101 Taipei

Breakfast in the hotel:

[Below] Hotdog with potato wedges, boiled egg and salads.

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Took the MRT to Taipei World Trade Center station.

Reached the station and follow the signboard to 101 tower.

As soon as I exit the underground station the tower is visible from the escalator.

Cool weather of 18 degrees, there was a group of Falun Gong practitioners meditating in front of this building (not taking their picture out of respect). I was already shivering from the wind, despite wearing a warm jacket.

Ticketing counter is located inside the mall. Took the escalator next to Burberry to the ticketing desk.

NTD600 to go up to level 88 and 89

meanwhile combo tickets to level 101 and outdoor deck costing more, around NTD980.

There's a time limit (30 minutes) if you wish to go up to level 101. For the price and the time limit, I decided to just settle with the standard ticket, as it is not worth paying extra for the level 101.

It was a weekday, hence no queue at the ticketing counter and when taking the elevator up to level 89.

The ticket came with F&B discount vouchers that can be spent in cafeterias at level 89.

The view of Taipei city (west view)

South view

East view

North view

[Below] North view, Songshan airport is seen from afar

Taipei Arena is clearly visible from here

Guess what is this?

It's super big wind damper

It is located at level 88. There's also a gallery on that floor.

Description on the wind damper and how it works as shown.

KLCC is also mentioned in the description. A few angmoh tourists stood nearby me was fascinated when they see KLCC in the description. Suddenly I feel so proud of my country😂

The other towers that have wind damper are in US, China and Japan.

Museums & Parks in Taipei

Continued my walk from the Presidential Office, passing by several parks...

one of them is Jieshou park

the greens....

and an artistic structure

Then across the road, is 228 Peace Park. Here's the map...

The park contains memorials to victims of the February 28 incident of 1947, including the 228 Memorial Monument that stands at the center of the park. The incident is an anti-government uprising in Taiwan in 1947 that was violently suppressed by the Kuomintang–led Nationalist government of the Republic of China.

There's a mini museum in this park. Entrance is FOC.

So much reading....like history textbook!

Some videos too...

Then head over to National Taiwan Museum. Entrance fee is NTD30.

The iconic ceiling inside the museum

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After done with all the museums and parks....walked to Ximending

it was drizzling rain....I went to tapao xiao long bao

quite good business in this shop...a few people came after me

wig shop...first time seeing this kind of shop

popmart

I did not try Ay-Chung flour-rice noodle despite only a few doors away from this popmart.

It was still drizzling rain, I better leave before it gets heavier. Took the MRT from Ximen station back to Songjiang Nanjing station. 

My dinner in the hotel room....xiao long bao😋

and sesame oil chicken and double mushroom rice ball from 7-11

tastes like loh mai kai except that the rice is not as glutinous or sticky as loh mai kai

But nevertheless still tastes good. I can eat this daily😂

Rainbow Stairs

CNY goodies from the Flower Market in Genting. This would be my early CNY snacks.

Kuih kapit, roasted walnuts and 'egg rolls' with seaweed.

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Outside Skytropolis, the newly renovated Swensen's has a rainbow staircase. LGBT supporter?

nice!

fried chicken??

nope, these are ice-cream in the shape of fried chicken.

Description from Swensen's website:

Handmade crispy ‘fried chicken’ featuring the unbeatable duo of cornflake & choice of ice cream (Vanilla, Cookies ‘N’ Cream and Sticky Chewy Chocolate) and a cookie ‘bone’.

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Nope, I did not try that fried chicken ice-cream.

But instead, I had whole fried spring chicken from 'Old Friends' restaurant in Highlands hotel 

(RM35 nett)

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Dinner at foodcourt. Mixed rice 'chapfan' with 6 dishes.

Beansprout, bokchoy, cabbage with roasted pork, spicy minced pork, roasted duck in dark soy sauce, chicken in sweet and spicy sauce. Tea is included.

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Outside Highlands hotel....almost zero visibility...so misty!

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

[Throwback Nov 2025]

Visited this iconic landmark in Taipei.

According to Google, this memorial hall was completed in 1980, so it’s unlikely that my parents visited it during their honeymoon almost 50 years ago.

Below is the archway. Looks so grand!

[Below] The archway taken from another angle.

National Concert Hall.

National Theatre Hall.

The facade looks like traditional Chinese structure, but the interior is modern brick building with air-condition and opulent lighting.

It houses a hall, cafeteria/restaurant, bookshop...

red pillars....

Next, the memorial hall....

There's a changing of guard on every hour from 9 to 5 daily, takes place outdoors at the Boulevard ground.

89 steps of stairs, represent Chiang's age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance.

My stamina couldn't keep up with it...Need to pause halfway😂

Nice view halfway though.....

The status of Chiang Kai-shek sitting on the 'throne'...

The ceiling with Kuomintang symbol.

There are elevators inside this memorial hall....if i knew it earlier, i wouldn't 'susah-susah' go climb the stairs😂

Took the elevator to the 3rd floor for the gallery.

There was a calligraphy exhibition going on in the gallery.

Then, I headed down to the 1st floor for more exhibition halls.

This place is like a museum....with displays of artefacts and documents during the days Chiang's in the presidential office.

[Below] A prototype of his office.

His wedding picture with Mdm Chiang.

Official cars.

which is bullet-proof.

Below is the description of the Cadillac cars.

Some of his belongings.

Military attire.

The ceiling of the exhibition hall.

The entrance to the exhibition hall.

A friendly staff/guard told me to take picture of the entrance from a closer distance😂then he went on explaining about the 'patterns' on the ceiling.

Another hall featuring history of their journey to democracy.

Kinda like a history lesson after visiting this exhibition hall....

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After then, I proceed to the next destination.....It was a cloudy day with some drizzling rain and temperature around 19°C

passed by Ketagalan Boulevard.

The Presidential office building....it is not open to visitors after 12, hence i can only view from outside.

it is an old colonial building dated back in 1919.

to be continued...