By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
How else can you enjoy summer in Taipei? The Taipei Department of Information and Tourism has launched the “Riding Through Taipei’s City Gates” themed tour, where Taipei U-Biker Li Lizhong leads participants on a YouBike ride through four major city gates to explore Taipei’s past and present. To allow travelers from all over to experience Taipei’s unique local culture, the Department of Information and Tourism has organized various experiential activities starting May 21, bringing together experts from different fields who transform into “Taipei U-Bikers,” “Taipei Foodies,” “Taipei Nature Lovers,” and “Taipei Trendsetters,” sharing Taipei’s distinctive charm with travel enthusiasts.
Follow Taipei locals to explore the remnants of the city gates.
Starting from the Beimen (North Gate), a national historic site, the route passes by the Futo Street Western-style Building—a Japanese colonial commercial structure—on Yanping North Road, the Zhongshan Hall art and cultural exhibition venue, then continues along Zhonghua Road to the former site of Ximen (West Gate), passes through Aiguo West Road to reach Nanmen (South Gate) and Xiaonanmen (Little South Gate), and finally arrives at Dongmen (East Gate) on Zhongshan South Road. Through cycling, the outline of old Taipei gradually takes shape. The tour not only connects many famous attractions—including Ximendeng (Red House), Xibenyuan Temple, the Presidential Office, and 228 Memorial Peace Park—but also features hidden gems like the Sun Yun-suan Memorial Hall and the Taipei Botanical Garden. The journey ends at the cozy Gongguan area, where participants enjoy a relaxing ride while savoring authentic local delicacies, making the entire trip a rich and fulfilling experience.
The “Riding Through Taipei’s City Gates” activity lets you feel Taipei at a different pace (Photo by Yang Meizhen).
Li Lizhong, a columnist specializing in cycling travel, noted that Taipei currently has four preserved city gates: Beimen, Xiaonanmen, Nanmen, and Dongmen, with Beimen being the only one that fully retains its Qing Dynasty architectural style. These city gates have weathered the passage of time. Following the historical trajectory of the demolished city walls—along streets such as Zhonghua Road, Zhongxiao West Road, Zhongshan South Road, and Aiguo West Road—their stories are carved by time and remembered with nostalgia. The forgotten old city of Taipei seems to come alive again. On weekends, as participants cycle slowly through the city, they listen with great interest and capture moments of this mini adventure with their phones. Riding around the city gates feels like traveling through a time tunnel, witnessing the historical imprints of Taipei’s gates.
Summer is the perfect time to be a one-day Taipei local—start from Beimen and explore the past and present of Taipei through four major city gates (Photo by Yang Meizhen).
Wang Shijia, head of the Urban Tourism Division at the Department of Information and Tourism, said that this year’s theme is “Fresh Experiences for Taipei Travelers,” with many series of events planned. Registration for the experiential activities has been very popular. Through the “Riding Through Taipei’s City Gates” activity, the goal is to offer people a new way to experience Taipei. Additionally, there are two online submission campaigns: “Share Your Taipei Hidden Gems” and “The Ultimate One-Day Taipei Itinerary,” inviting everyone to share their personal experiences and travel routes. Just submit your entries online for a chance to win a variety of great Taipei-themed prizes. For more details, visit the “Fresh Experiences for Taipei Travelers” event website (URL: http://2016.travel.taipei) or the Taipei Tourism website (URL: http://www.travel.taipei/).