While not an actual tourist attraction as such, the Tamkang University campus in Tamsui is a fascinating place and close enough to major attractions, such as the Fisherman's Wharf and the Tamsui Old Street, to warrant a small detour. The uni’s avenue is lined with stately buildings, gardens and atmospheric lamp posts that attract strolling locals at night.
While this is Taiwan's oldest private educational institution of higher learning, Tamkang University is not even a century old. It started out as the Tamkang Junior College of English in 1950 and became a College of Arts and Sciences 8 years later.
The university’s 11 colleges are spread out over four campuses, home to 47 departments and divisions in total. The university is futuristic in spirit, illustrated by its online Cyber Campus.
The Tamsui Campus has been modeled on American research universities. The campus is called "The City of Intellect,” where both master's and doctoral programs are offered. Students, who call themselves “Tamkangians,” can choose between 17 doctoral programs and 50 master's programs. The Tamsui campus may look traditional but at this university globalization is at the center of everyone’s mind and all eyes are set on the future.
Walk up the 132 stone steps with a name that translates as “The Slope of Overcoming Difficulty.” This steep staircase used to be the school’s only entrance when it was constructed. Of course, the idea behind it is that you need to work hard to achieve your goals. Of similar symbolical meaning is the Five Tiger Hill, which refers to the five ridges on Hutou Shan (Tiger Head Mountain), of which the campus makes up the fourth ridge.
Leaving the Tamkang University downhill along Yingzhuan Road, you’ll soon come across the bustling shopping streets of Tamsui, home to a popular night market.
You can reach the university by public transportation. From the Yuanshan MRT Station in Taipei, take a metro to Danshui (Tamsui) Station, which marks the end of the red line. Then take the 857 bus to the Tamkang University Tamsui Campus. You can also head for the Tamsui MRT Station and take a taxi from there.
