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Principal structure completed in 1931 City-designated heritage site The Main Gate has changed very little since it was first erected following the University’s founding. At the very center of the structure is the security guard’s office, and the color of the bricks in its construction echoes those of the Taihoku Imperial University’s architectural style. Pedestrians and automobiles must enter or exit the campus from either side of the gate. The structure’s foundation and the four lampposts are made of rock quarried from the Ki-Irigan (Qili’an) area of Beitou District. In the early days automobiles to and from Roosevelt Rd. were allowed through the main entrance, but as the volume of traffic began to pick up in the 1970s, the flow of vehicles was redirected to Xinsheng S. Road. Until 1979 the area leading to Roosevelt Rd. then became a free-speech plaza where members of the University and even political dissidents were able to organize activities. Later a triangular lawn of flowers was created to cover the area, but in 2005 the plaza was restored and designated the University Promenade, which still exists today and is again used by members of the NTU community to express their views.    

  Inaugurated in 1929 City-designated heritage site The present Gallery of NTU History is housed in the Old Main Library building, which was constructed in the same architectural style typical of the Taihoku Imperial University era. Its main features include arched windows and doors as well as gables and ribbed tiles. Apart from the large arched windows on the building’s façade, the second floor, previously a reading room, is equipped with large, bright windows and now serves as a museum with displays of the University’s history and accomplishments. The museum is the venue of many regular and special exhibitions. Don’t miss out on any museum events when you visit NTU! * Books published by the University and souvenirs are available at the NTU Press Bookstore on the second floor of the Gallery of NTU History.   

Inaugurated in 1929 City-designated heritage site As the centerpiece of the collection of Imperial University-era buildings, the College of Liberal Arts is covered with ribbed tiles and adorned with Romanesque elements on its exterior. The building features such distinctive details as finely worked arched windows and doors, gables and corner tiles, all of which deserve proper appreciation. The spacious entrance portico is distinct from those of other buildings constructed in the same period, which is a testament to the pivotal role played by the Japanese-era Faculty of Literature and Politics (predecessor of the College of Liberal Arts). A sculpture by the famous local artist Ju Ming from his Taichi series stands in a pond on the building’s west side, which adds to the artistic atmosphere of the NTU campus.    

About a hundred large and attractive palm trees of the species Roystonea regia can be seen on either side of the Royal Palm Blvd., the main artery and a prominent landmark of NTU’s main campus. Pointing eastward toward Muzhi (“thumb”) Mountain, the thoroughfare ends at the lawn in front of the NTU Main Library, where the views at dawn and dusk are said to be spectacular. As to the curved portion of the boulevard next to the Main Gate on its western end, an intriguing account is that it helps to “accumulate and retain talent” according to the dictates of feng shui.    

Following President Fu’s passing in 1950, the country’s military commissioned a bell and gifted it to the University in his honor. Initially the faculty and students referred to it simply as the “memorial bell” before eventually naming it the “Fu Bell”. The bell was struck 55 times manually at first and later the frequency was reduced to 22. In 2000 an electronic system was set up to sound the bell 21 times to mark the beginning and end of each class period. A commemorative plaque explains the reason for this peculiar number: “There are only 21 hours available per day because the remaining three hours are reserved for self-reflection.” The true origin of this remark, previously attributed to Fu, remains unknown. If you happen to be in the vicinity at the right time, be sure to listen to the bell’s melodious and reverberating sound. The Fu Bell’s iconic significance has also made it the centerpiece of the university emblem.    

Inaugurated in 1926 City-designated heritage site   With red bricks as its principal construction material, the Administration Building was completed during the Taihoku Advanced Academy of Agronomy and Forestry era (under the office of the Governor-General of Taiwan) and became the administrative center of Taihoku Imperial University and later its successor, National Taiwan University. The four Corinthian columns of the portico instill an air of serene dignity. The exquisite carvings at the central entrance of the building’s façade echo the decorations on the wall of the College of Liberal Arts building across the Royal Palm Blvd. The pond in front of the Administration Building fully captures the beauty of the architecture and its environment, making it one of the most photographed spots on campus.    

