is by taking a bus from Taipei City Hall Bus Station and then renting a scooter. This is a nice little town too with some good hot spring resorts.
50. YANGMINGSHAN
BEITOU DISTRICT — The easiest way to get up here is by taking the small #16 bus from Shilin MRT Station. During the weekdays it should be pretty smooth sailing getting up here. Weekends are a different story.
There are a few main peaks and areas that people frequent up here. They are: Qingtiangang Grassland, Juansi Waterfall, Datunshan Lookout, Qixingshan East Peak, and Qixingshan Park. You can google those spots and see which ones seem interesting to you.
Location: Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan
51. PINGLIN VILLAGE
PINGLIN DISTRICT — I can’t seem to remember what inspired me to visit this place. It’s not a popular tourist spot by any means. It’s more like a rest stop for people travelling to and from Yilan.
The stream running though the city is one of the clearest I’ve seen in Taiwan. There’s a few hiking trails, but they don’t seem to lead to anywhere cool. The best thing to do here is wander near the riverside.
There’s no particular attractions here that I can hype up, but this place just makes for a nice Sunday stroll. It’s a good place to head out to clear your mind and get some fresh air.
52. GUANYIN MOUNTAIN
WUGU DISTRICT — The peak of this mountain can be seen from pretty much anywhere in Taipei, and it’s peak lends views of pretty much the entire northern corner of Taiwan. It’s named after the Taoist god it’s shape resembles.
53. BAODUOZI COASTAL PARK
KEELUNG CITY — Keelung is home to the largest fishing ports in Taiwan. The city is loud and dusty, but this park is a breath of fresh air that’s ideal for hikers and photographers.
54. NANYA ROCK FORMATION
RUIFANG DISTRICT — A really cool area along the northeast coast with epic rock formations. This is an amazing spot to catch a sunset after passing through Jiufen, Keelung City, or any of the other great spots in Ruifang.
Location: 224, New Taipei City, Ruifang District
55. FUFUDINGSHAN SHELL AND CORAL TEMPLE
SANZHI DISTRICT — The artwork is stunning here but many people are angry that it exists. Given the state of the earth’s corals I can’t really blame them. Many of Taiwan’s religious practices have come under more scrutiny in recent years. Some temples have adapted to these concerns but others have not.
This particular temple honors a Buddhist monk from the Song Dynasty who was a hero for the poor and stood up for injustice.
56. CHINA TRUST FINANCIAL PARK
NANGANG DISTRICT — This type of glass seems to do very well with portraits as well. I’ve taken a few here that turned out nice. The courtyard here is pretty huge giving you lots of room to work with when trying to capture this building.
57. JITAI ZHONGXIAO BUILDING
ZHONGZHEN DISTRICT — This building was completed in late 2019 and really lights up the skyline near Taipei Main Station. From this angle it looks like a dragon back and the nearby park offers a good vantage point.
58. TAIPEI KOXINGA TEMPLE
SHILIN DISTRICT — It’s kind of amazing how there are so many hidden gems like this in Taipei. I love the view here and lack of crowds. The drive up is quite nice and the huge set of stairs overlooking the city are truly remarkable.
59. SANHE NIGHT MARKET
SANCHONG DISTRICT — This is the first night market in Taiwan that I’ve ever seen a poker table at. I guess it makes sense as Sanchong is supposedly one of the biggest gang areas in Taiwan. It’s still pretty safe here though so I recommend checking this market out for sure.
This spot is even more grimy than most night markets, but also nice in its own way.
60. NANYA NIGHT MARKET
BANQIAO DISTRICT — There are both good and bad things about New Taipei City compared to Taipei. The good is that there are more strange and funny things to see, and the night markets aren’t as boring. The bad is that there are more loud annoying scooters that drive through crazily and almost kill you.
61. PINGXI CRAGS
PINGXI DISTRICT — There are 4 or 5 different crags to climb, but the one pictured here is the most photogenic. But it’s worth climbing the others so that you can shoot a photo of both the view of this place and how the crag itself looks for your viewers. Plus it’s a pretty fun adventure to climb them all.
