Peace Park in Taipei is one of most relaxing places I’ve ever visited.
After surviving my first week in the unfamiliar chaos of Taipei I was desperately craving somewhere to escape and chill out for a few hours before I went crazy.
I accidentally stumbled across Peace Park – the oldest park in Taipei.
The purpose of Peace Park is to remember the massacre that took place in Taiwan in 1947, which resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of innocent Taiwanese people by their government. Today, the park houses a museum dedicated to the incident, as well as the national Taiwan Museum.
As I was wandering around the backstreets of Taipei (completely lost) I started coughing as the strong smell of burning incense invaded my throat. Having yet to visit any temples in Asia, I was intrigued as to why someone would be burning incense in the streets. I followed the smell and happened across the following scene.
This was the entrance to Peace Park.
I stood for a few minutes, taking in all the vibrant colours before turning and noticing the entrance to the park. Although the park looked to be small from the outside, I was about to realise just how big and unique it really is.
I discovered the distinctive shapes of unfamiliar trees, and sat down to take it all in, completely spellbound by the beauty of my surroundings.
The park helped to increase my love of Asian architecture, with the small temples and meeting points where teenagers would gather every weekend to sit and play cards.
In amongst the typical asian structures and beautiful greenery, there stood the most bizarre looking metallic structures, which formed the memorial section of the park. It looked like something out of Star Wars and stood out in the centre of the park as the main attraction.
My absolute favourite feature of the park had to be the amazing reflexology section. What an amazing idea! They have a large amount of stones set in concrete, and you are free to walk up and down the stone path or sit on the benches and work specific areas of your feet. They even had guidelines for what part of your feet correspond to which body part.
Peace Park ended up being one of my favourite places to hang out in Taipei and I’m so glad I accidentally discovered it. I would go there every morning to eat breakfast, and stroll through the park at the weekend to see students sat on the grass studying together and the adults practising martial arts in amongst the palm trees. What’s the best place that you’ve discovered accidentally?
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Posted by Lauren Juliff
Wow, this looks absolutely gorgeous! Great photos, as usual! It’s amazing to think that a site connected with massacre can be so beautiful and peaceful today. Nothing very “dark” about this dark tourism site at all, it would seem!
Amanda recently posted..5 Things My 86-Year-Old Grandmother Taught Me About Travel
Amazing place. Such a beautiful museum for such a tragic event. Fortunately this peaceful spot arose from that. The pictures are a beautiful, as usual! The one with the shrubs/trees, looks like something from a fantasy movie, Alice in Wonderland just pops into my mind. Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventures!
That looks very tranquil; and beautiful photos also. One of my recent favorites was a temple on a mountain I found while riding a motorbike in Vietnam, was also very tranquil as there was nobody up there, but it was quite a hike up a mountain.
Jarmo @ Arctic Nomad recently posted..Bowling in Luang Prabang
What a great place to stumble upon! It looks like a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. There are some reflexology paths in Korea, too and they hurt so good!
Maggie recently posted..Korea Bucket List
Ow wow! This place looks amazing. I had no idea, I start to regret not having gone to Taiwan more and more…
Roy | The Riding Dutchman recently posted..‘What Happens in Bali, Stays in Bali’
Just wanted to say Hello! I miss talking with you sooooooooo much! Hope you are happy, safe, and are having a blast! All the best from that Floyd boy you kinda know from the Chicago area….
I think parks really are the best memorials. What better place to reflect in peace? Your photos are awesome. That green is so amazingly bright.
Phil recently posted..Let’s Talk about Dance
What a great place to stumble upon! Such discoveries bring with themselves a lot more fun and fond memories!
Abhijit recently posted..Notes from a Dylan-Knopfler concert
The vibrant colors next to the greenest green trees I have ever seen- wow!
jade recently posted..Seal Yoga at Elephant Seal Rookery
Hi Lauren,
Looks like a great place to visit. As always stunning photos. Have added a link to the Travel Bloggers Guide To Taiwan i’m developing. Hope you don’t mind?
Kind regards
Si
Si @thedepartureboard.com recently posted..Cockerelstepping at the Wagah Border Crossing
What a great place to stumble upon! Such discoveries bring with themselves a lot more fun and fond memories. The vibrant colors next to the greenest green trees I’ve ever seen- wow!
Clyde recently posted..Google Launched Dynamic Views: Many Ways to Share Your Blog
Wow seems like an awesome park and you truly captured it well in your photos!
Vicky recently posted..Quinoa with Corn and Black Beans
This park was well known in the past. as New Park, for gays to meet up and find love. This park is significant to the LGBT community for that part of their memory.
I’ll definitely have to check Peace Park out the next time I’m in Taiwan.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..DESTINATIONS: Meeting the Local Wildlife On Kangaroo Island, Australia