Xiao-Fu (mini convenience shop) and Xiao-Xiao-Fu (super-mini convenience shop) are the nicknames of two membership-based campus food courts. The former is located next to the Putong Lecture Building and the latter is just across from the Gongtong Lecture Building. Both offer an assortment of fast food, beverages, fresh produce and also general merchandise. The tea-flavored eggs, in particular, have long been a favorite of visiting alumni and remind them of their good old college days. The Agricultural Products Sales Center offers farm products produced by the College of Bioresources & Agriculture, including baked goods, sliced bread, frozen treats and fresh milk, which is extremely popular with the local community. Food courts and commissaries are no longer the only places faculty, staff and students visit to get meals and other necessities. Convenience stores and malls can also be found at dormitories, activity centers, Lixian Hall and other areas around campus. There are also numerous Chinese and western-style restaurants available for both casual meals and fine-dining occasions.      

Formerly known as the Niu Nan Pond, the lake was used to regulate the water flow of the Liugongjun irrigation canal. In 1972 the University instituted a series of extensive renovations, including the construction of an arched bridge and a mid-lake pavilion that divided the lake into one large body of water and two smaller ones. Starting in 1973 the NTU Graduation Student Association began to refer to the lake as “Drunken Moon” when it first organized a rowing competition, and the name persisted to this day. In 2011 the lake was renovated and restructured as an eco-friendly lakeshore. In 2017, a scenic area along Liugongjun’s old canal on the south side was added, and it has become an attraction for the local community. This area, being far removed from the main artery of Royal Palm Blvd., represents a very different but invigorating side of the NTU campus with the much more modern high-rise buildings in its surroundings, such as the Astronomy-Mathematics Building, New Physics Dept. building, Chemistry Dept. (Ji Xue) building, Chee-Chun Leung Cosmology Hall, and the green Boya Lecture Building.    

NTU boasts excellent indoor and outdoor sporting facilities and space: A mini-dome Sports Center that houses swimming pools, a fitness center, floor classrooms and indoor courts, as well as a large field for major sporting events and ceremonies. There are also outdoor swimming pools, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a track and field stadium that conforms to international standards. These excellent and abundant sports facilities and environment allow students to participate in a variety of physical education courses and help nurture the University’s sports teams. NTU students have achieved excellent results in annual intercollegiate sports competitions.      

You can purchase the following farm products at the Agricultural Products Sales Center: baked goods, sliced bread, frozen treats and fresh milk from the NTU Farm, which is extremely popular.    

Front building completed in 1963 Historic building An exemplar of modern Chinese architecture, the Center is one of the creations of the famous architect Wang Da-hong, who elected to employ the traditional colors of red, gold and black in its design, which also includes corridors and patios. Of particular interest is the pleated roofing, which showcases the essence of Chinese architecture. The building houses an auditorium, student club offices, a food court, a convenience store, and also exhibition space for art. It serves as a hub of student activities, with some 400 registered student clubs enlivening the campus with vigor and creativity.    

Completed in 1998 and consisting of five stories above ground and one below, the Main Library is located at the eastern end of the Royal Palm Blvd. It houses over eight million volumes, with a Special Collections section on the fifth floor where rare books and documents are archived. The library’s architectural elements echo those of the Imperial University-era buildings along the Royal Palm Blvd. In particular, the design of the large, elegant arched windows of its façade have been borrowed from the Old Main Library. The bell tower on the library’s north side offers a certain degree of asymmetry to make the library complex more interesting. Upon entering the library, one will find the soaring four-story high entrance area quite soothing. Whether it is the special humanities collection on the 3rd floor, the Learning Commons, the 24-hour study room, NTU Press Bookstore, or the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Resource Center located on B1, they all attest to the library’s unique position as both the visual and academic focal point of the NTU campus.    

