Toucheng Old Street (officially Heping Street 和平街) is the oldest street in Yilan, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It was once the economic center of Yilan, but it's importance was later replaced. Now it sits as a monument to the past, with few changes as compared to its former glory. It's definitely worth a stop on your trip through Yilan. 

Background:
Before Chinese settlers came, the area around Toucheng was inhabited by the Ketagalan Aboriginal tribe, whose language is now extinct.
The name Toucheng literally means "first town" in Chinese, because it was the first settlement in Yilan, settled in the late 1700s. With the nearby Wushih and Touwei Harbors around the same time, it became the economic focal point of Yilan. However in the late 1800s and early 1900s Wushih Harbor and Touwei Harbor silted in, reducing their function.
With the advent of the Japanese built Yilan railway line in the mid-1900's, as well as constant floods and continually silting of the harbors, Toucheng Old Street quickly lost its importance economically and fell into decay.
The old street has two temples, the major one being Toucheng Qingyuan Temple (頭城慶元宮) which dates back to 1796.
Currently the old street is a moderately popular tourist attraction with only a few shops. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car: Take national highway 5 east to Yilan and then turn north to Toucheng. There is free parking near the community development center (頭城鎮港口社區發展協會), and the beach is just a short walk from there. 
By Train: Take the TRA to Wai'ao train station. It's about an hour ride from Taipei. From Wai'ao station, the beach is literally just a few steps away. 
​
Map:
Please see below:

Tainan's Anping Old Street (aka Yanping Old Street 延平老街, or Taiwan's First Steet) is said to be the oldest street in Taiwan. Right next to Anping Fort and surrounded by many other historical sites, as well as the center of the culinary capital of Taiwan, it is a great place to enjoy Taiwan's interesting history and its delicious cuisine.

Background:
After the Dutch defeat in Penghu in 1624, they turned their sights instead to the island of Taiwan (Formosa) and began building on what were then sandbars in what is now Anping, Tainan (the inland sea that once existed here has long silted in). Anping Old Street was the first street they built in that settlement. 
Fort Zeelandia was completed in 1634 after 10 years of construction, built on the high ground of one of the sand bars, along with other forts in the area, such as Fort Zeeburg. It included a one story outer fort armed with cannons. There was also a three story inner fort for administration, including a church and jail. The bricks for the building were shipped in from Java.
The Dutch ruled most of Taiwan until 1661 when they were defeated by Ming Loyalists lead by Koxinga. Koxinga sieged fort Zeelandia, for nine months, killing 1,600 of the Dutch people there before they surrendered due to lack of water. The victory at Zeelandia proved to be the end of 38 years of Dutch rule in Taiwan, the survivors fleeing to Batavia. 
After Taiwan was taken over by the Qing Dynasty in the late 1600s, Tainan became the provincial capital of Taiwan. Fort Zeelandia fell into disrepair as the bay silted in. The bricks on the outer wall were harvested for the Eternal Golden Castle fort closer to the ocean. 
During the Japanese occupation, the fort was repaired and renamed Anping Fort. 
In 1975 the fort was further repaired and the tower improved to what currently stands. The Old Street also became more and more popular with tourists after the Fort's renovation. 

Price:
Anping Old Street: Free
Anping Fort: 50 NT per person (or 150 NT to see four of five sites: Anping Fort, 1661 Historical Shipyard, Chikan Tower, Anping Tree House, and Eternal Golden Castle)

Hours:
Anping Old Street: Every day 7 AM to 6:30 PM.
Anping Fort: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan go west on Minsheng Road until it becomes Anping Road. After that keep going until you see the tower. There is free and paid parking nearby. There is a giant free parking lot near Anping Tree House. 
By Bus: Take Tainan Bus 2 from Tainan Train Station to Anping Old Fort station. The ride takes about an hour. 

Map: 
​Please see below:

Tainan Anping Fort (aka Fort Zeelandia) is an ancient fort in Tainan City that dates back to the Dutch rule of Taiwan. The fort sits right next to Anping Old street, making it a great place to understand Taiwan's culture and at the same time get some of the best snacking at the culinary capital of Taiwan. 

Background:
After the Dutch defeat in Penghu in 1624, they turned their sights instead to the island of Taiwan (Formosa) and began building on what were then sandbars in what is now Anping, Tainan (the inland sea that once existed here has long silted in).
Fort Zeelandia was completed in 1634 after 10 years of construction, built on the high ground of one of the sand bars, along with other forts in the area, such as Fort Zeeburg. It included a one story outer fort armed with cannons. There was also a three story inner fort for administration, including a church and jail. The bricks for the building were shipped in from Java.
The Dutch ruled most of Taiwan until 1661 when they were defeated by Ming Loyalists lead by Koxinga. Koxinga sieged fort Zeelandia, for nine months, killing 1,600 of the Dutch people there before they surrendered due to lack of water. The victory at Zeelandia proved to be the end of 38 years of Dutch rule in Taiwan, the survivors fleeing to Batavia. 
After Taiwan was taken over by the Qing Dynasty in the late 1600s, Tainan became the provincial capital of Taiwan. Fort Zeelandia fell into disrepair as the bay silted in. The bricks on the outer wall were harvested for the Eternal Golden Castle fort closer to the ocean. 
During the Japanese occupation, the fort was repaired and renamed Anping Fort. 
In 1975 the fort was further repaired and the tower improved to what currently stands.

Price:
Anping Fort: 50 NT per person (or 150 NT for four historical sites in Tainan).

