Wuzhishan is a beautiful mountain in Xizhi District of New Taipei. It is a popular place to stop for hikers, bikers, and Instagrammers due to its amazing views of east Taipei. Also there are many coffee shops here with amazing views. Besides taking photos, Wuzhishan is a great place to relax and enjoy nature.
Background: The rock formations that form Wuzhishan formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago, and was later uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast around Keelung, and the waterfalls in Pingxi. Wuzhishan sits at 376 meters above sea level, while the bottom of the mountain is 76 meters, and the road it is 2.1 KM, making it a short, steep climb. Dream Lake get's its name from the thick fog that covers it during winter months, making it look like a dreamscape. Dream Lake is a popular spot for couples, wedding photography, and Instagram photos. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Hike Difficulty: Moderate: About a two hour hike round trip, steep and difficult climbing through the forest with aid of ropes. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take Xiwan Road (夕萬路) all the way to the top. You can also hike it starting from the Wuzhishan Old Trail trailhead. By Bus: Take Dongnan Bus F910 from Xizhi Park about 40 minutes up the mountain to Wuzhishan. Map: Please see below:
0 Comments
Xizhi Night Market is an indoor night market under Xizhi TRA station. It includes nearly 100 stalls and is famous for its spring onion cakes and sticky rice. If you are in the area this night market is definitely worth a stop.
Background: In the past Xizhi was a very important transport hub along the Keelung River. After World War 2, the train to Yilan replaced the need for a boat dock for shipping in Xizhi, and the town slowly fell out of importance. However with urban sprawl and rising housing prices in Taipei, many people have moved to Xizhi as kind of a suburb, and it is now mainly a residential area. Xizhi Night Market was originally created in 1981 on the intersection of Xintai 5th Road and Renai Road. Later after the TRA railway bridge in Xizhi was completed in 2012, the night market moved to underneath the railway bridge on Shuiyuan Road. The night market is government owned and includes 83 stalls. In the morning, the area becomes a vegetable market. Popular foods here include stinky tofu, sticky rice meat balls, steak, pork noodles, and fried chicken. Price: Free Hours: 5 PM to 11 PM How to get there: By car/scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 5 north to Xizhi. Turn west onto Xinxing Road and stop at the railway bridge. There is no car parking and limited scooter parking. By TRA: Take the TRA to Xizhi Station. The Night Market, is directly under the station to the south. Map: Please see below: 
Xizhi Old Street was once an important trading location along the Keelung River. After the advent of railroads, the street was no longer useful, and now it is used mainly as a morning vegetable market. However many of the old red brick buildings here are still intact, and it is worth a stroll down the street if you are in the area.
Background: Xizhi Old Street is only about 1 Km long, and it's official name is Zhongzheng Road. In the past it was known as Shuifanjiao Street, and was a very important transport hub along the Keelung River. It is also known as Xizhi's first street. After World War 2, the train to Yilan replaced the need for a boat dock for shipping in Shenkeng, and the town slowly fell out of importance. Many of the shops here have been running for over three generations. Price: Free Hours: 24/7, vegetable market only open before noon. How to get there: By car/scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 5 north to Xizhi. Turn west onto Zhengzheng Road and you are on the old street. There is no car parking and limited scooter parking. By TRA: Take the TRA to Xizhi Station. The Old street is about a two minute walk to the northwest. Map: Please see below: 
The Hengke Road dependents village was once home to a community of dependents of ROC soldiers. It sat abandoned for nearly 20 years. Now it has been destroyed. Even though it was full of garbage and decay, it had a charm of its own that is captured in the photos of this blog.
Background: The Hengke Road Dependents Village was created sometime after the second world war. This village was built for KMT dependents after 1949 when they fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War. It included 30 households that were once inhabited at the time. It was abandoned in 2002 probably due to unlivable conditions in the poorly built houses. The land is owned by the department of defense. Since then it has been an eyesore for the community, and many have complained it has become a secret gathering place for youths to do drugs, etc. However from what I could see on my trip there in 2018, the place is mainly used as a private gardening area by local residents. In addition, the road next to it is very busy but because of the village is very narrow and can only accommodate one direction of traffic at a time. The village was razed to the ground in On October 9th, 2021, with no explanation. Map: Please see below. 
New Taipei Metropolitan Park in Sanchong and Luzhou Districts is my favorite city park in northern Taiwan. It features long green grass fields, lots of sidewalks and places to rest, as well as rivers and ponds. It's a great place to ride a bike and exercise and relax if you are in the area.