Located next to the back entrance of the campus on Xinhai Rd., the College of Social Sciences building was designed by the world-renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito. The exterior has adopted the fair-faced concrete finish to achieve a simple but elegant look. The building’s facilities are compliant with green building regulations. The most distinctive part of the complex is the Koo Chen-Fu Memorial Library on the south side. The library boasts floor-to-ceiling glass panes on three sides and resembles a hanging garden when viewed from above. The interior is equipped with 88 irregularly arranged columns, transparent ceilings and curved bamboo bookshelves, which offers visitors the distinct sensation of being immersed in the forest.  

In earlier times the Da-an branch of the Liugongjun irrigation canal wound its way through the university grounds. But with the city’s accelerated pace of urbanization and the expansion of the campus, the waterway has since been paved over or covered, with only parts of it visible today under the arched bridge on Zhoushan Rd. as well as next to the Hydrotech Research Institute. Work began in 2001 on the restoration of the Da-an branch of the canal. The pool itself, designed and engineered in accordance with ecological guidelines, comprises the first phase of the project, which became a habitat for wildlife upon its completion. If you look closely, you may be able to spot a few species of water fowl, such as the moorhen, savanna nightjar, and kingfishers, as well as tortoises. Sometimes migrating birds briefly making a stop here can also be seen, if you are lucky. The area around the pool has become one of the best birdwatching spots on campus. For more information, sign up for an eco-themed guided tour offered by the Visitor Center.    

The verdant farm acts as a shield against the noise and chaos of Keelung Road and the traffic of its overpass, affording the urban campus a little peace and quiet within a bustling metropolis. Before the Taihoku Imperial University was founded, the farm had been designated by the Office of the Governor-General of Taiwan for the purposes of conducting agricultural experiments. It remains one of the field experimental sites of the College of Bioresources and Agriculture today. The farm offers agricultural experience courses during regular semesters for students from other colleges. Certain areas of the farm are also open to the general public as a venue for conducting environmental education classes, including guided tours and DIY activities. Schools at all levels and citizens’groups are also encouraged to participate.    

The three Luchu (or Okinawa) pine trees in front of the Gongtong Lecture Building were planted at about the same time Taihoku Imperial University was founded. Five trees were planted originally but only three survived to this day. Students and local residents alike appreciate having a relaxing moment under the shade of these fully-grown pines. While they are enjoying the delicious food they bring here during lunch time, they often spot squirrels and sparrows hopping around, which is a scene that describes the perfect harmony between humans and nature.    

This building houses the NTU Center for the Arts. Back in the 1960s, however, it served as a chapel for U.S. troops stationed here. The building’s unassuming grey exterior was given a face-lift in 2009 and now looks completed transformed, although the stained-glass windows and the architectural shape still hint at its historical role. The warm colors of the building’s exterior highlight the edifying functions of the Center, where various arts and cultural activities and events are held. The Center also provides a space for performances and exhibitions by NTU groups and organizations as well as from outside the university community.  

The garden began as the arboretum of the Taihoku Imperial University and was planted with various tropical flora for research purposes. As some of the plant species were unable to adapt to Taipei’s cold and damp winter climate, only a handful of them survived to this day. Following the passing of University President Fu Ssu-nien in 1950, a monument in the style of the Greek Parthenon, which includes the mausoleum that houses the president’s ashes, was constructed on the grounds to commemorate him. The arboretum was also renamed Fu Garden in his honor.  

Agricultural Experimental Farm   The Agricultural Exhibition Hall, designed by the architect Zhang Zhao-kang, was designated an exhibition venue in the 1960s to showcase Taiwan’s agricultural achievements. Its many visitors included foreign diplomats and VIPs. The Exhibition Hall is now a constituent part of the National Taiwan University Museums. Modern materials are used to express the elements of traditional Chinese architecture, with glazed tiles of different colors covering the walls of the second and third floors. The smaller green ones represent leaves, the larger yellow ones denote rice plants, and the white walls symbolize paddy fields.