If you are a design lover and want to be surrounded by a creative atmosphere, Taipei is another place we would like to recommend you visit as this city hides many places that make art a part of everyday life.

    Starting with the buildings that blend the rich heritage and modern vibe. As a result of the Japanese occupation for 50 years, it is not surprising to see buildings with Japanese influence and Western contemporary architecture while walking around the city. There are also well-maintained sidewalks and plenty of green spaces such as roadside trees and public parks around the city. At the same time, if you look closely, you will find that each neighborhood has old shops side by side with beautiful design shops such as bookstores, cafes, libraries, or small museums. This is in line with the government's support for the development of the city with designers, making Taipei the World Design Capital in 2016.

    The happening team had the opportunity to travel around the different neighborhoods in Taipei and discover interesting art spaces — from small ones to large museums. We would like to take you to explore 20 of the most artistic places in everyday life that reflect why Taipei is a city that art lovers should visit once.

    Formerly a tobacco factory, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is one of two main creative parks in Taipei built before World War II. As time changes and social needs change, this area has been converted into a creative park since 2011, coupled with government policies that begin to see the importance of creativity and soft power. The park has become a base for everyone in the creative and art fields since then.

    Songshan Cultural and Creative Park consists of several exhibition areas, select shops, design labs, film camera stores, snack shops, cafes, and restaurants that are all carefully selected. It is also home to the Taiwan Design Museum and the office of the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI), which is the driving force behind Taiwan's creative work. In a corner of the building, there is also a select shop called "Design Pin", selling products that won the Golden Pin Design Award — a prestigious award for various design products. It is a showcase for creators and designers whose products can be observed and bought.

    Huashan 1914 Creative Park consists of many well-preserved buildings, including two-story office buildings, warehouses for exhibitions and events similar to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, and small shops. The layout of this place includes several select stores, restaurants, and cafes, as well as an arthouse cinema "SPOT Huashan Cinema", which regularly screens art films. This creative park is suitable for a leisure trip. Here are a few examples to give you a rough idea of the fun things to do here.

    Starting with the first shop we saw and usually visit before any other place. It is called "Xiaorizi" (小日子 - Xiaorizi means "one little day"), which is a coffee shop combined with a select shop of a "Xiaorizi" magazine. The store also reminds us of our happening shop, but the products in the store seem to be produced by the publishing itself — giving a cute and homey atmosphere like the content of the magazine that creatively communicates lifestyle content with a focus on the good and beauty of life.

    Another interesting shop is "Weilaishi" (未來市 - Weilaishi means "future market"), a multi-design product store that displays the products in carts. The products include ceramics, fabric, postcards, art toys, clothing, cosmetics, stationery, and sunglasses as well as products from overseas such as Japan. The famous fabric art print "InBlooom", the Taiwanese printed fabric brand that we have been admiring for its continuous growth, is also sold in this store.

    One of our favorite bookstores in Taipei is also located in this creative park. The name of the store is "Bleu&Book", hidden on the second floor of the building. It is a small bookstore filled with stunning art books, works of literature, architecture books, travel books, young adult books, postcards, and magazines. Most of the books are in Chinese, but there are also some English magazines. A small corner of the shop is a display of Verse magazine, a beautiful Taiwanese lifestyle magazine. Our favorite thing about the store is the atmosphere that invites you to sit and read books in a quiet setting while taking a sip of your favorite drinks and slowly enjoying a piece of cake in the morning when the sunlight shines through the windows and beautifully reflects the store space.

    "Wooderful Life", a famous Taiwanese music box brand, is also here. The brand features wooden music boxes that have grown so prominently that they successfully have several collaboration projects with many global brands (such as Disney). People who like jingles and cute things will enjoy walking inside this store for hours. We can have fun when choosing the different types of wooden figures for the music box ourselves, such as characters, trees, animals, and many more.

    Let's end the day at the creative park with a shop that music lovers must not miss, it is a record shop and bar called "Vinyl Decision". The whole shop is filled with second-hand records. International music records are organized alphabetically and full of rock music in its heyday (such as The Beatles, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, etc.). The store also displays cabinets that hold jazz, Latin, R&B, and classical music records. The records here are carefully selected and sold at a reasonable price. Whether you come here to find records or just for drinks and music, you will surely have a good time.

