Peitou Hot Spring Museum
In 1913, the Taipei State Government (Japanese era name for Taipei) built the Peitou Hot Spring Public Baths to honor what was claimed to be the largest hot spring baths in all of East Asia. In 1997, the Public Baths became the Peitou Hot Spring Museum. Eleven large exhibition rooms are full of documents, pictures, and items describing the history and culture of Peitou. Volcanic smells from the hot spring encompass this Peitou stone structure, and the British influence on style is strong. You can virtually see, touch, smell, hear and feel the history. Admission is free.
Ironically, the Chinese equivalent of St. Valentine's Day falls during Ghost Month. The tradition for Lovers' Day, or 'Ching Ren Jie' in Mandarin, has been to go out for the evening with your lover and recently, to give small gifts of flowers, or candies. Almost all decent restaurants, pubs, discos, and theatres are packed on this night, so reservations for are definitely required. Also, many places have 'special' menu prices, and they are not any cheaper than usual! Later in the evening, the parks are totally packed with young lovers trying to find a little peace and quiet among the hundreds of other couples. Lovers' Day always falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. 
According to ancient tradition, the first day of spring falls in the first month of the lunar calendar. Wise lawmakers in the Chungking government recognized how important the change in seasons is to a largely agrarian society, and they issued a decree in 1941 creating an official commemorative holiday recognizing the efforts of farmers. Nowadays, spring rites are celebrated on February 4, largely outside Taipei, with government ceremonies, including the whipping of paper oxen stuffed with grain, symbolic of good harvests to come. Prayers are also said for good health, fertile land, fair weather and pest-free crops.
The National Concert Hall is situated directly across from The National Theater on the grounds of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The art of music is celebrated within this hall, where both Chinese and international symphony orchestras and choirs perform. The Recital Hall, which holds small-scale performances, chamber music, recitals, workshops, demonstrations and lectures, is located on the basement level. A gallery, also on the basement level, celebrates Taiwanese artistic and musical talent through pictures and other exhibits. 
Every two-hours or so (the times never seem to be exact) visitors are treated to the changing of the guards at the Martyr's Shrine. Two rifle-carrying military police stand rigid at attention and then end their shift with a robotic march. Half of the fun of this daily event is watching some of the more daring, or depending on your point of view, the more annoying, tourists try to taunt the guards into flinching while they stand at attention, or join them when it comes time to march. Admission is free. 
