大安森林公园

With a vast and scenic lake and various sports areas, the Daan Forest Park covers 64 acres (26 hectares) of the city center of Taipei in a layer of green. Labyrinthine trails interconnect across this picturesque terrain, leading to various landmarks and attractions. Visit Daan Forest Park and venture into its center where you’ll forget the hubbub of the urban core.

Join the fitness fanatics using the site’s sports facilities for daily exercise. Consider going for a jog with your friends around the loop or skating on the rink. Bring supplies for a picnic by the lake and watch people practicing tai chi, ballroom dancing and other hobbies.

Lining the many trails are colorful floral displays and all types of trees, including maple, camphor and cajeput. Watch a dramatic performance or concert in the amphitheater.

Reconnect with nature by getting a closer look at the wildlife inhabiting the park, from squirrels and ducks to turtles and egrets. Let your kids frolic in the children’s playground, which features a seesaw and a large sandpit. Walk around the edges of the park and gaze up at the deluxe high-rise apartment blocks, resembling the buildings around Central Park in New York.

Admire the glasshouse-like design of Daan Park Station and sit with a book on one of its benches. Its architectural aesthetic has made the station an attraction in its own right. It is free to enter.

Daan Forest Park is right in the center of the Daan district, a little west of central Taipei. Ride the metro to Daan Park Station at the northern boundary of the park. You can also drive and leave your vehicle in the subterranean parking lot.

While you’re in this part of the city, stop at some of the other nearby gems, such as the Former Residence of Yin Hai-Kuang, Yongkang Park and the Remains of Taipei Prison Wall.