Cherry Blossom Viewing by MRT: Spring Blooms at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots & Travel Life Network, Zhang Yingying

From January onwards, cherry blossom fever sweeps across Taiwan. Many popular viewing spots inevitably get crowded on weekends and holidays. If you’d rather not venture deep into the mountains and still want an easy, convenient trip via the MRT, the cherry blossom grove at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a great urban choice for spring flower appreciation. Over 200 cherry trees bloom in succession, showcasing 11 different varieties that are a feast for the eyes, attracting both domestic and international tourists.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the must-visit attractions for foreign tourists coming to Taiwan. Many are impressed by the main memorial building, the Freedom Square archway, and the National Theater and National Concert Hall on either side. However, the landscaped gardens surrounding the hall are rarely mentioned—and that’s where the cherry blossom beauty lies.

On the right side of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, near the Great Filial Piety Gate, there is a large area of Winter-flowering cherry trees with soft, delicate pink hues that are truly gorgeous, typically blooming in late February. Heading to the back of the main hall, you can admire varieties such as the Okame cherry and Kawazu cherry, along with a vast expanse of wild mountain cherry trees. On the left side of the main hall, near the Great Loyalty Gate, there are Late blooming cherry trees. The garden on the side of Aiguo East Road features vividly colored double-flowered cherry blossoms. Amidst the cherry groves, visitors eagerly take out their cameras and phones to capture the beautiful blooms. In the flower bed of the rainwater collection area, there is a stone monument inscribed with “Friendship Cherry Trees,” where seven varieties of Japanese cherry trees are planted. The two large lawns on either side of the felt-flower bed are home to two types of cherry trees: Sunshine and Kawazu.