Taipei Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Walkable Day Tour

Come with me on a day of walking to see Taipei’s Chiang Kai Shek Memorial 國立中正記念堂 and other fun shopping and food near by Zhongzheng area 中正區. Start with Taiwan’s most famous breakfast spot, to adorable souvenirs shopping in an abandoned factory area, to the must visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial. Then, end the day with Yongkang Street’s delicious restaurants! Steal my Zhongzheng area itinerary for a chill, relaxing foodie day walking around Taipei!

Taipei Must Do: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial

This super chill day tour itinerary of Chiang Kai Shek Memorial and Zhongzheng area is fully walkable, and similar to what locals would do on a chill day. If you didn’t know, I actually grew up in the area. Walking around Chiang Kai Shek Memorial was one of my afterschool activities with my mom. Especially since Mother’s Day just passed, this itinerary really reminds me of some of the memories we’ve shared here over the years.

One thing my mom and I absolutely love doing is walking. I know a lot of people prefer driving or biking, but for me, if it’s under 45 minutes, I will almost always walk there. Not only is one of the best ways to digest after a good meal, but it’s also my favorite way to really get to know a city. This day trip not only allows you to experience some of the best Taiwanese foods from breakfast to dinner, you’ll also get to walk through some of Taipei’s most iconic parks and gardens!

Traditional Taiwanese Breakfast

If there’s one meal you absolutely cannot skip in Taiwan, it is breakfast. I swear breakfast in Taiwan is on another level. It is something that is so special about these simple traditional breakfast shops serving commuters at a rapid pace. You really can’t find this type of breakfast culture anywhere else in the world.

There’s so many amazing things you can order at a Taiwanese breakfast shop. Honestly, you really can’t go wrong. Please make sure you have breakfast when you’re Taiwan. You will definitely thank me later.

Fuhang Soy Milk

We woke up early at 5 AM today, because we are on a mission to finally try the famous Fuhang Soy Milk 阜杭豆漿. Serving traditional Taiwanese breakfast since 1958, this family-run breakfast shop might actually be THE most famous breakfast spot in Taiwan. But, I’ve actually never been. Taiwan has so many amazing breakfast spots. So, I never really felt the need to line up hours just for this place.

But oh my goodness, I might be wrong. This place is famous for a reason! The first thing you see is lots of locals running out with bags and bags and bags of stuff. So, you know it’s that good.

We got a little bit of everything. First of all, they’re named after their soy milk, so we had to try both their savory and sweet flavors. Their freshly made sweet soy milk was so delicious! Their savory soy milk (NTD $65) is thick like tofu pudding, and topped with chunks of fried dough and cilantro. Please make sure to order both the savory and the sweet version, because both completely blew us away.

Next, their 燒餅油條 Shaobing Youtiao, which was flaky savory, is surprisingly not oily at all. You can choose between thin or thick flatbread, and you can add in fried dough and egg. The traditional rice ball 飯糰, with egg and fried dough inside, was probably my favorite. I’m literally still drooling seeing it while editing this video.

If there’s one thing you should absolutely order, and I think they do the best compared to everywhere else, it is their sweet caramel sesame flatbread (NTD $45). Just imagine a flaky pastry with warm brown sugar syrup tucked inside. It was honestly a 100 out of 10.

I honestly think this breakfast spot is worth the hype, specifically their soy milk, salty Soy Milk, rice ball, and surprisingly their sweet flatbread was soooo good. I’d say the sweet spot for visiting is around 5-6 in the morning. We got here at 5:30, and only waited for 10 minutes. There’s even less people at 6 am after all the locals grab their stuff! This was so good, we had to bring some to go. I even debated if I want to go back in the line again and get more things. Highly recommend, but I wouldn’t wait more than an hour in line for it. If you’re early to avoid the crowd, it’s so worth the hype.

Ding Yuan Soy Milk

If you’re not a fan of waking up early, there’s plenty of other spots nearby for traditional Taiwanese breakfast, like Ding Yuan Soy Milk 鼎元豆漿. This is a place I found years ago that I haven’t stopped recommending to family and friends. It’s been serving yummy breakfast in the Zhongzheng area for over 60 years. Now, it’s super popular with locals and Japanese tourists.

The must orders always starts with the freshly made soy milk (NTD $25). We got both their iced soy milk, and their soy milk + rice milk combo. Trust me, this will change your life. There’s also fantuan 飯糰 （NTD$45), which is a sticky rice ball stuffed with lots of delicious savory fillings. It’s also one of my go-to breakfast items whenever I see it on the menu. Finally, there is Shaobing Youtiao 燒餅油條 (NTD $50), which starts with a flaky sesame covered baked flatbread. It is crispy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside, and stuffed with freshly fried Chinese donut and pan fried egg. It is the definition of a perfect bite.

This spot isn’t as busy as Fuhang Soy Milk, but it’s certainly still popular. The lines don’t get long, and there’s not that much of a wait since most menu items are made already. They are cash only, but it’s super affordable. This place is a great alternative for Fuhang for those who like to sleep in or hate super long lines!

Cute Souvenirs at Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Huashan 1914 Creative Park 華山1914文化創意產業園區 is a former factory site converted into a lively arts center. This unique spot was an abandoned sake factory site built during the Japanese colonial period, packed with preserved, ivy-covered red-brick factory buildings. It was later taken over by theatre actors for unauthorized performances, leading to later revitalization and the establishment of an art community here. It gives such an industrial, but cozy vibe!

Today, it’s a popular area for cool pop-ups exhibitions, cafes, bars, and quirky shops. I absolutely recommend strolling this area for adorable souvenirs, then taking a break at a cafe. Anytime you come here, you could run into anything, from the super cute Snoopy Dimsum Popup we saw to craft fairs, so you never know what to expect!

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial 

A must-visit in Taipei is the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial 國立中正記念堂. This tourist destination is a memorial to Chiang Kai-shek 蔣介石, the former President of Taiwan. Within the grounds of the memorial, there’s the Liberty Square Arch, the Main Hall, a museum, and the National Performing Arts Center. Surrounding all the buildings is a garden with a pond, making this spot an amazing picnic spot! Entry Is completely free, except for concerts at the Performance Hall.

There’s tons to see here! Every morning at 6 AM, there’s the flag raising ceremony. Then, every hour, there’s the changing of the guards. Inside the museum, learn the beginnings of Taiwan as a country and see artifacts from the early days. You can also often find rotating art exhibits from artists or graduation projects from university students. There’s often dance or music performances open to the public in the park as well.

Many locals use this as a spot to relax or exercise. Me and my mom used to come here all the time because I actually used to go to elementary school near here. Then we would come here after school to paint by the water and snack on milk bread all afternoon. It’s a nostalgic spot for me. The memorial is still really well maintained, and a great way to spend a slow day. 

Yongkang Street: Cheap, Tasty Foodie Street

After exploring Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, I absolutely recommend walking Yongkang Street 永康街 after to work up an appetite. Known as one of Taipei’s best foodie street, this alley is packed full of some of Taipei’s most iconic restaurants and shops. Since it’s close to 2 major universities, National Taiwan University (NTU) and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), a lot of these tend to serve affordable and delicious foods for university students.

There’s all sorts of cuisine here, from the famous Tian Jin Green Onion Pancakes to the first branch of Din Tai Fung, so you’re sure to find something you love here! Check out some of my recommended Yongkang street spots on my Da’an 大安 Local Guide!

See Where Else My Mom and I Visited During This Taiwan Trip!