    "Pon Ding" is an art bookstore beloved by many (including the happening team). Located in a small alley in the Zhongshan district, Pon Ding started its business in 2016. The owner, who has experience in publication and art events organization, decided to open this space. She shared with us that when she was setting up the store, a typhoon hit Taipei, causing the roof to turn into a water pond. Inspired by this, she named the bookstore "Pon Ding," translating to "water pond," and hoped that people from around the world would come to build up this "pond" together.

    The three-story space includes a bookstore on the first floor, featuring art books and design-related publications mostly in English, with a mix of Taiwanese and Japanese books. The unique and well-arranged display of books makes them exceptional. When combined with cute design products such as fabric bags, ceramics, postcards, and art pieces, the store is filled with a creative vibe.

    This is a stationery store that captures the hearts of stationery enthusiasts. "TOOLS to LIVEBY" is not large; it's a small, one-story stationery store located in the Da'an district. Positioned in a small courtyard with a tiny public garden in the center, the store is filled with a variety of stationery items from renowned brands worldwide. The products include pens, pencils, notebooks, notepads, paper clips, scissors, storage boxes, paper envelopes, colors, and inks (including the Thai brand GreyRay). Everything is beautifully arranged with detailed labels and prices as if we were at an art exhibition. Orange lights and displays of complement vintage equipment such as old metal cabinets, antique typewriters, and stylish wooden desks, make these stationery items even more exceptional. As a stationery enthusiast, the store produces its own products, including scissors, triangular rulers, dual-headed pens, and fountain pens.

    Let's move a bit further into to Chang An area, "The One Bookstore" is a cozy bookstore situated within the warm hostel called "Flip Flop". Driven by the intention to create a space for learning and sharing experiences with travelers, The One Bookstore has become a small bookstore filled with a diverse selection of books. Whether it is short stories, documentaries, biographies of famous artists like David Bowie or Ryuichi Sakamoto, or cool art books, you can find them all here. Some books even come with short recommendations from the staff and customers who have visited the place, serving as a guideline for future travelers. This small gem of communication through books can warmly connect individuals.

    Many might be familiar with the Dadaocheng district as an old town area rich in food, antiques, and cultural heritage and architecture in Taiwan. However, hidden within this old building, there is a bookstore and café waiting to be discovered.

    "Kuo's Astral Bookshop" revitalizes an old building with warm wooden tones while preserving the traditional architectural design. The interior is divided into five zones, starting with the ground floor of the books zone, categorizing Taiwanese books for customer convenience. Small reading nooks are also available. Walking past the courtyard, you will find the café with relaxing seating areas. The entire space is also beautifully decorated with art pieces.

     As you move up to the second floor, you will encounter displayed remnants of the building's history, such as old tiles and original signs. If you have children with you, they will surely enjoy the international book section and the family activity zone filled with colorful children's books. An attic on the third floor has been transformed into a small art exhibition space that showcases traveling artworks throughout the year. A small book section will feature books related to the ongoing exhibition at the time.

    For families and children, the international book zone and the family activity zone, filled with adorable children's books, await. The under-roof room on the third floor has been transformed into a small art exhibition space that changes periodically throughout the year. The small bookshelf on this floor also serves as a guide to books closely related to ongoing art exhibitions.

    Here's a little secret: For those who are done exploring the bookstore, there is Hsiahai City God Temple (台北霞海城隍廟) located nearby that is widely known as a temple for love and matchmaking.

    It is not very often to come across a letterpress printing studio that is still in operation in this era of rapid technological growth. Driven by a passion for design and print as an interior designer, he was determined to explore the world of vintage printing houses. This inspiration led to the establishment of "A Letterpress", a shop offering printing and typesetting services to the general public. If you look carefully, the shop's logo features a small gimmick — it cleverly flips the character 印 (read as "yìn"), which means "print."

