New Taipei City Travel

Rumor has it that the name “Canguangliao” (“canguang” means shining light in Chinese) comes from the scenery when mountains, full of yellowish and white silver grass in fall, give spectacular light rays formed under the sun beams, making Canguangliao Historic Trail a “golden shining” scenic route! From Mudan Train station, take a bus to Shisanceng Old Tree Stop and walk for 10 minutes, and you will arrive at “Canguangliao Historic Trail Entrance”. Along the Trail, visitors will pass by the historic site of Jinguashi Water Pumping Station, small waterfalls, historic site of old grocery store, Jinshan Fude Temple, and more, and they will ultimately arrive at Shumeiping Observation Deck. The total distance is nearly 5km with a walking time of approximately 3 hours; the level portions of the Trail are constructed with stairs of relatively lower difficulty level for walking. Moreover, Canguangliao Mountain is the highest amongst Keelung Volcano Group, so visitors can even look over to Taipei City and Northeast Coast when there is nice weather with an expansive view. After exiting the Trail, follow County Route 102 to Jinguashi Geological Park, where was previously Benshan Mine. Visitors here will have the opportunity to observe traces of the most original mining sights. Then continue traveling to the nearby Jinguashi Shinto Shrine, which was built during the period of Japanese rule in response to the mining development. Even though it is all abandoned now, visitors can still have a glimpse of the sacred and solemn ambiance from the remains of the historic site. If you are interested in having more in-depth experiences of Jinguashi’s golden age, you can continue walking down to the Gold Museum, which is a museum campus transformed from the gold mining areas in the old days. Activities here will include learning about the mining history, the gold culture, and experiencing gold panning; spending a whole afternoon here will be no problem at all. At the end of the journey, visitors will connect to Jiufen Old Street, where they are recommended to order a bowl of cold or hot taro balls or to find a tea place and enjoy a cup of good tea, taking some time to savor this “golden” journey as they take a rest.

“Interested in lighting sky lanterns for blessings, and feeling the refreshment and magnificence from the largest waterfall in Taiwan?” The well known “New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival”recommended by Discovery and CNN as a must go, along with the “Shifen Waterfall” reputed as the Niagara Fall of Taiwan are all in this travel route. Beginning from “MRT Mucha” station, visit “Shifen Old Street” first to launch traditional sky lanterns and experience a unique train passing in front of doorsteps railway feature; then walk towards “Shifen Waterfall Area”to enjoy the magnificent beauty of the largest waterfall in Taiwan. Then return to Shifen tourist center and take a ride to “Pingxi Old Street” in search of scenes from the movie You’re the Apple of My Eye and savor a local Taiwanese snack “sausage in sticky rice”; then turn towards “Jingtong Railway Station”to visit the mine museum and try old school “miner’s bento”; finally, arrive at the “Sky Lantern Police Station” to launch a unique, customized “Police Wishing Lantern”, and appreciate the 9 meter tall glass curtain in the shape of a sky lantern with special light shows comprised of nearly 200 thousand LED lights, bringing the small, heartfelt one day trip to an end.