Get here easily via Bus #795 outside Muzha MRT Station.
62. ELEPHANT ROCK
RUIFANG DISTRICT — A cool seaside area to explore between Keelung and Jiufen. I used to visit this place from time to time before they installed a guard in front of the rock. I think now you have to go on a weekday to avoid the guard if you actually want to get shots on and around the rock.
Either way it’s a nice place to visit.
63. TRUE YOGA ROOFTOP NEAR CITY HALL
XINYI DISTRICT — Downtown Taipei offers some amazing opportunities to get cyberpunk shots if you’re willing to sneak onto rooftops. Please be careful though because people in Taipei are cracking down on rooftoppers more and more recently. You can face jail and a lawsuit if caught.
64. HEIMATSU COMMERCIAL BUILDING
XINYI DISTRICT — This rooftop is pretty easy to access from Xinyi AnHe Station. If you have a wide-angle lens it should work best when you hang the camera over the edge and get Taipei 101 with a reflection off the windows sort of like the shot you see above.
65. TIANJING 360 AREA
DANSHUI DISTRICT — There’s a strange mix of very high end houses and abandoned buildings here. This is where many rich people in Taiwan retire or have their 2nd homes. There is currently a new skyscraper that is also abandoned here. This thing is pretty daunting.
66. NANZILIN TRAIL
RUIFANG DISTRICT — If you’re looking for a fairly easy trail with amazing views, this is a good choice. You can hike to the top of this mountain and still have enough time and energy to explore other places around Ruifang.
67. METAL PUNCHING STREET
ZHONGSHAN DISTRICT — This area was known for making engine parts and many other mechanical components during Taiwan’s economic boom. A few shops remain but most of the area has been turned into vintage clothing shops and coffee shops.
68. JIANGUO JADE AND FLOWER MARKET
DA’AN DISTRICT — This is a great area to shop and do street photography. There are three sections. The Artist’s corner, the flower market, and the jade market. They all provide unique opportunities for photographers.
69. SHENKENG OLD STREET
SHENKENG DISTRICT — This old street has some of the best Taiwanese foods from today and yesterday. It’s most known for a wide variety of high quality tofu dishes. There are also lots of vintage shops featuring rare snacks, candies, and toys that many older folks enjoy browsing.
70. LIBERTY SQUARE
ZHONGZHEN DISTRICT — This area features Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall as well as the national opera theater and concert hall. The buildings are quite fancy and very similar to China’s Forbidden City.
71. TAIPEI CONFUCIUS TEMPLE
DATONG DISTRICT — This is one of the most epic temples in Taipei for its vast gardens and beautiful decorations. Plus it is quite conveniently located in the center of the city. It’s only a short walking distance from Yuanshan MRT Station.
72. Raohe Night Market
SONGSHAN DISTRICT — The entrance to this market is quite epic and famous for obvious reasons. Plus the area lends plenty of space for photographers to work and be creative. It’s a great spot not so much for the food, but for pictures most definitely.
73. CHINESE CULTURE UNIVERSITY NIGHT VIEW
SHILIN DISTRICT — There are lots of fancy restaurants on this mountain where all the trust fund brats go to spend mommy and daddy’s money. But if you go all the way to the top it’s free and the view is still pretty good. There are also lots of sausage vendors that come out at night.
This is known as a bit of a romantic spot for young couples.
74. DANSHUI FISHERMAN’S WARF
DANSHUI DISTRICT — This is one of Taipei’s best places to view the sunset. There is plenty of room to walk around and even a huge bridge that many people enjoy photographing.
75. BEITOU FOUR SEASONS OBSERVATION DECK
BEITOU DISTRICT — This is a great place to grab some panoramic views of the city. It’s a lovely place but gets a little crowded and annoying on weekends with all of the spoiled rich teenagers and their loud scooters. Other than that this is an awesome place to stop for a few shots on your journey through Taipei.
