Shen Ao Railbike is a short bicycle ride on an old Railway line on the coast of Ruifang, New Taipei. Visitors are seated two people per bicycle car, which has a roof and great views of the ocean scenery nearby. Overall it is a fun adventure for the whole family.

Historical Background:
​Originally the Shen’ao Railway was constructed during the Japanese era in 1936 for transport of coal and other mine exports. After World War II, Taiwan Metal Mining Co. took over but ceased operations in 1962 due to financial difficulties. TRA built a new Shen’ao Line that opened in 1965 for freight, extending passenger services in 1967.
Services ended again in 1989 due to the completion of the new oceanside highway and the closure of a coal power plant in the area, but the line was revived in 2014 to support the museum and related tourism activities. In 2019, a Railbike attraction was introduced between Badouzi and Shen’ao using the old railway tracks on a 1.3 KM long track.
In 2024, services between the National Marine Science Museum and Badouzi were suspended for slope improvement works, expected to be completed by 2025.

Hours:Roughly 9 AM to 5 PM.

Price:150 NT per one-way trip per person
300 NT per round trip per person
You can book tickets for a discount on KKday here.

Schedule:
Departure Times: Badouzi Station → Shen’ao Station09:00
10:00
11:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
Departure Times: Shen’ao Station → Badouzi Station09:30
10:30
11:30
13:30
14:30
15:30
16:30
For up-to-date times, please check the Shen’ao Railbike website here.

Rules:

• For the general public, online booking is available 30 days before the date of the ride
• For the online booking, please register as a member first and fill in the member information to continue booking.
• Children must be 3 years old or above or at least 90 cm in height to be eligible for a ride. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
• Since the rail bike needs pedaling, for safety reasons, it is advised that people with disabilities may not be suitable for the ride, or they need to be accompanied by their relatives and friends.
• Passengers who complete online booking and reservation are recommended to check at the departure platform 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
• If you have already booked a rail bike ride, please complete your check-in 15 minutes before the departure. The departure time will not be postponed If you do not show up before the scheduled departure time.
• Ticket purchases are only available from online booking. No telephone booking service is available for the time being.
• There are no walk-in tickets available on-site. Walk-in passengers will be put on the waiting list, but there’s no guaranteed seat.

Where to stay:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Activities in Taipei:At Shen’ao there are many activities available to enjoy such as kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, and more activities which you can book on Klook here or KKday here. 
​

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Drive to Keelung, then from downtown take provincial Highway 2 east about 10 KM until you reach the Badouzi Station, and there is some free parking parking across the street.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
​By Train/Bus: Take the TRA to Badouzi (八斗子） station, then walk about 200 M east until you reach the rail bike station. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Bicycle: 
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map:
Please see below to see:

Xinbeitou Historic Station (aka New Beitou Station 新北投車站) is an old train station originally built by the Japanese to bring tourists to the Beitou Hot Spring area. Now it has been restored into a museum and gift shop for visitors to enjoy. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taipei.

Table of Contents

• Historical Background:
• Hours:
• Activities:
• Tours:
• Where to Stay:
• How to get there:
• Map:
• Our Journey:

​
Historical Background:The New Beitou train line, also known as the “Bath Line 湯線,” was a branch line of the TRA Tamsui line, connecting Beitou Station to the Beitou Hot Spring area, with a total distance of 1.2 KM.
During the Japanese occupation, Hirata Gengo established Taiwan’s first hot spring inn, Tengu-an, in 1896, which spurred the development of the Beitou Hot Spring area. Soon, many other hot springs were formed in the area, including the Beitou Public Hot Spring.
The New Beitou line was finished in 1916, and was constructed solely for hot spring tourism.
After it began operation on April 1, 1916, the New Beitou Line helped boost the development of the hot spring area, which at its peak in 1935, boasted 35 hot spring inns. However, during World War II, in 1945, the tracks were removed and repurposed for defense needs (allegedly to prevent Allied forces from landing by placing the rails along the Tamsui coastline). The line was restored in August 1946, after the war.
The original terminal, Xinbeitou Station, was initially planned for demolition during the construction of the MRT Xinbeitou Branch Line in the 1990s. However, the Taipei City Government symbolically sold the station to the Taiwan Folk Village for one New Taiwan dollar, preserving it in Changhua County. The station was donated to Taipei City, after which a work team from the Taipei City Government began architectural surveys and structural numbering at the Taiwan Folk Village, after which the station was dismantled and transported back to Beitou for reconstruction. Reconstruction on the station began in 2014 and was completed in 2016.
Currently, the station is a popular historical site in Beitou.

