Taipei's Zhongshan and Ximen Stations: Choose Your Hotel by Exit Number
If this is your first trip to Taipei, decide on a hotel by exit number before you even look at the station name. Zhongshan Station (transfer point between the Tamsui Xinyi Line and the Songshan Xindian Line, code G14) has escalators at Exits 3 and 4, making it easy to roll a suitcase up and down, while Ximen Station (transfer point between the Bannan Line and the Songshan Xindian Line, codes BL11 and G12) has Exits 5 and 6 splitting the hotel area from the Ximending shopping district. Both stations have hotels within a two to five minute walk for check in, but the walking distance and how manageable it is with luggage depend heavily on which exit you use.
The lines and exits are different from the start
At Zhongshan Station, Exit 1, which had been closed for construction since February 2023, officially reopened on the afternoon of May 31, 2025. The new Exit 1 has escalators running in both directions, making it much easier to move large luggage up and down, and it leads directly to Eslite Spectrum Nanxi Store and Meishu Park once you reach street level. The related news coverage also explains how the opening was delayed from September 2024 to May 2025 due to construction issues.
Ximen Station has a total of six numbered exits, 1 through 6, straddling both sides of Zhonghua Road. Official entrance and exit data shows that both stations have separate numbered street exits and underground passage exits managed individually, so when choosing a hotel you need to check distance by exit, not by the station's overall address. You can look up the exit lists for both stations directly in the Taipei Metro Entrances and Exits dataset.
Hotels near Zhongshan Station: Exits 3 and 4 are key
| Hotel | Nearest exit | Walking time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| amba Taipei Zhongshan | Exit 3 or 4 (escalator) | About 5 minutes | 90 rooms, at the intersection of Zhongshan North Road Section 2 and Changchun Road |
| Taipei Happy Family Hostel (ZhongShan Station) | Exit 1 (escalator) or Exit 3 (stairs) | About 5 minutes | Toward the Zhongshan Underground Book Street |
Both hotels are within a five minute walk of Zhongshan Station, but they use different exits. amba Zhongshan is reached by walking along Nanjing East Road from Exit 3 or 4, while at Happy Family Hostel you can choose between the escalator at Exit 1 or the stairs at Exit 3, depending on how much luggage you're carrying.
Hotels near Ximen Station: Exits 5 and 6 split the hotel area from the shopping district
| Hotel | Nearest exit | Walking time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just Sleep Taipei Ximending | Exit 5 | About 3 minutes | 143 rooms, 5th Floor, No. 41, Section 1, Zhonghua Road |
| Ximen Corner Hostel | Exit 6 (toward the Songshan Xindian Line) | About 2 minutes | Within walking distance of the Red House (Ximen Hong Lou) |
Around Exit 5, there are more hotels on the east side of Zhonghua Road, so it's relatively quiet, while Exit 6 leads straight out to the Zhonghua Road and Chengdu Road traffic circle, putting you closest to the noise of the Ximending pedestrian zone. Simply checking which of these two exits your hotel is closer to can give you a sense of how much noise you'll notice at night.
Travelers with large luggage should check the elevator exit first
At Ximen Station, Exits 1 and 5 only have stairs. The accessible elevators are located only at Exit 4 (toward Hengyang Road) and Exit 6 (at the Zhonghua Road and Chengdu Road intersection). Even if your hotel is near Exit 5, if you have a large suitcase, it's better to walk one more block and use the elevator at Exit 6.
At Zhongshan Station, Exit 1, reopened in May 2025, has escalators running in both directions, but the location of elevators and ramps at the other exits varies by exit. You can check in advance whether the nearest exit to your hotel has an elevator using the accessible facility coordinate data released by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. Exit by exit coordinates can be downloaded from the Taipei Metro Station Entrance and Exit Accessible Elevator and Ramp GPS Coordinates dataset.
The right choice depends on your travel style
The area around Zhongshan Station centers on walking and dining spots like Eslite Spectrum Nanxi Store, the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store, and the Zhongshan Underground Book Street. It suits travelers who want to avoid a noisy atmosphere late into the night, or those combining the trip with business.
The area around Ximen Station centers on the Ximending pedestrian zone, the Red House (Ximen Hong Lou), and shopping streets that stay busy well into the evening. A few stops on the Bannan Line also get you to the Longshan Temple area, which works well if you want to combine your stay with temple sightseeing. If you prioritize liveliness and accessibility, Ximen Station is the better fit; if you want a relatively calmer route, Zhongshan Station is the better fit.
Sources: Taipei MRT Zhongshan Station Exit 1 opens May 31, related news coverage (city.gvm.com.tw)
Sources: Taipei MRT station entries and exits (data.gov.tw)
Sources: Taipei Metro Station Entrance and Exit Accessible Elevator and Ramp GPS Coordinates (data.gov.tw)
Sources: amba Taipei Zhongshan Destination Maps (amba-hotels.com)
Sources: Taipei Happy Family Hostel ZhongShan Station (hostelz.com)
Sources: Just Sleep Taipei Ximending official page (justsleephotels.com)
Sources: Article on the 3 minute walk from Ximen MRT Station to Just Sleep (travel.yam.com)