4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
“Multidisciplinary Innovation in Academic Research”
(MIAR-2018)
Conference Main Theme: “ Multidisciplinary Innovation Research For Sustainability and Better Service To Humanity ”
Local Attractions
Some Of the Tourist Spots:
National Palace Museum Home to the world’s largest and arguably finest collection of Chinese art, this vast collection covers treasures in painting, calligraphy, statuary, bronzes, lacquerware, ceramics, jade and religious objects. Some of the most popular items, such as the famous jade cabbage, are always on display – although check first that it’s not on loan to the southern branch in Chiayi. Given the size of the museum’s collection, much is on rotation, however.
Taipei 101 Towering above the city like the gigantic bamboo stalk it was designed to resemble, Taipei 101 is impossible to miss. At 508m, Taipei 101 held the title of ‘world’s tallest building’ for a number of years. Until 2011 it held the title of the world’s tallest green building.
The park also protects the largest euphorbia candelabrum forest in Africa. These tall branching succulents are endemic to the region and provide an interesting textural element to the arid landscapes.
Ticket sales are on the 5th floor of the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall. The pressure-controlled lift up is quite a rush; at 1010m per minute it takes a mere 40 seconds to get from ground level to the 89th-floor observation deck. Observation decks are on the 88th and 89th floors, with an outdoor deck on the 91st floor opened on some occasions, weather permitting. Don’t miss the massive gold-coloured iron wind damper that keeps the tower stable through typhoons and earthquakes.
In the basement is a decent food court, and the first five floors are taken up by one of Taipei’s swankiest malls.
Dihua Street This former ‘Centre Street’ has long been known for its Chinese medicine shops, fabric market and lively Lunar New Year sundry market. After a decade of restoration, the street has also become a magnet for young entrepreneurs eager to breathe new life into the neighbourhood with cafes, restaurants, art studios and antique shops.
Díhuà Jiē was constructed in the 1850s after merchants on the losing side of an ethnic feud (over different groups’ ancestor origins – all too common in Taiwan’s history) in the Wanhua area fled to Dadaocheng (now Datong). The merchants prospered here (and some might say got their revenge) as the Wanhua port, further downstream, eventually silted up.
After Taiwan’s ports were opened following the Second Opium War (1856–60), Western tea merchants flooded into the area and built handsome mansions and trading stores. Later, during the Japanese era, baroque and modernist architectural and decorative touches were added to many shops, making Dihua Taipei’s most historically diverse street. The first house/shop on the street is at 156 Dihua St, Sec 1. Notice its low profile and narrow arcades. Further up the street, near Minquan W Rd, are typical shops from the late 19th century with arched windows and wide arcades. Closer to Yongle Market are the Western-style merchant houses and shops renovated during Japanese times.
On the 8th and 9th floors of Yongle Market is Dadaocheng Theatre, a popular venue for traditional performances.
Bao’an Temple Recipient of a Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for both its restoration and its revival of temple rites and festivities, the Bao’an Temple is a must-visit when in Taipei. This exquisite structure is loaded with prime examples of the traditional decorative arts, and the yearly folk arts festival is a showcase of traditional performance arts.
The temple was founded in 1760 by immigrants from Quanzhou, Fujian province, and its modern size and design began to take shape in 1805. The main resident god is Baosheng Dadi (Saint Wu), a historical figure revered for his medical skills. The rear shrine is dedicated to Shengnong, the god of agriculture.
From 1995 to 2002, the temple underwent its largest renovation project ever. Under sound management (the board of directors are all university professors), skilled artisans were employed and top-quality materials used. In addition, the temple began holding an annual folk arts festival (called Baosheng Cultural Festival) from March to June, which includes the Five Day Completion Rituals to Thank Gods (essentially to transform the temple from an everyday to a sacred space), the gods’ birthday celebrations, lion dances, parades, Taiwanese opera performances and even free Chinese medicine clinics. See the temple’s website or the Taipei City Government’s website (www.taipei.gov.tw) for dates of events, all of which are free.
Huashan 1914 Creative Park Borrowing from Western urban regeneration models, this early 20th-century wine factory has been restored into Taipei’s most retro-chic venue. Remodelled warehouses now hold live music performances, shops sell innovative Taiwanese-designed products, and a host of stylish restaurants, cafes and bars will have you loving the ambience as much as the food. Don’t forget SPOT around the back, Taipei’s best independent cinema.
The factory opened in 1916 as a private wine-making facility, and was finally shuttered in 1987. The area would likely be just another block of overpriced city apartments today if not for arts groups, which discovered, in 1997, that the old factory provided a perfect venue for performances, workshops and installations (the warehouses are spacious, have high ceilings and are flooded with natural light).
In 2003, after years of pressure, the city gave management of Huashan to the Council for Cultural Affairs. After a multiyear restoration Huashan emerged as a popular gathering spot for families and hipsters alike, a source of urban pride, and a venue for both the promotion and dissemination of new ideas about both art and urban living.
The factory grounds are open 24/7, but hours for individual shops, restaurants and performance venues vary. There’s an information centre near the front as you face the grounds off Bade Rd.