76. HUARONG MARKET
SHILIN DISTRICT — This is a great clothing and beauty day market with many interesting people and shops. There’s also the Taiwan day market staples such as meat and veggies to browse too. It’s quite close to Shilin Station. Definitely within walking distance of the MRT.
77. ZHISHAN TEMPLE
SHILIN DISTRICT — Zhishan Temple is one of my favorite temples because there’s a lot to work with at and around the area. The sculptures are pretty cool leading up to the temple. There’s a nice city view (well actually the buildings are pretty ugly but it looks nice at night. Plus there’s a hiking trail nearby which makes it easy to get nature shots.
78. BALI OLD STREET
BALI DISTRICT — Across the river from Danshui you’ll find a smaller, more quiet area with some pretty epic seaside views. There’s also a small market but it’s nothing to write home about. Riding the ferry here is a frequent and preferred way of travel for many tourists.
79. SUN YAT SEN MEMORIAL HALL
XINYI DISTRICT — This place serves as a memorial to the founder and first president of the Republic of China. The area is pretty wide and open allowing for vast city shots. The soldiers change guard every 30 minutes and do a flag ceremony around 5pm every day. These are great photo opportunities.
80. SHIFEN WATERFALL
PINGXI DISTRICT — Honestly I hate this place. The only good thing about it is the pictures that you can get. The reason I hate it is because it’s inconvenient to get to and full of tourists and fences. The entire area has been turned into a tourist racket with hot dogs for sale. I say come here only and only if you need to get a picture like the one above.
81. TUTOR ABC ROOFTOP
ZHONGZHEN DISTRICT — This is a nice rooftop over a busy intersection right next to the MRT. There are tons of coworking spaces in the building so nobody will question why you’re there. You can head up and explore with relative comfort and ease. Come here during rush hour for a real treat.
82. VIEW FROM TAMKANG UNIVERSITY
DANSHUI DISTRICT — This oceanside town is home to one of the biggest universities in the city. The school is located on a mountaintop with great views. It’s pretty easy to get onto rooftops in the area. If you’re having trouble maybe just befriend somebody from the school who can take you up to get a nice shot.
83. TEAPOT MOUNTAIN
RUIFANG DISTRICT — This trail near Jiufen is quite rewarding. The steep mountainsides are beautiful among the backdrop of the sky and ocean. This is a hike you will most definitely not regret. Oh… One more thing… The place is infected with toxic fumes from the former Japanese gold mines here, but I wouldn't worry about that too much.
Location: 224, New Taipei City, Ruifang District
84. XIMEN RAINBOW STREET
WANHUA DISTRICT — This display went up shortly after Taiwan was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. It quickly became an Instagram sensation. It’s also very conveniently located at the most popular MRT exit in all of Taipei.
Location: Ximen Station Exit 6
85. LOVERS LAKE PARK
KEELUNG CITY — One of the things I really like about Taiwan is that there are hidden coves like this everywhere. I bet this spot was paradise for whoever lived here hundreds of years ago.
Within a short distance there’s the ocean, a lake, and a mountain peak from which one can overlook it all. It would have been perfect for a small settlement.
86. NEIDONG WATERFALL
WULAI — If you keep on driving after spending some time at Wulai Waterfall you’ll come upon this park and trail located just outside of an aboriginal village. There’s nothing special about the trail or this park, but the drive out is nice and this is a fairly photogenic waterfall that you can add to your collection.
Obviously you’ll be visiting Wulai or at least be aware of it if you make it to this waterfall.
87. YUN SEN WATERFALL
SANXIA — I really like this trail and the falls at the end. It’s quite an adventure getting here too. You’ll go up and down really narrow mountain roads and maybe meet some interesting characters at the small mom and pop shops that serve the area.
There’s a place called Manyueyuan Forest Park nearby which is less interesting but still great for photos, especially during cherry blossom season.
88. MANYUEYUAN FALLS
SANXIA — I recommend coming here if your sole purpose is to get photos. It’s nice and convenient for that, but if you actually want to enjoy nature and have a good time then Yun Sen Waterfall is close by and a way better visit. It’s nice and convenient for that, but if you actually want to enjoy nature and have a good time then Yun Sen Waterfall is close by and a way better visit.
