Yuanzuishan: Taipei's Alpine Ridge Hike

One of five ridge hikes accessible from Taipei, Yuanzuishan's altitude gives it a defining characteristic from the others and makes it an instant favorite. The 4-6 hour hike is tucked inside the Snow Mountain Range outside Taichung, resting between 2,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level. So, climbers are rewarded with the smell of pine trees and cooler mountain weather as opposed to the dense undergrowth and humidity of jungle trekking. Rhododendron bushes also line the path, making it a beautiful hike for early springtime.

This super fun climb shares all of the same defining characteristics as other more accessible knife-edge ridge hikes: ropes, rock scrambles, repels and stunning views of surrounding mountains. I would say gloves are optional depending on how callused your hands already are. I finally had to put mine on during the descent down from the ridge. However, sun protection is a must as much of this hike completely exposed.

Long lines on weekends mean that climbers can get stuck in uninterrupted sun for hours. My partner and I made great time, passing other groups and hikers, but the lines for the ropes down caught us and added at least an hour to our trek, which was spent sitting between the rocks and chatting with others about trekking bucket lists and favorite trails.

One would think that this hike's lack of public transport and distance from the city would make it less popular, but sadly this is not the case. Try to avoid Saturday and Sunday if possible unless you don't mind scenarios like the one described in the previous paragraph. Also avoid rainy, windy weather. There are better ways to die than by slipping on a wet rock from the top of this ridge.

There you have it. The elevation, evergreen flora and beautiful views of the Snow Mountain Range firmly place Yuanzuishan in the list of must-do day hikes from Taipei. Like Wuliaojian and HuanDiDian, it's also a great full-body workout that can be used to train for longer, more challenging high-mountain climbs.

Hot Spring Camping: Galahe Waterfall

Photo Credit: Ryan Hevern

There’s a natural waterfall hot spring in the middle of the mountains where you can have with some quality nap time. Just snuggle up to the hot rocks and relax in the warm water while trying to figure out the difference between things you can and can’t change to the tune of the waterfall in front of you.

The waterfall itself isn’t hot, but there are two steaming small streams flanking it. Don’t touch them. They are super-hot, but create perfect bath water when mixed with the chilly mountain falls. It’s amazing that something like this formed naturally. (Thank you nature.) Spots like this actually riddle Taiwan, averaging three per county. For real, my winters just got a lot better.



Even more incredible is that the hot spring has a natural set of tiered pools. Of course, the top one just beneath the falls is the hottest, but the two below are still warm and make for nice secluded spots out of sight from people hanging out above.

Most people don’t camp, so we had the spot entirely to ourselves in the evening and then again the next morning. Surprisingly though, we weren’t the last ones out of the pools on the first day. As we were getting out and prepping for the run back to camp, a lone hiker showed up as it was getting dark. He made sure we were leaving and followed up with: “Good. I want to be naked.”

Not going to lie, the weather was miserable: constantly spitting rain and the lowest temperatures of the year, but it was perfect hot spring weather. The issue was getting to the hot spring. We had to change into our suits at camp and then bolt for the freezing river, which had to be crossed getting to and from the pools.



Being dedicated to warmth and s'mores, we all took turns nursing the fire for four hours straight before bed. We literally forced it to burn with constant fanning and tissues. The stupid thing burned through an entire log and never caught. That’s ok though. The effort kept us warm and we got our s’mores. I know at least one person in the group ate five :)

The campsite itself was cozy, surrounded by jungle and within hearing distance of the river, so we all slept to the soundtrack of running water. Apparently, lots of people had to step out of their tents during the night. It was rocky though and a few of us woke up with small mountains digging into our hips.



Also the route to the campsite was a 700? meter hell that consisted of steep sketchy, slippery switchbacks and stairs, but we did it. It took an eternity of strenuous baby steps to keep from falling on the way down and our gear got a wet, but it was worth it. Between going down and climbing back up again, none of us needed to see the inside of a gym for at least a week.

