This very busy temple is devoted to Guan, a famous deified general who lived (A. D. 162-219) during the Three Kingdoms period. A man, who valued loyalty and righteousness above all things, Guangong is worshipped as the God of War; since he was adept at managing finances, he is also worshipped as the patron saint of businessmen. This is young temple, built in 1967, with a simple and dignified appearance. In front of the hall is a censer with a somewhat unusual design, its two handles in the shape of flying dragons and its four sides adorned with dragons’ heads stretching toward the sky. The courtyard of the temple is usually busy, with crowds of worshippers bowing their heads or kneeling in devotion. On the main altar you will see offerings of only fresh flowers and tea, since the temple forbids the killing of offering of animals. The temple also discourages the burning of ritual paper money as an offering to the deities and the spirits of the deceased, the staging of operas for the gods, the presenting of gold medallions in gratitude to the deities, and the like. The temple supplies free candles, and there is no donation box-a first for traditional religion in Taiwan! Many believers feel that this is a very efficacious temple, and it is frequently thronged with people praying for help and seeking divine guidance by consulting oracle blocks. Even the pedestrian underpass outside the temple is filled with fortune-tellers and vendors who take commercial advantage of the temples popularity.
Lin An-Tai Old Homestead is located in Binjiang Park. The house is a traditional Chinese courtyard house with elegant decorations and is one of the few traditional houses preserved in northern Taiwan. The Lin family came to Taiwan in the 18th century and engaged in trade in northern Taiwan. With the money they made, they built a house and named it. Today, the house is over 160 years old. It is the best-preserved and maintained ancient house in Taipei City.Lin An-Tai Old Homestead is famous for its delicate carvings; one of the examples is the creative dragon carving on the front door. There are six dragons, representing the six sons in the family. The carvings of vases and bats carry the meanings of good luck, wealth and safety. Some of the tiles and bricks of this ancient building have been restored due to its long history, but the stones and woods have remained intact over the long years. The crescent shaped pond in front of the building was used for defense, raising fish, prevent fire, water supply and keep a moderate temperature.
The museum building was built during the Japanese rule in 1921 as Jan Cheng Elementary School, which now occupies a new structure on the back of the historical building. After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China, it hosted the Taipei City Government and became an important landmark, thanks to its highly recognizable symmetrical building and belltower in historic style. After the city government had moved to the new location in Xinyi district, it was designated as a historical building, and re-opened on 27 May 2001 as Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei (MOCA Taipei), as the first museum in Taiwan to be dedicated exclusively to contemporary art.
The Miniatures Museum of Taiwan (Chinese: 袖珍博物館; pinyin: Xiùzhēn Bówùguǎn)is the first museum to collect miniatures in Asia. The museum was founded on March 28, 1997 by Mr Lin Wen-ren and his wife. It is located in Taipei City, Taiwan. Mr. Lin and his wife enjoyed buying little houses and toy cars for their children while traveling for business purposes. While in Netherlands, they discovered miniature art and were deeply attracted. They began buying accessories, furniture, and assembled miniature houses. At the same time, the couple participated in auctions and joined international miniature art associations. They began planning their museum in 1993. The logo of the museum comes from "Rose Mansion", one of the museums most famed collections. Chosen as one of ten most significant miniature art works of America in twenty-five years, "Rose Mansion" consumed Dr. Reginald Twigg almost four years to complete.[3] After his elaborate research and study the once famous architecture has been brought back to life as you now see in the museum. The logo represents delicate, real, dream-like, romantic, and historically correct nature of miniature arts.
The former American Consulate in Taipei in Taiwan is located in the Zhongshan District of Taipei City. The Consulate building began operations in 1925 and in 1926 a two story western style building was erected. The building is close to the overall style of the US South and Victorian. The building has a total area of 375 square feet (34.8 m2).
Converted from the 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, the TAIPEI EXPO PARK is an urban recreational facility that comprises three typical park areas (Yuanshan, Taipei Fine Arts Museum and Xinsheng) while offering venues for the hosting of various events in the former Flora Expo’s pavilions. Among the iconic Flora Expo displays, still available, on the parks’ premises, mostly featuring perennial flowering/foliage plants and turfs, are the 3-dimensional Green Walls, Flower Walls, “Flora Rainbows", Special Exhibition Area, Flower Landscape, Rare Flowers & Plants Area, and Fruit Tree Area, which aim to keep the Expo’s images and variety alive, while impressing park visitors with the openness of a vision of verdure, combined with enhanced recreational quality. The TAIPEI EXPO PARK is also perfect for accommodating the hosting of exhibitions or other events as it lies strategically in the vicinity of MRT Yuanshan Station.
Sprawling along the banks between the Zhongshan and Dazhi Bridges in Taipei’s Zhongshan District, Dajia Riverside Park is an urban greenery project inspired from a City Government-initiated effort to straighten the course of Keelung River. Upon arriving at this extensive park, visitors are greeted with a pleasant, expansive patch of lawn commanding a view of Miramar’s rooftop Ferris wheel. In addition to a gigantic fountain that imparts a rhythmic visual effect with aerated water jets of varying intensity and heights, where the central columns reach up to 75-meters, the park is replete with sports facilities for basketball, tennis, badminton and croquet, as well as and an encircling bike path several kilometers long (bicycle rental services available). A popular weekend getaway known for its spaciousness, convenient parking and scenic beauty, Dajia Riverside Park hosts large events at irregular intervals to showcase Taipei’s metropolitan vibrancy.