Background: New Taipei Metropolitan Park was first began work in 2008 and it is still undergoing improvements. Originally it's name was "Greater Taipei Metropolitan Park 大臺北都會公園" but its name changed to New Taipei Metropolitan Park 新北都會公園 in 2009 to differentiate it from Taipei City. It sits on the Erchong Floodway, a flood overflow basin which began construction in 1987 and was finished in 1996. Before that, there were no levees here and Sanchong and the surrounding areas were prone to flooding every time a Typhoon hit, due to the rising of the Tamsui River. The area where the Erchong Floodway sits was once the direction that the Tamsui River flowed before this section silted in, diverting the flow of the river north. The park is 7.5 km long, which includes wetlands, grasslands, basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, slides, bicycle paths, and much more. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 How to get there: By MRT: Take the purple line MRT to Sanchong Station. The station is inside the park. By Car/Scooter: From central Taipei, take provincial highway 1 south to Sanchong, and do not cross the bridge toward Xinzhuang. There is plenty of parking on the side of the road near the levee. By Bicycle: There are many Youbike stations nearby. Also there is a bicycle rental shop near the basketball courts. You can also bring your own bike. I highly recommend riding a bike here, it is safe and fun and there are tons of bike-friendly paths. Map: Please see below: 
Yuanshan in Sanxia District is a popular hike in greater Taipei. It features a short easy hike has some amazing views of southern Taipei. It can also get very crowded on weekends despite the lack of public transportation. If you are looking for amazing views that are easy to get to, this is the place.
Background: Yuanshan stands at 299 meters above sea level, and the top features a bell tower and exposed rocks that provide a great view of Taipei. From the top you can enjoy views of Taipei such as Sanxia and Shulin Districts of New Taipei, as well as north east Taoyuan. Currently the hike is very popular for local people especially on the weekends. When to go: Go on a sunny day when the air is clear for the best views. Also consider going early in the morning or on a weekday, because the trails can get really clogged with crowds of people during the day on weekends. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Sanxia Old Street, travel west up the mountain, on the one way road. There is very limited car and scooter parking, I do not recommend driving a car up here on the weekend or on holidays. I'm serious, I saw someone pop their tire trying to park on the side of the road here. By Train: You can get close to the mountain via Yingge TRA station. Map: Please see below: 
Ergeshan (aka Erge Mountain or Shijianshan) is a magnificent mountain hike in Shiding District of New Taipei. The trail features a short climb to a watch tower with 360 degrees of Xindian, Wenshan, and Shiding Districts. There are also great views of Taipei City and the surrounding area.
Background: The rock formations that form Ergeshan formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago, and was later uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Phillipine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast around Keelung, and the waterfalls in Pingxi. Ergeshan is the highest mountain in the surrounding area at 678 meters above sea level. It is one of the 100 lesser peaks in Taiwan. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Length: 2.5 KM, 200 meters of elevation gain About 1.5 hours total Difficulty: Easy, The trail can be quite steep in some places, but overall an easy short hike. How to get there: By Bus: Take Bus GR12 from Xindian to Xiangdi Temple. The trailhead is about a 12 minute walk from there. By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 9 to Xiandi Temple and take a turn up the mountain, and take a left at the monastery. The road ends at the trailhead. You can park further up the road for the faster way to get there. Map: Please see below: 
Shuiniukeng (aka Linkou Grand Canyon or Water Buffalo Valley) is one of the few off-roading areas around Taipei. If you have a 4x4, truck, or dirt bike, this could be a fun place to test out your off-road vehicle. Also you can sometimes spot cows grazing here.
Background: Shuiniukeng is so named because sometimes cows are left here to pasture. Originally the area was a hillside, pushed out of the ocean over thousands of years. Later, illegal gravel companies came here to harvest gravel, creating a giant hole in the hillside, making the current landscape we see today. Later the area became popular with instagrammers and off-road enthusiasts, and cows still come to graze here occasionally. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 How to get there: By Car: By car, you must come northbound on expressway 61 and turn right on the small road that leads to the area from the south. To get back, you have to pass under the highway and then turn south on expressway 61. By public transport: There is no way to get there by public transport except by walking from Linkou. Map: Please see below: 
Jinshawan (aka Golden Bay) is one of the nicest beaches in northern Taiwan. The sand is golden, the water shallow (and warm in the summer), and it is relatively well kept and clean. Due to its lack of public transportation and small size, it sees not so many visitors compared to other beaches in the area. Swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and kite surfing are all popular activities at this beach.
Background: Jinshawan (literally Gold Sand Bay) was formed thousands years ago by the collision of the Philippine and Eurasian Plates. Because of its small size and with no other attractions nearby, it is often overlooked as a beach destination. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 How to Get There: By Bus: Take bus 1811 from Taipei bus station to Golden Bay stop. By Car: Drive on provincial highway 2 out of Keelung to the northeast. The beach area is between Longdong and Ao'di. 
Nanya Rock (aka Nanya Peculiar Rock) is a layered sandtsone column on the shore of Ruifang District, New Taipei City. There are also many interesting rock formations in the area. It is one of the most recognizable rock formations on the north coast and a popular location for, kayakers, snorkelers, and instagrammers.
Background: The sandstone and sedimentary that forms Nanya Rock formation was created between 10 and 20 million years ago, and was pushed out of the sea along with northern Taiwan thousands of years ago. The Rock was formed by easily eroding sandstone, with the area underneath being eroded away by the sea and waves. Nanya Rock is so named because it lies near Nanya Fishing Harbor in Ruifang. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Drive to Keelung, then from downtown take provincial highway 2 east about 20 KM until you reach Nanya harbor, and there is some free parking near the rock. By Bus: From Taipei bus station, take bus 1811 to Nanya Nanxin Temple station. Map: Please see below: 
The Farglory U Museum, aka Farglory Architecture and Culture Museum, is a architecture museum in Xizhi, New Taipei. The museum give a brief history of world architecture and also has play areas and reading areas for children. Overall it is a worthwhile visit for the family while you are at IFG Mall.