Hours:
Anping Fort: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan go west on Minsheng Road until it becomes Anping Road. After that keep going until you see the tower. 
By Bus: Take Tainan Bus 2 from Tainan Train Station to Anping Old Fort station. The ride takes about an hour. 

Map: Please see below:

Jinguashi is a small village in Ruifang District in New Taipei, famous for its now defunct mines. Here you can explore the Gold Mine Musuem, touch a multi-million dollar gold ingot,  see golden waterfalls, go on some of the best hikes in Taiwan, check out the old mining town, see Japanese era historic sites, and explore abandoned mining sites.

Historical Background:
In 1890 during the Qing Dynasty, gold was found in the Keelung River during the construction of Taiwan's first railroad, which led to a small gold rush. Gold seams were eventually found in the mountains behind Jiufen around what is today Jinguashi. 
The name Jinguashui (金瓜石 Jīnguāshí), literally meaning "Gold Gourd Stone" comes from the shape of the nearby Keelung Mountain, which resembled a Pumpkin "Nánguā 南瓜" to early settlers, and the fact that early gold miners found lots of little gold seams resembling small gourds. 
After Taiwan was colonized by the Japanese in 1895, the Japanese quickly took control of the mines at Jinguashi, banning locals from owning mining rights. They quickly found many more copper and gold seams, and Jinguashi became the number one gold mine in the Japanese empire. 
During WWI, the mine came upon difficult times, and mining rights were passed to what is now Japan Energy, who built the 13 level complex that sits abandoned today. By 1938 it had become the most profitable gold mine in Asia, and population grew to over 80,000. 
During WWII, the mining operations switched from gold to copper, and the area was used as a POW camp.
After the ROC took Taiwan, the mines were used mainly for copper, as the cost of refining gold was too high. The Chalet built for the crown prince of Japan at Jinguashi was later used by Chiang Kai-shek. After worldwide copper prices collapsed in the 1980s, the mine shut down for good in 1987. After that, people moved out of the town, and Jinguashi has a population of just about 2,000 people. 
Later mining initiatives have been met with strong criticism from environmentalists. 
In 2004, the New Taipei City Gold Mine Museum was completed, using several abandoned mining sites near Jinguashi, making it a popular tourist attraction in the area. 

Gold Mine Museum Hours:
9:30 AM to 5 PM, closed Mondays

Gold Mine Museum Price:
80 NT per person (Free for New Taipei Residents)
​
How to get There:
By Train: Take TRA to Ruifang Station, then transfer to Keelung Bus which goes directly to Jinguashi every few minutes (about a 15 minute ride from Ruifang).
By Bus: Buses directly to Jinguashi leave from Taipei Main Station, Taipei City Hall, and Songshan Station regularly via Keelung Bus.
​By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 to Ruifang and then travel on highway 102 all the way up to Jiufen, then go over the mountain and keep going down to Jinguashi. Parking is scarce, and if you drive a car you need to park at the bottom of the hill and take the bus up to the gold mine museum. There is free scooter parking at the entrance. 

Tours:
​You can book a tour with My Taiwan Tour here.

Map:
Please see below:

Jinshan Old Street (aka Jinbaoli Old Street 金包里老街 Jīnbāolǐ lǎojiē) is a popular historical street in Jinshan District of New Taipei. The most famous delicacy here is duck, but you can also find other traditional Taiwanese snacks among the numerous shops and restaurants here. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taiwan's Northern Coast. 

Background:
The first people to live in the Jinshan Area were plains indigenous peoples. The name "Jinabaoli" comes from the Chinese transliteration of the indigenous name of the place.
Chinese people began to settle here during the late Ming Dynasty, coming mainly from Fujian, and even more came to settle here during the Qing Dynasty. 
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, a road was built to connect Jinshan to Keelung and Tamsui, making it easier for people to visit. This road was improved in the ROC period to become provincial highway 2. 
Jinshan now has a population of about 22,000 people. 
Currently Jinshan Old Street is a popular place to visit for day-trippers from Taipei. 

Hours:
All day until about 7 PM.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Keelung, take provincial highway 2 north along the coast until you reach Jinshan. The old street is right in the middle of town and there is free parking on the side of the road not far from the old street.
By Bus: There are buses that leave from Taipei City Hall station to Jinshan hourly. The ride takes about an hour. 
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Bangka Old Street (aka Mengjia Old Street, officially Guiyang Street 貴陽街) is a historical street in Wanhua District of Taipei and the site of the oldest settlement in northern Taiwan. It is one of three official old streets in Taipei, and dates back hundreds of years to the first Chinese settlers in northern Taiwan. Besides the historical buildings here, you can also enjoy the nearby Huaxi Street Night Market which was known for snake meat.
​
Historical Background:
The land that Bangka Old Street stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers. The area at Bangka was a trading center for the Basay people before Chinese settlers ever came. 
Maps dating to the Dutch rule in the 1600s marked Bangka as a trading location.
The name Bangka (or Měngjiǎ in Taiwanese Mandarin) comes from the fact that the Basay tribe called the Chinese trading ships that visited "Bangka" which means canoe, and was transliterated into Southern Min as (Bangkah 艋舺) which literally means small boat. 
Later when the Japanese came they mistakenly heard Bangka as “Mange” in Japanese (Wàn huá 萬華 in Chinese), which is the current name of the area. 
The settlement at Bangka (Měngjiǎ ​ 艋舺) quickly grew into the largest settlement in Northern Taiwan. Settlements at Dadaocheng and Bopiliao nearby also began to sprout up.  
Important products that were sold here include coal, tea, as well as various other goods. It was the most prosperous area in Taipei for a while, until in 1860 the harbor near the area silted in, and so Dadaocheng became the new center of commerce in northern Taiwan. 
Currently Bangka Old Street has very few shops and is more of a residential area compared to Dadaocheng and Bopiliao Old Streets which are much more popular with tourists. 

