What visitors recommend
Traveler tips from forum threads, not official advice.
Stay into the evening
Several travelers say it gets much quieter once day-trippers leave and the lanterns come on.
Discussion on r/taiwantravel Not yet verified
Avoid weekends
Commenters say crowds are hard to avoid in the daytime, especially on weekends.
Discussion on r/taiwantravel Not yet verified
A-Mei Tea House
One traveler stayed past 7 pm for the lanterns and recommends the tea house. (Private business; check hours.)
Discussion on r/taiwantravel Not yet verified
Return via Keelung
One traveler took bus 788 to Keelung to skip the queue for the Taipei bus, then visited Miaokou Night Market.
Discussion on r/taiwantravel Not yet verified
Expect clouds
A frequent visitor says it is often rainy or cloudy, so treat a clear view as a bonus.
Discussion on r/taiwantravel Not yet verified
Lesser-known spots
Gold Museum, Jinguashi
Mining history museum one valley over; it's the last stop of shuttle route 965. Admission NT$80; closed the first Monday of each month.
Source: Gold Museum (New Taipei City)
Shengping Theater
A restored 1960s-style cinema inside the old street, a quiet break from the crowds.
Source: New Taipei City Travel
Getting there
From Taipei: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle route 965 (Banqiao/Taipei to Jinguashi via Jiufen), fare by section, cash or EasyCard. Or take a TRA train to Ruifang, then shuttle route 856 (NT$15 per section).
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle is a network of tourist bus routes, a bit like a hop-on hop-off bus, except most routes charge per ride.
Check timetables on the official site first. Schedules and fares change.
Good to know: Streets are steep stone steps and get slippery in rain.
Before you go
- Get a SIM or eSIM that comes with a Taiwan phone number, so text-message codes from local services reach you.
- Top up your EasyCard with cash at convenience stores or MRT stations.
- You can't top up a regular EasyCard with a foreign credit card, so keep some NT$ cash for it.
- You can book TRA tickets online with a foreign card and pick them up with your passport.
- Night markets and small food stalls usually take cash only, so carry small NT$ bills and coins.
Best time
Weekdays. Old street hours listed as 08:00–19:00 Mon–Thu and 08:00–22:00 Fri–Sun; the lanterns are the evening draw. Bring cash for stalls.
Source: New Taipei City Travel
Sources and verified date
Checked 2026-10-20
- Checked Taiwan Tourism Administration
- Checked Gold Museum (New Taipei City)
- Checked New Taipei City Travel
- Checked Taiwan Tourist Shuttle: Jiufen Jinguashi Route (965)
- Checked Taiwan Tourist Shuttle: Gold Fulong Shuttle Bus (856)
Not yet verified
- Reddit comments were read through a search-index snapshot, not opened directly (Reddit blocks our fetchers).
- A-Mei Tea House hours not checked.
- Exact 965 fare in NT$ not stated on the route page (section-based).