Not Being a Top Student Still Can Dine at Taiwan's No. 1 University: National Taiwan University

The English abbreviation of National Taiwan University is NTU.

NTU: An Open Campus

NTU, commonly referred to as "Tai Da," has several campuses across Taiwan, but the most famous one is in the Daan District of Taipei, known for its high house prices. The main campus spans multiple city blocks, and walking around its perimeter is a 3.9 kilometer journey!

The NTU campus is vast, so it's helpful to refer to a map to avoid getting lost. The NTU library built during the Japanese colonial period, has a history of over a century.

Exploring the Campus with YouBike

The NTU campus is so large that it has its own street names, including the famous Royal Palm Avenue along with other roads like Palm Avenue, Zhoushan Road, Fan Palm Avenue, Golden Rain Avenue, and ChangXing Street. Each of these main roads has smaller side paths as well! Fortunately, there are signs and maps throughout the campus to help visitors navigate. No matter which direction you enter NTU from, remember to read the road signs along the way so as not to get lost.

If you are too lazy to walk, you can rent a YouBike from one of the many stations within the campus using an app for free rentals. Cars are generally not allowed unless you are a staff member or have special permission, so the campus is mainly accessible by foot or bike. Motorcycles, which are the most popular type of vehicles in Taiwan, are not allowed to enter the NTU campus.

Be mindful of animals crossing the streets within the NTU campus.

Duck and Fresh Milk at NTU

Located right in the heart of Taipei, NTU features a sizable farm, along with larger-than-park areas like Drunken Moon Lake and aquaculture sites. The campus is rich in biodiversity, with ducks wandering along the paths unafraid of humans. In the ponds, you can find turtles and various bird species, and it is said that fireflies can be seen glowing in the late spring. Truly, it is a rare urban oasis in Taipei.

NTU is filled with charm, and the ecological ponds are home to turtles. At NTU's Xiao Fu Square, the second floor features numerous restaurants, while the third floor houses JSF, a store offering various household and hardware supplies.

I’ve lived in Taipei for many years and frequently visit NTU, not just to see the ducks and enjoy the lake views, but also to grab fresh milk and freshly baked cakes. If you’re late, they might be sold out! It’s delicious and affordable, and it’s one of the rare little joys in life. The NTU Farm Store is a small yet delightful spot that sells a variety of fresh items.

The NTU Farm Store is open from 7:30am to 8pm. The fresh milk produced by the NTU Farm is exceptionally delicious.

One item you cannot miss is the "NTU Fresh Milk," produced from cattle raised on the university's College of Agriculture farm. Milk is pasteurized and delivered to campus for sale the next day, ensuring it’s extremely fresh. This milk isn’t available in supermarkets, people outside the university often rush to buy it. You should check the official sale times to avoid disappointment.

The large bottle of NTU fresh milk is priced at 120 NTD, while the small bottle is 38 NTD. The soy milk pudding and black sesame pudding are also incredibly tasty.

NTU Fresh Milk has a smooth, natural flavour without excessive processing, making it refreshing compared to some store-bought options which has a thick milk flavor. There are also dairy products like cheese, yogurt and ice cream available—too many options that could lead to decision fatigue!

The Foam Type Cake is quite popular as well. It doesn’t contain fresh milk and is made from flour, sugar, eggs, orange juice and oil. This traditional "old-fashioned" flavour is favoured by many Taiwanese, offering a soft and moist texture. It's freshly baked for a limited time only, so it's definitely worth a try!

The Foam Type Cake from NTU is so popular that it sells out almost immediately after freshly baked.

NTU Farm Store

NTU Fresh Milk Limited Supply Times :

Monday to Friday: 8am & 3pm, Saturday: 9am Foam Type Cake Limited Supply Times :

Monday to Friday: 11am

NTU 1st Student Activity Center.

Unveiling the Secrets: Taipei People Personal NTU Route

National Taiwan University’s campus features many snack stalls and restaurants that cater to students and staff, but are also open to the general public. While the prices are a bit higher, they are still very reasonable. For example, Xiao Xiao Fu sells Taiwanese breakfast and rice balls starting at 7am. Xiao Fu Square is a three-storey building: the first floor has a post office and convenience store, the second floor is a food court, and the third floor has a store for daily necessities. You can find everything you need on campus!

National Taiwan University's cafeteria operates on a weight-based pricing system for its buffet.

I think the most economical option is the food court in the 1st Student Activity Center. It offers various choices, including McDonald's, Taiwanese potstickers, vegetarian options, and more. I highly recommend the YuXi Buffet, which is priced by weight: it's 20 NTD per 100 grams for outsiders, and rice is 5 NTD . The selection is rich and well-cooked, and you can serve yourself. The prices are very favorable, often better than most bento shops outside. During meal times, you should expect to spend some time queuing to choose your dishes and check out.

A full two plates of buffet, with meat and vegetables, costs less than 160 NTD—such great value!

Buffet on National Taiwan University Campus

Opening Hours: Daily from 10:30am to 2:30pm, and 4:30pm to 8pm.

One of the landmarks of National Taiwan University is Drunken Moon Lake. The National Taiwan University campus is filled with food stalls, and here is Shine Mood Waffle. Choose "Made in Taiwan" agricultural products as souvenirs.

My Ideal Half-Day Itinerary at NTU Enter through the main gate around 10am and stroll along Royal Palm Avenue. Rush to the NTU Farm Store to grab the freshly baked Foam Type Cake at 11am. Visit Drunken Moon Lake to watch the ducks. Have lunch at food court in the 1st Student Activity Center. Take a post-lunch walk to the NTU ecological pond – Liu Gong Jun Pool to admire the turtles and fish. Return to the NTU Farm Store for the limited fresh milk available at 3pm and pick up some local specialties eg. dried fruits, sesame sauce, sweet potato candy as souvenirs. For those who have visited Taiwan several times or want a deeper understanding of life in Taipei, consider taking some time to explore NTU. It’s a great place to walk around and enjoy some delicious food!

National Taiwan University Address: No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Daan District, Taipei Transportation: Take the Taipei MRT Green Line to Gongguan" Station, Exit 3