Daan Forest Park

Daan Forest Park is located in Daan District, in the heart of the city, covering an area of 25.9293 hectares, and is known as the "Lungs of the City." Within the main entrance plaza, flowerbeds are densely planted with herbaceous and ornamental foliage plants, integrating with a Buddha sculpture area and a bamboo forest to the south (featuring Buddha's belly bamboo, green bamboo, golden bamboo, Moso bamboo, and square-stem bamboo) to create a distinctive park scenery. To the northwest of the park is a natural pond, covering 0.7 hectares. The pond's perimeter and its small island are planted with golden dewdrop, copperleaf, canna lilies, and allamanda, adorned with creeping fig clinging to the island's stone walls. Koi fish swim playfully in the pond, often attracting visitors to linger and admire the view. In the center of the park, there is an open-air music stage with a natural sloped design, accommodating nearly a thousand spectators. It serves as a major venue for artistic and cultural performances in Taipei City. A fragrant plant zone surrounds the music stage, featuring perfumed plants such as magnolias, gardenias, orange jessamine, banana shrubs, and osmanthus. Stepping into this area, a delightful fragrance fills the air, and it is also an accessible leisure area within the park. To the southeast of the park, visitors can find a Southeast Asian-themed palm area, featuring plants like royal palms, Alexandra palms, bottle palms, fishtail palms, and canna lilies. Walking through this area feels like being in a tropical coconut grove. The park is traversed by two main roads running east-west and one main road running north-south. Along these paths, trees and shrubs are extensively planted, interspersed with flowerbeds that enhance the park's scenery. The park's main design concept is a forest-like environment. Besides enjoying the pleasant green landscaping, visitors can also find numerous pavilions and rest stops for relaxation. Along Jianguo South Road, lantana plants are grown. When they bloom, their vibrant colors resemble colorful ribbons, further enhancing the park's beauty. Because Daan Forest Park is located in the city center, it attracts countless visitors daily, especially in the mornings and at sunset. Nearby residents flock to the park to exercise, walk, dance, or simply enjoy themselves. The park also features a children's playground and an underground parking garage with two levels, providing parking for small vehicles and alleviating parking difficulties for visitors coming from afar. In crowded, heavily polluted, and high-temperature Taipei City, where the "heat island effect" is prominent, a purely recreational "urban forest" park is undeniably a refreshing "lung of the city." It purifies the air, reduces noise, and regulates temperature. Visitors can relax in the park, admire the flowers, enjoy performances at the music stage, experience a refreshing "forest bath" for body and mind, and stroll through the beautiful scenery, allowing the park's functions to be fully realized. To enhance Daan Forest Park's natural resources and ecological value, the Friends of Daan Forest Park Foundation has continuously promoted ecological restoration efforts since 2014. By integrating resources from industry, government, academia, and the public, they focus on the balanced development of tree growth and biodiversity. In addition to striving to create a lush green park environment, the foundation further promotes ecological conservation and environmental education through the establishment of the 'Daan Forest WOODS Student Ecological Information Website' digital platform. Through engaging multimedia presentations, organized ecological knowledge, and interactive features, you can learn about the diverse ecology within the park, including Taiwan barbets, fireflies, azaleas, various bird species, and further understand the philosophy, implementation, and diligent maintenance behind its ecological development. Next time you stroll through Daan Forest Park, please slow down, observe and understand more, and engage in an intimate and interesting dialogue with nature.