That’s it! Put the phone on airplane mode and enjoy. With river tracing in the summer and hot spring camping in the winter, Taiwan is shaping up to be a nature lover’s dream. I might not leave guys.

Getting Around

It’s two hours outside the city down a winding mountain road in Yilan, so you need your own wheels or to partner with a group. I joined Taiwan Adventure Outings and loved it. Going with them also made my pack lighter because I didn’t have to worry about food or cooking supplies. They charge a bit, but the price includes a car rental, meals and good company. Our guide, Ryan, was nice, knowledgeable and knew what he was doing, which came in handy around the time we had to carve our own chopsticks to eat with. I’ve been out with them a few times and it’s always a blast.

Wuliaojian: Mountaineering in Taipei

The two main attractions of this hike are a narrow knife ridge and the almost vertical 100 ft. rappel down it. I was terrified and said so… “That’s why we do this,” promptly replied the random hiker next to me. He’s right. This is one of Taipei’s most difficult, thrilling and popular day hikes. Emphasis on difficult as it was a strenuous five hour, full body workout, but it was fun!

The hike starts off with a quick, challenging ascent. It’s a proper climb using ropes, rocks and the occasional tree root. We loved it. It was a proper challenge that used every muscle we had without the monotonous feel of stairs. After about an hour of this, you reach the top of the ridge. On your way up, there’s a good view of Sanxia and possibly a little green snake or two.



Keep climbing. After reaching the top, the path goes up, down and then up again with lots of rope and little 30 ft. rappels. Eventually you’ll reach the first section of the knife ridge, which offers an awesome 360 degree view of Sanxia on one side and a beautiful valley on the other. Don’t stop. You’re almost to the big rappel.

Soon, you’ll reach the #5 trail marker. Here you can head up and over another ridge leading to the big rappel or cut around and go the easy way down. Do the rappel! It’s a terrifying highlight of the hike and more than likely you’ll surprise yourself. Plus, I don’t actually know where that other little side trail goes. I’m just assuming it’s an easy way down because other blogs/books mentioned there was a way to cut around the rappel.

Going into this, I thought the rappel was only 60 ft… not 100, and we’d already been doing smaller rappels, so it felt like the hike had been building up to this “do or die” moment. Luckily, there are two different rappelling options for getting off the ridge. One of which is supposed to be a bit easier than the other. The “easier” one is ever so slightly shorter and broken into three sections, whereas, the difficult one is a little longer with no breaks.  

Our group split up, with two taking the “easy” route and two going down the hard way. Everyone had fun and made it down, but it’s worth mentioning that the “difficult” route ruined the arms on one of our members. He had trouble gripping and couldn’t completely close his hand for the rest of the hike, almost falling. Not something you want to deal with in the middle of the most ropy hike you’ve ever seen.



At the bottom of the rappel, there’s an optional crag hikers can climb. It’s the most difficult rock to scale on this hike, but it’s short and offers a good view at the top. Only one of our members monkeyed his way up it and was very proud of himself. If feeling tired, it’s a good idea to skip it as you need to save energy for getting off the mountain.

After climbing or “not climbing” the crag, get back on the trail and keep descending down the mountain. There are a few more “small” (not 100 ft, but substantial) rappels and climbs, but eventually you’ll make it to the #6 trail marker. Here, hikers can choose to keep monkeying around in the woods with ropes by continuing on to Wuliaojian peak or they can choose to make a break for it and head for the exit.



Running out of water and arm strength, we bolted and followed signs for the trail entrance. We were finally free of the ropes, but ironically this is when everyone started slipping, sliding and falling on the FLAT rocks. I have no idea how we did this nor do I understand why we want to go back, but this is definitely our new favorite day hike in the Taipei area.

Getting Around

The trail head is only an half hour taxi from our apartment door 😃, making this the easiest hiking commute we’ve ever had. For the less fortunate, head to Dingpu MRT Station and from there grab a $300 NTD taxi to the trail head. Be sure to get the taxi’s number and arrange for him or her to pick you up after the hike. Supposedly, there is a bus that goes out that way, but I read that it’s unreliable and inconsistent.

