Taipei 2019: Itinerary and Expenses

Here's our itinerary and expenses for our 5-day break in Taipei.

The bulk of my budget was spent on food. Just like my trip in 2014. I agree with friends that Taipei is a great place for a food trip! I hope to go back again in the future for a few days of stuffing my self and peppering it with some sightseeing.

'Til then, Taipei!

Taipei 2019
Taipei Accommodation: Haozhan Hotel
Taoyuan Airport MRT

Taipei Foodtrip
Taipei Nature Trip: Yangmingshan National Park and Yehliu Geopark

Visiting Old Streets of Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen, and Jiufen
Klook Activities for Taipei: Maokong Gondola, Taipei Guided Walking Tour

Taiwanese Snacks I Love

Taipei 2019: Itinerary and Expenses (you're here!)

Visiting Old Streets of Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen, and Jiufen

We spent a day station hopping the Pingxi Line.

From Taipei Main Station, we took the train to Ruifang Station, then transferred to the Pingxi Line. There are eight stations along the Pingxi Line and while rolling along the tracks, we'd decide where to alight, then we'd change our mind. In the end, we decided we'd get off at the end of the line: Jingtong Station. Most of the passengers got off at Shifen Station, and by the time we reached Jingtong Station, there were probably just a dozen of us.

Jingtong Station

Surrounding Jingtong Station were shops selling souvenirs and snacks. But only a few shops were open. It was a very quiet place with only a few tourists. Maybe because it was raining, or maybe because it was too early.

Jingtong Old Street

The old street spilled out on the highway, where on the right we saw a lantern-shaped police station.

Lantern-shaped police station

Jingtong Old Street is just around 200 meters long. There wasn't much else to do except to check out the tracks (once the train had left), the old building across the tracks, and the dozens of wishes written on bamboo hanging along the fence.

We could have waited for the train to come back, but I persuaded my friends to walk to the next station: Pingxi Station. It was only a 20-minute walk along the road that ran parallel to the tracks. There were a few houses here and there, and lots of vegetation in between. In short, there really wasn't much to see.

In terms of buildings, there were way more in Pingxi than in Jingtong. And yes, more shops. And a few more tourists. My friends saw a shop selling lanterns and they decided they'd buy and fly one. (This is an activity popular in Shifen, so if you'd like to fly one, best to do it Pingxi where there are fewer tourists.) Tightwad that I am, I volunteered to be their photographer.

Spot the cat

Train tracks running through Pingxi

Write your wish on a lantern and let it fly

We did not get to explore the little alleys of Pingxi because soon the train rolled along. We didn't want to miss it and wait for the next one. Our next stop, Shifen Station, was too far to walk from Pingxi.

Shifen, too, had souvenir shops, and food stalls. Plus restaurants, cafes. And it was crowded. Very, very crowded. After the less-crowded visits to Jingtong and Pingxi, we were overwhelmed by the number of tourists here and had to escape by ducking inside a coffee shop.

Shifen, a popular place to fly lanterns is also known for its waterfall. Shifen Waterfall was just nearby. By nearby, I meant a 20-minute walk. But I guess my friends have had enough of 20-minute walks for the day: they wanted to take a taxi (100 NTD per taxi, 4 passengers).

From where the taxi dropped us off, it was only about a 10-minute walk over bridges and along an established concrete path to the waterfall. Because it was raining (and had been raining the past few days), Shifen Waterfall was gushing a gazillions gallons per second. The spray was too much at the viewing deck which caused us to scurry away after a few quick clicks of our cameras.

Shifen Waterfall

Guanpu Suspension Bridge

We made our way back to where the taxi dropped us off. Our watch warned us we only had a few minutes until the next train. (The plan was take the train to Ruifang Station, then from Ruifang, take the bus to Jiufen.) But, there was no taxi in sight. By the time we found a taxi, the train had already left, and we decided to just pay the taxi to take us straight to Jiufen (1000 NTD per taxi, 4 passengers).

The taxi driver dropped us off at a little square with large letters spelling Jiufen and he pointed to a set of stairs as a way of telling us to go and climb it. The stairs led to an area alight with lanterns (it was almost dusk) and teeming with people. Jiufen is another popular tourist destination and it, too, had many tourists.

Jiufen

We left a gaggle of raincoat-wearing tourists on the square and followed another crowd up the stairs where we passed by some shops. The stairs led to Jishan Street, a street full of souvenir shops, craft shops, tea shops, food stalls, etc. A familiar sight—my sister and I had been in this area of Jiufen in 2014.

The rest of the evening was spent popping in and out of shops, looking at bits and bobs, until we got tired and hungry. We looked for a random restaurant to have our dinner before heading to the bus stop to take Bus 1062 back to Taipei City (fare is 101 NTD).

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.

Taipei 2019
Taipei Accommodation: Haozhan Hotel
Taoyuan Airport MRT

Taipei Foodtrip

Taipei Nature Trip: Yangmingshan National Park and Yehliu Geopark
Visiting Old Streets of Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen, and Jiufen (you're here!)

