The Grand Hotel Taipei — the Red Dragon Palace on Yuanshan Hill
The Grand Hotel Taipei (圓山大飯店) is "the instantly recognisable landmark of Taiwan" — a 5-star Chinese palace-style hotel with vermilion columns and golden roofs standing on Yuanshan Hill. Open since 1952, it offers 490 rooms, panoramic city views and a depth of history no other Taipei hotel can match.
The Grand Hotel was established in May 1952, and the palace-style main building we know today was completed on 10 October 1973. At 87 metres it was Taiwan's tallest building from 1973 to 1981, and remains one of the tallest classical Chinese buildings in the world. Designed by architect Yang Cho-Cheng, it has golden-tiled roofs, vermilion columns and dragon, lion and plum-blossom motifs throughout. Many guests say simply walking into the lobby feels like stepping into a real Chinese palace.
"The building is so beautiful you keep stopping to take photos — the lobby has soaring ceilings and grand red columns. Service is excellent, and the city view from the room exceeded expectations. This isn't just a hotel, it's a piece of history."
What truly sets The Grand Hotel apart is the history woven into the building itself. Guest rooms span eight floors, each designed to reflect a different Chinese dynasty, and beneath the hotel run two secret tunnels (the East and West Secret Tunnels) built as wartime air-raid shelters — the western one even has a long slide for emergency evacuation. They are now open for guided tours (an extra fee of around NT$200–500), and guests consistently call this a must-do experience.
Rooms are generously sized by classic-era standards, decorated in warm traditional Chinese tones, with air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, an electric kettle and a pillow menu. Higher room categories add a bathtub and a view of the city or the Keelung River. Guests frequently praise the spacious rooms and the views you simply cannot get from a downtown hotel — sunsets and the glittering city lights seen from the hilltop.
Facilities are complete for a 5-star property — an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and sauna, plus four restaurants serving Chinese, Cantonese and Western cuisine. The hotel's Chinese restaurant is well known for its dim sum and lunch/dinner buffets, a place Taipei locals choose for special occasions. There is also free parking, an on-site convenience store and airport transfer service.
The most honest point to weigh is the hilltop location — The Grand Hotel is not next to an MRT station. You rely on the hotel's free shuttle from MRT Yuanshan (about an 8-minute drive) or a taxi, so heading out for nightlife or shopping is less convenient than from a city-centre hotel. Some guests also suggest a few rooms could use refreshed upkeep in keeping with the building's age — worth knowing before you book.
In short, The Grand Hotel Taipei is the choice for travellers who want to stay inside a national landmark, enjoy hilltop city views and experience Chinese palace architecture you'll find nowhere else — rather than a base for an MRT-hopping shopping trip. If you value story, atmosphere and classic grandeur, this is one of the most memorable stays in all of Taipei.
An insider tip few guests know: book the secret tunnel tour at the Front Desk — guides run at 10:00 and 14:00 (approximately NT$200–500, 40 minutes) and the afternoon slot fills first. For the best room, ask for a floor 7–9 room on the Grand Ballroom wing, which gives the widest view of the Taipei Basin — particularly striking at sunset when golden light washes across the entire city below.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ A stunning Chinese palace building — a landmark that photographs beautifully from every angle
- ✓ Warm, professional staff who speak fluent English
- ✓ Spacious rooms with city and river views that exceed expectations
- ✓ A genuinely historic atmosphere — the secret-tunnel tour is fascinating
- ! Hilltop location, not by an MRT — you need the shuttle or a taxi
- ! Less convenient for nightlife and shopping than a city-centre hotel
- ! Parts of the building show their age and await refreshing
- ✓ Magnificent architecture and lobby — it feels like staying in a palace
- ✓ Beautiful Taipei views from the rooms and the pool
- ✓ The free shuttle from MRT Yuanshan is more convenient than expected
- ✓ The Chinese restaurant and dim sum are excellent — popular with locals
- ! Set on a hill — you need to plan trips into the city in advance
- ! Some room types feel classic and may look dated to some guests
- ! On long holidays it gets busy — expect queues for dining and the shuttle
- 💡If your trip is focused on shopping and nightlife — the hotel sits on a hill, away from the MRT, so getting to Ximen or Xinyi in the evening isn't convenient → use the free shuttle from MRT Yuanshan and plan your timing, or stay here for 1–2 nights as the highlight of your trip
- 💡If you expect the modern design of a new-build hotel — The Grand Hotel is a historic building dating to 1973 with a classic Chinese style, and some areas show their age → check the latest room photos and pick a refreshed room category before booking
- 💡If you want to visit the secret tunnels — the East/West Secret Tunnel tour carries an extra fee and limited seats → ask and book at the front desk as soon as you check in