Free tour

Taipei Historic Free Walking Tour

4.69

Acceptable(80)

Taipei

Duration: 3 hours

Languages: English

Guru: Like It Formosa

Registered on 9 May 2018

Like It Formosa, the No.1 walking tour in Taiwan on TripAdvisor. Explore Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung with our award-winning walking tours led by young, professional, and local tour guides! We take you to places that others don't, and tell you stories you'd otherwise never know. Popular attractions and hidden spots included, quality and entertainment guaranteed!

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Picture this: Gaining a basic but comprehensive understanding of Taiwanese history and culture in one walk sounds interesting, right? Taipei's west end was once the center of the city's political and economic activities and where modern development began. This tour takes you through Taiwanese history, from traditional beliefs in the Qing Dynasty to cultural changes under Japanese rule, and then to the political landscape after the arrival of the Nationalist government in 1949. The history tour covers all the attractions essential. in western Taipei, as well as the stories and legends behind them. Walking from the past to the present, you will see how Taipei is made up of multiple cultures and historical events and get a clear picture of this amazing city. Duration: 3 hours.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

No 153 Section 1 Xiyuan Road Wanhua District Taipei City Taiwan 108

Meeting point: Exit 1 of MRT Longshan Temple Station Our guides are recognized with a green and white paper fan saying "Taipei Free Walking Tour" and "Like It Formosa".

Free entry

Longshan Temple

Longshan Temple is located in the heart of west end Taipei, and serves as the religious center of local community. The temple was first established in the 18th century by Chinese immigrants coming to Taipei, who later built Monga District as their settlement for trade and business. In the following years, Longshan Temple went through a series of earthquakes, typhoons, as well as wartime air raids, but has always remained resilient thanks to renovations, enthusiastic believers and the gods’ blessing.

Free entry

Bopiliao Historical Block

Bopiliao, literally meaning “skin-peeling” was once the commercial center of northern Taipei where Chinese immigrants conducted trade with the indegineous community. During its most glorious years, you would find its street filled with hostels, shops and public bath houses to accomodate the traders and local residents. Here you will also find the best-preserved architecture from Qing dynasty China in Taipei, some of its features have even been incorporated into modern Taiwanese style!

Free entry

Ximen Red House

Originally constructed as a public market, Ximen Red House features strong architectural characteristics of Colonial Japan. Following the end of World War II and retreat of Japanese rule, the building was turned into a theater and became a hub for the hidden LGBTQ community in Taipei. In recent years, as Taiwan embraces a more diverse and multicultural trend in society, Ximen Red House has become a popular venue of the vibrant social movements taking place in Taiwan.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €15 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).