Next to the trail entrance, there’s a little store where you can stock up on water (if doing the whole hike: two liters per person) and gloves (MUST HAVE THESE) if you didn’t remember to bring any. You will also have to contend with mosquitoes, so if you forgot to bring repellent maybe grab a beer as well and chug it real quick to make yourself less appetizing. This should be common sense, but if it’s raining or windy save this hike for a different day. The ridge and big rappels are completely exposed, so too much sun can also be a huge problem.

Waterfall Hunting: Wufenqi and Yuemeikeng

We have a new favorite waterfall hike. This day trip from Taipei consists of two, two-hour hikes and a total of four waterfalls. The first few at Wufenqi are meh, but the last one, Yuemeikeng, is what makes this one of Taipei’s must do day hikes. Overall Wufenqi is quite touristy with nice, neat stairs and crowds at the first two falls. Yuemeikeng is a bit different. Instead of stairs, you have zigzags, trail jumps and cascade climbing. We loved it 😍 The last bit of the trail is a piece of magical fairy land that we’ve been dreaming about since and we had it completely to ourselves.

Start your day with the Wufenqi waterfalls and get those pesky stairs out of the way. Also, the third fall will still look impressive before being dwarfed by Yuemeikeng. The first falls is a bit of a joke. The second is at least a real waterfall, but still just ok. The third is actually quite nice with a massive freefall. We were impressed. They’ve got the trail for it gated with warning signs, but both of those things are easily ignored. If anything, the experience is actually nicer because you’ll have it to yourself. When the sun is out, walk to the edge of the waterfall to see rainbow effects in the mist.

The path for Wufenqi falls is clearly marked, with signs everywhere. However, Yuemeikeng isn’t so easy. We had a hard time finding trail head and asked around only to learn that local vendors had never heard of it. The book we were using (Yes, I said BOOK.) was dated. The only thing the book and blogs agreed on was that we needed to cross a makeshift bridge at the bottom of some stairs and to all of them I say this: A barrel bridge covered in gravel and large enough to support vehicles is NOT a makeshift bridge.

This bridge marks the beginning of the trail; you’ll see it on your way to the Wufenqi Falls. It’s at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the food stalls, after the little dams. Just after crossing the bridge, go right and follow the little footpath along the river for about twenty minutes until you come to a little shrine and fork in the path: go right again. Soon, you’ll cross two bridges. After the second bridge, the trail zigzags up and away from the river.

At the top of the zigzags, there’s another fork: go left, back down toward the river. Soon, you’ll cross the stream for the first time where it’s a good idea to put on river tracing shoes. (Yes, the stream is easy to navigate, but things are about to get slippery.) You’re almost there and soon the path will spit you out into a river gorge where you’ll be able to glimpse the waterfall for the first time.

It’s a slippery, muddy, wet adventure and many of the assistance ropes are so loose that they’re more of a safety hazard than a help. The trail has also given away in a few places, requiring hikers to take really big steps or jump across. At the waterfall, you’ll need to scale a small cascade, but it’s manageable and fun. Although, getting back down is a bit of a brain game. Long legs help.

Again, we were the only ones on the trail, so we ditched our bags and tucked them safely away before wading into the gorge. That said, it’s not necessary to ditch and you don’t need any special waterproof equipment. The deepest water is about thigh height and my shorts never got wet. The biggest danger is falling, but river tracing shoes will fix that. Reading other people’s stories, I completely overreacted and packed a towel, change of clothes and triple zip-locked everything... All of which was completely UNECCESARY. That said, if I’d fallen or slipped on the cascade with my bag, I’d have a different story to tell.

