New Taipei City Travel

The majestic sight of horses isn't limited to ancient battlefields in films or televised sporting events. In New Taipei City, you can encounter them up close in public spaces! The New Taipei City Mounted Police Unit is the only mounted police unit in northern Taiwan and the largest in the nation. On weekday afternoons, they patrol the Xinban Special District, while on weekends they rotate between popular tourist destinations including Tamsui, Bali, Yingge, and Bitan. These dashing officers and their striking horses create the city's most distinctive scenery, not only maintaining public safety but also serving as a tourist attraction. Visit the New Taipei Mounted Police Unit's training center to get an inside look at the daily routines of both officers and horses, and witness equestrian excellence rarely seen in urban settings. Established in 2003, the New Taipei Mounted Police Unit was Taiwan's first mounted police force. With approximately 40 members operating as a "task force," officers maintain their regular duties and transform into mounted police when called to serve. To join the unit, members must complete 120 hours of specialized training and pass certification by the equestrian association! The New Taipei City Mounted Police Unit's training center is located at Hannover Equestrian Club, which spans an impressive 6,000 ping, making it the nation's largest equestrian facility. Training follows the English equestrian tradition, serving as a vital hub for both professional instruction and equestrian outreach. Horses are trusted partners for mounted officers on duty. Each horse has a name—Midnight Star, Sunny, and others—and like people, possesses a distinct personality. Some are spirited and playful, while others are calm and reserved. Officers must invest time to bond and develop rapport with their mounts. Training incorporates firecracker sounds, umbrellas, and various noises and obstacles to simulate real conditions in tourist areas, ensuring horses remain composed in any environment. Each deployment requires approximately 1.5 hours of preparation before officers can set out on their patrols. The mounted police's professionalism stems from rigorous training and proper equipment. Riding equipment includes saddles, girths, stirrups, spurs, saddle pads, and reins—all essential for mounted operations. On duty, officers also carry firearms and radios. The elevated vantage point from horseback enables them to monitor crowds effectively and maintain urban safety. Mounted police work extends beyond the saddle. Officers must not only ride but also care for their horses. At the club stables, feeding and grooming duties, along with attentive care of these trusted companions, form an integral part of the job. In the farrier's room, horseshoes mounted with openings facing upward symbolize good fortune—serving as the club's lucky charm! Want to meet the mounted police up close and capture memorable photos? The New Taipei Mounted Police Unit patrols the Xinban Special District from 3 PM to 5 PM on weekdays. On weekends and national holidays, they rotate among scenic locations including Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf, Bali Left Bank, Yingge Old Street, and Xindian Bitan, giving residents and visitors the chance to witness these officers in action and enjoy this unique urban spectacle. 👮🐎A reminder from the Mounted Police Unit: You may touch a horse's face or pat its neck. However, keep your hands away from its mouth and avoid walking behind the horse to ensure everyone's safety!