Klook Activities for Taipei: Maokong Gondola, Taipei Guided Walking Tour
Taiwanese Snacks I Love
Taipei 2019: Itinerary and Expenses

Taipei Nature Trip: Yangmingshan National Park and Yehliu Geopark

For those wanting to immerse in nature, there are nature spots within an hour and a half of Taipei City.

Yangmingshan National Park

Yangmingshan National Park is 113 square kilometers in area and there are many scenic spots: Yangmingshuwu (used by Chiang Kai Shek as a summer house), Xiaoyoukeng (trail to see fumaroles and volcanic cones), Erziping (flat trail around three ponds), Zhuzihu (farming village with a field of calla lilies), Datun Nature Park, Lengshuikeng (an area with a hot spring, a hot spring foot bath, and some hiking trails), Qingtiangang (grassland) among others.

We ended up just sightseeing in two areas of the park: Qingtiangang and Lengshuikeng. I had planned for us to hike from Qingtiangang to Lengshuikeng, but the trail was closed—to the relief of my non-hiking companions. The undulating grassy view of Qingtiangang was a pretty sight, but it was all be could do: look. There was not much else to do at Qingtiangang so we just took the next bus to Lengshuikeng. At Lengshuikeng, there was a public hot spring bath (none of us dared go naked), a hot spring foot bath (I tried it, it was not too hot), a trail up the mountain (I went up a little ways to check out the view, but did not continue on to the peak since my companions sat it out and were waiting at the trail head), and Jingshan Suspension Bridge (which leads to Qingtiangang).

Directions: There are many ways to get to Yangmingshan National Park, it depends on where you want to go. We wanted to go the grasslands of Qingtiangang so we went to Jiantan Station, and from there took Minibus S15 to Yangmingshan National Park. The last stop of Minibus S15 is Qingtiangang. To get around the park, you can take Shuttle 108 (15 NTD per ride, or buy a one-day pass for 60 NTD).

Tip: For bus information, visit the Taipei eBus website.

Qingtiangang

Hot spring foot bath at Lengshuikeng

Hiking trail

View of the hot spring bath and the main road from the hiking trail

Jingshan Suspension Bridge

Yehliu Geopark
Open daily 8AM to 5PM
Admission fee 80 NTD

For seaside scenery and interesting rock formations, spend some time at Yehliu Geopark, just an hour and a half bus ride from Taipei City.

Yehliu Geopark is about 1.7 kilometers in length. Weather and erosion has shaped the rocks in Yehliu to look like a queen's head, mushrooms, candles, honeycomb, ice cream, tofu, and even a shoe. The park has pathways and observation decks, but there are some areas where visitors can get close to the rock formations.

Yehliu is a famous tourist spot and some portions can get crowded, especially at the queen’s head rock, a rock formation almost everyone wants to take a photo of. Most visitors spend their time in the areas where the mushroom rocks (including the queen’s head) are and don’t bother to go further north. There are more rock formations in the northern portion of the park, but the formations can only be viewed from afar. 

Directions: At Kuo Kuang Bus Terminal 野柳地質公園 (near Taipei Main Station), take Bus 1815 to Yehliu (98 NTD, 90 minutes).

Tip: For bus information, visit the Taipei eBus website.

Mushroom

Yehliu Geopark

Tofu rocks partially submerged

Seascape

Elephant Mountain

Elephant Mountain is in the Xinyi District of Taipei City. There is a trail (tons of stairs) that can be climbed in just 20 minutes (or so they say). The reward at the top of Elephant Mountain is a view of Taipei (and Taipei 101). 

I wanted to add this to our itinerary. But, as I mentioned, my companions weren't into hiking. They'd probably kill me if I made them hike up a mountain, stairs or no stairs.

Directions: Take the MRT to Xiangshan Station, then take exit 2. Follow the path along Xiangshan Park. At the end of the road, take a left and follow the road until you reach the trail head (stairs!) on your left.

Taipei 2019
Taipei Accommodation: Haozhan Hotel
Taoyuan Airport MRT

Taipei Foodtrip
Taipei Nature Trip: Yangmingshan National Park and Yehliu Geopark (you're here!)
Visiting Old Streets of Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen, and Jiufen
Klook Activities for Taipei: Maokong Gondola, Taipei Guided Walking Tour
Taiwanese Snacks I Love
Taipei 2019: Itinerary and Expenses

House Visits: Shilin Main Presidential Residence and Lin Family Mansion and Garden

The Shilin Main Presidential Residence

No. 60 Fulin Road, Shilin District, Taipei City

Tuesday to Sunday 930AM to 12NN and 1PM to 5PM

Admission Fee NT$100 (about Php150)

English audio guide available (ID required)

No picture taking inside the house

 

The Shilin Main Presidential Residence (left) and Chiang Kai–Shek's car (right)

Chiang Kai–Shek lived in this house for 26 years, starting in 1950. Not the entire house is open to the public, but the areas open to the public, like the living rooms, banquet hall, dens, studies, bedrooms, with the help of the audio guide, provide insight into the life and work of Chiang Kai–Shek and his wife. 

