Recommended One-Day Itinerary to Explore Two Major Lantern Festivals Around Beimen and Yongkang Street

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

The 2016 Taipei Lantern Festival started on February 20 at the Taipei Expo’s Yuanshan Park, launching a ten-day lantern art celebration. Below are two recommended one-day itineraries for the Taipei Lantern Festival. In addition to the currently popular Beimen area, you can also explore Yongkang Street’s unique shops and taste local cuisine. This makes it an ideal trip for families or couples.

[Suggested Itinerary 1] Beimen, Futing Street Western-Style Building → Pinmo Lianghang → Yongkang Street Mango Shaved Ice → Yin Hai Guang’s Former Residence → Lunch at Xiao Cha Zai Tang → Lantern Viewing at Yuanshan Park Lantern Festival → Dinner at Shilin Night Market

● Beimen, Futing Street Western-Style Building

Beimen, officially known as Cheng’en Gate, was the main gate of Taipei Prefecture City during the Qing Dynasty. Today, it stands as one of the few remaining examples of a Minnan-style fortress gate in the world. Nestled amid the bustling streets of Taipei, it perfectly embodies the contrast between old and new. The street leading to Beimen within the city includes Beimen Street (now Bo’ai Road), as well as Futing Street (now Yanping South Road), which got its name because the governor’s office was located here. During the Qing Dynasty, most administrative offices were situated in this area. Under Japanese rule, the area was planned as Dahan-chō, but the name Futing Street remained. The dismantling of the city walls led to the commercial development of Dadaocheng, which was originally outside the city, thereby spurring the emergence of modern Western-style buildings in Taipei. The Futing Street Western-Style Building is one of the few surviving historical structures from that time.

During this Lunar New Year period, the Taipei City Government undertook the historic project of demolishing the Zhongxiao Bridge from Lunar New Year’s Eve to the seventh day of the New Year. After the demolition, the over 130-year-old Beimen will be fully revealed, becoming a core highlight of the city’s cultural identity and restoring the old-city charm of Beimen. This complex and challenging demolition involved high-precision engineering, related traffic management plans, the protection of a national historic site, and the revival of cultural imagery. Post-demolition, the road alignment of Zhongxiao West Road from Zhongxiao Bridge to Taipei Main Station has been significantly altered, improving driving conditions and providing more pedestrian-friendly spaces. This allows citizens and tourists from around the world to leisurely stroll from Taipei Main Station to Beimen Plaza, immersing themselves in the heritage of cultural landmarks.

[Info]

Location of Beimen: Intersection of Zhongxiao West Road, Yanping South Road, and Bo’ai Road, Taipei City

Futing Street Western-Style Building

Address: No. 26, Yanping South Road, Taipei City

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00

Contact Number: 02-23148080

● Pinmo Lianghang

This is a unique shop located within the Yongkang Shopping Area. It has been featured on Japan’s NHK travel program, promoting Taiwanese cultural creativity. In addition to selling everyday items with great design, the store also offers many experimental products full of creative ideas. Besides shopping, you can create your own postcards and notebooks here—from choosing paper to deciding covers and bindings, allowing you to craft something uniquely your own.

[Info]

Address: No. 10, Lane 75, Yongkang Street, Da’an District, Taipei City

Business Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–7:00 PM

Contact Number: (02) 2396-8366

● Yongkang Street Mango Shaved Ice

No matter the weather—windy or rainy—it never seems to dampen visitors’ enthusiasm for heading to No. 15, Yongkang Street, to enjoy mango shaved ice. From the once-familiar mango shaved ice shop of childhood memories to the current “Smiles Yongkang Street No. 15,” although the store’s decor may have changed and the flavor might vary slightly, what remains constant is the shop’s enduring popularity. Taiwanese creativity in food knows no bounds—for example, blending mango into snowflake ice, then topping it with a colorful array of fruits and a whole block of cheese. It’s not only visually delightful but also adds a rich, creamy texture that enhances the overall taste.