Huaxi Street Night Market used to be a red light district before prostitution was banned in Taiwan. Now it specializes in strange meats such as snake, turtle, and deer meat as well as animal blood. It is also known as "Snake Alley." You can also find normal Taiwanese night market snacks here. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
Bangka Old Street: 24/7
Huaxi Night Market: 4 PM to midnight every day

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei Main Station, go south on and take a right on Changsha Road. Take another slight right at the roundabout onto Guiyang Street and you are there.
By MRT: Take the blue line to Longshan Temple, then walk north three blocks to the old street.

Map:
Please see below:

Bopiliao Old Street (aka Bopiliao Historical District/Street 剝皮寮歷史街區) is a historical street in Taipei, made almost completely of one or two story brick buildings, many dating over 200 years ago and was one of the earliest commercial districts in northern Taiwan. Here you can find museums, shops, food options, and art exhibitions. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.

Historical Background:
The land that Popiliao Old Street stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers.
Sections of the area indicate that there was settlements here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The name Bopliao come from the fact that timber and animal skins were transported here, and the bark or skins of animals was also peeled here (Bopi 剝皮 means literally to peel skin).
The first recorded Chinese settlement of Bopiliao was in1763 during the Early Qing Dynasty. At the time it was a small cluster of houses near the larger settlement at Bangka (Mengjia 艋舺). 
Important products that were sold here include coal, tea, as well as various other goods. It was among the most prosperous area in Taipei.
During the Japanese era, Taipei City underwent new urban planning, which meant that Pobiliao was not longer an important intersection for trade. It slowly lost importance and fell into disrepair. 
In 2006 the Taipei City government underwent a renovation project for Bopiliao Old Street, including renovation of buildings and creating museums. Now there are many historical and art exhibits here, and it is a popular place for visitors on the weekends. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
9 AM to 9 PM
Closed Mondays

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei Main Station, go south on Zhonghua Road until you reach Nanning Street and take a right. Take another slight right on Gungzhou street until you reach the old street. There is paid parking near the street and free scooter parking.
By MRT: Take the blue line to Longshan Temple, then walk north one block to the old street.

Map:
Please see below:

Fenqihu (aka Fenchihu) is a charming mountain village in Chiayi, and is the largest along the Alishan Forest Railway. It has two old streets that feature great food, such as the famous Fenqihu lunch box and jelly fig seed drink. You can also see many Japanese historical sights such as a shinto shrine, train station, and residences. Also nearby are many beautiful sights such as bamboo forests and hikes in nearby mountains. Fenqihu Old Street is also known as the Jiufen of Southern Taiwan. This place is is definitley worth a stop along the Alishan Forest Railway.

Historical Background:
Fenqihu is a small settlement in Zhonghe Village of Zhuqi Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan (台灣嘉義縣竹奇鄉中和村奮起湖聚落). The village sits at 1,405 meters above sea level. The old street is about 500 meters long. 
The name Fenqihu comes from the name for "dustpan" (fenqi 畚箕) and "lake" (hu 湖). The name lake (hu 湖) means basin in Hakka.
The village was originally created along the road to Alishan before the railway was built by Hakka Chinese settlers. As the Japanese harvested more and more lumber, the town began to grow. 
Fenqihu Station was finished in 1912 by the Japanese and was the largest intermediate station along the Alishan Forest Railway. It was also a stop for trains to add coal and water on the way up the mountain. It was also usually a noontime lunch stop for loggers riding the train, hence the Fenqihu lunchbox tradition started. Because of this, Fenqihu became a central gathering place along the Alishan Forest Railway.
After the Alishan highway was completed in 1982, passengers along the railway dropped considerably. However, the railway has become popular again in recent years due to its unique and historic preservation. Before the railway from Fenqihu to Zhiqi station was opened, passengers had to disembark at Fenqihu to take a bus to Alishan.
However, Fenqihu is still very popular even on weekends when the train is not running, thanks to the Alishan highway that brings busses and cars.
Fenqihu Old Street is also known as the Jiufen of Southern Taiwan. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
About 9 AM to 6 PM
​
How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Chiayi, taken provincial highway 18 east up the mountain to Shizhuo （石桌), after which you need to turn left up the mountain to Fenqihu. The town is hard to miss. 
By Bus: Take the direct bus from Chiayi Station (leaves in the morning).
By Train: Take the Alishan Forest Train from Chiayi Station (leaves at 8:30 AM and 9 AM).

Map:
Please see below:

Bitan is a slow moving part of the Xindian River in Xindian District of New Taipei. It is also known as Bitan Lake, or Bitan Scenic Area (碧潭風景區). Here you can bike ride, paddle boat, go hiking, and shop at Xindian Old Street (新店老街). With convenient transportation via Taipei MRT, it is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei. 