Getting Around:

From Taipei City Hall Bus Station (located right next to the MRT), catch the bus to Jiaoxi. The ride takes about an hour or two in bad traffic. From Jiaoxi Transfer Station, line up for the little tourist shuttle that’ll take you to the Wufenqi bus stop. If confused or worried, just keep repeating “Wufenqi” at the attendants and they’ll literally walk you to the queue. Both buses run consistently throughout the day, at 15 to 20 minute intervals. You’ll have no problem getting around and can pay for everything using an EASYCARD. About $300 NTD will cover it. If you want to skip the shuttle bus and taxi from Jiaoxi Transfer Station to Wufenqi, you can. It’s only about ten minutes away.

Hiking Yushan (Jade Mountain): Taiwan's Highest Peak

I get it. I completely understand how people who have never hiked before suddenly become altitude junkies within a year or two of living in Taiwan. The little island, about half the size of Virginia, is home to over a hundred 3,000m+ peaks and the most popular one to start with is Jade Mountain, which gets everybody hooked. Along with being Taiwan’s most popular hike, Jade Mountain is the highest peak in Taiwan and Eastern Asia. With a height of 3,952 m (12,966 ft.), it’s also the 27th most prominent mountain in the world, and my first experience with high altitude hiking.

I trained for one month and hike regularly, but knew the game had changed when one of our group members mentioned that he had just spent a week hiking around Everest’s Base Camp and the GIRLS who had gotten altitude sickness. (Thanks for that by the way, it made me feel so much better.) Obviously, he was one of the first to summit and I was one of the last, but the fact remains: I DID THAT and there must be something wrong with me, because I’m already planning my next high altitude ascent.



Jade Mountain is great for beginner altitude climbers, because it can be spread comfortably across two days and only requires hikers to carry 10-12 kg (22-26 lbs.). The mountain has two lodges, so tents aren’t necessary and neither are sleeping bags, which can be rented on site. Portering companies, also, send food and kerosene up the mountain daily so hikers can purchase meals at the lodges.

Serving more hikers than any other trail, the Jade Mountain lodges are revered as the best on the island. Instead of sleeping bags, the first lodge rents out weighted blankets and pillows (ACTUAL PILLOWS). I slept like a baby. For $300 NTD ($10 USD), the second lodge gives out nice down sleeping bags and fleece blankets. Interestingly, the second lodge is completely off the grid. Water is pumped in from a nearby river and the lights run on solar power. I was able to drink tap water for the first time in two years. In addition to this, it’s rumored they’ll be setting up some wind turbines in the near future.



Access to the summit is limited to 90 people a day and, of course, everyone needs two permits, which can be extremely difficult to come by. Also, the permits, lodging, meals and sleeping bags all have to be booked separately through different companies. For example, the food has to be booked directly through the portering companies and isn’t included in the price of the lodge. The sleeping bags are rented directly from the lodge, but as a separate transaction, so you have to remember to book it with your bed. Also, if you don’t get a receipt number, your reservation and money might be conveniently lost. Complete disclosure, just writing about it is giving me a headache and I’m super glad we joined a group instead of trying it alone.

There are lots of different organizations and people offering trips up the mountain. Trips are expensive (about $300 USD), but everything is included (even transport from Taipei) and they do all the paperwork, which (as mentioned above) is a huge pain. Ours was organized by trekking author, blogger and expert Richard Saunders, but lead by Mark Roche, the owner of Blue Skies Adventures and Saunders’ boss.



It was Roche’s 42nd trip up the mountain, so he was prepared for everything and full of good advice, such as how to ward off altitude sickness with ginger tea. (I love ginger tea, so this was great news.) Roche also has a favorite dead tree named Freddy, after Freddy Kruger. Again, I was usually bringing up the rear, so I got to talk with Roche more as he always tried to be the last one off the trail.

In addition to Roche and Saunders, other trekking companies organizing Jade Mountain trips include: Taiwan Adventures and Taiwan Adventure Outings. Yes, they are two separate companies. Taiwan Adventures has been around longer and has a good reputation for high mountain climbs, especially Snow Mountain. Taiwan Adventure Outings is a newer outfit that just took their first trip up Jade Mountain this year. That being said, the pictures from their trip looked great and I don’t think anyone died.



