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.

When stepping out of an air-conditioned room on scorching summer days, the oppressive atmosphere within the concrete jungle can induce fatigue due to global warming and the increasingly severe urban heat island effect. Let's go! Let's escape the urban areas and head towards the mountains to avoid the summer heat! Shuangxi (literally refers to “two rivers” in Chinese), named after the confluence of the Pinglin River and Mudan River, makes everyone feel refreshed just by looking at it. With its mountainous terrain, the Shuangxi District is situated in the upstream area of the Feicui Reservoir Watershed. When visiting Shuangxi, you can take a walk along the Pingxi Historic Trail and dip into the flowing river, leading all the way to the panoramic Guishan Island viewing platform. Moreover, you can visit the Shoushan Temple to pray, explore treasures at the holiday farmers’ market, and leisurely stroll along Shuangxi Old Street.Located on the mountainous terrain between Taipei Basin and Lanyang Plain, Shuangxi District has been a crucial passage for travelers commuting between them in the past. It is also the primary pathway along the middle route of the Tamsui-Kavalan Trails. The Pingxi Historic Trail that lies within it features a uniquely flat valley landscape seldom found in northern Taiwan, making it an excellent destination for families. Extending 1.5 km at an altitude of 500 m, this trail provides an ideal setting, allowing travelers to instantly dissipate the summer heat when stepping into the refreshing ambiance of Pingxi. The Pingxi Historic Trail is enveloped by lush greenery, accentuated by a captivating sight of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forests arranged in neat along the way. This trail, resembling a green corridor, is flat and spacious, featuring two intersections that lead travelers to the river. The pristine river flows leisurely, and its deepest point reaches only up to the calf, offering an excellent spot for water play and observing fish and shrimp during summer days. This historic trail concludes at the border between New Taipei City and Yilan County, where a viewing platform providing a magnificent vista is established. This platform enables travelers to gaze upon Turtle Island and the distant Pacific Ocean!To reach the entrance of the Pingxi Historic Trail, please navigate to the "Wushan No. 62 Camping Site". The access road is narrow, so please drive safely.Shoushan Temple serves as the religious hub in Taiping, Shuangxi. Situated upstream of Feicui Reservoir, it stands on the banks of the Beishi River. The primary deity enshrined at Shoushan Temple is Mazu, the revered "Heavenly and Sacred Mother", accompanied by Guan Yu, the "Holy Ruler Deity Guan", and Tudigong, the "Right God of Blessing and Virtue". The "Mazu Pilgrimage", held annually on February 18 of the lunar calendar, stands as the prominent yearly event in the Taiping region.Next to the entrance archway of Shoushan Temple, the Taiping Holiday Farmers Market (also referred to as the Shoushan Temple Holiday Farmers Market) operates during weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This market can accommodate more than 20 stalls selling premium seasonal vegetables, such as shiitake mushrooms planted in the region, assorted seasonal vegetables, and various melons. Additionally, there is a cooked food area offering diverse prepared foods like Taiwanese stir-fried rice noodles, Chinese mesona chicken soup, and refreshing ice treats.The center of Shuangxi is situated at the confluence of the Mudan River and Pinglin River. Due to the human traffic and logistics along the Tamsui-Kavalan Trails, Shuangxi served as an important land and water transportation hub during the Qing Dynasty. However, following the consecutive development of railways and highways, Shuangxi's initial function in water transportation was gradually supplanted, leading to the decline of the town.The Shuangxi Ferry Pier stands at the end of Chang’an Street. In its earlier days, it functioned as a crucial inland cargo transfer station. Passengers and goods from the Tamsui-Kavalan Trails boarded vessels at this pier, journeyed to the estuary near Jiushe (nowadays, the area around Fulong Beach), and then switched to sailboats for further transit to various destinations. On the return trip, smaller boats were used to transport daily essentials upstream to the upper reaches of Dingshuangxi, contributing significantly to the former splendor of Shuangxi.Once the most bustling street in Shuangxi, Chang’an Street holds the spiritual center of the area. It is home to Taiwan's sole temple dedicated to "the Three Heroes of the Late Song Dynasty" - the Sanzhong Temple. In 1781, a Fujian migrant crossed over the Taiwan Strait and arrived in Shuangxi, bringing along a statue of Wen Tianxiang. He settled here to cultivate the land and built a thatched hut to house the statue of the deity. As the number of devotees grew, statues of Lu Xiufu and Zhang Shijie were crafted and enshrined alongside Wen Tianxiang's statue. Through numerous repairs and renovations, the temple has evolved into its present form.Until today, Shuangxi Old Street has preserved numerous old buildings, including the century-old Lin Yi-tang Chinese Medicinal Herbs Store, Chou's Old House, Shuangxi Presbyterian Church, and more, showcasing the former grandeur of Shuangxi. Although the old street has gradually faded, it exudes a sense of tranquility typical of a mountainous town. Travelers can leisurely stroll through its alleys and streets, capturing photographs and savoring the scenery.