Background:
The name Bitan means "green lake" in Chinese, which was coined by Sun Ke, vice chairman of the KMT after WWII. It is also known as Chibi Lake (赤壁潭)、Shibi Lake (石壁潭)、and Shishan Big Lake (獅山邊大潭). 
Bitan suspension bridge was completed in 1937. Before that time, ferry boat was the best means of transport. In 1997, the National Freeway 3 bridge was completed across the lake. In 2000, Bitan Suspension Bridge was refurbished. 
It is also known as one of Taiwan's top 12 or top 8 sights. 
It is also a very popular recreational spot for Taipie residents on the weekend. 
Near Bitan is Xindian Old Street (新店老街), which sells street food, fruits, and vegetables. It has been the main acrigultural market in Xindian for over a hundred years. The Changxing Temple on the Old Street (長興宮) is over 150 years old, and is dedicated to the Earth God. 

Price:
Free entrance
Ferry boat: 20 NT one way
Paddle boats: 300 NT for a two person boat, more for more people or electric boats
Bike rental: 15-70 NT per hour depending on the bike

Hours:
About 8 AM to 10 PM.

How to get there:
By MRT: Take the Green Line MRT south to Xindian Station, or Xiaobitan Station. Xindian Old Street is within walking distance of Xindian Old Street. From Xiaobitan Station, you can rent a bike and ride up the river to Xindian Old Street.
By car/scooter: From Taipei, go south on provincial highway 9 until you reach Xindian Old Street. There is paid parking near the old street. 
​
Map:
Please see below:

Shiding Old Street (aka Shiding East Street) is a small street in the busiest part of the mountainous Shiding District in New Taipei. There are some great restaurants here, an old mining town feel, great views of old multi story houses towering over the rivers, and beautiful surrounding mountains. Also, there are some great hiking trails and scenery nearby.

Background:
The name Shiding comes from boats transporting goods from the area that used to use large rocks (shi 石) in the river as anchors (ding 碇). The Shiding administrative area (石碇堡) was created during the Qing Dynasty and extended from Keelung to Wenshan District.
The area around Shiding Old Street was the first area to be developed by Han Chinese in Shiding. In the early days during the Qing Dynasty, the Han Chinese settlers here mainly grew tea and leeks.

During the Qing Dynasty, Shiding was an important stop along the Danlan Old Trail (淡蘭古道 which means the road between Tamsui and Yilan), which was split into three paths, and Shiding was on the Southern Path. The Southern Path winded from Mengjia Old Street to Liuzhangli, then to Shengkeng, and onto Shiding which was a major tea producer at the time. From Shiding, the road then went to Pinglin and then Yilan. The Southern path was the quickest way to Yilan. 

During the Japanese Era until the 1980s, the major industry in the area was coal mining, As the coal mining industry winded down in the 1980s and 90s in Taiwan due to lower worldwide coal prices, the economy in Shiding suffered and many people left.  
The multi story buildings near Shiding Old street are a testament to the economic prosperity of the coal mining era.
Currently the Old Street is a popular stop near National Highway 5. Besides the local food and history, there is also some great hiking trails and scenery nearby.

Price:
​Free

Hours:
About 8 AM to 5 PM.

How to get there:
By Car: Go east on National Freeway 5, then get off at the Shiding interchange. Continue east until you reach Shiding Old Street.
By Scooter: From Taipei, take highway 106 east from Shenkeng toward Shiding, pass through Shiding Bao Tunnel, and soon you will come to Shiding Old Street.
By Bus: From Taipei City Call MRT station, you can take bus 912 to Shiding High School, after that you will have to switch to bus 666 which will take you all the way to the old street (total about 40 minutes).

Map:
​Please see below.

Tamsui District of New Taipei is famous for it's delicious food and historical atmosphere. It is one of the most popular and well known areas in all of Taiwan. Some local delicacies here include A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, and other seafood. Historical places near here include Fort San Domingo, Hobe Fort, Tamsui Old Street, Bali Old Street, and the Shihsanhang archaeological site. There is plenty here to see and do for almost every kind of traveler. 

Below we have created a list of what we think are the best places to see near Tamsui.

Map:
Please see a map below of the places we will visit in this blog:

Bali Old Street (aka Bali Ferry Dock Old Street 八里渡輪頭老街) is a shopping area near Bali Wharf, connecting with Tamui Old Street via ferry and bicycle route. It is one of the oldest ports in Taiwan, with a long history of businesses and great seafood nearby.

Background:
Bali district has been inhabited for at least 5,000 years; first by a large group of Taiwan aborigines and then later by Chinese settlers. 
Bali's port opened to international trade along with Tamsui after the second opium war in 1860, but it was used less often because Bali suffered from strong northwestern winds, and Tamsui had a deeper harbor. 
Recently, Bali has become a major tourist destination in New Taipei, known for its laid back atmosphere and attractions such as the Tamsui River bike-way, Bali Old Street and ferry, and the Shihsanhang Archaeology Museum. 

Hours:
Roughly 9 AM to 10 PM, each store has different hours. 

Price:
Free (35 NT ferry ride from Tamsui)

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 15 north to Bali, the old street is right next to the ferry dock. There is some paid parking near the old street, and free scooter parking. 
By Ferry: You can take the ferry from Tamsui Old Street (35 NT, 7-10 minutes). The last ferry leaves at about 8 PM.

Map:
Please see below:

For you expats or foreigners who have never left Taipei, Miaoli is a large rural county in central Taiwan. For years I myself never visited, because I didn't know what was there and had no reason to go. It turns out there are quite a few attractions here in this secret paradise.

Below I will list out some of the best places in Miaoli that I have visited. I will be sure to update this blog as I visit more places later. 

How to get around in Miaoli?
As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Miaoli by taking the train, inter city bus, or local bus. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. 