Hours:
24/7

Activities:
Besides soaking in hot springs, there are many activities available in Beitou such as Rock Climbing, Water Skiing, Kani Kimono Rental, Escape Experience, Beitou Museum, and more on Klook here or KKday here. 
Tours:You can check out tours to Beitou such as a Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour, Beitou and Yeliu Day Tour, Beitou and Tamsui Day Tour, Beitou and National Palace Museum Tour, Beitou Muslim Friendly Tour, Beitou Arts and Culture Tour, Flower Season Tour, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also check out the Beitou Fun Package from KKday which includes a one-day transportation coupon, hot spring coupon, and coupon for over 8 souvenir shops in Beitou.

Where to Stay:
High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). 
We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Budget Hotels: We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By MRT: 
Take the MRT to Xinbeitou MRT station. From there you can also take the S9 or S26 bus further up the mountain if needed. You can book tickets to travel to Taipei via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
By Car/Scooter: 
From downtown Taipei, take Provincial Highway 2 north to New Beitou MRT Station. Many of the hotels here provide free parking for guests. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Check out Klook here, or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Bicycle: 
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

Map:
Please see a list of places we will cover in the map below:

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is a former tobacco plant in Taipei that has now been converted into a park, exhibition space, museum, and more. In this multifunctional park, you can enjoy the history of the old tobacco plant buildings, as well as ongoing exhibitions, art shows, restaurants, ​bookstores, and cafés. It is a great tourist stop in the heart of Taipei for both geeks and hipsters. 
 
History
​The buildings where the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park currently lies were constructed in 1937 as the Matsuyama Tobacco Plant of the Monopoly Bureau of the Taiwan Governor's Office during the Japanese rule of Taiwan.
After WWII, the ROC government took control of the plant and renamed it the Songshan Tobacco Plant of the Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Bureau. 
Due to declining demand for tobacco in Taiwan, the factory stopped producing cigarettes in 1998, and the area was converted into a park in 2001. 
In 2011, the old buildings here were renovated to accommodate exhibitions and performances on the site. 
The area includes old warehouses, inspection rooms, office buildings, a tobacco factory, an ecology pond, and more.
In 2024 Eslite began 24-hour operations of their bookstore here. 
The park is usually busy especially on weekends, due to many ongoing art exhibitions. ​

Hours:
8:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day

Price:
Free to visit
​
Hotels in Taipei:
We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). 
We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
 
How to get there:
By MRT/Bus: The building is close to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT station. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
By Car/Scooter: The building is just a few blocks west of Taipei City Hall Station on Zhongxiao East Road. There is limited parking nearby.
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  

​Map:
​Please see below:

Houtong is a small village connected to the Pingxi Railway in Ruifang District in New Taipei, famous for its many cats. Once a booming mining town with the most coal production in Taiwan, it has now been converted into a tourist destination for cat lovers. Visitors can enjoy the town's rich history as well as hundreds of cats and cat-related shops around the village.

Background:
Houtong train station was completed in 1920 during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan, in order to ship coal from mines nearby. The area around the village was once the most prosperous mining town in Taiwan, bringing in hundreds of thousands of tons of coal in a year. At its height, it had 6,000 residents. 
As the coal mining industry died down and the mining industry was shut down due to safety in the 1990s, the future of Houtong Village was in question. 
However, by 2008 Houtong Started to reinvent itself as a cat paradise, with many cat loving citizens proposing to bring abandoned cats to the village for a better life. Since then, the town has been a hub for cat lovers and enthusiasts.
The Ruisan Coal Preparation Plant opened in 2022 and offers free entrance to visitors. ​
Due to many tourists visiting such a large population of cats, diseases have been known to spread around the village. Sometimes during an outbreak the village is closed to tourists. Volunteer groups often deliver vaccines and medications to the cats. However, it is best to not bring your own pets, wash your hands before and after touching animals, and do not touch the animals' faces and mouths.

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

Tours:
​You can book a tour of Houtong and other nearby places with Klook here or KKday here. 

