Daan Park is worth the visit if you’re not looking for a spot that’s significant. Keep reading to learn what I mean.
My wife and I usually visit Daan Park when we’re in the area. It’s a great way to spend an hour or 2 on weekends.
I figured I’d write this guide to help you figure out whether it’s worth visiting.
Let’s begin with important information.
Important Information for Travelers
| Average Time Spent | 1 hr |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Best Time to Visit | Morning on a sunny day |
| Address | No. 1號, Section 2, Xinsheng S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106 |
| City Located | Taipei City |
| Free Wi-Fi | None |
| Luggage Storage | Daan Park Station, Lalalocker, your hotel |
| How Far Is It Around Daan Park? | 2.4 mi (4 km) |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
Is Daan Forest Park Worth Visiting?
Daan Forest Park is worth the visit if the weather’s nice enough. Or if you’re in the area. There’s nothing significant about the park. However. It’s an excellent place to burn calories and experience nature.
It’s also good for picnics. I often see people doing this on nice days.
If you have kids, you could let them loose in the playground.
If you’re in Taipei and are in the area, you could come here after lunch. Otherwise, don’t go out of your way to get here.
I included it in a 3-day itinerary I wrote. That’s because it’s near the Yongkang Shopping District and other spots.
Here are some tips to make your adventure more comfortable.
How to Make Your Experience Better
Keep these tips in mind when visiting Daan Park:
- Pack a raincoat; Taipei’s weather can change fast.
- Don’t pray to the Guanyin statue.
- There’s a sign in Chinese that says “don’t pray to it, it’s an art exhibit.”
- Wear comfy shoes for lots of walking.
- Bring water or sports drinks and snacks for energy.
- Use sunscreen to protect yourself from the strong sun.
- Wear mosquito repellant
When I went to Daan, my wife told me there was a sign in Chinese that said not to pray to the statue. Though, there were 10 people in front of it praying.
I dove into a rabbit hole when researching this article and learned that the statue has some controversy surrounding it.
TL;DR, Christians wanted it removed because their homes were destroyed to build the park, but the statue remained.
The government compromised by labeling it as public art.
Is there any special way to get there?
Here’s How to Get to Daan Park
1. MRT
The best way to get to Daan Park is to take the Taipei MRT (Red Line) to Daan Park Station.
Leave the station from Exits 3, 4, or 5 — you won’t need to cross the road from these stations.
Exiting through Exit 1 requires you to cross the street.
2. Bus
Take the Taipei City bus to the MRT Daan Park or Xinyi and Xinsheng Intersection bus stations.
Download the Bus+ app to keep track of when and where buses will arrive.
Or you could take the hop-on, hop-off bus.
The Red Route stops at MRT Daan Park Station (adjacent to Daan). Making it a great way to get to Daan if you want a tour on the way.
Or you could get the 4-Hour Pass and stop at multiple tourist spots along the Red Route (e.g., Ximending).
3. YouBike
Rent a YouBike and leave it at any of the docking stations outside Daan Forest Park.
Here’s a map of nearby stations:
4. Driving
There’s an underground parking garage under the northeastern part of the park.
I have a separate guide that’ll teach you how to rent a car in Taiwan.
For now, let’s look at what there is to do.
Here’s What There is To Do
You could visit all the facilities like:.
- Kids’ playground with many fun structures.
- Roller skating rink for all ages.
- Ecological pond with local plants and animals.
- Pavilion for shade and relaxing views.
- Basketball courts to play with friends.
Most people walk the 2.4-mile (4 km) loop. It takes about 47 minutes.
You’ll find a nice-looking Louisa coffee store — Taiwan’s version of Starbucks. There’s nothing special about it other than the way it looks.
However.
It offers a great view of the Sunken Garden outside the MRT station.
And you’ll occasionally find exhibitions or locals selling stuff in the MRT station.
As for things to do in the main park, many also bird watch.
Daan also hosts various events.
Daan Park Events
Daan Park hosts the following events:
| Event Name | Time of Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Islamic Cultural Fair (Eid al-Fitr) | April: Days vary by year | Celebrates the end of Ramadan |
| NTU Azalea Festival | March 1st – 31st | Concerts and art exhibits. |
| Taipei Jazz Festival | September to October | International jazz musicians perform live |
Check whether these events are happening before visiting Daan around these times. The host could have canceled the event. Or it won’t fall on the same day as the previous year.
Otherwise, let’s see what’s nearby.
Things to Do Near Daan Park
| Attraction | Description | Avg Time Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Rongjin Park | A former Japanese prison | 1 – 2 hrs |
| Yongkang Shopping District | A lot of food | 1 – 2 hours |
| Shida Night Market | Student night market | <1 hr |
| Jianguo Flower and Jade Markets | Sells plants and jade | 20+ min |
If I were a tourist, here’s how I’d structure my day around Daan:
- Go to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall before it gets too crowded
- Walk around Rongjin Park for a bit
- Get lunch
- Walk off my calories in Daan Park
- Head to the Yongkang Shopping District for dinner
I don’t recommend visiting Shida if you’re not in Taipei for long. It doesn’t have any special foods. As it’s an area meant for students to grab dinner after class.
The Jianguo markets aren’t great unless you want jade souvenirs.
The flower market just sells a bunch of plants.
If you’re a nerd (like me), you could head to the Dongmen MRT station and take the MRT to Zhongxiao Xinsheng.
From there, you could visit:
- Guanghua Digital Plaza and Syntrend: The nerdy place
- Huashan 1914 Creative Park: Great place to see exhibitions
- Don Don Donki/Don Quijote: A discount store chain from Japan
This area also has one of my favorite hotels, Hua Shan Din. A building that was formerly a bank and has a neat theme.
They also have cool souvenirs. I bought a small linen sack with their logo on it.
However.
That bag has since ripped. Though, my wife has literally 10 of the same magnet that she got from their gashapon machines.
My wife and I loved this hotel and wanted to find an excuse to go back there someday.
Anyway.
Let’s finish this off with some “fun” facts.
Daan Park Fun Facts
| Park Size | Around 64 acres |
| Parking | Underground garage |
| Date Opened | March 29, 1994 |
| Chinese Name | 大安森林公園; dàān sēnlín gōngyuán |
