Shilin, in the north of Taipei, holds three of the city's biggest attractions: the National Palace Museum, the Shilin Night Market, and the Shilin Official Residence that was the home of Chiang Kai-shek and his wife from 1950 until his death in 1975. Beyond these tourist anchors it is a green, suburban-feeling district with the broad Zhongshan North Road climbing north towards the Yangmingshan mountains.
The district is well-connected on the MRT (red and tamsui-xinyi lines) and is the easiest place to base yourself for visits to the National Palace Museum or Yangmingshan. The night market is around Jiantan station; the museum is a 15-minute bus ride further north.