Hop aboard an open-top double-decker bus and take in Route 2 Taiwan from a higher vantage point. Departing from Nangang Station, the bus glides along the brilliant blue North Coast like a slow-moving cruise ship on land. Along the way, you will marvel at the geological wonders of Yehliu in Wanli, browse and shop along Jinshan Old Street, pause for afternoon tea at Fugui Cape in Shimen, strike the perfect shot at the Zhilan Park Ocean Viewing Platform in Sanzhi, and arrive in Tamsui at sunset to admire the striking new landmark, Danjiang Bridge. From start to finish, the flavors of the North Coast unfold alongside the scenery, making this a feast for both the eyes and the palate. The upper deck of the double-decker sightseeing bus features an open-top design, giving passengers an excellent view that takes in the sea and sky of the North Coast. On board, water-mist cooling systems and air-conditioned zones respond flexibly to changing weather, ensuring a comfortable ride. Your onboard guide has deep roots in the North Coast and is well versed in its local history, ecology, and cultural stories, from the story of the little crane at Qingshui Wetland to the traditional Sulfuric Fire Fishing technique and the rise to fame of Yehliu Queen's Head. With photographs accompanying each tale, passengers can enjoy the scenery while gaining a deeper appreciation of this land. Leaving Nangang Station, the bus threads through the Keelung River Valley and passes through Xizhi, where the urban scenery outside the window gradually gives way to open mountains and sea. The coastline shimmers on the right side, drawing gasps from passengers. Following the winding coastal road, the bus arrives at Yehliu, celebrated for its geological landscapes, and enters Yehliu Geopark to view world-class geological wonders up close. After exploring Yehliu Geopark, the route continues to the lively, bustling Jinshan Old Street. Alighting at Jinshan District Office, where three highways converge, you will have time to wander and shop in the largest town on the North Coast, picking up Jinshan's celebrated trio of local produce: sweet potato, taro, and water bamboo, along with the pork bun included in the tour. Passing by Qingshui Wetland, Black Kite raptors wheel overhead while Lotus flowers dot the water, turning the double-decker bus into a kind of migratory-bird train through a thriving ecosystem. The famous Jinshan Wave Road, viewed from the elevated height of the double-decker bus, reveals the rolling lines of the road in even more magnificent form. Hugging Tiaoshi Coast, the bus reaches Fugui Cape, the northernmost point of Taiwan's main island, where afternoon tea awaits at the Jinbaoli Station rest stop. Every sip and bite surprises: Shimen's famous Alibang black tea and a half-baked cheese tart filled with honey sweet potato. The kabayaki eel bento brings together the rich bounty of the North Coast, packing in eel, pork roll, sweet potato, neritic squid, and lotus seed for a complete taste of the coast in one box. As evening approaches, the bus heads to Sanzhi to capture the beautiful scenery of the Zhilan Park Ocean Viewing Platform. Arriving at Danjiang Bridge at sunset, you will have the chance to take a photo with this striking new landmark spanning the mouth of the Tamsui River. With golden light cascading over the water, a stroll along the Tamsui riverbank offers a captivating view where a world-class bridge meets the Tamsui sunset, a fitting end to a day on the North Coast.

In the night of Lantern Festival, sky lanterns slowly fly upward, carrying people’s wishes into the night sky. The beautiful scene can be seen at the most representative festival in New Taipei City. Since 1999, New Taipei City government has held Sky Lantern Festival in Pingxi on Lantern Festival that falls on January 15 of the lunar calendar, and it is the grandest annual festival of the mountain town of Pingxi. For over twenty years, numerous tourists from home and abroad have attended the festival to light up sky lanterns, flying them into the night sky with their dreams and wishes. Multiple Origins of Sky Lanterns “Please help us!” During the Three-Kingdom Period, Zhuge Kongming (Zhuge Liang), the prime minister of Empire of Shu-Han, sent large paper lanterns up to the sky to deliver military messages by following the principle of rise of hot air when he and his soldiers were besieged by the enemy, and they eventually got out of the predicament. This the most well-known origin of the sky lantern, so it is also known as Kongming lantern. Others think the sky lantern gets the name of Kongming lantern because it shapes like the silk ribbon scarf of Kongming. Like Internet and other inventions, the sky lantern originated from military technology. The sky lantern has been considered the originator of the hot-air balloon, and the threshold of humans’ flying dream. The sky lantern first appeared in the battlefield in Europe when Mongolia went on an expedition to