Background: The Farglory U Museum is part of an exhibition space that is 250 pings on the fourth floor of the iFG mall. The museum was opened in 2015 and includes exhibition space and educational activities. The museum also celebrates Farglory's founder Zhao Tung-Xiong and tells the history of the company's rise to become one of the largest corporate conglomerates in Taiwan. Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM, closed Mondays. Price: Free Website: https://fgmuseum.org.tw/ How to get there: By car/scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 5 to the iFG mall in Xizhi. There is parking in the mall which is free if you buy something. The museum is on the fourth floor of the iFG Mall. By train: The museum is within walking distance of Xike TRA station. The museum is on the fourth floor of the iFG Mall. Map: Please see below: 
Qiedong Waterfall (aka Qiedong Falls) is a tall set of waterfalls in Xizhi District of New Taipei City, Taiwan. It is easily accessible via a flat hiking path that takes about 3 minutes to walk there, and includes a large swimming pool and amazing natural scenery. It's spectacular cascading falls and pools have made it one of the most popular waterfalls in the area.
Background: Qiedong Waterfall is roughly 22 meters high (70 feet) and is broken up by four sections. It is largest waterfall on Dajianshan in terms of scale. The rock formations that form the Waterfall formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago and were then uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Phillipine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast around Keelung. The area also has some coal deposits, and there is an abandoned mine on the trail. The rocks here easily erode, making for odd shapes in the riverbed. Due to its ease of access and large pool, it is usually full of people, especially on weekends. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free When to go: Go in the spring time when there is more rain. If you go during the dry season, the waterfall will be quite small. Difficulty: Easy How to get there: By Bus: From Xizhi TRA station, take bus F911 to Fuji Mountain Villa stop, then walk through the neighborhood, which will take you to a mountain road on the back side. The waterfall is about a 15 minute walk from Fuji Mountain Villa. By Car/Scooter: From provincial highway 5 in Xizhi, turn up the mountain after reaching the Xizhi Administrative Building (汐止行政中心). Then go up the mountain and turn into Xiufeng Road, aka Fuji Mountain Villa. After that, drive through the neighborhood, which will take you to a mountain road on the back side. The waterfall is about a 3 minute ride from Fuji Mountain Villa. Map: Please see below 
Dajianshan Waterfall (aka Dajianshan Falls) is a set of waterfalls in Xizhi District of New Taipei City, Taiwan. It is easily accessible via a short, steep hiking path that takes about 15 minutes to walk up, and includes a six main tiers of waterfall and amazing natural scenery. It's spectacular cascading falls and pools have made it a most popular destination in the area.
Background: Dajianshan Waterfall is roughly 200 meters high (650 feet) from the lowest falls to the highest falls, and is broken up by six sections of waterfalls. The rock formations that form the Waterfalls formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago and were then uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast around Keelung. The rocks here easily erode, making for odd shapes in the riverbed. Due to the difficult nature of the trail, it is usually free of people, even on weekends. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free When to go: Go in the spring time when there is more rain. If you go during the dry season, the waterfall will be quite small. Difficulty: Moderate, 200 meter elevation gain. Takes about an hour to complete. How to get there: By Bus: From Xizhi TRA station, take bus F911 to Fuji Mountain Villa stop, then walk through the neighborhood, which will take you to a mountain road on the back side. The waterfall is about a 15 minute walk from Fuji Mountain Villa. By Car/Scooter: From provincial highway 5 in Xizhi, turn up the mountain after reaching the Xizhi Administrative Building (汐止行政中心). Then go up the mountain and turn into Xiufeng Road, aka Fuji Mountain Villa. After that, drive through the neighborhood, which will take you to a mountain road on the back side. The waterfall is about a 3 minute ride from Fuji Mountain Villa, on the switchback just before Qiedong Waterfall. Map: Please see below 
Xiufeng Waterfall is a tall waterfall in Xizhi District in New Taipei, Taiwan. It is easily accessible via a flat hiking path that takes about 10 minutes to complete, and includes amazing views of Taipei along the way. It's spectacular cascading falls are definitely worth a stop for anyone in Taiwan.
Background: Xiufeng Waterfall is roughly 10 meters high and 2 meters wide (32 x 13 ft.). It is located on Dajianshan in Xizhi, and connects with other Dajianshan trails in the area. The rocks here easily erode, making for odd shapes in the riverbed. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free When to go: Go in the spring time when there is more rain. If you go during the dry season, the waterfall will be quite small. Difficulty: Easy How to get there: By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at Shifen Station, then walk along the main road south until you reach the Shifen Waterfall trail. It will be hard to miss; there are signs along the way. By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. The waterfall is to the left of the main bridge across the valley, and parking is plentiful. Scooter parking is free at the entrance. Map: Please see below |
Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
January 2022
Categories
|
RSS Feed