    Stepping inside the shop, the individual letter pieces, various symbols, and printed samples immediately captured our attention. The owner intends to modernize typesetting and make it a part of people's daily lives. The shop provides custom business card typesetting services based on customer preferences. You can walk in and choose your preferred letter pieces, the store will arrange and set them into printing plates for immediate use. The store's unique typesetting machine has even won the Good Design Awards 2017 for the printing category.

     Amidst the refreshing shade of trees along the sidewalks of North Zhongshan Road, a two-story white building with Western-style architecture invites us to go have a look. "SPOT Taipei" was once the American Institute in Taiwan before closing in 1979 and renovated as the Taipei Film House — the nation's first national cinema. This building serves as a cultural and cinematic hall in Taiwan and eventually expands to include exhibition spaces, an art gallery, a small cinema, a restaurant, and a bookstore specializing in Taiwanese films and culture.

    The ground floor is divided into two sections, with a ticket counter and a central staircase. On the left side, there is a glass-walled restaurant called "Youmou to Ohana Coffee" (羊毛與花 ‧ 光點) as a relaxing and meeting place for visitors. On the right side is "SPOT Design", a store that sells designed daily-life items, including books, films, T-shirts, bags, umbrellas, socks, and more, decorated with unique designs inspired by both local and international artists.

    Let's dive into the world of cameras with SNAPPP, a store brimming with both film and digital photography equipment from the entrance to the end of the wall. With a unique and detailed interior design, this store has become an eye-catching spot for many travelers. SNAPPP is located not far from Huashan 1914 Creative Park which is conveniently accessible by foot.

    For those passionate about film photography, SNAPPP offers disposable film cameras and various films with a book of film samples for you to have a look at before purchasing. The store also provides film development services. If you are more into digital photography, the store offers plenty of accessories, including lenses, camera straps, and camera bags, for you to personalize and decorate your beloved camera. Those who are tagging along can enjoy exploring accessories hidden in several corners of the store. And if you need to take a break, let's relax for a while by playing with the store's cat.

    Moreover, SNAPPP offers its own-produced goods, including T-shirts, hats, and film cameras with adorable dog patterns. Also, there is another branch called "SNAPPP x Smile (韓式拍貼赤峰店)" located in the Zhongshan area, offering sticker photo booths for you to enjoy with your friends.

    The Museum of World Religion is another recommended destination that invites visitors to explore the intriguing history of religions. As you step inside, the long corridor leading to the edge of the building and the water curtains are there to welcome you. When taking the elevator to the exhibition zone, you will encounter a walkway adorned with quotes that remind you of life's journey. There, museum staff will take you to a small theater where short films are screened to get visitors ready before moving to exhibitions. The museum is divided into two main sections: Permanent Exhibitions and Rotating Exhibitions.

    Starting with the Permanent Exhibitions, it is divided into three main parts. First is the "Hall of Life's Journey," which explores the origin of humanity. Next is the "MWR Kids & Teens" zone, providing interactive activities for children. The third part is the "Great Hall of World Religions," presenting rituals and beliefs alongside everyday items, showcasing the cultural diversity of people from around the world. The highlights of this zone include architectural models of iconic religious landmarks, such as Notre Dame Cathedral and Stonehenge, adorned with intricate and impressive details.

    Here is another place that stands as the largest collection of photography books in Taiwan! Established in 2016 as a community library, Lightbox serves as a hub for photographers and enthusiasts to gather and explore the art of photography. Previously, Taiwan had organized numerous photography exhibitions and activities, but there was no organization dedicated to preserving the works of these artists. With support from the government, an old building in the Datong district was transformed into a public space for the community, named Lightbox, welcoming both financial contributions and book donations from the public.

    While we haven't had the opportunity to see a performance in the theater, exploring the interior and admiring the architecture of the Taipei Performing Arts Center was already an impressive experience. This Taiwanese performing arts hub offers a diverse range of programs and activities for all ages and interests.

