Zhongshan (中山) is the stylish, grown-up neighborhood just north of Taipei Main Station: department stores and hotels along Nanjing West Road, and behind them a web of quiet lanes full of small cafes, boutiques and old workshops. It is the best part of town for an easy afternoon of coffee, browsing and a gallery, and the MRT puts it minutes from everything.
- MRT Zhongshan Station (Red Line, R11 / Green Line, G14); Shuanglian Station (Red Line, R12) for the north end
- Best time afternoon and early evening
- How long two to four hours
Getting there
Take the Red Line or the Green Line to Zhongshan Station (R11 / G14), one stop from Taipei Main Station on the Red Line. Shuanglian Station (R12) is the next stop north, and the neighborhood runs between the two.
What to see
Chifeng Street (赤峰街). Once known as Taipei's "iron street" for its scrap metal dealers, mechanics and auto parts shops, Chifeng Street and its lanes now mix the remaining workshops with cafes, vintage shops and small restaurants. It runs parallel to the park, just west of Zhongshan Station.
Zhongshan Linear Park (心中山線形公園). The long strip of green above the MRT line between Zhongshan and Shuanglian stations, lined with shops and cafes. It is a pleasant way to walk between the two stations, and it often hosts weekend markets and events.
MOCA Taipei (台北當代藝術館). Taipei's Museum of Contemporary Art fills a red-brick building that was Jan Cheng Elementary School in the Japanese era and then Taipei City Hall from 1945 to 1993. It became a museum in 2001, and it still shares the site with a school. Exhibitions change through the year.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 (tickets sold until 17:30). Closed Mondays.
- Entry: NT$100 general admission.
- Address: No. 39, Chang'an West Road, Datong District.
- MRT: Zhongshan Station (R11 / G14), Exit 6, then about 5 minutes on foot along Lane 64, Nanjing West Road.
SPOT Taipei Film House (光點台北). A white mansion on Zhongshan North Road that was home to six US ambassadors between 1950 and 1979. Restored and opened in 2002 as an art-house cinema backed by director Hou Hsiao-hsien's film association, it has a small cinema, a cafe and a bookshop. It is at No. 18, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, beside Zhongshan Station. For Taipei's bigger cinemas, English subtitles and booking a seat online, see going to the movies in Taipei.
Nearby night market. Ningxia Night Market, famous for traditional Taiwanese snacks, is a short walk west of Shuanglian Station. → Ningxia Night Market on NightMarket.tw
Where to eat
Chi Chia Chuang (Changchun Road) (雞家莊) is a 2026 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand pick at No. 55, Changchun Road. It is a Taiwanese restaurant built around chicken, using young birds for tender meat, and known for three-cup chicken. It is a walk east of Zhongshan Station and suits a group dinner.
A short walking order
- Start at MOCA Taipei (Zhongshan Station, Exit 6) before 17:30.
- Walk back to the linear park and wander the Chifeng Street lanes for coffee.
- Stroll up the park to Shuanglian Station.
- Finish at Ningxia Night Market, or take a taxi east to Changchun Road for chicken.
Good to know: MOCA is closed on Mondays. Zhongshan is also one of the most convenient places to stay in Taipei, with two MRT lines and Taipei Main Station one stop away. → Where to stay
→ All neighborhoods · Dadaocheng · Tea and coffee
Sources
MOCA Taipei hours, admission, history and directions from MOCA Taipei. Chifeng Street's past from CNA. SPOT's address from SPOT Taipei Film House and its history from the Taipei Times. Chi Chia Chuang from the MICHELIN Guide: Chi Chia Chuang (Changchun Road) (2026 Bib Gourmand list). Station codes from the Taipei Metro station list. Checked October 2026.