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The beauty of old trees in green shade – the green Taipei of our dreams

Published: 2026-09-24 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-09-24 — With a gentle breeze, how long has it been since you basked in the sunlight filtering through the leaves? The green streets of Taipei are among the most cherished memories for many locals. The sense of openness these green spaces bring can lend the city a fresh new look, allowing residents to fully embrace the rhythm of nature and life...

With a gentle breeze, how long has it been since you basked in the sunlight filtering through the leaves? The green streets of Taipei are among the most cherished memories for many locals. The sense of openness these green spaces bring can lend the city a fresh new look, allowing residents who live within them to fully feel the rhythm of nature and life.

Traditional Japanese houses carry a deeply nostalgic charm.

Li Qingzhi, currently a full-time associate professor in the Department of Spatial Design at Shih Chien University and also a well-known columnist, particularly admires the beauty of traditional Japanese architecture and the greenery of old trees. "These kinds of old Japanese homes, gardens, and beautifully aged, character-rich trees are becoming increasingly rare in Taipei. A few can still be seen around Qingtian Street, Wenzhou Street, Yongkang Street, as well as at the Mayor’s Residence on Xuzhou Road. An entire row of connected traditional Japanese buildings on Qidong Street has also begun to receive attention for preservation."

In addition, Xinzhuang Beitou offers a green space filled with traditional Japanese architecture and shaded areas of old trees, including Japanese-style gardens, hot spring inns, the Hot Spring Museum, and the Thermal Valley Park — all beloved green retreats where Li Qingzhi enjoys spending his leisure time. "Especially in the park, there are tall, beautiful trees, many of which were planted back during the Japanese colonial period, stretching all the way up the mountain and forming a quite expansive urban green belt." Although Taipei City has started preserving old trees and putting management systems in place, many of these trees still undergo artificial pruning and have not been fully maintained in their natural state.

The Qingtian Street area of Taipei City is home to many old houses and green trees.

When encountering such alleys filled with classic architecture and lush foliage, Li Qingzhi will ride his folding bike or take a walk to explore. These narrow alleys, due to limited vehicle access, become tranquil green oases. Speaking about the impact of tree planting on architectural and urban aesthetics, Li Qingzhi specifically mentions Café No. 2 on Zhongshan North Road as an example. Originally, there was a camphor tree at the entrance of this classic house, which was purposely preserved during renovation. This single tree brought the entire building to life. "It makes a huge difference whether there are trees or not. As for the city with the best greening? Kyoto goes without saying, but even modern Tokyo shows that a great deal of effort has gone into green infrastructure."

After World War II, Tokyo began actively planting cherry blossom trees and creating large urban parks and green spaces for spring flower viewing, such as Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku Gyoen. Cherry trees are often planted along ditches or small waterways, forming numerous green corridors within the city. Additionally, Tokyo has put much thought into street tree planning — for instance, the elegant zelkova trees on Omotesando change leaf color with the seasons, adding a romantic touch to the streets and buildings. "Tokyo has several large 'reien' — that is, Japanese cemeteries — including Aoyama Reien and Yanaka Reien. There was once talk of relocating them, but they were ultimately preserved and transformed into parks." Once turned into parks, these sites became some of the best spots in Tokyo for flower viewing. Aoyama Reien is widely regarded by Tokyo residents as the top place to admire cherry blossoms, forming a romantically breathtaking tunnel of blooms.

Large swaths of green space and parks are becoming harder to find in modern cities.

Regarding future greening efforts in Taipei, Li Qingzhi offers two suggestions: build more parks and plant more trees. "State-owned land inherently belongs to all citizens. Reducing land sales and instead developing parks to increase green space and improve citizens’ quality of life is a long-term strategy that benefits future greening efforts." However, planting more trees is relatively a simpler and more feasible approach. "Street trees have a significant impact on the overall character of a neighborhood or city." For example, the tree cover in the Minsheng community gives the area a distinct green ambiance. Li Qingzhi suggests planting seasonal flowering trees or those that change color throughout the year, such as Taiwanese sourwood or kapok, rather than just evergreen species.

Urban planning abroad has long incorporated the concept of parks. Take Central Park in Manhattan, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, or the century-old large parks in London — these green spaces are vital breathing rooms for the city. In London’s parks, you can even find untouched forests, streams, and lakes in their most natural forms. New York’s Central Park also includes conservation areas that preserve lakes and wetlands. In comparison, Taipei originally had fewer parks and green belts, and many of these parks are cluttered with artificial concrete structures that consume precious natural space. Roaming around Taipei City, if we could often enjoy the shade of green trees and stroll through life infused with vitality, how wonderful that would be. We look forward to it.