89. XIAO WULAI WATERFALL
FUXING DISTRICT — This is another place I fear is turning into Disneyland. Luckily it’s not that convenient to visit from Taipei otherwise I’m sure it would have by now. It’s a lot closer to Taoyuan than Taipei and that’s why I think development around here has been slower.
90. SHIDONG MARKET
SHILIN DISTRICT — Normally a traditional market is outside, full of yelling, and frequented by odd characters. But Shi Dong Market has taken everything that a traditional market offers and polished it nicely for the high-borns of TianMu.
I have to admit, it was a nice to look at all the traditional market food in the comfort of air conditioning and the absence of rouge scooters that could kill me anytime. Nonetheless I would hate for anybody to see this post and think that this is what a traditional Taiwanese market really looks like.
91. ZHONGYANG CHANNEL
BEITOU DISTRICT — There’s an area in Taipei between Beitou and GuanDu that remains largely undeveloped. With its open vistas and farmlands it gives us an idea of what Taipei used to be — a tropical paradise surrounded by mountains. The easiest way to get here from Downtown Taipei is by turning right off DaDu Road. The road is a few hundred meters after a monastery, but it’s very small and easy to miss if you’re not careful.
Upon entering you might feel a little creeped out, like maybe you made a wrong turn and have entered into your own horror movie. The first part of the channel is in a grimy industrial park full of stray dogs and construction equipment.
92. ABANDONED HOUSE IN BEITOU
BEITOU DISTRICT — I often drove past this place without giving it a second though until one day I just stopped to check it out. This was probably a beautiful house and are to live in its heyday. The house is just a short walk from a clearing that overlooks the entire city.
93. AMERICAN VILLAGE HONEY FARM
SHILIN DISTRICT — US military housing was turned into a honey factory on the 1st floor. We followed another group of tourists inside and were greeted by a worker eager to give us a tour. The perimeter was surrounded by bee boxes. Bees buzzed around our heads as our guide explained how everything worked. He took special care to make sure that I got the photos I wanted, and at the end of the tour didn’t try to sell us anything. He simply went back to work.
94. ROOFTOP NEAR SONGSHAN OLD RAILWAY STATION
XINYI DISTRICT — There’s this rooftop above a Carrefour near the SongShan Old Railway Station that provides a pretty cool view of Downtown Taipei. There’s plenty to work with on this rooftop. There’s a cool billboard to climb. There’s a couple of ladders going up to higher areas.
95. DAPINGLIN STATION ROOFTOPS
XINDIAN DISTRICT — I can’t say the exact building I’m up on here, but any high rise will give you this epic view of condos against the mountains. This is a truly remarkable view with some pretty crazy architecture.
This is one of the more densely populated parts of town. As you can see there are a lot of old buildings mixed with new. It’s rumored that the former president of Taiwan lives around here too.
96. NANSHAN PLAZA
XINYI DISTRICT — This skyscraper went up right next to 101 a couple of years ago and is a great addition to the Taipei skyline. Getting inside to see the view seems possible only if you’re willing to eat at one of the high-end restaurants there. However, photographing this building is quite easy from pretty much anywhere downtown.
97. SHINKONG LIFE TOWER
ZHONGZHEN DISTRICT — If Taipei had an Empire State Building I think this would be it. Before Taipei 101 it was the tallest building and it’s located right next to Main Station.
98. FAR EASTERN MEGA TOWER
BANQIAO DISTRICT — I’ve heard you can go to the top of this building in Banqiao, but I have yet to do so. Aesthetically I don’t think it has too much to offer. It’s nothing special at night either, but it is the tallest in New Taipei City and creamed in between some other buildings so I think there’s defiantly some cool shot to be had with the right lens.
99. HOTEL PAPA WHALE
WANHUA DISTRICT — Who doesn’t want a picture under a huge whale? You’ll have to get extra wide and creative if you want to fit the whole thing in frame though cuz the painting is HUGE!
Location: №46號, Kunming Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108