Speaking of dying, that happens. According to Roche, people die every year on the mountain. He alluded that the deaths were mostly older hikers and could be contributed to heart failure. Regardless, this climb is easily the scariest and most beautiful thing I’ve ever intentionally done to myself. Once you get over the scary, it’s an awesome (the original meaning) hike with mountain landscapes and shaded forests to keep you company.

The high altitude terrain is littered with firs, pines, hemlocks, mountain laurel, rhododendron, and edelweiss. This was the first time I’ve smelled pine needles since moving to Taiwan. Being as homesick as I am, the stupid things almost made my eyes water, as did the view on multiple occasions. (It’s unfair really, because in novels the girl who cries at beautiful things is such a romanticized idea, but in practice it’s awful, especially when the girl is trying to pretend to be a badass mountain climber, which she is not, and tears are not going to help the image.)



In distance, it’s not a very long hike, just 11 km from the trailhead to the summit. It’s the elevation that gets you and it literally takes two hours to hike what a person normally runs in ten minutes. There are two rest areas on the trail at the 1.5 and 5 km markers. They’re great places to have a snack and catch your breath. The summit lodge is at 8 km. If attempting a sunrise summit hike, most hikers stop here to sleep and eat before continuing on at two or three in the morning.

The final 2.4 km leading to the summit is a steep scramble with lots of windy cliffs, but there are chains and cages in place that make it feel relatively safe. A plus to doing the sunrise hike is that you can’t see how far you have to fall until on the return trip. It’s hard to believe that human beings actually do this for fun: "Let’s relax by standing two inches from certain death in the dark on the side of mountain almost 4,000 m above sea level.” You know what the stupidest thing is… I’d do it again.

Hiking Favorite: Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail

You’ll get wet, muddy and land on your butt a few times, but it’s an incredible hike. Located on the Pingxi Rail Line, this trail starts at Sandiaoling Station and terminates at Dahua Station. In total, there are four waterfalls on the trail and it’s possible to add a fifth by continuing on to Shifen once you finish the hike. Along with swimming under the waterfalls, you’ll get to play on braided rope bridges, climb log ladders and walk through fairy portals.

The first waterfall, Hegu Falls, is a medium-sized-double falls that’s very pretty and easy to get to. Continuing on from Hegu Falls, the trail really comes alive with moss covered rocks, over-hanging trees and the sound of water in the background. After swinging across the rope bridges and maybe even stopping for a swim, you’ll come to the main attraction: Sandiaoling Waterfall. This 30-meters-high waterfall shoots out over a massive overhang, so there’s plenty of room for exploring behind the fall’s curtain.

Sandiaoling Waterfall is mesmerizing; we could have easily spent an hour watching the water curtain fall and then dissipate on the rocks below. Unfortunately, we were also trying to outpace a loud group of women who had paid for a guided hike. Hearing squeaky voices gain on us, we stuffed our faces with a little bit of lunch and moved along to the head of the falls.

Imagine our surprise when we found another waterfall waiting at the top. Turns out, the head of Sandiaoling Waterfall doubles as the base of Pipa Cave Falls. Pipa Cave and Sandiaoling Waterfalls are very similar. Both shoot out over massive overhangs and Pipa Cave is only a little smaller than Sandiaoling, resting at 25 meters. The base of Pipa Cave Falls is more fun to explore, getting your feet wet and climbing around. Just don’t fall off the edge; the rope is there for a reason.



From here, make your way to the head of Pipa Cave Falls, you’ll be rewarded with the ability to hang out and walk around under the overhand. Again, just don’t fall. This is the last main waterfall, so enjoy. When you’re ready, keep moving up; you’re almost at the fun rope/log ladder or what’s left of it. When a hiker was badly injured, the ladder was deemed a safety hazard and has since been replaced with some gaudy metal stairs. They did leave a small section of the ladder in place though, so you can imagine what the whole thing would have been like previously. Honestly, they were probably right about the safety hazard, but that doesn’t make the metal stairs any less boring.