You can see a map of all the places that we will visit in this blog below:

Tamsui Old Street (aka Danshui Old Street or Tamshui Old Street) is a street in Tamsui District of New Taipei famous for it's delicious food and historical atmosphere. It is one of the most popular and well known old streets in all of Taiwan. Some local delicacies here include A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, and other seafood. 

Background:
Tamsui Old Street developed alongside the Tamsui Harbor, which was opened in 1860 during the Qing Dynasty as part of the Treaty of Tientsin which ended the Second Opium War. It was one of only eight ports in the entire Qing empire that was open to trade with the west. As a result, it became a focal point for trade in Taiwan. It was also the western terminus of the Danlan Old Trail, which was a network of roads and trails that sent tea and other goods from Yilan to Tamsui. It remained an important port until it started to silt in during the 1900s, and after the construction of Keelung Harbor. 
There are also a number of important historical buildings near Tamsui Old Street such as Fort San Domingo, Huwei Fort, and others. 
Tamsui Old Street has always existed next to the old harbor, and recently there have been projects from the local government to improve tourism, such as widening roads and making a riverside walkway. 
With the completion of the Red Line MRT with its terminus in 1997 right at the edge of the old street, Tamsui became an extremely popular destination for residents in greater Taipei and remains to be so today. 

Hours:
Every day 11 AM - 8 PM.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. The old street is near the Tamsui MRT station. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away.
By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and you have arrived.

Map:
Please see below:

The Pingxi Railway in New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan. With a total of 7 stations (plus 2 if you count Ruifang and Houtong), there are endless places to explore, eat, hike, and enjoy Taiwan's history, culture, and natural beauty all in one place. 

Background:
Before the Pingxi Railway was built, during the Qing Dynasty a section of the Danlan Old Trail ran through roughly the same area, connecting Yilan to Tamsui.  The Japanese completed the Pingxi Railway in 1921 in order to transport coal from the area. Most all of the stations and villages along the line were economically reliant on the coal industry until its downfall in the late 1990s. 
The coal industry remained strong after the ROC took over Taiwan after WWII, but slowly waned in the 1980s and 1990s due to the decrease in global coal prices. 
In the year 2000, Sanxia’s Lifeng Mine shut down operations, and Taiwan’s mining company closed, and thus all coal mining in Taiwan effectively stopped.
The Pingxi Railway is a single track that is 12.9 KM long with 7 stations. 
Recently the government has offered many plans to connect the Pingxi Railway to the Taipei MRT via Jingtong to Jingmei, however due to many factors these plans have never been approved. 
The area around Pingxi and Ruifang is made up of sedimentary rock which easily erodes, creating many large waterfalls such as Shifen Falls, and pointy jagged peaks like the Pingxi Crags. 
Popular activities along the Pingxi Railway include hiking, river tracing, eating at one of the many old streets, setting off sky lanterns,  and exploring the many historical coal mining sites.

Hours:
The first train reaches Sandiaoling daily at 5:25 AM and the last train leaves Jingtong at 8:33 PM.

Price:
80 NT per person for a one day pass

When to go:
Any time of year is great. However, waterfalls are most enjoyable during the hot summer, and you may want to come for lantern festival when hundreds of sky lanterns are set off at once.
To avoid crowds and packed trains, do not go on weekends or holidays. 

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, buy the Pingxi Railway line one day pass, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at any station!
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. You can drive right or left to reach all of the stations on the Pingxi Railway line. But please know there is limited car parking around the stations. 

Map:
​Please see below:

​Shenkeng Old Street is one of the largest and busiest old streets in New Taipei, known for its famous tofu delicacies, and old Taiwan feel. Here one can enjoy delicious food, beautiful scenery, and buy nostalgic Taiwan related souvenirs. The Tofu here is truly incredible; Shenkeng is known as the Tofu capital of Taiwan, so you should definitely stop by here on your next trip to Taipei. 

Background:
During the Qing Dynasty, the town of Shenkeng was an important stop along the Danlan Old Trail (淡蘭古道 which means the road between Tamsui and Yilan), which was split into three paths, and Shenkeng was on the Southern Path. The Southern Path winded from Mengjia Old Street to Liuzhangli, then to Shengkeng which was a major business center at the time. From Shenkeng the road then went to Shiding, Pinglin, and then Yilan. The Southern path was the quickest way to Yilan. 
In addition, there was a boat dock in Shenkeng that connected it to Mengjia Old Street in what is now central Taipei, making it an important shipping point for tea grown in the mountains nearby. 
During the Japanese Era in 1915, Shenkeng Old Street was made wider by knocking out the first floors on each side of the street for pedestrian traffic, which can still be seen today as a defining feature of Shenkeng Old 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. 
National Highway 3 and National highway 5 were constructed near Shenkeng in 1993 and2006 respectively, making Shenkeng again an important stop on the way to Yilan. 
In 2008 the New Taipei City government along with local residents created the Shenkeng Historical District  and paved the way for the restoration and tourism on the old street. Since then it has been a major tourist attraction for Taiwanese locals. 

Delicacies:
Local delicacies at Shengkeng Old Street include Stinky Tofu, Fried Tofu, Tofu Hot Pot, Tofu Ice Cream, Read Bean Soup, Zongzi, and various other tofu related products.
Tofu in Chinese cuisine is similar to cheese in the West. It requires fermentation creating various flavors. 
​
Hours:
Every Day from about 10 AM to 10 PM, with more shops opening later in the day.

