This guide will provide an overview of Rongjin Park (AKA Rongjin Gorgeous Time) and help you determine whether it’s worth visiting. Read on to find an answer.
I love restored architecture, which gives us a glimpse into Taiwan’s history under Japanese occupation. Rongjin Park is one of those “hidden gems” that I highly recommend any traveler to see.
And I want to use this guide to help you determine whether you should see it.
Important Information for Visitors
| Is It Worth Visiting? | Yes |
| Average Time Spent | 1 – 2 hrs |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Hours | 11 AM – 8 PM daily |
| Best Time to Visit | Early afternoon |
| Address | No. 167號, Jinhua St, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106 |
| Website | rongjinchoice.com |
| City Located | Taipei City |
| Free Wi-Fi | iTaiwan or Taipei Free |
| Chinese Name | 榕錦時光生活園區; Róng jǐn shíguāng shēnghuó yuánqū |
| Wheelchair Accessible? | Yes |
Is Rongjin Park Worth Visiting?
Rongjin Park (AKA Rongjin Gorgeous Time) is worth visiting if you love interesting architecture and want to get a glimpse of Taiwan under Japanese occupation. It’s also a fantastic place to grab food and a drink and relax for a bit.
Note that a lot of the signage and pamphlets are in Chinese. Though, you’ll still find signs that talk about historical events/significance in history.
I wrote a Taipei itinerary for 3 days and added Rongjin to it.
I only included places that I HIGHLY recommend visiting. If I could go to Taipei once in my life, I’d see these places.
If you’re sold on visiting here, you should see these tips.
Tips for Travelers
Here are some tips to consider before visiting Rongjin:
- Bring an umbrella: It can rain at any time.
- Don’t trust the map: Some of the stores on the map in the park don’t exist anymore.
This place opened in 2022 and seems to still be sort of a “hidden gem.” During both of my times here, there weren’t many visitors compared to other tourist destinations.
Visit and enjoy this place while you can.
Now that you know what you’re in for, let’s learn how to get there.
How to Get There
1. MRT:
Get off at one of the following Taipei Metro stations to get to Rongjin Park:
- Dongmen Station (Red/Orange Line): Depart from Exit 3 and walk around 10 minutes.
- This path is mostly covered.
- Guting Station (Green/Orange Line): Leave from Exit 5 and walk around 13 minutes.
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (Green/Red Line): Leave from Exit 3 and walk 13 minutes.
Dongmen Station is the closest station to get to Rongjin. However. If you’re coming from another destination, like Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, just walk from there.
If you look at the map inside the Dongmen MRT station, you’ll see “Remains of Taipei Prison Wall” instead of Rongjin Gorgeous time.
This is where you want to go.
2. By Car: The nearest parking spot is the one on Genji 168 Jinhua Street. This costs NT$100 per hour and is less than a minute’s walk from Rongjin.
If that’s full, there’s the Jinshan Parking Lot near Dongmen Station. It costs NT$150 per hour.
I honestly don’t recommend renting a car in Taipei.
You’re better off using a taxi or Uber. Services like Grab and DiDi don’t operate in Taiwan.
You’ll likely find taxis everywhere, but I recommend downloading FindTaxi or 55688 apps to have one come to you.
This also helps guarantee that you’ll have an English-speaking driver. Though, language preference doesn’t matter to me regarding ridesharing.
Don’t know how to rent a car? Here’s a separate guide that’ll show you how.
3. YouBike: This is Taiwan’s bicycle rental program. The nearest station is a 4-minute walk from the park.
Use this map to help you find nearby stations — because sometimes the docks will be full:
4. Bus:
Take one of the following buses to the Public Enterprise Center stop:
- Express Bus 2 or 3
- 670
- 606
- 257
- 237
- 214
Download and use the Bus+ app to help track these buses. You could need to wait a long time for one to arrive.
You could also take the Sightseeing Bus (AKA Hop-on, hop-off bus) Red Line to Yongkang Street, then walk toward Rongjin once you’re done.
This is how I’d do it — so long as it’s not raining.
Congratulations, you made it to Rongjin.
Now what?
Here Are Things to Do in Rongjin Gorgeous Time
I don’t guarantee that any specific restaurants/shops I recommend will exist when you visit.
When the park first opened, it had a fantastic pancake and waffle shop that was replaced with a shaved ice stall. However, the logo for the pancake shop is still on the destination’s map.
Restaurants
The most significant place that comes to mind is Simple Kaffa. It’s a third-wave coffee shop chain that Berg Wu, the 2016 World Champion Barista, opened.
And it has the best coffee I’ve tasted.
You could grab a coffee on the first floor or go to the second floor for a “custom experience.” I highly recommend doing the latter if you have time. However, there’s a minimum NT$ 1,000 spend.