Soon the trail spits you out onto an actual path. (From this point onward, everything becomes less scenic and more dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised if most people turn back instead of continuing on to Dahua Station.) There are two options. To exit the trail, follow signs for Dahua Station. To check out the actual head of Pipa Cave Falls, go the other direction. It’s a good spot for another swim and not too far out of the way. Still being chased by the sound of female voices, we continued on to Dahua Station.



The path soon turns into a road, but you don’t stay on this very long. After five minutes, you’ll see a trail that takes you back into the woods. Take it and stay on it until you come to Xinliao Village. Here, the path turns back into a road and you want to go left at the fork. Soon, you’ll arrive at a large, ornate gate that’s guarding the entrance to an abandoned car park. Next to the gate, there are some stairs. Take them. This five minute detour leads down to a small abandoned shrine, overlooking the fourth and final waterfall of the trail. It’s small, but pretty.



Make your way back up the stairs and into the carpark. There’s an abandoned ticket office with a set of stairs next to it. The stairs are the entrance to the last and most dangerous part of the trail, which mostly consists of overgrown, loose steps that are incredibly slippery and just want to kill people. When possible, walk on the mud, leaves, anything but the actual steps and you might make it out alive.

Assuming you don’t die, the trail is almost over. Cross the red pedestrian bridge straddling the Keelung River and soon you’ll find yourself back on the train tracks. Follow these to Dahua Station. From here, catch a train to Shifen or begin the journey back to Taipei.



Total, the trail takes almost four hours to complete (not including swimming time). Bring food, small towels and a camera. There are no restrooms on this hike, so use them at Sandiaoling Station. An upside, though, is that most of this hike is in the woods, so you don’t have to worry about turning into a piece of bacon as you would on other more exposed hikes.

Getting Around

From Taipei Main Station, hop a train bound for Sandiaoling Station. As soon as you disembark, you’ll see signs for the trail. Follow them. As you exit the station, there are some overgrown, forgotten buildings next to the path that you can explore. Further down, the trail follows the railroad tracks to the town of Sandiaoling. These are active tracks, so keep your ears open and camera ready.



Follow the tracks until you pass an old white-washed school. Here, cross the tracks and follow the steps up. This is the trail head and there is a sign/map posted next to the tracks. On weekends, locals will be set up with food and drink stands. They may or may not be there on weekdays.



To get home, catch a train at either Dahua or Shifen to Ruifang. At Ruifang Station, get off and transfer to a train bound for Taipei. On weekends, you’ll probably have to make this trip standing up, so it’s best to wait for an express train. This way you’ll only be on your feet for thirty minutes versus an hour on the local train.

Day Trip: Houtong and Jiufen

Cats, tunnels, trains, cute shops and ginger tea are just some of the amazing things to experience on this day trip from Taipei. It is, also, very cheap. The train tickets cost next to nothing and visiting Houtong is absolutely free. The main thing you’ll need money for is shopping at Jiufen.

It’s all right to get a later start to the day, but try to be at Taipei Main Station by eleven in the morning. Also, do not attempt this trip on a weekend. Everything, including the train, will be far too crowded. This trip is best done on a lazy week day. At Taipei Main Station simply get in line for a regular rail ticket to Houtong. The trains run often and will not be crowded on a weekday so there’s no need to book tickets in advance. Try to get window seats if you can. Once the train gets into the mountains, it's a beautiful ride.

Very shortly, you’ll arrive at Houtong station. It doesn’t look like much, but don’t let that fool you. You should be able to see pictures of cats on the buildings below. Hop off the train and kill about an hour in the little town. Houtong is an old mining town that was abandoned when the industry went under. In order to attract a new tourist market and do the world some good, the town has become a safe haven for stray cats. Caregivers feed, fix and keep the local cats in general good health. Essentially, it’s a great place for some kitty cuddles.

After exploring Houtong, head back to the station and purchase a ticket to Ruifang station. It’s a very short trip away, one or two stops. Disembark here and take a few minutes of personal time. Ruifang is a sizable town. Take advantage of that to freshen up and grab something to eat. Once your refreshed, grab a taxi up to Jiufen. There’s a taxi cue right outside the train station with recommended prices listed so you know you are not getting over charged.

