Browse Lai Hao for Taiwanese design objects - ceramics, textiles, stationery - all locally made. Piao Piao Gallery shows emerging Asian artists in a minimal second-floor space. The neighborhood rewards slow walking: independent shops sit between old apartment blocks, and the creative energy feels lived-in rather than staged.
3 things to do, 3 shops, all in Da'an / Yongkang Street.
Best things to do in Da'an / Yongkang Street.
Da'an / Yongkang Street's art scene runs deeper than the bubble tea queues suggest: Piao Piao Gallery has been programming 30 shows a year since 2004, Bluerider ART pulls international contemporary names to Dunhua South Road, and C-LAB turns a former Air Force compound on Jianguo South into experimental sound and installation space. Walk in without an agenda.
Do
Bluerider ART
$$ · Art gallery
Bluerider ART runs a serious contemporary program from its flagship space on Dunhua South Road, showing international names alongside Taiwanese artists across multiple exhibition halls. The gallery built its reputation on bridging Eastern and Western art practices - now consolidated here in Da'an District.
Piao Piao Gallery has anchored Yongkang Street since 2004, running 30 exhibitions a year from a storefront most tourists walk past chasing soup dumplings. The artist-led space pushes contemporary ink work by emerging talent - proof that serious galleries don't need white-cube real estate.
C-LAB occupies a former Air Force headquarters on Jianguo South Road, its brutalist military buildings now housing experimental sound installations and digital art. The programming skews toward noise music, speculative design, and tech-art crossovers that feel genuinely weird - not just gallery-safe provocations.
The shops on Da'an / Yongkang Street trade in craft over volume. Lai Hao on Lane 6 pairs Hakka stoneware with independent Taiwanese design, Littdlework has been hand-stitching patches and jewelry from Lane 4 for years, and EILONG on Lane 31 throws ceramics that pull Song dynasty silhouettes into present-day use.
Shop
Lai Hao
來好 永康本店
$$ · Gift shop
Lai Hao on Yongkang Street's Lane 6 stocks independent Taiwanese designer goods alongside traditional Hakka stoneware and embroidered pieces. The shop nails that retro-meets-local aesthetic without tipping into kitsch - solid spot for souvenirs that actually mean something.
Littlework has been stitching Yongkang Street's handmade scene since opening at Lane 4, offering over 200 hand-embroidered patches, jewelry, and bags. Each piece is designed and stitched in-house, making this Da'an shop a proper stop for wearable textile art.
EILONG on Lane 31 of Yongkang Street produces ceramics that bridge Song dynasty aesthetics with contemporary function. Their double-walled glass teacups and porcelain gaiwans attract serious tea drinkers who want pieces built for daily ritual, not display shelves.
Very. The core grid south of the main east-west avenue is flat, tree-lined, and dense with shops, tea houses, and dessert spots within a 15-minute radius. Sidewalks are uneven in places and scooters park on them, so watch your step. Most visitors cover the area on foot and use the metro only to reach it.
How do I get to Da'an / Yongkang Street from the airport?
From Taoyuan Airport, take the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station (around 40 minutes on the express, NT$150), then transfer to the red line south two stops. Total time is about an hour. A taxi runs NT$1,100-1,400 and takes 40-60 minutes depending on traffic. Songshan Airport is closer, around 20 minutes by metro.
Does Uber work in Taipei?
Yes, Uber works and is the easy choice for app rides, with Bolt as an alternative. That said, the yellow street taxis are everywhere, cheap, and metered, so you rarely wait long for one. If you want to book rather than hail, locals use 55688, FindTaxi, or LINE GO. For most trips around the city, just flag a yellow cab - it is often faster than waiting on an app.
Do museums in Taipei have free days or hours?
Several city-run museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month or on International Museum Day in May. The major national collection in Shilin charges around NT$350 and has discounted evening hours on some weekends. Smaller contemporary art spaces in the Da'an area are often free or under NT$150. Check each museum's site before going.
What are typical gallery and shop opening hours in Da'an / Yongkang Street?
Most independent shops open late, around 12:00 or 13:00, and run until 21:00 or 22:00. Tea houses open earlier, often by 10:00. Many boutiques close one weekday, commonly Monday or Tuesday. Restaurants typically break between 14:30 and 17:30. Weekends get crowded after 15:00, so mornings are calmer for browsing.
Is it safe to walk around Da'an / Yongkang Street at night?
Yes. Taipei is one of Asia's safer capitals and Da'an is a well-lit residential district with people on the streets until midnight. Solo walking is fine. The main risks are scooters at crosswalks and slippery tiles when it rains. Convenience stores stay open 24 hours and are reliable stops if you need directions or shelter.
What's the best month for outdoor activities in Taipei?
October to December is the sweet spot: drier air, temperatures around 20-26°C, and fewer typhoons. March and April are mild but wetter. Summer (June to September) is hot, humid, and prone to afternoon storms. January and February are cool and damp. Plan hikes in Yangmingshan or riverside cycling for autumn weekends.
Can I rent a bike in Da'an / Yongkang Street?
Yes. YouBike 2.0 stations sit at most metro exits and major intersections in Da'an. Register with a local SIM or an EasyCard linked to your passport at the kiosk. Rates are around NT$10 per 30 minutes. The riverside paths along the Xindian and Keelung rivers are the easiest rides; city streets are doable but scooter-heavy.
