1,000,000 Steps Hike on the Elephant Mountain Trail

It feels like there are 1,000,000 steps going up along the Elephant Mountain Trail, but those who make the effort will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the city. There are small corners and squares along the way that invite you to take a break and offer beautiful views.

I didn't return to the city until early afternoon. The plan was to have a meal at the famous Din Tai Xinyi Branch, a Taiwanese restaurant. Fortunately, the line wasn't long anymore, so a wait time of 50 minutes was easily bridged.

After that, the changing of the guard at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial was on the agenda. It was amazing to see how precise and synchronized the ceremony was. I was also able to see the memorial from the inside and in daylight. Inside sits a huge statue of Chiang Kai-shek. It is said to be soon removed because his style of governance was not characterized by democratic values.

The Dazhong Zhizheng Gate, which is about 30 meters high and has five arches, is interestingly oriented southwest towards the Kunlun Mountains in China and symbolizes Chiang's dream of one day reclaiming the mainland. The buildings to the right and left of the gate are the National Theater and the National Concert Hall.

The day concluded with a visit to the Confucius Temple, which was easily accessible from the memorial by taking the red subway line.