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:
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Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology (aka the 13th Site Museum of Archaeology) is a museum in Bali District of New Taipei featuring archaeological exhibits on Taiwan's history and prehistory, as well as international archaeological exhibitions. Here is one of the best places in Taiwan to see clearly what Taiwan was like in prehistoric times.
History: The name Shihsanhang comes from 13 shops located near a now defunct harbor near the site during the late 1800s and early 1900s, which is also a nickname of the area. This name may also be borrowed from the thirteen factories in Canton at the time, or may have been borrowed from the pronunciation of the place from indigenous peoples living there. The Museum here came about starting in 1990 when the government planned to build a sewage treatment plant on the current site of the museum. However, as they excavated the ground, they discovered a prehistoric village called the Shihsanhang site. Scientists in the area called for the preservation of the site which garnered public support. Later the site was converted into a museum to display the artifacts that were discovered. The museum was completed in 2003 after 5 years of construction and a total cost of NT 380 million. It was the first City-built archaeology museum in Taiwan. International exhibitions began at the museum in 2017. Hours: 9:30 AM - 5 PM daily, closed the first Monday of each month Price: 80 NT per person How long does it take to see everything? About 2 Hours How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 15 to Bali, then take a right on Shihsanhang Road. By Bus: Take the Shuttle bus Red No. 13 from Bali Old Street or Guandu MRT station (about 20 minutes). By Bicycle: Take the MRT to Tamsui, the take the ferry to Bali Old Street. From there you can rent a bicycle and ride 2KM over to the museum. Map: Please see below: 
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: 
Fisherman's Wharf is a popular leisure fishing port in Tamsui. The area features a large grassy park, a pedestrian bridge with great views, and a long pier with tons of food options, especially seafood. Popular activities here include watching the sunset, enjoying the scenery, and enjoying local snacks.
Background: Fisherman's Wharf is officially known as Tamsui Fishing Harbor No. 2 (淡水第二魚港). It was an important harbor for fisherman, along with Tamsui port for the past 200 years due to its geographic location on the westernmost end of the Tamsui River. In 2001, it was changed into it's current form as a tourist destination. However, it still continues to be used as a fishing harbor. There are two other official Fisherman's Wharf's in Taiwan, one Kaohsiung and one in Chiayi. Hours: Food stalls are open from roughly 11 AM to 8 PM. Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 as far west as possible and you will reach the wharf. There is paid parking inside. By bus: Take Red Bus 26 from Tamsui MRT station west to Fisherman's Wharf station. By light rail: The fisherman's wharf station on Tamsui's Danhai light rail line (LRT) is expected to open sometime in 2020. Map: Please see below: 
Tamsui's Little White House (officially the Tamsui Customs Officer's Residence) is an important historical building in Tamsui near Fort San Domingo. The ticket to Fort San Domingo and Hobe Fort also allows entrance to this building, so you should definitely check it out if you visit the area.
Background: As a result of the Second Opium War, China was forced to open more ports to the west, including in Tamsui and Tainan, therefore creating a need for the Qing government to create a customs office in Tamsui. The Tamsui Customs Officer's Residence was built in 1870 for the Custom Officer. The first customs officer was W. Maxwell of the UK. After the Japanese took control of Taiwan, the house was abandoned. Later after the ROC took control of Taiwan, the building was later annexed as part of the nearby Tamkang High School. In 1996, the building was set for destruction but was saved by local scholars who protested. In 2004, the building was renovated as a tourist attraction in its current form. Because of its stark white appearance, it has been nicknamed the "little white house" referring to the resemblance to the White House in Washington DC. Price: 80 NT (including entrance to For San Domingo and Hobe Fort) Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (tickets not sold after 4:30) How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. The white house is passed the old street on highway 2. 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 walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the white house. Map: Please see below: 
Hobe Fort (Aka Huwei Fort) is a Qing Dynasty era fortress in Tamsui, New Taipei that once has massive guns that protected the waterways nearby. The fort is included in a historical monument ticket that allows you to see other historical buildings in the area. It is also one of the best preserved historical fortresses in Taiwan.
Background: After the Sino French War in which the French threatened Tamsui and Keelung, the Qing Dynasty decided to fortify their coastline in Taiwan, building forts at Keelung, Tamsui, Penghu, Tainan, and what is now Kaohsiung. Hobe fort in Tamsui was completed in 1888 and designed by Liu Mingchuan. The fort never saw any military action, which has helped preserve the fort. After the Japanese took over Taiwan, they took out the canons and turned the fort into a practice ground for troops. After the ROC took over Taiwan, they placed troops at the fort for a while, before turing the fort over to the central government, who have opened it to the public. The walls of the fort are 4.2 meters thick and 7 meters high. There is also an outer earth wall. The fort only has one gate facing north. Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM Price: 80 NT per person (includes entrance toFort San Domingo and the Little White House) How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. The fort is near Heping Park off highway 2. Parking can be found in front of the fort. By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus/taxi to the fort. Map: Please see below: 
The former British Consulate in Tamsui is over 100 years old, spanning a long and complex history in Taiwan. Originally built by the British, it was handed over to Australia, the USA, and then the ROC. Now it is a popular tourist destination in Tamsui.
Background: The spot where the consular residents lies is right next to Fort San Domingo, which was originally a wooden fort built by the Spanish who were vying for control of Taiwan in 1628. Later the fort came into Dutch control in 1642, and the Spanish were driven from Taiwan. In the process, the Spanish razed the fort to the ground. The fort was rebuilt in brick by the Dutch. The Dutch were expelled from Taiwan thanks to Konxinga and his Ming loyalists. The local Han Chinese at the time called the fort "Red Hair Fort 紅毛城" as a racial slur to the Dutch. Later, the fort was leased to the British government. The British built the consular residence in 1891, and continued to keep a presence there until 1972, and later it was given for a short time to Australia and the USA, and then given to the ROC government in 1980. Now the government maintains the fort as a tourist attraction. Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM Price: 80 NT per person (includes passage to the British Consulate, Hobe Fort, and the Little White House). How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. The fort is past the old street on highway 2. 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 walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the fort. Map: Please see below: 
Fort San Domingo (aka 紅毛城 Hongmaocheng, “City of Red Hair") is one of the oldest buildings in Taiwan, with a nearly 400 year history. Originally built by the Spanish, it was handed over to nine different nations including the Dutch, Qing, Japan, British, Australia, USA, and the ROC. Now it is a popular tourist destination in Tamsui.
Background: Fort San Domingo was originally a wooden fort built by the Spanish who were vying for control of Taiwan in 1628. Later the fort came into Dutch control in 1642, and the Spanish were driven from Taiwan. In the process, the Spanish razed the fort to the ground. The fort was rebuilt in brick by the Dutch. The Dutch were expelled from Taiwan thanks to Konxinga and his Ming loyalists. After the Qing dynasty took Taiwan from the Ming loyalists, they repaired the fort in 1724. The local Han Chinese at the time called the fort "Red Hair Fort 紅毛城" as a racial slur to the Dutch. Later, the fort was leased to the British government, who continued to keep a presence there until 1972, and later it was given for a short time to Australia and the USA, and then given to the ROC government in 1980. Now the government maintains the fort as a tourist attraction. Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM Price: 80 NT per person (includes passage to the British Consulate, Hobe Fort, and the Little White House). How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. The fort is past Tamsui Old Street on highway 2. 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 walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the fort. Map: Please see 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: |
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
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