Price:
Free

When to go:
If you go during weekends or holidays, it can get really crowded but that is also the time when most all of the shops and stalls are open. If you want to avoid the crowds you can try going early in the afternoon when it is not as busy, 

How to get there:
By Scooter: Take local highway 106 east from Muzha (Wenshen District) or local highway 109 south from Nangang District. The old street is right in the middle of town. You can park for free at the park to the north of the old street.
By Car: You can take national Highway 5 and get off at the Shiding exit, or take National Highway 3 and get off at the Shenkeng Exit. There is parking near the southern entrance in the form of a mechanical parking garage, and there is also underground parking under the park to the north of the old street. 
By Bus: There are a number of buses that pass by the old street coming from Wenshan District or Nangang District of Taipei that leave from near the Blue Line Nangang Exhibition Center Station or Brown line MRT Taipei Zoo/Muzha Station. 
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Ruifang Old Street is a long old street extending out of Ruifang Train Station. Ruifang Station sits on the terminus to the Pingxi Railway, and provides direct bus service to Jiufen and Jinguashi, making it a must stop (literally) destination for tourists travelling to nearby tourist destinations. 
The food on Ruifang Old Street is plentiful and delicious, and you will not regret a brief pit stop here. 

Background:
During the Qing Dynasty (before there was a railroad), the Keelung River was the main means of transport from Ruifang to Taipei and the rest of Taiwan. Later, gold and copper mines were founded in Ruifang and the surrounding areas of Jiufen and Jinguashi, and the railroad was finished in 1924 during the Japanese occupation, connecting Taipei to Eastern Taiwan. A Railway line was also made into Pingxi to connect to more mining operations.
Markets and stalls on Ruifang Old Street probably started with the completion of Ruifang Train Station on the Yilan line in 1924. 

Hours:
All day until about 9 PM, but some stalls will be open later than that. 

How to get there:
By Train: Take TRA to Ruifang Station.
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 5 out of Taipei, then turn right onto Provincial Highway 2 after Qidu (七堵）until you reach Ruifang. 

Map:
Please see below:

Lingjiao Old Street is a small street next to Lingjiao Station and the famous Lingjiao Waterfall. The old street has not been commercialized like the other popular old streets on the Piongxi Railway. Now that the Taiwan coal mining boom is over, the old street is a relic of the past that has stayed basically unchanged from those times. 

Background: 
The town of Lingjiao was named because it sits at the foot of a mountain (the name meaning literally "foot of the peak"). Lingjiao was a mining town on the Pingxi Railway, and a station there was completed during the Japanese Era in 1929. 
​From about 2000, the Taiwan coal mine industry had shut down due to the low cost of importing coal and safety issues involved with coal workers. 
As of 2018, only an average of 28 people a day visit the station, probably most of which go to visit Lingjiao Waterfall. 
Perhaps the most impressive historical building in the area is the Tsai Residence, which we will cover in the blog below.

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at Lingjiao Station.
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. Then turn right and go west on county road 106 until you reach the Lingjiao Station turnoff. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Jingtong Old Street is the heart of the historic mining town of Jingtong, in Pingxi District of New Taipei City, which once had the largest mine in Taiwan.  It has a long street with delicious food and souvenirs, sky lanterns, and many historical buildings nearby. As the last stop on the Pingxi Railway, you should definitely get off the train and check it out. 

Background:
Jingtong Train Station was completed in 1929 as the last station on the Pingxi Railway Line.
The surrounding town and Jingtong Old Street were created soon after.  
The town relied on local coal mines for its economy, but by the 1980s coal mining in Pingxi District had all but stopped due to safety issues and low worldwide coal prices. 
There are a number of historical buildings in the area, including the Coal Life Museum, multiple coal mines, and the station itself, as well as numerous residences. 
Currently there is an average of about 1,000 visitors per day to the station (making it the second busiest station on the railway) and the area has become a popular tourist destination. 

Hours:
24/7
​
Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at Jingtong Station, the last station on the line, and you're there!
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. Then turn right and go west on county road 106 until you reach the Jingtong Station. After that, you can park across the river or somewhere further away where parking is available.

Map:
Please see below:

Pingxi Old Street has the second largest old street in Pingxi district, and is full of delicious food, souvenirs, and opportunities to light off sky lanterns. From Pingxi station you can walk down to the historic streets in the small town, and take selfies with the train tracks and bridges that cross the two rivers passing through the town. It is definitely a must see stop along the Pingxi Railway.
​
Background:
Pingxi station was completed in 1929 to transport coal out of the area. Currently it has an average of 844 passengers per day.  
Pingxi is the third busiest stop on the Pingxi Railway after Shifen and Jingtong. 
Pingxi is also a popular spot for setting off Sky Lanterns. The practice of lighting off sky lanterns in Taiwan began in Shifen, when during the Qing Dynasty local villagers would flee into the mountains during raids from bandits. Once the bandits had left, the remaining villagers sent sky lanterns into the air to let the fleeing villagers know that it was safe to come down from the mountains.
The people of Pingxi send off sky lanterns as a symbol of peace, and celebrate every year during Lantern Festival (元宵節), a Chinese holiday.
Setting off sky lanterns as a tourist attraction began in the 1990's and you can find people lighting off lanterns every day from Pingxi.
You can also enjoy the mining hamlet feel of the town, which has characteristic sloping streets and bridges, that all have views of the passing trains.  

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at Pingxi Station, and then walk west down the tracks and you have arrived!
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. Then turn right and go west on county road 106 until you reach the Pingxi Village. After that, you can park your scooter on the street, or if you have a car there is a parking lot nearby that charges 100 NT per stay.