I found the tour interesting (did you know that Chiang Kai–Shek was Christian? and that his wife liked to read English books and liked to paint?) and would recommend a visit to this house (don't forget to borrow the audio guide).

Directions to the Shilin Main Presidential Residence: Take the Tamsui–Xinyi (Red) Line to Shilin Station, Exit 2. The Shilin Main Presidential Residence is about 10 minutes by foot from Shilin Station (see map below).

Lin Family Mansion and Garden

No.9, Ximen St., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei City

Daily 9AM to 5PM

(Closed every first Monday of the month, Chinese New Year's Eve, and Chinese New Year's Day)

Free admission

English guided tours must be booked a week in advance.

The main house was closed for repair work during my visit and visitors were only allowed in the garden...which was quite big and maze–like. The large garden with its halls, pavilions, studies, ponds, walls with windows of different shapes, and engravings on wood, stone, brick, bombarded my senses. It was unfortunate that I was not able to book an English tour in advance and had to look at all these details with a big question mark on my forehead.

Visit the Lin Family Mansion if you are interested in history and architecture as the Lin Family Mansion is "one of the finest examples of Qing period houses" (according to a brochure I read) in Taiwan. Be sure to book their English guided tour a week in advance.

Directions to Lin Family Mansion and Garden: Take any of these buses: 264 / 701 / 702 / 1073 and get off at Lin Family Mansion and Garden. OR take the Bannan (Blue) Line to Fuzhong Station, Exit 1. Lin Family Mansion and Garden is about 8 minutes by foot from Fuzhong Station (see map below).

Taiwan Series:
Tourist Visa for Taiwan
Taiwan Preparations
What's in a (Business) Name? Taiwan
Wisdom from the Road #20
Welcome to Taiwan
Taipei Accommodation: Fun Taipei Backpackers
Free Taipei Tourist Stops
Jiufen
Wisdom from the Road #21
Taipei: An Artist's Playground
House Visits: Shilin Main Presidential Residence and Lin Family Mansion and Garden (you're here!)
Life in Mini
Time to Count My Money, Taiwan
Tasting Taipei, Starting with Breakfast
Tasting Taipei, Splurge Section
Tasting Taipei, Shilin Market
Tasting Taipei, Random Food Finds

Jiufen

Jiufen is a small town on the mountains northeast of Taipei City. It is in the district of Ruifang, which is a part of New Taipei City (different from Taipei City) and is just 45 minutes to an hour from Taipei City.

How to go to Jiufen
(from Taipei City)

By Bus. From Zhongxiao Fuxing Station take Exit 1. Take bus route 1062 (Keelung Bus) to Jiufen. The ride is about an hour and the fare is about NT$100.

By Train and Bus. Go to the railway station near Taipei Main Station and take the train north to Ruifang Station. The train ride will take about an hour and will cost around NT$50. After exiting the Ruifang Station, cross the street to the bus stop next to the Wellcome Supermarket and board the Keelung Transit bus towards Jiufen. The bus ride will take about 15 minutes and will cost around NT$20.

By Taxi. Outside Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, where the bus stop for Keelung Bus route 1062 is, there will be taxis looking for passengers headed to Jiufen. They will charge NT$250 per person (if the taxi can accommodate five passengers, like a Sedan Wagon, try to haggle to NT$200). The taxi will be shared with other people. The drive will take about 45 minutes to an hour.

What to do in Jiufen

Blend in with the crowd in Jishan Street (aka Jiufen Old Street).

 

 Check out the different shops and try the local snacks.

 Clockwise from top left: sausages, pancake ice cream sandwiches,

grilled snails, and peanut ice cream rolls. 

(I regret not trying the snails.)

Explore more of the town.

There are many alleys waiting to be discovered.

There are many teahouses in Jiufen.

Select one and have a drink.

 We parked ourselves in Siidcha, which had a view of the Pacific Ocean and the sunset.

A minimum spend per person is required and drinks are quite expensive.

My toffee black milk tea cost me NT$180 (about Php 270).
If you plan to buy Siidcha tea products, ask if they can let you have a taste.
They let us have samples in mini paper cups that were slightly bigger than a thimble.
Their Matcha Green Milk Tea and Almond Oatmeal were really good.

Relax.

Wait for the sunset.

Enjoy the view.

Taiwan Series:
Tourist Visa for Taiwan
Taiwan Preparations
What's in a (Business) Name? Taiwan
Wisdom from the Road #20
Welcome to Taiwan
Taipei Accommodation: Fun Taipei Backpackers
Free Taipei Tourist Stops
Jiufen (you're here!)
Wisdom from the Road #21
An Artist's Playground
House Visits: Shilin Main Presidential Residence and Lin Family Mansion and Garden
Life in Mini
Time to Count My Money, Taiwan
Tasting Taipei, Starting with Breakfast
Tasting Taipei, Splurge Section
Tasting Taipei, Shilin Market
Tasting Taipei, Random Food Finds