New Taipei City Travel

Compared to the Xinzhuang and Wanhua districts, the Zhonghe district is considered an area which was developed much later; however, each area has its own past and its own story. If you slow down, you will realize that Zhonghe’s historical sites are very close to our lives. Visit traces of history hidden in the parks, discover the past and present of Zhonghe district, and then visit the temples toward the mountains to pray for future peace.Located in Zijiang Park, the Mizuho Pond is a municipal monument with a rectangular-shaped main building which is supported by Tuscan columns. Completed in 1929, it is part of the Banqiao waterway system, connecting the development of the Banqiao and Shuanghe areas, and greatly improving the water quality in the Banqiao area, making it an important historical landmark in the modernization of Taiwan’s sewage systems. The Yuanshan Park, which was expanded in 2018, has a long slide, a grass skating field, a zip line, and various other facilities, making it a great place for families to visit. On top of that, there is also a municipal monument: The remnants of the Haishan Shrine. This shrine was built in 1938, when the Japanification policy was implemented in Taiwan. At present, there are remains of stone walls, stone stairs, torii gates, and air-raid shelters at the Haishan Shrine, which are worth exploring when visiting the park.The Yuantong Temple was built in 1927, and is an architectural mix of traditional Taiwanese, Japanese and Western styles. It is one of the famous temples of the Caodong school in the north of Taiwan, which was featured in the classic movies “Brother Liu and Brother Wang on the Roads in Taiwan” and “The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.” Behind the temple are several hiking trails connecting various different hiking routes in the Zhonghe area.。Huaxin Street is the most diverse street in Taiwan when it comes to Southern cuisine; it is home to many descendants of soldiers and residents who moved from Yunnan to Myanmar and Thailand for retirement, so almost all restaurants on Huaxin Street offer Burmese, Yunnan and Thai food, such as shredded baba, coconut chicken, noodles in fish soup, curry chicken, spicy pho, shredded chicken noodles, and pea fritters. Many signboards are even written in Burmese, and the staff of these restaurants speak it as well!Xingnan Road crosses National Highway No.3 with two side roads, one leading to the White Horse Temple, which is dedicated to Shakyamuni. The name of the White Horse Temple is derived from the first temple built after Buddhism was introduced in China, the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, which is a temple practicing Pure Land Buddhism.The other road, which goes uphill, leads to the Hongludi Nanshan Fude Temple. This local temple, which is more crowded at night than during the day, is without a doubt the most popular temple of the God of Wealth in northern Taiwan. From the temple, you can look down at the million-dollar night view, and plan out your future self!

If you don’t want to spend the weekend cooped up at home swiping mobile phones with the kids, come and take a stroll around Yingge! Here’s a fun-filled itinerary for the whole family – start the glorious morning by heading into the hills for the relatively short “Yingge Rock Trail.” As you and your children make your way up the gently sloping stairs, you pass through a relaxing forest and will arrive at Yingge Rock before you know it! According to legend, Koxinga was leading his troops through the region when they were blocked by poisonous miasma. A soldier was also eaten as well. Koxinga ordered his cannons to blow away the neck of Yingge Rock and the miasma was finally dispelled. Yingge Rock is the most famous local sight and gave its name to the town. Climbing a mountain makes people hungry so the next stop is “Yingge Old Street” to check out the specialty ceramic stores and enjoy the local delicacies. We now come to the highlight of the day – “The Shu’s Pottery.” Here you and the kids can try your hand at pottery and DIY ceramics. The experience not only improves children’s hand-eye coordination but also strengthens family bonds. If you still have the energy, go for an evening bicycle ride to admire the sunset at “Sanying Longyao Bridge.” As the night falls, the light sculpture on the bridge comes on and creates a magical atmosphere. The giant clay models scattered throughout the grounds of “SanYing Waterfront” offer a perfect place to take snapshots of precious family time together.