Remains of Taipei Prison Wall 🇹🇼

Located in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei, Taiwan, at the intersection of Aiguo East Road and Jinshan South Road, the Remains of Taipei Prison Wall offer a poignant glimpse into the island's complex colonial and wartime past. Situated right next to the Southern Taipei operations center for Chunghwa Telecom, approximately 100 meters of the original wall still stand across both sides of the property. When you visit, you will witness hand-cut quartzose sandstone blocks originally quarried from Taipei's Dazhi and Neihu areas to construct the Qing Dynasty's Old Taipei City Wall.

Following the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, when China ceded Taiwan to Japan, the Japanese colonial government repurposed these historic stones to build a large radial-plan prison designed to hold anti-Japanese political resistance fighters. During World War II, the facility also held shot-down Allied airmen. Tragic history unfolded here on May 29, 1945, when 14 Allied airmen underwent a mock trial and were executed in the courtyard just 58 days before the war ended.

Today, visiting these preserved stone ruins allows you to reflect on Taiwan's transition to Japan's first colony and honor the memory of those imprisoned within its historic boundaries.

What to see at Remains of Taipei Prison Wall

• Stretches of a 100-meter wall constructed from repurposed Qing Dynasty city stones
• Sandstone hand-cut from the local quartzose quarries of Dazhi and Neihu
• Historic site built during Japanese colonial rule to hold political prisoners
• Tragic World War II site where 14 Allied airmen were executed following a mock trial

Visiting tips

Take time to closely inspect the hand-cut quartzose sandstone blocks to appreciate their original origin from the Old Taipei City Wall.

How long: 30-60 minutes · Best time: Daylight hours

How to get there & what’s nearby

Remains of Taipei Prison Wall is easy to reach on Taipei’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Taipei Grand Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Taipei travel guide.