New Taipei City Travel

Tamsui, one of the earliest international commercial ports in Taiwan, has rich cultural assets and scenic oceans and mountains, making a well-known tourist attraction in Northern Taiwan. Tamsui, which opened its port to merchants and trade in 1860, was the main center of trade for Taiwan and the rest of the world, and it contributed to many important changes in Taiwanese society. The first girl’s school, Tamsui Girls’ School, was founded in Zhenli Street, which is located in today’s Tamsui. Communities such as the New Taipei City Government, Tamsui Traveler, and New Taipei City Community Traveling and Learning Care Association collaborated on Tamsui Women’s Road. It aims to discover local stories of female power and connect with historical sites of feminine significance. Let’s put on our hanfu and discover Her Story in Tamsui.The House of Maidens and the House of ReverendsThe House of Maidens and the House of Reverends were built by Rev. William Gauld in 1906 and 1909 respectively. The House of The House of Maidens and the House of Reverends were built by Rev. William Gauld in 1906 and 1909 respectively. The House of Maidens was originally provided as a residence for Ms. Jane Kinney, the headmaster of Tamsui Girls’ School, and Ms. Hannah Connell, the headmaster of Tamsui Women’s School, and is currently the Office of the President of Aletheia University. The House of Reverends was the residence of Rev. William Gauld; its piano studio became a smash hit after it was featured in the extremely popular movie Secret (2007), and is now the Research and Development Center of Aletheia University. The appearance of the two Houses is similar to that of the British consulate residence situated not far away; all of them are red brick buildings containing a cloister. What differentiates the two houses from the British consulate residence is that the exterior wall decoration is much simpler than that of the official residence. Rev. Mackay and his wife Chang Tsung-mingChang Tsung-ming, who was originally named Tsung-tsai, grew up in Wugu District in New Taipei City. After marrying Rev. Mackay in the former British Consulate in Tamsui in 1878, she studied hard, becoming an English-proficient teacher in the Women’s School, which made Chang a woman ahead of her time. Chang and Rev. Mackay also helped many Taiwanese women fettered by tradition, and they played important roles in the history of women’s education in Taiwan. Tamsui Women’s Road will vividly show you Chang Tsung-ming’s journey in Mackay Memorial Museum in the form of a street play.At the end of 1879, Chang Tsung-ming and Rev. Mackay started their journey back to Canada, passing through Xiamen, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India, until they arrived in the Middle East. They visited the pyramids in Egypt, and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. From there, they passed through Alexandria and arrived in Italy, where they visited the ruins of Pompeii, Rome and Vatican City. Then, they went to Paris and England, and finally arrived in Canada. After accompanying Rev. Mackay to finish his duties and fundraising in Canada, they flew through the US and Japan, and came back to Taiwan. This experience also made Chang Tsung-ming the first Taiwanese woman who traveled around the world.The Tamsui Girls’ SchoolAfter Rev. Mackay returned to Taiwan from Canada, he established the Tamsui Girls’ School in 1884 – the first women's school and the origin of women's education in Taiwan. The women's school has nurtured many outstanding women: the first female physician in Taiwan, Dr. Tsai Ashin (The heroine of the TV series A Cinematic Journey - the prototype of Qiu Yaxin) and the writer Wang Li Ruyue all graduated from Tamsui Girls’ School. In addition, in order to help educate married and adult women, Rev. Mackay established a women's school, which can be called the first “Classroom for Moms" in Taiwan.A-geiA-gei is a well-known snack in Tamsui. Just like Yonghe soy milk, when we think of A-gei, we think of Tamsui. The inventor of this famous snack was Ms. Yang Zheng Jinwen, who ran a snack stand with her husband, Yang Shugen. In 1965, she developed a new dish, for which she cut upoiled tofu, filled it with pork noodles, and sealed it with fresh fish paste. This dish became the symbol of Tamsui’s delicious cuisine, A-gei. The word “A-gei” originated from the Japanese word for oily tofu, "Abura-age." To the foreigners’ surprise, the packaging for takeaway A-gei was initially wrapped in newspapers to withstand the wet and cold weather in Tamsui during winter.Handmade thread-bound booksThe old name of Chongjian Street is Nine Valley Street, which refers to the nine stores that first opened here, making it the one and only Tamsui Old Street. Before the development of the shopping district in Tamsui’s Zhongzheng Road, Tamsui Old Street was the busiest place in Tamsui, with some of the old houses leading up into the hills still standing today. In the age of the Internet, where information is abundant, this place returned to the time of original paper books, bound one stitch at a time, carefully creating a world of books.The line “The beauty of Guanyin Mountain enters my view, a reflected painting of the morning sun” is from a poem by a female poet from Tamsui, Wang Li Ruyue. As you walk down Chongjian Street toward the MRT station, you can see Guanyin Mountain and the Samsui river in front of you, and experience the same feelings this poet felt. Tamsui, when looking from a female perspective, is the cradle of women’s education in Taiwan, which has fostered countless outstanding women before us. The first step from Tamsui then became a big step in the social change of Taiwan.