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA train to Ruifang Station, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. It will be the first stop.  Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here. You can book tickets to the high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here. 
You can also book a shuttle bus on KKDay here or Klook here. 
By Car/Scooter: Take national highway 2 to Ruifang, then turn left on Ruihou Raod until you reach the village. You can also drive from Jiufen or Jinguashi, which is less than a 10 minute ride. You can also charter a car for a day to Houtong Cat Village on Klook here. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD on Klook here.
By Bus: You can also book tickets to travel to Ruifang via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Where to Stay Near Houtong Cat Village:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Map:
Please see below:

Taipingshan (aka Taipingshan National Forest Recreational Area 太平山國家森林游樂區) is a magical mountain paradise in Datong Township of Yilan County in Taiwan. It has an old Japanese era logging railroad track which has mostly been abandoned, but part of it has been restored with a working train. In addition there are hot springs, Taiwan's largest alpine lake, hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
 
Background:
In 1906, the Japanese Indigenous affairs police officers sent a team of men to Fanfan Mountain, where they discovered huge ancient cypress trees. Later the Japanese renamed the area Taipingshan, and began logging the mountain in 1915.
The Taipingshan Forest Railway was completed in 1934 and had at least 12 stations, with the grade up the mountain ranging from 2-3%. Loggers relied heavily on wires and pulley systems to haul logs to the railway, which differentiates it from the Alishan Railway. Because of the extensive use of wires or iron donkeys, it was difficult to convert the entire railway to a tourist railway, therefore only a short section at Maosing remains for tourists. 
The logging industry continued in Taiwan until it was banned in the 1980s, after which the area was converted into a forest recreation area in 1983 and opened to the public.
The mountains in Taipingshan range from 500 to 2000 meters high, and is part of the northern central mountain range. The highest peak here is Nanhu Mountain at 3,740 meters high. The terrain generally consists of high mountains and deep valleys, which have been pushed up by the convergence of the Eurasian and Philippine plates, and eroded by torrential rains.
Taipingshan is 12,929 hectares, and includes six major areas: Tuchang, Jioujhihze, Jhongjian, Taipingshan, Maosing and Cueifong Lake.
Taipingshan holds the record for 24 hour rainfall in Taiwan of 1015 mm, recorded in 2016 during Typhoon Megi. The area is also one of the most accessible places in Taiwan to see snow during winter.
The forest recreation area is now a popular place for nature enthusiasts and hikers, and is one of the top three most popular forest recreation areas in Taiwan.
 
Hours:
6 AM to 8 PM (open 4 AM on weekends)

Price:
150 NT for non-holidays, 200 NT for holidays
Cars: 100 NT
Scooters: 20 NT
Jioujhize Hot Springs: 250 NT in winter and 150 NT in summer
Bong Bong Train: 180 NT
You can buy a discount entrance ticket to Taipingshan on KKday here or book a tour on Klook here. 
 
Website:
https://tps.forest.gov.tw/

Tours and Activities:
You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as Su'ao Crayon Castle, Turtle Island, Lanyang Museum, Toucheng Leisure Farm, Zhang Mei Ama Capybura Farm, Bambi Land, Yinong Ranch, National Center for Traditional Arts, Taxi Museum, Glamping, Camping, ATV / 4-wheeling experience, SUP / paddle boarding, Ximeng Forest Theater, Surfing, Kayaking, Horse Riding, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Water Biking, Snorkeling, Canoeing, Shrimping and many others through Klook here or KKday here. 

Accommodation:
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
We have stayed at and recommend Ying Shih Guest House, a resort in Datong Township near Taipingshan and Fan Fan Hot Spring (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Jiaosi Hotspring Hotel, a hotel with hot springs in each room (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here). We have also stayed at Toucheng Leisure Farm, a recreational farm and experience center in Toucheng (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, on Klook here, or on Trip.com here).
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 
 
How to get there:
By Bus: Kuo-kuang departs from Yiland and Luodong at 7:40 and 8 AM, and arrives at Taipingshan at 10:30 AM. The bus then departs Taipingshan at 2:30 PM. You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yialn via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
Bicycle rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take National Freeway 5 to Yilan, then turn southwest on provincial highway 7 until you reach the turnoff to Taipingshan via Yijhuan Route 1. Looking for scooter rental in Yilan? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals in Yilan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
 
Map:
Please see below of the places covered in this blog: