Cherry Blossoms at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Shine in Metro Sightseeing Spots

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Taiwan has entered the peak of cherry blossom season, with many popular viewing spots inevitably crowded on holidays. If you’d rather not trek into the mountains and still want easy access via convenient metro lines, the cherry blossom grove at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a great urban choice for spring flower viewing. Over 200 cherry trees bloom successively, showcasing 11 varieties that are a feast for the eyes, attracting both domestic and international tourists to stop and admire.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the must-visit attractions for foreign tourists in Taiwan. Many are impressed by the main memorial building, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Archway, and the National Theater and National Concert Hall on either side. However, the landscaped gardens around the memorial hall are seldom mentioned — and that’s where the breathtaking cherry blossoms are.

On the right side of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, near the Daxiao Gate, there is a large area of Shuzenji Zakura with soft, pretty pastel colors that bloom beautifully in late February. Heading to the back of the main hall, you can enjoy varieties such as Oyama Zakura and Kawazu Zakura, along with vast expanses of mountain cherry groves. On the left side of the hall, near the Dazhong Gate, you’ll find Ohanami Zakura. The garden on the side of Aiguo East Road features vividly colored Yaezakura, and amidst the cherry groves, visitors eagerly capture the beautiful blossoms with their cameras and phones. The flower bed in the rainwater collection area has a stone monument inscribed with “Cherry Blossoms of Friendship,” where seven varieties of Japanese cherry trees are planted. The large lawns on both sides of the felt flower beds are home to two types of cherry trees: Sunshine and Kawazu.