Map:
Please see below:

Shifen Old Street is the largest and busiest old street on the Pingxi Railway line, famous for setting off lanterns into the sky, and for visiting the famous Shifen Waterfall nearby. Here one can enjoy delicious food, beautiful scenery, and learn about the mining history of the area. The sky lanterns have become a major environmental issue, but because of the allure to tourists the practice doesn't seem like it will end soon. 

Background:
The town of Shifen, which was originally named for the ten families that lived there in the Qing Dynasty, who needed ten portions of goods (Shi 十 = ten Fen 分/份 = portion).
Shifen Train station was completed in1918 and is the biggest train station on the Pingxi Railway line. During its heyday, it had the largest coal mining operation and largest population in Pingxi District of New Taipei. 
After the coal industry died down in the 1970s, tourism has taken its place as the major industry in the area.

The practice of lighting off sky lanterns in Taiwan began in Shifen, when during the Qing Dynasty local villagers would flee into the mountains during raids from bandits. Once the bandits had left, the remaining villagers sent sky lanterns into the air to let the fleeing villagers know that it was safe to come down from the mountains.
The people of Shifen send off sky lanterns as a symbol of peace, and celebrate every year during Lantern Festival (元宵節), a Chinese holiday.
Setting off sky lanterns as a tourist attraction began in the 1990's and you can find people lighting off lanterns every day from Shifen. 
Because of the hundreds of sky lanterns set off every day, this creates an environmental problem with lantern trash piling around the forests and mountains of Pingxi District. The local people and volunteers help to clean up, but because of the tourism allure associated with lighting off the sky lanterns, it seems that this practice is not going away anytime soon.
​
Hours:
Winter ( October to May): 9 AM -4:30 PM (last people admitted, park open till 5:00 PM)
Summer (June to September) 9 AM -5:30 PM (last people admitted, park open till 6:00 PM)

Price:
Free

When to go:
Lantern Festival! (February to March)
If you go during weekends or holidays, it can get really crowded on the Pingxi Railway, especially if you plan on taking the train. You may not be able to even fit on the train, so go on weekdays to avoid the crowds. 

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, and you have arrived at Shifen Old Street!
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. The Old Street is to the right of the main bridge across the valley. Parking is plentiful but you may have to walk a ways to get to the old street.

Map:
Please see below:

Jiufen is an old mountain village in Ruifang District of New Taipei City, and has perhaps the best old street in all of Taiwan, with authentic Taiwanese food, sloping steps, traditional Chinese architecture, and great views of Su Ao and Keelung Harbors. There are also multiple historical sights within the town. The entire village is built on a mountain slope, so that you can enjoy views of Taiwan's north coast from basically anywhere in the city. 

Background:
Jiufen gets its name from the original nine families who settled in the village during the Qing dynasty, who asked for nine portions of shipments every time they arrived (九Jiu=nine 份Fen=portion). The discovery of gold in the area created a gold rush in the town that lasted until the last Japense Era. When gold mining ended in 1971, the town began to decay. After A City of Sadness was filmed there, the town began to see a tourist boom. Also the town began to see many visitors especially from Japan after 2001 due to the resemblance of the town in Spirited Away, even though Miyazaki has said that Jiufen was not inspiration for the movie. 

Hours:
Around 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Price:
Free

How to get There:
By Train: Take TRA to Ruifang Station, then transfer to Keelung Bus which goes directly to Jiufen every few minutes (about a 15 minute ride from Ruifang).
By Bus: Buses directly to Jiufen leave from Taipei Main Station and Songshan Station regularly. 
​By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 to Ruifang and then travel on highway 102 all the way up to Jiufen. Parking is scarce and some of the most expensive in Taiwan. Expect at least 250 NT per day for a car and 50 NT per day for a scooter. 

Tours:
​You can book a tour to Jiufen Old Street with My Taiwan Tour here.

Map:
Please see below:

Full Moon Waterfall (Manyue Waterfall) lies in Sanxia's Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area in New Taipei. It's a beautiful waterfall and an easy family hike.
滿月圓瀑布位於新北市三峽區的滿月圓國家森林游樂區，是一個美麗的瀑布且容易的步道。

I actually recommend not going until the new tourist information center and Virgin Waterfall are opened up. That's right, Virgin Waterfall, the biggest waterfall in the park, is not even accessible, but you can still see Manyueyuan Waterfall for a discounted price.
其實我建議等到處女瀑布開放之後再去。對了，處女瀑布關閉了，整個公園最大的瀑布。但是滿月圓瀑布有優惠哦！

To get there, the only way is by taking your own vehicle or taxi. According to the recreation area website, there are no buses to get there. See a map of the waterfall below:
去那邊只能開車或搭計程車。本地區的網站說沒有公車。請參考以下的地圖：

Before we get into hiking just let me tell you about the parking situation here. If you go on a weekend, especially on a long holiday weekend, parking is going to be competitive. There is some free parking near the entrance to the trail, if you buy some vegetables. So what happens if you don't buy some veggies before your hike? You get yelled at by the kid next to the sign and by the people selling them. We were afraid that people would scratch our car while we gone out of spite, but we also didn't want to haul a bunch of potatoes up a mountain.
我開始討論爬山之前，奇偶想要分享這邊停車的情況。如果你周末去的話，特別連假，你會發現停車很競爭。有些“免費”停車場在步道入口附近，但是你要買菜。你不買菜怎麽辦呢？你會被旁邊的小男生罵，而且被賣菜的老闆罵。我們跟他們說：回來再買可以嗎？整個爬山的過程我們很怕他們會把我們的車子刮傷，但是我們也不想把一大堆菜帶上山。

