North Gate (北门)，Futai Street Mansion (抚台街洋楼北门), Discovery Centre of Taipei 台北探索馆& Zheng Kee Pork Knuckle 郑记猪脚@ Taipei

Taipei’s 132-year-old Beimen, or North Gate 北门, formally called the Cheng-En Gate 承恩门 is located at the intersection of Zhongxiao West Road 忠孝西路, Yanping North Road 延平北路, Zhonghua Road 中华路, Yanping South Road 延平南路 and Bo’ai Road 博爱路 in Zhongzheng District 中正区.

 

There are five historic city gates in Taipei: the East Gate, West Gate, South Gate, Little South Gate and North Gate. They were built by Liu Ming-chuan during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. Of the five ancient city gates, the North Gate is the only one that remains what it used to look like in the Qing Dynasty, as well as one of the most valuable state-designated historic sites in Taipei.

 

Remark: Photo taken from internet

North Gate was partially hidden from view by the Zhongxiao Bridge 忠孝桥 for 39 years. On last year February 7th which is the Lunar New Year holiday period, when traffic volume is at its lowest, the Taipei City Government began demolition of the bridge, with an eight-day work period originally scheduled. As a result of the diligent joint efforts of the public sector and contractors, the demolition was completed two days ahead of schedule.

 

Remark: Photo taken from internet

The demolition definitely a project of the highest degree of difficulty because the historical sites and the location of local roads around North Gate. Not to mention that bridge surface was at a distance of only 60 centimeters from Beimen which heightened the difficulty of the demolition works. Due to concerns that the gate might be damaged by gravel spray a mechanical cutting method was used. In addition, steel plates were placed around the gate in order to reduce shaking of the ground by falling clods of earth, and a protective steel-frame partition dubbed the “Golden Shield” was set up outside the gate.

 

Remark: Photo taken from internet

I had chance to watch the documentary video of this demolition project (planning and  dismantle works) and i was truly impressed with the efficiency of their government as well as the construction workers. Anyone interested to watch the video, kindly let me know and I can give you the DVD. ^__^

 

A typical 到此一游 tourist selfie 😛

It was a lovely weather that day, sunny with comfortable temperature of 19-22°C.

North Gate 北门

Taipei Sightseeing Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus (Red Line & Blue Line)

MRT: Beimen Station (Songshan Line) 北门站 (松山线)

 

Taipei Beimen Post Office situated diagonally opposite North Gate is the headquarters of Chunghwa Post in Taipei. This three-story high building with charming baroque design was completed in 1928 and protected as a third-degree national historic site.

 

For those who interested to hunt some camera equipment, the nearby Bo’ai Road 博爱路 aka Camera Street 相机街 which houses a lot of camera shops definitely worth a stroll.

 

The Futai Street Mansion 抚台街洋楼 , also called Yamato-chō Mansion (大和町洋楼) is a small European style building on Yanping South Road (across from the Beimen Post Office). It was built in 1910 as the headquarters of a Japanese-owned construction company. The building’s architectural style was deeply influenced by the graceful Europe baroque classical fashion at the time. The arched pedestrian arcade was made of stone from Qilian (唭哩岸) near Shipai (石牌) and the arcade ceiling was made of Formosan Cypress and is diamond-shaped. The outside wall on the second floor was made of stucco faced with fine gravel. The roof truss was made of wood in the Mansard style and the steeply slanting roof was covered with diamond-shaped copper tiles. The three dormer windows on the roof provided ventilation.

Taipei Futai Street Mansion

Operating Hours: 10.00am ~6.00pm, Monday to Saturday closed Sundays

Admission fee: Free except special exhibition

Taipei Sightseeing Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus (Red Line & Blue Line)

 

If you’re happen to be at this area, something you can’t miss is the braised pork/pork knuckle rice at Zheng Kee which located 2 doors away from the Futai Street Mansion.

 

This is an old shop which has been operated for more than 60 years and the braise gravy has been kept since its opening until now is the essential of those lip smacking braised meat!

 

Our (yes, a few of us shared a bowl of rice because we just had our breakfast) bowl of braised pork rice (东坡肉饭) came with a piece of braised pork belly, braised hard boiled egg, pickled vegetable, blanched cabbage, cucumber slices， chili sauce and drizzles of gravy. The meat was braised till achingly tender and richly infused with powerful evocative flavors. It was no doubt a memorably bowl of rice for my Taiwan trip, simply food porn in all its glory!

 

Zheng Kee Pork Knuckle 郑记猪脚

No. 22, Yanping South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

台北市中正区延平南路22号

Operating Hours: 11.00am – 8.00pm

Taipei Sightseeing Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus (Red Line & Blue Line)

 

Hi, please meet Bravo 熊赞, the mascot of 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade 2017年夏季世界大学运动会 which will take place from 19 August to 30 August 2017!

 

Our next destination is Discovery Center of Taipei where Bravo’s house located.

 

Bravo’s birthday is on 19th August which is also the date of the opening ceremony of 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade. Here I wishing it can be a smooth and successful event.

 

Discovery Center of Taipei 台北探索馆

This center exhibits the city’s technology, history, humanity, art, and ecology through various perceptive and interactive displays.  visitors are introduced to the development of Taipei City.    

1st floor – Taipei Impressions Hall

Equipped with five LCD screens to show visual works on various aspects of Taipei. A magnificent and stunning visual effect is created to guide visitors to explore the museum’s stories on Taipei in depth.

2F –  Special Exhibitions Hall

A variety of subjects are presented in innovative showcases that reinterpret Taipei. Stories of Taipei City are demonstrated through vivid illustrations in picture and text as well as high-tech interactive scenarios.

3F – City Discovery Hall

Exhibits various aspect of Taipei which include Express City – A Relaxed Journey, Taipei’s Streets, New West Side Story, The Capital of Art and Culture and Taipei’s Historic Sites and Ecological City and Hiking Trials.

4F – Dialogue with Time

Displays of stories and histories of Taipei city.

 

Discovery Theater

Definitely one of a kind theater experience with its unique 360 degree rotating screen, special music and light showcases an anthropocentric and dynamic theater reflecting daily life.

 

Discovery Center of Taipei 台北探索馆

No. 1, City Hall Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110

110 台北市市府路一号 (市政大樓面对仁愛路西大门)

Tel: 886-2-2720-8889 ext.4588/8630

Operating Hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm, Closed Mondays and National Holidays

Free admission

Website: http://discovery.gov.taipei/en/museum

Taipei Sightseeing Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus (Red Line)

MRT: City Hall Station 市政府站