the west. Five hundred years later, the first hot-air balloon carrying passengers rose to the sky in Paris. Praying for Blessings at Lantern Festival After sky lanterns go about among people, the release of sky lanterns has become a folk activity for people to pray for blessings. Since ancient times, there has been the custom of releasing sky lanterns at Lantern Festival which is the birthday of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan, and the sky lantern is a medium for people to pray for blessings to the God. Pingxi District, New Taipei City is located at the upper reaches of Keelung River. In the beginning of the 19th century, immigrants from Fujian were harassed by bandits from time to time when they reclaimed Pingxi, and sky lanterns were used as tools to mark themselves safe. In the 1990s, Pingxi started the revival movement for sky lantern culture, attracting tourists to release sky lanterns in the mountain town. The activity has become the most famous one in Pingxi. Moreover, with the help of popular movies, Pingxi sky lanterns have become well-known around the world. Unique Climate and Terrain of Pingxi When it comes to sky lanterns, people think of Pingxi. However, why is Pingxi so closely related to sky lanterns? In accordance with current laws and regulations, Pingxi is the only area in Taiwan where sky lanterns can be released outside. Pingxi is one of the areas in Taiwan with the most rainy days, and it has a relative humidity of over 75% often. Damp environment prevents sky lanterns from wreaking havoc after they fall to the ground. Additionally, Pingxi is surrounded by mountains on four sides, and there is no airport nearby, which ensures that sky lanterns only fly in the mountainous area of Pingxi without disturbing flights, making Pingxi the best location to release sky lanterns. Pingxi District is a district in New Taipei City with least population. It was the settlement of the Ketagalan tribe. In the early 19th century, the Han people reclaimed Pingxi, and it became prosperous because of coal mining in the early 20th century. However, it became quiet again after mining ceased. The Pingxi Railway which was open to traffic in 1921 was once doomed to dismantle. Thanks to the endeavors of local people, the railway has turned into a sightseeing railway. The one-hundred-year Pingxi Railway passes by charming railway towns, such as Shifen, Pingxi and Jingtong, where you can find magnificent Shifen Waterfalls, and secluded stations rarely known to anyone. Light Pingxi tours are promoted every year during Sky Lantern Festival, and local tour guides would lead tourists to explore mining culture and railways, relishing the beauty of the mountain town. New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival New Taipei City government held the first Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in 1999, and this year marks the 26th anniversary of the event. It is the most famous ceremony for Lantern Festival in northern Taiwan. The Sky Lantern Festival enjoys the fame with the beehive fireworks in Yanshui, Tainan as we always say “sky lanterns in the north, and beehive fireworks in the south.” The two festivals have repeatedly been selected the must-see festivals by travel websites. Two sessions of releasing sky lanterns are held each year at Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, which are on the day of Lantern Festival and one weekend before the festival. Quiet a few sky lanterns are allowed to be released each time in each section. When over one hundred sky lanterns are released at the same time, the dreamlike scene brightens up the night sky of the mountain town of Pingxi. 👉Official website of 2024 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival Sky Lantern Festival each year features the Chinese zodiac sign of that year. The main lantern that is up to 20 feet tall presents excellent sky lantern making craftsmanship. One can write on the sky lantern made with rice paper with a Chinese writing brush. After that, you put paper money inside the lantern as fuel to push it up to the sky. Sky Lantern Festival is the most important event in Pingxi District. Residents, public servants, schools and stores will all devote themselves to the grand occasion by participating in performances and planning fairs. To deal with a great number of tourists, New Taipei City government deploys police and firefighters to maintain the safety of participants, enabling them to enjoy the pleasure of releasing sky lanterns. Mountain Cleanup to Protect Environment Sky lanterns carrying blessings and wishes will eventually fall to the ground in the distance after they disappear from sight. To maintain the environment of Pingxi, New Taipei City government holds a mountain cleanup activity and cultural tour after Sky Lantern Festival every year to enable participants to help collect sky lanterns and listen to instructors tirelessly telling stories about Pingxi at the same time.