There is an entrance fee, which is normally 100 NT per person. However, because Virgin Waterfall was closed on this day, the fee was only 50 NT per person. Yipee!
​門票原價100，但是因爲處女瀑布關閉我們享有50塊的優惠，黑皮黑皮！

View of the trail entrance as we began our way up. There's even a map in English!
步道入口居然有英文地圖！

This day in January was rather chilly and windy (you can tell how far behind we are on posts for this blog). ​
我們一月去的天氣有一點冷，風有點大 （你可以發現我們的部落格已經不是更新的很好）

From the get-go, there were signs that this nature trail had little nature. Besides the smelly bathrooms, the trail was a paved asphalt path, and you can see the river below has a rock wall.
一開始我們發現這個大自然的地方沒什麽大自然。除了很臭的厠所之外，還有泊油路和河邊的石頭墻壁 。

Oh, the rock wall reduces the impact of the stream water?! Really! 
哦，挑流工的石頭墻可以減緩河流的影響嗎？真的嗎！

The sign says" Piled stones are used to reinforce the riverbed. The arch principle and watertight construction methods are used to reduce the impact form the water in areas where the waterway curves even large stone pile-ups may not be able to withstand the long-term erosion of the water. In these locations, adding a spur dike can achieve the goal of protecting the shores."
​標識牌說：中文看的到吧？

Let's protect nature against getting destroyed by nature by building walls all over nature!
我們不可以讓大自然破壞大自然，所以要在大自然蓋一個很醜的墻壁！

There are large stones in the river due to erosion!
有巨石在河流裏是因爲土石流的關係！

This is probably the prettiest part of the trail, even though it is completely man made. A nice stop for selfies from everyone walking by.
這邊應該是整個不到最美麗的地方，雖然整個都是人造的。每個人在這邊一定要自拍。

Further up the trail, we find a pavilion that has truly become one with nature.
​在更上面，這邊的涼亭真的變成與大自然合一。

Here is the tourist information center that is still under construction. It will probably be a cool place once its finished, so come back in few months or a year and check it out.
這邊的游客中心還在施工中，所以我才會建議幾個月后或明年再來。

My perfectly balanced photo of the park ranger lodge.
我的完全平衡的國家森林員工木屋之照。

Is this the Full Moon Waterfall? Nope, its a man made waterfall that you can barely see through the bushes. Keep walking.
這是滿月圓瀑布嗎？不是，是個幾乎看不到的人造瀑布，繼續走。

If you are sick of nature halfway through the hike, you're in luck because there is a restaurant right at the halfway mark so satisfy your hunger for man-made consumables. 
如果你走到一半就受不了大自然，你很幸運因爲在半途中有一個餐廳，所以你可以好好滿足你對人造的消耗品的渴望。

You can also learn about nature from these cool flippy signs.
​你也可以從這些開開關關的標識牌學到大自然的東西。

Soon you'll be able to memorize the Latin name for almost every plant in the forest!
很快你可以把森林裏的每一個植物的拉丁名稱背起來！

A glimpse of the river below before the waterfall.
去瀑布之前可以看一眼河景。

Just before the waterfall, there is a trail to the left that leads to a pavilion overlooking the waterfall. 
去瀑布之前，左邊有一個步道，走到底有一個可以看到瀑布的涼亭。

It's a beautiful view! On the day we went there seemed to be quite a lot of people, so we couldn't sit and stare for very long.
真的是很漂亮的風景！那天人很多，所以我們不能站在那邊發呆太久。

Below the waterfall is a bridge from which you can see the lower part of the waterfall.
​瀑布下面有一座橋，從此処可以看到瀑布的下方。

So you can't see much here and there are a few branches in the way, but that's what nature is all about.
​從這個位置幾乎什麽都看不到而且樹枝多，但是這就是大自然。

Closeup of Full Moon Waterfall. There happened to be a full moon that night! It was destiny that we visited this magical waterfall.
更接近滿月圓瀑布。那天晚上真的是滿月！我們真的有緣看到這麽有魔力的瀑布。

The whole hike took less than two hours, and was really easy and flat. You could bring young children here and hike to the end with no problem.
整個爬山過程不到兩個小時，都是很平很簡單。你可以帶你的小朋友來河邊爬整個步道沒問題。

After our hike down, we bought a bag of sweet potatoes for only 45NT and headed down the mountain. The traffic was quite bad going down the mountain to Sanxia Old Street.
下山后，我們在停車場買了一袋地瓜45元，就開走。開下山到三峽老姐很塞車。

It took a while to find parking, but we eventually found a spot under the elementary school nearby. That night we ate some sausages, ice cream, stinky tofu, and we bought some Ox Horn Bread for our relatives because apparently that is the delicacy of Sanxia.
找到停車位花了一點時間，但是我們終於找到在國小下面有空位的停車場。那天晚上我們買了香腸，魚丸，冰淇凌，臭豆腐，和三峽的特產：牛角面包送給我們親戚。

​Sanxia Old Street is beautiful and one of the  best Old Streets in greater Taipei. Be sure to follow our Instagram!
三峽老街很漂亮，真的是大臺北最好看的老街之一。記得發嘍我們的IG哦！

Thanks for sharing this obscure family friendly hike in Taiwan with us, and be sure to follow and like so you can see our next adventures!
謝謝讓我們分享這個家庭步道，記得按讚和發嘍所以你可以知道我們下次的冒險！