As night falls, light and shadow events across New Taipei take turns lighting up the city. The Christmasland lights, Pingxi sky lanterns, Jiufen red lanterns, North Coast fire dance, and Bitan water show transform the metropolitan area, mountain towns, and waterfront into stages of light and shadow, making New Taipei's nights incredibly dazzling and boosting nighttime vitality and economy. Christmasland In New Taipei CityChristmasland In The New Taipei, held since 2011, is a winter celebration in Banqiao District. Every year in mid-November, the main light is lit in the New Taipei City Plaza, illuminating the damp winter nights and announcing the lively start of the month-and-a-half-long Christmasland. The Christmasland light zones cover the seven overpasses and four major pedestrian walkways in the Xinban Special District, the square in front of Banqiao Station, Wanping Park, and extend to Fuzhong Square. 2025 Christmasland In New Taipei City grandly opened on November 14th with the theme "Circus Carnival," collaborating with LINE FRIENDS to create a fantastic spectacle of light. In addition to the light projection show on the City Hall building every evening, there are also exciting activities taking place every weekend during the Christmasland period, such as the German Christmas Market, Christmas Relay, The Greatest Show, and Band Carnival. Put on your Christmas outfit, take public transportation to Banqiao, and spend Christmas time under the romantic sea of lights with family and friends.Pingxi Sky Lantern FestivalOn the Lantern Festival night, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year, hundreds of sky lanterns carrying wishes illuminate the night sky of Pingxi. The Pingxi Sky Lantern, transforming from a signal to report safety in the past, has become the most iconic Lantern Festival event in Northern Taiwan, ranking alongside the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks in Tainan as "Northern Lanterns, Southern Fireworks." Pingxi is surrounded by mountains and has a humid climate, making it the only area in Taiwan where sky lanterns can be legally released, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. Since its inception in 1999, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has repeatedly won international design awards, becoming New Taipei's most famous festival brand, and illuminating the wishes and dreams of countless people.Jiufen Red Lantern FestivalJiufen, which once prospered due to gold mining, is now renowned internationally for its unique mountain town landscape and nostalgic atmosphere. The Jiufen Red Lantern Festival began in 2023, combining the history and humanities of the mountain town, and lighting up the mountain town together with its sister town – Kotohira in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Red Lantern Festival sets up multiple lighting installations at Jiufen landmarks such as Shengping Theater, A-Mei Tea House, and Wufankeng. Change into a Qipao, pick up a lantern, ascend the stone steps, wander through the Jiufen mountain town under the red lanterns, and immerse yourself in the nostalgic and romantic atmosphere. ​​​​​​North Coast Light Festival / Jinshan Sulfuric Fire FishingTaking the Route 2 Taiwan in the height of summer means a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Spend the day enjoying activities, and come to Zhongjiao Bay in Jinshan at night to feel the charm of the North Coast Fashion and Fire! The event takes the surfing sanctuary - Zhongjiao Bay coast - as its stage, combining fire dance and artistic installations to create a perfect visual feast. Stroll through the marine market, savor food truck cuisine, support young farmer products, and spend a wonderful summer night accompanied by the sound of the waves."Boom!" The dark sea surface is instantly lit up. The 'Fire Chief' standing at the bow of the boat lights the torch, and the phototactic fish leap out of the water, fluttering like sea fireflies. Jinshan Sulfuric Fire Fishing, also known as 'scoop boat' fishing, is a century-old traditional fishing method in Jinshan, now transformed into a tourist experience. From May to September every year, visitors can take a yacht from Huanggang to watch the marvelous spectacle of Sulfuric Fire Fishing up close, tour Jinshan Cape and Twin Candlestick Islets along the way, and feel the unique mysterious charm of the night sea.Bitan Water Show and Landscape Installation Exhibition / Hemeishan FirefliesBitan's expansive water area is the best stage for water shows and waterfront landscape installations. The annual Water Show and Landscape Installation Exhibition attract large crowds. The water shows and the light and shadow of the Bitan Suspension Bridge reflect each other beautifully, and the fireworks show illuminates the night sky of Xindian.The 2025 Bitan Landscape Installation Exhibitionwill be displayed from November 1st to December 28th. Japan's popular IP "KAPIBARASAN" and its friends gather at Bitan. Their plump and adorable figures are transformed into large landscape installations, bringing a chill vibe to the Bitan waterfront.Every April and May, Bitan welcomes the firefly breeding season. Walk across the Bitan Suspension Bridge, follow the mountain path on the left side into Hemeishan, where dots of fireflies twinkle on the ground like stars, a natural wonder exclusive to spring.