At night, near the coast of Jinshan District, the only on the dark sea surface is the 4000-watt white fish-attracting lights of a neritic squid-catching boat in the distance, the sound of waves, and the sporadic traffic on Provincial Highway 2. Suddenly, a "boom!" sounded, and the flashing torches illuminated the silent sea surface, and the phototaxis small fishes jumped out of the sea one after another. This unique scenery limited to summer comes from the traditional fishing method unique to Jinshan Huanggang Fishing Harbor - "Jinshan sulfuric fire fishing," the most dazzling conventional fishing method in Taiwan. The sulfuric fire fishing boat is also commonly known locally as the "Hia-A-Tsun." Fishing boats set sail at night, and the captain stands at the ship's bow with a torch to attract phototactic fish species, such as pilchard, to jump out of the water, then catches them with a skimming net. It has been a traditional fishing method in Jinshan for a hundred years and was registered as a cultural asset of New Taipei City in 2015. During its heyday, more than 40 sulfur fire fishing boats were operating in the waters off the northern coast. However, in 2016, the T.S. Lines cargo ship ran aground in Shimen, causing an ecological disaster on the north coast due to the oil spill. The June 2017 flood caused seawater desalination in Jinshan, severely damaging the area's marine ecology for the second time and causing schools of pilchard to leave Jinshan. At one point, only one remaining ship, the Fuji 268, was still in operation. Fortunately, after several years of persistence, some mud carp have returned to the Jinshan coast in the past two years. Also, fishers have transformed the sulfuric fire fishing boat into a tourist experience activity. During the Sulfuric Fire Fishing season, which lasts from May to September every year, they combine fishing village tours with sea fishing to preserve the beauty of traditional fishing methods. The sulfuric fire fishing boat uses a flat-bottomed and flat-headed boat. It has a low speed but has the characteristics of fast turning and high maneuverability. 4-8 people operate the sulfuric fire fishing boat, including the captain and the fire crews. They use a fish finder on the bow to search for fish. The fire crews then use searchlights to identify the fish species. After confirmation, they use a torch to attract the light, attracting pilchard, Japanese anchovy, and other fish to jump out of the water. Also called Tainan sardine, pilchard is used as fish bait or grouper feed after processing. When the fishing conditions are good, a sulfuric fire fishing boat can catch more than 800 baskets of pilchard. The earliest sulfuric fire fishing boat used bamboo torches. After introducing calcium carbide during Japan's rule, fishers changed the ignition system to calcium carbide. Fishers poured water into the calcium carbide barrel to produce acetylene gas and through the filter cylinder to ignite the torch. The ignition produced a "boom" sound, which is the origin of the name of the sulfuric fire fishing boat today. Take a yacht out of Huanggang Fishing Port and enjoy one of Jinshan's eight scenic spots, "Bamboo Peak Mist," while tasting rice noodles with neritic squid. From the sea, enjoy the beautiful coastline of Jinshan and watch the dazzling Jinshan sulfuric fire fishing boat up close after nightfall. The yacht sails out of Huanggang Fishing Port, and what comes into view is the Jinshan Cape deep into the sea and the most famous landmark of Jinshan - the Twin Candlestick Islets. Besides, overlook the Yehliu Scenic Area and enjoy the scenery of the Jinshan coastline. While waiting for the sulfuric fire fishing boat, pick up a fishing rod and experience sea fishing fun. In the waters between Tiaoshi Coast and Yehliu, the sulfuric fire fishing boat used fish finders and searchlights for schools of pilchard at night. The yacht began to turn off the lights. After turning off the lights so as not to affect the sulfuric fire fishing boat's search for schools of fish, the yachts followed the Fuji 268 sulfuric fire fishing boat, everyone in the yacht holding their breath and waiting for the moment when the school of fish jumped out of the water. "Bang!" the gorgeous torches ignited on the sea, illuminating the dark sea of Jinshan. This unique view of the world is undoubtedly a beautiful visual feast. "Yes, here comes fish!" Stimulated by the flames, the school of pilchard jumped out of the water, flashing like fireflies on the sea. The crew members skillfully caught the pilchard with the skimming net, and the passengers on the yacht celebrated with thunderous applause. The fire crew waved his hand handsomely to greet the crowd. The flashing torch in his hand is not only a tool for fishing but also carries a sense of mission to continue the tradition and pass on the unique traditional fishing method of Jinshan.