Sprawling south-west of Taipei, Zhonghe District is an inner-city area home to one of the largest communities of Burmese Chinese outside of Burma. It was originally settled by indigenous tribes and remained largely rural until a flourish of growth in the wake of World War II.
Things to do in Zhonghe District
Offering magnificent views across Taipei is the Hongludi Nanshan Fude Temple, which is home to the largest Earth God statue in Taiwan. Rising atop Nanshijiao Mountain, the Buddhist temple is elaborately adorned with statues of dragons and gilded prayer wheels. Be sure to touch the ingot of the two-metre-tall Earth God statue, which is said to bring prosperity.
From Hongludi Nanshan Fude Temple, you can follow the scenic trail that leads to the summit of Nanshijiao Mountain for exceptional panoramas across Taipei. Along the Chaicheng Trail, the views stretch to the Dahan and Xindian river valleys, all the way to Guanyin Mountain and the Tatun Volcano Group on a clear day.
On the eastern edge of Zhonghe District is 823 Memorial Park, which centres around a monument commemorating victory in the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. Encompassing 10 hectares, it’s the largest park in the district, with leafy walking trails, basketball courts and a children’s playground among its attractions. The 823 Memorial Park is also home to the National Taiwan Library, which boasts a large collection of books related to the cultural history of Taiwan.
Getting around Zhonghe District
Zhonghe District is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Taipei and 40 minutes from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. It’s served by the Zhonghe-Xinlu and Circular lines of the Taipei Metro, with nine stations dotted throughout the district. A network of public buses also serves Zhonghe District.