"Free Tour" Dark Side of Taipei: Dictators, Riots, and Identities

First time in town? Here is a tour dedicated to take you through what forms Taiwan as a society today. We are a proud democratic island nation, but behind Taipei’s vibrant night markets and modern skyline lies a turbulent story of dictatorship, resistance, and identity.

Beginning at the iconic Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Freedom Square, this tour explores Taiwan’s dramatic transformation after World War II, when Japan handed the island over to the Republic of China and Chiang Kai-shek established decades of authoritarian rule. 

As we walk through the political heart of the city while passing through the Presidential Office Building and 228 Peace Memorial Park, we will uncover the stories behind the 228 Incident, the White Terror era, political repression, and the long struggle for democracy and freedom of speech.

The tour concludes in the lively streets of Ximending, where modern youth culture, activism, and pop culture reflect the ongoing debate surrounding Taiwanese identity and the island’s place in today’s world. This is not just a history tour, it is the story of how modern Taiwan was shaped, and how we have became a vibrant society, and what future means for the Taiwanese people.

Main highlights: Modern Taiwanese history, Politics, Oppression,  Civil Movement, Taiwanese Identities.