Excursion The best of taipei capital city tour at Keelung

Explore Taipei's most renowned attractions at a leisurely pace during this full-day orientation tour of the city, with buffet lunch at the landmark Grand Hotel or similar.

Depart the pier for 28-mile (45-kilometre) drive to Taipei City. Your tour commences with a visit to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park, which is dominated by the C.K.S. Memorial Hall, and flanked by the National Concert Hall and National Theatre.

C.K.S. Memorial Hall

Renamed the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, this white marble monument was built in honour of 'Generalissimo' Chiang Kai-shek to house the gigantic bronze statue of Taiwan's first president. The roof of this white marble structure is decorated with deep blue glass tiles, and the surrounding gardens have beautiful flowers year-round. An 89-step staircase on two sides leads to the upper level. The enormous ground floor hall features a museum where you can view exhibits showcasing Chiang's life.

Martyrs' Shrine

Next, your drive proceeds to the Martyrs' Shrine. Built in 1969 to honour the fallen heroes of China's wars, this grand and magnificent monument is an excellent example of classical Ming Dynasty architecture. Situated within an enormous park, the Martyrs' Shrine offers a serene setting against a backdrop of the Chingshan Mountain. During your stop, you may be able to observe the changing of the guard (time- and weather-permitting). Leaving the Martyrs' Shrine, continue on to the National Palace Museum.

National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum is proud evidence that despite Taiwan's emergence as a political entity, at its heart is a Chinese culture thousands of years old. The museum's antique collection comprises some 700,000 pieces, spans almost all of China's entire 5,000-year history and is the world's largest and most priceless treasure house of Chinese art. Many of the objects were part of the Imperial collection, and date from the Sung Dynasty. Exhibits include porcelain, bronze, jade, sculptures, embroidery, calligraphy, paintings, and pottery. The sheer number of displays is overwhelming, and one visit can only provide a glance at this incredible and famous collection.

Lunch at Grand Hotel or similar

Your next stop is the famous Grand Hotel, host to numerous dignitaries since its opening in 1952. With its traditional Palace-style architecture, vermillion pillars, brilliantly-tiled roof and palatial lobby, the Grand Hotel is not only a magnificent Taiwanese landmark, but emblematic of ancient China as well. After a buffet lunch at the hotel's Grand Garden restaurant or similar, your sightseeing tour continues with a visit to one of Taipei's most important temples.

Confucius Temple

Temples to Confucius are a concrete symbol of Chinese Confucian culture. Whilst the oldest of these temples in Shantung dates back 2,000 years, the origins of the Taipei temple can be traced to 1875, when the Qing court established Taipei as a prefecture for Northern Taiwan. During your visit, admire the ornate decorations and learn some facts about the various images.

Leaving the temple, a brief photo stop is made at the Presidential Square's impressive Presidential Office Building before arriving at your final stop, Taipei 101.

Taipei 101

Your visit to Taipei would not be complete without stop for photos and a look at Taipei's most modern architectural accomplishment. This uniquely-designed, 1,666.67-feet-high (508-metre) structure features 101 floors, and is one of the world's tallest buildings. It boasts a high-class, fashionable mall, an incredibly speedy elevator that takes only 37 seconds to reach the Observation Deck on the 89th floor and a food market that rivals the one at Harrods in London. Time permitting, explore the tower or browse the shops.

Afterwards, re-board your coach for the return drive to Keelung Port.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: C.K.S. Memorial Hall, Martyr's Shrine, National Palace Museum, Buffet Lunch at Grand Hotel or similar, Confucius Temple, Presidential Square, Office of the President, Taipei 101

Note

Please note: To visit all of the sites, an extensive amount of walking from the mandatory coach drop-off point is required. At the C.K.S. Memorial Hall there are 89 steps; an elevator is available if needed. Tour does not include a visit to the Observation Deck of Taipei 101 which may be visited independently, time permitting, for a fee, payable in local currency. Large bags are not permitted on the Observation Deck. A visit to Taipei 101 may not possible. The tour sequence may vary. The drive from the pier to Taipei is approximately 45 minutes in each direction.