It’s an excellent way to immerse yourself in modern Taiwanese culture.
Otherwise:
There’s Jin Jin Ding, which serves Gold Leaf Castella. I recommend trying this. As these are also a Taiwanese specialty.
I should have tried this, but I was hoping to save my appetite for the aforementioned pancake place, which was gone.
There’s this place that supposedly has the best bagels in Taiwan. My wife tried them and said they were “okay.” I recommend trying them if you’re hungry and want a light snack.
There’s a Taihu Brewing gyoza bar. If you want to try craft beers, go there.
What if you’re not hungry? Is there anything else to do?
Rent a Kimono or Yukata
Kanaikada is a photography studio that doubles as a kimono rental place.
It costs NT$5,880 for a photography session, which guarantees a minimum of 30 photos, the choice to switch between a kimono and yukata, and the staff to do your hair.
It’s NT$800 to rent a kimono/yukata for 2 hours.
What if you’re a (for lack of a better word) non-Asian who wants to rent a kimono? Will anyone care?
I’ve never seen anyone rent a kimono, so I can’t gauge the locals’ response first-hand. However. Every Taiwanese person who I’ve asked this to said they don’t care.
The “cultural appropriation” question would be more directed toward the Japanese, though.
See the Heritage Wall
This is a short but historical strip with a lot of landscaping that people typically take photos of. Look for signage to see any historical relevance for specific key points.
I wish I could say there’s more to do, but it’s just a nice place to relax.
Any Souvenirs Worth Buying?
There are no souvenirs that I recommend buying other than this omamori called “Rongzi Yushou:”
These are good luck charms from Japan that supposedly ward away “evil.”
The design and inscription often indicate the specific purpose, such as:
- Red for luck
- Green for safety
- Sky blue for “all goes well”
- Navy blue for “passing an exam”
- Yellow for “ruyi,” which I read means “your desire”
I suppose the yellow one would be a wildcard. I couldn’t find any experts to learn the full meanings of these.
These cost NT$100 each and could easily fit in any luggage size (including carry-on).
I found this product online and don’t know what store to buy it from. I didn’t check any of the stores.
Go to the information center, show the staff this picture, and ask where you can get it in the park. If they don’t speak English, use Google Translate or an LLM like ChatGPT.
What There is To Do Nearby
Here’s what’s nearby Rongjin:
| Destination | Why It’s Special | Average Time Spent There |
|---|---|---|
| Daan Forest Park | Giant park | 1 – 2 hrs |
| Yongkang Shopping District | Original Din Tai Fung and lots of food | 1 – 2 hours |
| Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall | History, pretty plants, architecture | 2 – 3 hrs |
| Dongmen Market | Traditional market | >1 hr |
Despite this not being a highly known tourist spot (for now), it’s close to many other popular destinations. And since you’re close to the Dongmen and Guting metro stations, you can access most tourist spots throughout the city.
If I were visiting Taiwan for the first time with the knowledge I have, I’d do the following:
- Get the hop-on hop-off bus pass to make things easier to access.
- Or walk if it’s not too hot or to save money.
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in the morning.
- Before it gets too crowded.
- Visit Rongjin Park before it gets too hot.
- If I were hungry, I’d go to Yongkang, if not, Daan Forest Park.
- Then vice-versa.
- If you eat at Rongjin, burn off calories at Daan.
- If I were younger and still a drinker, I’d head around Taipei 101 for nightlife.
History
Rongjin Gorgeous Time, formerly Taihoku Prison, occupies a site with a complex history spanning multiple eras. Initially a Qing Dynasty prison, it was redesigned by Japanese expert Yamashita Keijiro in the “Pennsylvania” style.
Post-war, it housed anti-Japanese activists and victims of the White Terror. After 1949, immigrants and civil servants moved in, creating a diverse community.
In the 1970s, it became “Huaguang Community” or “Prison Gate,” attracting urban residents with restaurants and cultural sites.
From 2007 – 2013, urban renewal efforts led to protests and litigation.
The community was demolished in 2013. Sparking conservation efforts.
In 2017, Taipei City began restoring six wooden dormitories and a brick bathhouse.
The 2021 renovation by Atelier TimeScape won the prestigious Taiwan Golden Pin Design Award [1].
Now, Rongjin Gorgeous Time blends history with modernity.
It offers guided tours (in Mandarin), exhibitions, and community events, preserving cultural heritage while meeting contemporary needs.
The site promotes inclusivity across generations, genders, and backgrounds.
It serves as a unique space where past and present converge, offering visitors a glimpse into Taiwan’s history.
Other Rongjin Park Photos
Sources
- Rongjin Gorgeous Time. Golden Pin. 2023.