Wanhuais one of those vibrant Taiwanese neighborhoods where old traditions meet the 21st-century pop culture. Explore this lively, highly cultural area around the old city gate, just to the west of downtown Taipei. Visit its iconic theater and enjoy the mellow atmosphere in the LGBTQI-friendly Ximending neighborhood.

The Longshan (or Lungshan) Temple, which was first established in 1738 by Chinese settlers, is still there and is one of Taipei’s main attractions. This temple palace with its four-building courtyard is dedicated to Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian deities, illustrating the diverse religious history of Taiwan.

You can get there by taking the MRT to the Longshan Temple Station or to the Ximen Station in the lively Ximending district, which is just a short metro ride from the Taipei Main Station. The district’s central Zhong Hua Road is just outside the Ximen Station and it’s full of souvenir shops.

Ximending was Taiwan’s first pedestrian mall. On weekends and national public holidays, many of Ximending’s streets are still open to pedestrians only in what is referred to as the Ximending Pedestrian Area. Neon-lit shops, bars and restaurants provide indoor entertainment and keep the district lively until late at night.

This northeastern part of the Wanhua District is centered on the historic octagonal Red House. The former market hall dates back to 1908 and is now a playhouse with a small café, art space and boutique shops. The Ximen Red House Square is always full of street artists and food stalls and the alleys behind the red-brick theater are home to rows of LGBTQI-friendly bars and clubs.

There are three main night markets to choose from in Wanhua where you can try the local specialties, such as steaming noodle soup or gua bao, which is Taiwanese pork belly buns with mustard greens and pickles, and even snake soup if you are that way inclined.

One thing is certain, you will never be bored in Wanhua and no visit to Taipei is complete without visiting this central district.