What to do and see in New Taipei City

Banqiao

Banqiao is the most important district in New Taipei City, so much so that it even has a high-speed train stop. It is easily accessible by subway (Banqiao stop, MRT blue line, about 25 minutes from the center of Taipei) and as soon as you get off you will see that its buildings are modern and imposing. Right where the subway leaves you, you have the City Park and Panchiao Wanping Park, which especially at Christmas are super lively.

If you cross the street (not towards the park but towards the other side of the station), you will find a square where Christmas Land is installed in winter. Not that it is anything special, but it is fine to walk at night with all the lights and the Christmas atmosphere. Makes you feel at home! Right there is the New Taipei City hall. You can enter and go up to the 32nd floor where there is a free observatory to see incredible views of Taipei, New Taipei City and the river. It is worth going to see the sunset here! Although at Christmas it can be really crowded (if you go at Christmas, better go before sunset). It is open until 11.

Our recommendation is to go in the morning to see the Lin Family Mansion, have lunch at the Banqiao stop, spend the afternoon at the Banqiao 435 Art Zone, and return to the Banqiao stop to see the sunset from the city hall building and see the atmosphere of Christmas Land if it is Christmas.

Lin Family Mansion and Garden:

It is an old mansion from the 19th century with a beautiful Chinese garden. Several generations of wealthy families who came from China to do business in Taiwan stayed at this fabulous mansion. When China lost the Anglo-China War and had to cede Taiwan to the Japanese at the beginning of the 20th century, the inhabitants of the mansion fled to China, and little by little it was abandoned. In the 1970s the Taipei government decided to restore it and open it to the public.

Hours: 09.00-17.00 (closed on the first Monday of each month)
Cost: 80 NTD
How to get there: MRT blue line, Fuzhong stop. From here it is 8min walking.

Banqiao 435 Art Zone:

Banqiao 435 Art Zone is one of the typical creative parks in Taiwan. Children love to play in the pebble area, paint with chalk on the floor (they sell the chalk right there), see the graffiti on the walls, play in the playground and above all, enter the Toy Museum of Taiwan. More than a museum, it is a collection of super old toys (the kind you find at your grandmother's house), but children love it, and they can play with all of them. In addition, they usually make crafts that they can sign up for for the same price of admission.

Hours: 09.00-17.00 (the Toy Museum opens from 10.00-17.00 and closes on Mondays).
Cost: the creative park is free, 50 NTD pp for the Museum.
How to get there: from Banqiao MRT stop, you can take a shared motorcycle or bike, or take bus 310 or 307 (both also pass by the Lin Family Mansion and Garden). An Uber or taxi can take you in 5min (about 100 NTD).

What to do and see in New Taipei City

Banqiao

Lin Family Mansion and Garden:

Banqiao 435 Art Zone:

Before you go...