Like the train ride, the ride up to Jiufen is beautiful. You’ll see fantastic views of the Taiwanese northern coast as well as some mountain temples. It’s a relatively short ride up to Jiufen and the taxi driver will drop you off at the bottom of the town next to a giant, stunning and colorful temple. From here, just walk up.

Jiufen means nine families. In it’s early days, Jiufen was a gold mining town made up of nine original households. Now, it’s a tourist hot spot and for good reason. It’s adorable. Built into the mountain, the shops and storefronts meander up and down in a very picturesque setting. The town is one of the few remaining examples of Japanese architecture that wasn’t destroyed and then rebuilt by Chiang Kai-shek. Personally, I think it feels like the movie Spirited Away. Supposedly, Jiufen provided the idea behind the setting for the movie and you’ll understand why when you see all the shops, tunnels, lanterns and food.

As you walk up and down the paths be sure to try the local food. There’s beef noodle soup, stinky tofu, steam buns, pork kebabs, ice cream rolls and much more. The best beef noodle place is right at the entrance to the old street. It’s very cheap and full of healing Chinese medicine. Jiufen is, also, a great place buy plum wine and ginger tea. Be sure to try some samples as you pass by. If you decide that you like it, pretend that you don’t and haggle a little bit with price. I’m sure they’ll give you a special discount. Like other touristy places, Jiufen is an excellent place to find cute postcards, luggage tags and other trinkets that you may want to send home to family members or keep for yourself.

Keep walking up the main path, at the top of the hill there’s an excellent view of the coast and a tea house that’s worth trying. The tea house has an outside balcony with an incredible view of the lanterns. There are even a few tunnels along the path to the top. Check them out and explore. They’re neat and often lead to some unexpected surprise, such as a tea house or view of the coast line.

After two or so hours of exploring, your feet will be ready to head back to Taipei. There are two main ways back to Taipei from Jiufen: bus and taxi. I personally recommend the taxi. A good driver will stop to let you take pictures on the way down and give you the ride of your life on the mountain roads. They may even stop and get you something to eat in Ruifang. Also, split between five or six people, it doesn’t cost that much. To line up for either the taxi or the bus, walk back to the bottom of the hill. The line is one street above the temple where were you first dropped off. Don’t worry, it’s easy to find.

In fact, if you just want to visit Jiufen, skip the train completely and just take bus 1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station at exit one. There’s no need to buy a ticket. You can use your EZ pass to hop on and off whenever you like. The ride is much shorter and more comfortable than the train. It might cost a bit more up front, but you’ll actually save some money since you won’t need to get a taxi from the station. The bus will take you straight to Jiufen.

If you decide to just do a day trip to Jiufen, spice it up by hiking the short path beside the town. The entrance to the path is at the bottom of the hill, a short walk up from the entrance to Jiufen Old Street. There are two ways up the path. The first goes straight up as a serious of never-ending steps. The second is a bit longer as it winds around the hill on its way to the top. Take that one. It’ll save you time since you won’t have to stop and catch you breadth as often. The view from the top is amazing. It’s about an hour up the hill. Time things appropriately and see if you can catch the sunset.

Getting Around

If you're looking to fit in as many attractions as possible in one day, Jiufen is an excellent place to start. It's a great jump off point for other destinations, such as The Golden Waterfall, Longdong Bay, Shifen, and Yehliu. To hit all of these in one day, you'll either need to do some taxing or join up with a tour: https://www.rtaiwanr.com/jiufen/jiufen-custom-shared-tour

Round Taiwan Round, a Lonely Planet partner, offers regular customizable day trips to the area, letting travelers visit up to six destinations in one day. It's definitely an affordable touring option for internationals looking to make the most of their time in Taiwan. When you book a tour, enter: KiddAsia for a five percent discount. #Tripool #WeRoamLikeThis #RoundTaiwanRound