Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is a former tobacco plant in Taipei that has now been converted into a park, exhibition space, museum, and more. In this multifunctional park, you can enjoy the history of the old tobacco plant buildings, as well as ongoing exhibitions, art shows, restaurants, bookstores, and cafés. It is a great tourist stop in the heart of Taipei for both geeks and hipsters.
History The buildings where the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park currently lies were constructed in 1937 as the Matsuyama Tobacco Plant of the Monopoly Bureau of the Taiwan Governor's Office during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. After WWII, the ROC government took control of the plant and renamed it the Songshan Tobacco Plant of the Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Bureau. Due to declining demand for tobacco in Taiwan, the factory stopped producing cigarettes in 1998, and the area was converted into a park in 2001. In 2011, the old buildings here were renovated to accommodate exhibitions and performances on the site. The area includes old warehouses, inspection rooms, office buildings, a tobacco factory, an ecology pond, and more. In 2024 Eslite began 24-hour operations of their bookstore here. The park is usually busy especially on weekends, due to many ongoing art exhibitions. Hours: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day Price: Free to visit Hotels in Taipei: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How to get there: By MRT/Bus: The building is close to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT station. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. By Car/Scooter: The building is just a few blocks west of Taipei City Hall Station on Zhongxiao East Road. There is limited parking nearby. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Map: Please see below: Our Journey: I have been to Songshan Creative and Cultural Park many times, but I can say I have only really explored it deeply once. It was one of the first big restoration projects in Taipei backed by the Taipei City government, and its success helped pave the way for other projects such as Treasure Hill and Popop Taipei. It is a popular place for young people especially because there are often exhibitions on video games, comic books, and other popular art forms. 
The park is right next to the newly opened Taipei Dome, and together they are considered the Taipei Cultural and Sporting Complex.
The backside of the area still has old warehouses that once faced the railway line.
This area is a popular pick up and drop off destination but there is no parking here.
On the east side of the park is more of the actual park.
There are quite a few grassy areas here and a pond. It is a nice break from the busy city center.
The cultural park has made use of most of the old buildings that were part of the old tobacco factory.
There is also a new building in the park that houses a few shops.
Clothing store on the first floor.
Tea shop made from an old wooden Japanese era building.
View looking east at the park.
View from the new office building. There is paid parking underneath this building.
Songyan Eslite bookstore which just became a 24 hour bookstore.
View of the grassy area to the east.
View looking west at the old office buildings.
Walking inside the old office and workshop buildings.
These buildings are rectangular and feature a large courtyard in the middle.
Handicraft shops.
The original urinals that the Japanese built.
Toy shop.
More handicraft stands.
View looking the other way.
More handicraft stands.
View of the fountain in the inner courtyard.
There are some nice pathways and gardens in the inner courtyard.
There are also some shaded areas.
Close-up view of the fountain.
Another entrance on the other side.
Seal statue.
Home decor shop.
Map of the area.
This building has been converted into the Taiwan Design Museum, but most of it is still exhibition space.
There is also a library here you can check out.
Modern art display.
Another hallway.
Taiwan tourism expo.
Food poisoning expo.
Expo for a video game. There were lots of young'ins there.
Another hallway.
Another craft shop.
A small courtyard on the side.
The main courtyard on the west side.
View looking back at the building we were just in.
Rounded terraced archway in front of the old warehouses.
View from the side.
There was a paid exhibit in the building when we visited. We did not go inside.
They also sprayed mist because it was a hot day.
You can also check out more photos of the area above.
Just across the street, you will notice an old railroad area that is not yet open to the public.
This will soon open ad the Taipei Railway Workshop Museum. 
The workshop is currently under renovation and will open soon.
View of the old entrance to the workshop. Visits are not allowed.
You can see more photos of the Taipei Railway Workshop above.
You can look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. You can check out our Taipei Museum Guide here. Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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