If you’ve done any Instagram browsing on Taipei and its surrounding areas, you have probably stumbled upon pictures of influencers wandering through the lantern-clad alleyways of Jiufen, a small mountain town about an hours’ bus ride outside of the city center. Easily doable as a day trip, this historic mountain town is a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the big city. While it is heavily trafficked by both domestic and international tourists, Jiufen definitely lives up to the hype and deserves a visit if you have the time!
HOW TO GET THERE
There are multiple options to get to Jiufen, including taking a taxi, taking the train, or taking the bus. Personally, I believe the easiest route is taking the bus from Taipei City. There are two bus routes that will get you there –
Option 1 is to take the MRT to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station. Once you’ve arrived, go out of exit 2 and walk to the bus stop. The exact address of the bus stop is No. 180, Sect. 1, Fuxing South Rd. (復興南路1段180號). Hop on Keelung Bus #1062 (it will cost 100 NTD per person one way which is about $3 USD). They come about once every hour in both Taipei and Jiufen, so you don’t have to worry too much about scheduling a specific time for your visit.
Option 2 is taking bus #965. This bus stops at many MRT stations, including Fuzhong MRT Exit 1, Banqiao MRT Exit 2, Wanhua Railway Station, Ximen MRT Exit 2, and Beimen MRT Exit 2. The bus will cost 90 NTD one way. Conveniently, you can hop on the same bus on the way back and it’ll take you straight back into Taipei city!
3 THINGS TO DO IN JIUFEN
1. Jiufen Old Street
After arriving in Jiufen, head straight to the Old Street. Jiufen (at least the area that is accessible to tourists) is essentially a massive market. It’s a narrow, pedestrian only cobblestone alley lined with lanterns, restaurants and shops, selling everything from fresh food (buy the spicy beef noodle soup, if you haven’t already!), to dried tea leaves, to toys, and everything in between. The streets, which are about the width of two people standing side by side, are lined with endless and beautifully decorated shops. There are also plenty of free samples to enjoy. Normally, being on a narrow street surrounded with people would be my worst nightmare, but there is something about Jiufen and the entire ambiance that makes you feel like you’ve been transported back in time to an older, historical Taiwan.
2. Visit a Tea House
Jiufen is built entirely into a mountainside, and so walking around can be tiring. Also, as it is at a higher elevation, it tends to be quite a bit colder than the city of Taipei. If you need somewhere to sit and warm up while exploring the town, I highly recommend stopping at one of the tea houses with a view down the mountainside and to the ocean below. While you will have to pay a “cover charge” (around $3-5 per person), it includes some delicious and fresh tea and is well worth the moments of relaxation.
One of the most iconic tea houses in Jiufen is called the Amei Teahouse. This teahouse, built with the historic Japanese style of architecture, has a beautiful rooftop desk where you can sip tea while enjoying the magnificent views of the Taiwanese shoreline.
3. Visit Zhaoling Temple
The Zhaoling temple is an architectural masterpiece, with intricate carvings of dragons and warriors lining the roof. This temple dates back to the 1890’s, right when Taiwan’s sovereignty was ceded to Japan. The colours and design of the building are very beautiful, so I highly recommend checking it out!
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