228 Peace Memorial Park 二二八和平紀念公園
On May 16, 2024, we explored the 228 Peace Memorial Park. When I was a child, this park was known as “Taihoku (Taipei) New Park.” In earlier times, it was simply called “Taipei Park.”
As far back as 1888, during the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan Governor Liu Mingchuan erected a temple here to honor Mazu. However, around 1912, typhoons severely damaged the temple. Despite subsequent urban reconstruction, remnants of stone relics still grace the park.
During the Japanese colonial period starting in 1895, the Japanese government introduced a modern urban planning system, aiming to transform Taiwan’s traditional urban landscape. Thus, this European-style urban park took shape and was initially completed in 1908. Because it was constructed after Taipei’s first major park—Yuanshan Park, completed in 1897—it earned the name “Taihoku New Park.”
After World War II, the Republic of China assumed control of Taiwan in 1945, and the New Park fell under its jurisdiction. However, in 1947, the February 28th Incident marked the beginning of an uprising in Taiwan, accompanied by social conflict and violent bloodshed. In an effort to honor history and ease collective pain, the park was renamed “228 Peace Memorial Park” in 1996.
The 228 Peace Monument embodies the theme of finding order amidst chaos. Its design is rich with symbolism. The base consists of three cubes, each standing on one corner and bonded together on one side, representing order and stability. The sphere, upon which inscriptions rest, symbolizes the restoration of natural order. Within the pool lies an urn—a peaceful resting place for victims. Water flows from the urn’s neck, nourishing stone hoes that symbolize Taiwan’s prehistoric ancestors. The sound of the waterfall soothes mourners’ spirits, drowning out noise and turmoil. Visitors can place their hands on the palm print and lean forward in reverence to express condolences. The urn’s neutral, ancient tablet-like form conveys our shared heritage as descendants of the Chinese nation, emphasizing unity over division.
2024 年 5 月 16 日我們去探訪「二二八和平紀念公園」。我小的時候，這個公園叫作「臺北新公園」，更早時，它有「臺北公園」之稱。
早在 1888 年清朝時期，台灣巡撫劉銘便在此建廟祭祀媽祖。然而，大約在 1912 年前後，因受颱風嚴重毀損及市區改正等緣故，廟遭拆除，所以在公園中仍可看到部分石造遺物。
1895 年日治時期，日本政府引進近代都市計畫制度，旨在改造台灣傳統的城市面貌。這座歐洲風格的都市公園由此成型，並於 1908 年初步落成。由於它比 1897 年落成的臺北第一座大型公園 - 圓山公園建的晚，所以改名為「臺北新公園」。
第二次世界大戰結束後，中華民國於 1945 年接管臺灣，新公園也收歸於中華民國。1947 年二二八事件，這裏是全臺反抗活動蜂起的開端，之後也演發出許多社會衝突與暴力流血事件，為追溯歷史及撫平傷痛，1996 年新公園被改名為「二二八和平公園」。
「中央二二八紀念碑」以從無秩序導出秩序來做主題，基座以一角站立、一邊互黏合的三個正方體組成，以彰顯秩序和穩定。放置碑文的球體碑是用圓球象徵恢復自然順序。水池中埋有甕體，涵意入土為安。水流從甕頸脖的鏤空處，流入衝擊象徵臺灣史前時期先民的石鋤，以瀑布大的聲響使哀悼者精神收束、排除喧嘩。人們可將雙手放進手掌印上，使身體前傾低頭以作哀悼。甕體中立的琮是古代牌位的樣子，傳達同為炎黃子孫莫要再分彼此。
Cuiheng (Tsui Heng) Pagoda. The pagoda and surrounding pavilions were built in 1963 to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the four founding fathers: Zheng Chenggong, Liu Mingchuan, Qiu Fengjia, and Lian Yatang.
翠亨閣，1963年新建的中國式庭台樓閣群是為紀念孫中山先生以及四位開臺先賢而建，四角則各有一座涼亭，內各有一位「開台先賢」的銅像，分別是鄭成功的「大木亭」、劉銘傳的「大潛亭」、丘逢甲的「滄海亭」及連雅堂 的「劍花亭」。
National Taiwan Museum 國立臺灣博物館
The National Taiwan Museum is located on the north side of the park. It was built during the Japanese colonial era in 1899 and is the oldest museum in Taiwan. The museum’s former name was the “Taiwan Governor's Mansion Museum,” and it has been designated as a national monument of the Republic of China.
The National Taiwan Museum system includes:
- the Main Museum, which showcases Taiwan's natural and human history;
- the Land Bank Exhibition Hall, which presents the development of Taiwan’s financial institutions and earth sciences;
- the Nanmen Branch, which focuses on Taiwan’s industrial history; and
- the Railway Department Park, which highlights Taiwan’s path to modernity.
國立台灣博物館位於公園的北側，建於日治時代（1899年），是臺灣歷史最悠久的博物館，本館以前身「臺灣總督府博物館」之名被列為中華民國國定古蹟。
臺灣博物館系統包括:
- 主館--展示臺灣自然人文史
- 古生物館--展示臺灣金融機構發展及地球科學
- 南門館--展示臺灣產業史
- 鐵道部園區--展示臺灣現代性
We really enjoyed the “Taiwan. My Home – Children's Discovery Exhibition” in the basement. The exhibition features six major display units: “Stones Can Talk,” “Forest Amusement Park,” “Migratory Birds’ Island Travel,” “The Island’s Past and Past,” “Island’s Outline,” and “Endless Life.” Through storytelling, cultural relics, and interactive devices, the exhibition guides children to explore and reflect on Taiwan’s natural environment and cultural heritage.
我們蠻喜歡地下室的「臺灣．我的家-兒童探索展」。這裏有六大展示單元：「石頭會說話」、「森林遊樂園」、「候鳥的小島旅行」、「小島的從前從前」、「海島的輪廓」、以及「生生不息」。運用說故事的方式、標本文物及互動裝置來引導兒童體驗、思索臺灣自然與人文。
Lao Wang Ji Beef Noodles 老王記牛肉麵
At noon, we ate at Lao Wang Ji Beef Noodles, a long-established beef noodle shop in Taipei that has been serving customers since 1956 (Address: No. 15, Taoyuan Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City). We ordered braised beef noodles and pork knuckle noodles with clear beef broth—both were delicious.
中午去吃 1956 年開業的台北牛肉麵老店 - 桃源街老王記牛肉麵 (地址：北市中正區桃源街15號)。我們點了紅燒牛肉麵及加了清湯牛肉湯的豬腳麵，真好吃。
Starbucks 星巴克, The Hive Taipei 台北蜂巢
After savoring the noodles, we strolled back to 228 Peace Memorial Park. On the way, I spotted a Starbucks at the intersection of Chongqing South Road and Hengyang Road. What caught my eye was its charming, century-old house style. Originally, the building preserved the appearance of the Tsujiri Tea Shop, which was once operated by Japanese businessman Miyoshi Tokusaburō on Sakaemachi Street in 1899. Today, this Starbucks stands as Taiwan’s first "image store," embracing an artistic space theme.
Nearby, The Hive Taipei offers services such as business registration, office rentals, and event venue spaces. Remarkably, it also retains the architectural elegance of a Western-style arched building from the Japanese colonial period.
吃完麵後，我們又逛回到二二八和平紀念公園。在路上看到位在重慶南路與衡陽路交叉口的星巴克，有著百年古宅的風貌，原來它的外觀仍保留1899年日本商人三好德三郎在榮町所經營的辻利茶舖的樣貌，現在是星巴克在台灣第一家以藝文空間為主題的形象門市。
附近的台北蜂巢 The Hive Taipei 提供商業登記及出租辦公室空間和活動場地的服務，也保有日治時期的拱門洋樓古老風格。
Parkside Plume Juice 公園號酸梅湯
Just outside the park, at No. 2 Hengyang Road, stands Parkside Plume Juice, a nostalgic establishment founded in the 1960s. Childhood memories come flooding back—I remember how our parents would often bring us here during trips to Taipei. We’d sip on sour plum drinks and indulge in three-scoop ice cream. Today, those sweet recollections warm my heart once again.
在公園外的衡陽路 2 號，矗立著一家 1960 年代創立的「公園號酸梅湯」，我的童年記憶如潮水般湧上心頭，記得小時候，爸媽帶我們上台北，常會帶我們來這裏喝酸梅湯及三色冰淇淋。今天又重溫那些甜蜜的回憶。
Land Bank Exhibition Hall 古生物館
For just NT$30 (less than $1 USD), you can explore both the Main Museum and the Land Bank Exhibition Hall at the National Taiwan Museum. We visited the Land Bank Exhibition Hall in the afternoon.
The building’s history is fascinating: it originally served as the Taipei Branch of The Nippon Kangyo Bank, Ltd., completed in 1933. At the time, it functioned as a bank specializing in real estate and settlement finance. However, after World War II, the government of the Republic of China took over and transformed it into the Land Bank of Taiwan Head Office, a publicly owned institution.
In 1991, recognizing its historical significance, the site was designated a Taipei City Historic Site. Then, in 2007, a collaborative effort between the National Taiwan Museum and the bank led to a restoration and reuse project for this historic location. Finally, in 2010, it reopened as the present-day Land Bank Exhibition Hall of the National Taiwan Museum.
一張台幣 30 元 (美金不到1元) 的門票，就能參觀國立臺灣博物館本館及古生物館，下午便到古生物館看看。
古生物館的前身是 1933年落成的日本勸業銀行的臺北分行，是當時辦理不動產及拓殖金融業務的銀行。二戰後中華民國政府接收，改作為公營的臺灣土地銀行總行。
1991 年被指定為臺北市市定古蹟。2007 年與國立臺灣博物館合作進行古蹟修復及再利用計畫，於 2010年開館成為現今的國立臺灣博物館古生物館。
To present the theme of the exhibition on the history of The Nippon Kangyo Bank, Ltd. and the Land Bank of Taiwan, part of the museum features displays centered around the vault, allowing visitors to understand the bank’s history and experience the vault’s sense of closure, security, and historical significance.
為呈現日本勸業銀行與土地銀行歷史展覽主題，館中一部分以金庫為中心來擺設展示物件，並藉以認識銀行歷史和體驗金庫封閉、安全和歷史感。
Another section of the museum is dedicated to natural history, exploring the evolution of paleontology and displaying dinosaur and other prehistoric fossils.
館中另一部分則是探討古生物演化的自然史博物館，展示恐龍等古生物化石。
Presidential Office Building 總統府
On the way home, we passed by the Presidential Office Building to take a look. In preparation for the swearing-in ceremony of the new president on May 20, scaffolding had been set up outside the building.
要往回家的路上，我們繞到總統府去看一下，為了準備新總統在5月20日宣誓就職典禮，總統府外都是鷹架。
Travel/Point of Interest Posts 旅遊景點帖子