If you are travelling in Taiwan and have brought your kids along, you might sometimes wonder what kid friendly activity you can do around Taipei. Taiwan is a very interesting place to visit in every perspective but your children might not be interested in the historical and cultural matters. If you want to dedicate a day to your little monsters, here are a few places you can take them to, and we guarantee it will be as interesting for you that it is for them.
- Taipei Zoo (臺北市立動物園)
Built in 1914, Taipei Zoo is the largest in all Asia! Its construction began when Taiwan was under Japanese occupation and was originally a private zoological garden owned by a Japanese citizen. The Japanese Government in Taiwan bought the piece of land and turned it into a public park but the ownership was passed to the Republic of China following Japanese defeat in World War II. Due to a lack of space and in search for better conditions for the animals, the zoo was relocated from Muzha to Wenshan District in South-eastern Taipei in 1986. The site is very big as it comprises 165 hectares, of which 90 are open to the public.
The zoo presents animals from every corner of the globe but also animals who are endemic to Taiwan like the Formosan Sika Deer, Formosan Rock Macaques, Formosan Black Bear…It is interesting for the kids as they will get to see animals that can only be found in Taiwan! There are also more than 12000 birds from 130 species, an insectarium where you can see a lot of butterflies flying around, a penguin habitat, a koala habitat, a reptile and amphibian house…
There also is a house for Asia’s most beloved animal: the panda. The Giant Panda House is home to Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, given to Taiwan by the Republic of China in 2008. In 2013, Yuan Zai the baby panda arrived, making her the first panda cub to be born in Taiwan.
There is an area called “the Children’s zoo” where small kids can see farm animals and other species. Animals include ducks, pigs, monkeys, rabbits, donkeys, llama…
- Maokong Gondola
At the Taipei Zoo, you can also choose another path and head for the hills. Next to the zoo you will find a gondola station that can take you to the charming tea village of Maokong, above the city. One way ticket will cost you about NT$50 and for this very cheap price you will get to enjoy about 20 minutes in the air, above the ground.
At the moment, the cabins are decorated with Hello Kitty drawings, what’s not to like? There are 4 stations in total: Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo South Station, Zhinan Temple Station and Maokong Station. If you want the full view, take the Crystal Cabins, as their floor is made of glass (all certified solid of course). Overall, this ride is great to get pictures of the hills and the city, especially on the way back from Maokong. When you arrive at Maokong, you can walk around, go for some lunch of some tea in one of the many teahouses, and enjoy the great view overlooking Taipei.
- Taiwan Science Education Center (國立臺灣科學教育館)
The National Taiwan Science Education Center is a perfect stop for some education time mixed with entertainment. It was established in Zhongzheng in 1986 and moved to its current location in 2003. It is a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from the Shilin MRT station and the way to the center.
The building consists of 10 storeys, each containing theatres, diverse exhibitions, laboratories, libraries Restaurants can be found in the first floor. Overall, it is an interesting visit for the kids because of how lively it is. All the attractions are very colourful, and the children will like doing some experiments themselves. Each storey specialises in one area of science. The explanations are both in English and Chinese.
The little game will allow some fun bonding time between kids and parents, and if your kids are very curious you can spend a great part of the day in this museum. The place is clean and well-maintained. You can buy tickets at the entrance but you will need extra tickets if you want to see some special exhibitions so you should make sure you have the appropriate tickets for what you want to see.
The Taipei Astronomical Museum is situated just next to the Science Centre so don’t hesitate to visit it as well if you have enough time.
- Taipei’s Children Amusement Park
Taipei’s Children Amusement Park is a great place to bring your kids to, and the best part is it’s situated right next to the Science Centre and the Astronomical Museum! All activities can be done within the day, and without much walking. The entry fee is quite low, a ticket will cost NT$30 per person, and NT$15 for children between 7 and 11 year old (with presentation of the I.D). Children under 6 get to enter for free.
The park is small but there are some several rides the kids can enjoy: a carousel, a Ferris wheel, a “scary’ chair rides for the daring ones, and many other playgrounds.
–The most popular 5-day tour package for family trip in Taiwan : Top Picks Taiwan Family Tour
- Taipei’s Children Amusement Park
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