Taipei Zhongshan Hall

The Taipei Zhongshan Hall (臺北市中山堂), designated as a national historic site, was designed and constructed during the Japanese colonial period, making it one of the few large public buildings in Taiwan at that time. It has since been designated as a national historic site. Today, the functions of Taipei Zhongshan Hall (臺北市中山堂) include serving as a major center for performing arts in the city, with its main hall and the Guangfu Hall hosting various key cultural events such as the Traditional Arts Festival, Children's Arts Festival, and Taipei Film Festival each year.

The Taipei Zhongshan Hall (臺北市中山堂) is conveniently located about 200 meters from exits 4 and 5 of the Ximen MRT station, and is open to the public with free admission on weekdays and weekends. Before entering the hall, visitors can enjoy the view of the Zhongshan Hall main entrance from the plaza, where they can admire the arched portico, finely designed columns with wall lamps, and the hall's ceiling adorned with a dome-shaped design and geometric patterns.

Between the second and third floors of the central staircase, there is a permanent national treasure sculpture called ""Southern Country"" (also known as Water Buffalo Group), created by the sculptor Huang Tu-shui. Huang, who studied sculpture in Japan from 1895 to 1930, won the second prize at the 2nd Imperial Exhibition in Japan with his work ""Mountain Boy Playing the Flute,"" becoming the first Taiwanese to receive such an award. In 1930, he completed ""Water Buffalo Group"" as his final masterpiece, and it is considered the treasure of Taipei Zhongshan Hall (臺北市中山堂), donated by Huang's wife for permanent display.

For those who need a break, they can head to the ""Le Promenoir Coffee"" on the fourth floor, where they can enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee and delicious light snacks, making it a perfect conclusion to a day of exploring historic sites, art, and culinary delights.