Taipei’s MRT System is super efficient and very easy to get around on with all stops and information in English. If you’re staying in Taipei for more than a day make sure you get an Easy Card pass from the vending machines at all stops or pick-up a 1, 2, 3 or 5 day Taipei Pass at information counters. 

In this podcast we will make 3 stops on Taipei’s MRT Red Line. First from Main Station we’ll head for Yuanshan stop and the Dalongdong neighborhood, next a ride all the way to the end of the line at Xiangshan for a hike up Elephant Mountain, then back to finish off the afternoon at Liberty Square and the final Honor guard of the day at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.

Yuanshan is the first elevated stop on the red line that finishes in the riverside village of Danshui. All stops before Yuanshan are underground.

This is the old Dalongdong neighborhood with many historic buildings and quiet lanes to explore. Our destination here is the Confucious Temple and the Bao An Temple. Like most sites in Taipei there are English signs everywhere leading you in the right direction whether you look up or down.

Confucius was a Chinese teacher, philosopher, editor and politician born in 551 B.C. Confucius was a champion of strong family loyalty, respect of ancestors, and respect of elders by their children among other things. 

Confuciunism is said to have played a big role in the successful economies of the 4 Asian Tigers. Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan all have had educational programs that taught the values of Confucius-hard work, respect, loyalty, and respect towards authority figures. Excerpts from "Taipei, Taiwan's Top Sites In One Day, On  One MRT Line".