    Designed by renowned architects Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of OMA, the building stands out with its contemporary appearance, featuring a spherical cube housing the Globe Playhouse theater with more than 800 seats. The surrounding areas of the building are adorned with curved transparent walls. Inside, the proportions are well-balanced with a public space for people to relax. There is a large theater that can accommodate over 1,500 people, as well as accommodation spaces for actors who come to perform each night. The facility also includes dining & beverage shops (whose owner also owns a magazine), such as the VERSE bar, and a bookstore.

    The intersection of Art, City, and Future — this is the essence of the Jut Art Museum (JAM), supported by the Jut Foundation for Arts and Architecture (JFAA). Established by Jut Land Development in 2007, the museum aims to present perspectives and ideas through art within a compact space.

    For those interested in the themes of city life and the future, you will likely fall in love with the captivating artworks exhibited in this venue. Under the concept of "A Better Tomorrow," the museum features a large modern green entrance that takes you on a journey to explore life in a growing and evolving city. Amidst the ever-changing technology, artists in the exhibition have contemplated and posed questions about the future of humanity, marking it the main idea of their creative process.

    The Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) is a must-visit for art enthusiasts when in Taipei. Established in 1983, TFAM is the city's first museum dedicated to contemporary art. The distinctive multi-layered rectangular architecture, with its large, soaring entrance hall and expansive glass walls, makes the building a standout architectural landmark.

    Upon entering TFAM, visitors are welcomed by a spacious lobby with high ceilings, large windows, and breezy air conditioning — signing that exciting art exploration awaits. When purchasing tickets, visitors can explore the exhibition spaces across three above-ground floors and one underground floor. The exhibition hall is not a massive singular space but a series of interconnected rectangular rooms. This arrangement leads to a diverse and engaging curation of artworks. For example, the first room might feature 2D visual art, followed by video art in another, and then a curated installation art in the next.

    During our visit, TFAM was hosting the Taipei Biennial 2023 under the "Small World" theme. The concept behind the theme explores the interconnectedness of the world and different cultures in various dimensions. It can be worth exploring as the word "Small World" can also convey the notion of a "narrow world" at the same time if people are not connected. What is impressive to us is that TFAM's team carefully selects various artworks from artists of different backgrounds to showcase the rich content of contemporary art. This reflects their organization to receive sufficient financial support for hosting a national-level art exhibition.

    From an old village on a hill, the area of the Treasure Hill Artist Village was once the military base for the Kuomintang after World War II before gradually becoming an unlawfully occupied community. Eventually, the government joined hands with the community and NGOs in the art fields to turn this area into a project that welcomes artists to stay, work, exhibit, and engage in activities since 2010.

    The fun and excitement of visiting Treasure Hill Artist Village lie in the nature of the community with old houses overlapping on the hill. Exploring the whole project means navigating through alleys, climbing up and down the stairs, and wandering around to see various houses. Some houses are residences for artists, some have been modified into galleries for exhibitions, and others have transformed into cool hidden eateries. Although a detailed map is available, exploring the village requires a sense of adventure.

    The artwork here is presented in several spaces, whether exhibited in old houses turned galleries, within purpose-built structures, or on walls you pass by. THAV's beauty also lies in its longstanding existence. The old buildings with signs of wear and tear are interspersed with plants — perennial, ornamental, and potted varieties — breathing life into the area. For those who appreciate capturing images of old structures and trees, this place offers several picturesque spots. Plus, if you reach higher points on the hill, you will be rewarded with stunning city views and a riverfront panorama.

    The long, red-brick building along the streets of Taipei's Zhongshan District once served as an elementary school under Japanese rule in 1921 before being renovated into the Taipei City Hall. In 1996, this historical building was transformed into the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (MOCA Taipei), becoming the first public contemporary art museum in Taiwan. Although roles have changed, what remains unchanged is the outstanding contemporary structure and architecture, reflecting the government's intention to preserve the old building.

    The museum offers an interesting arrangement of exhibition spaces, starting with a small gift shop at the entrance selling unique designs. As we walk further, there are lockers and small-scale exhibition rooms before entering the main exhibition area. Along the staircase, there is a corner showcasing short videos for visitors to get to know the artists.