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.

The Taiwanese rain trees on the streets are blooming yellow flowers, the maple trees on the hillside are turning red, and the ground is no longer hot at night. The cooling temperature in northern Taiwan is the best time to taste autumn crabs. The Route 2 Taiwan of autumn has lost the passion and blood of summer and replaced gourmets' praise. Come to Wanli in autumn, go to Yehliu Geopark and Ocean World, and see the strange rocks and beautiful stones up close, get to know the marine life, and then go to the nearby Yehliu Fishing Port to "Spend some Time" to feast on the plump Wanli crabs!Yehliu Geopark, a world-class scenic spot, is a cape where the remnant of Datun Mountain extends into the sea. Because of weathering, sea erosion, and crustal movement create mushroom rocks, erosion caves, tofu stones, candle-shaped rocks, and potholes. The cool autumn is the most comfortable time to visit Yehliu Geopark. Along the 400-meter-long coastal trail, appreciate the masterpiece of nature. The must-visit superstar in the geological park is "Queen's Head," a unique mushroom rock located in the second area of the cape. Its elegant curves seem to resemble a queen gazing into the distance, and it is the symbol of Yehliu and even Wanli. The "Charming Princess" in the first area of the cape has a ponytail-like shape and has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is a popular check-in spot in Yehliu.The circular building next to the ticket office of the Geological Park is Taiwan's oldest brand of marine zoo - Yehliu Ocean World. The 2F Sea Elves Education Hall has a 10-story diving platform. The performers will climb up the platform and dive into the pool. Their superb skills will cause the audience to applaud continuously. Then the performances of animal stars such as sea lions and dolphins will occur. Under the guidance of the keepers and host, the audience will further understand the habits, ecological and physical characteristics of marine life, and rescue knowledge of stranded animals in the wild.B1 is the Underwater World Exploration Hall. Traveling through the underground cave passages, you can see the marine life in the Yehliu sea area through large glass windows, including cute clownfish, fierce pink-tail triggerfish and sharks, and living fossils - horseshoe crabs, which let people feel in a blue crystal dragon palace.Wanli CrabYehliu Fishing Port on the west side of Yehliu Cape is a central hub for catching Wanli crabs. The Wanli fishermen have advanced catching techniques and a large fleet. Every autumn, they go to the "Northwest Fishery" off the coast of Cape Fugui to catch crabs, accounting for more than 80% of the total crab supply in Taiwan. There is a seafood street next to the fishing port. The large water tanks at the door of each restaurant, filled with live Wanli crabs and various seafood, allow people to choose from a wide variety of fresh seafood.There are three main species of Wanli crabs: three-spotted crabs, flower crabs, and ridged swimming crabs. The New Taipei City Government completed the registration of the Wanli crab trademark in 2014, making it the number one sea crab brand in Taiwan. Using various cooking methods, you can steam or boil the plump autumn crabs in soup to bring out the delicious crab meat.Located in Dong-Ao Fishing Harbor east of Yehliu Cape, the Elisa Coffee, with an unparalleled sea view, is a good choice for a lazy afternoon. The ample space on two floors and the large windows let people to enjoy the Yehliu Geopark and Camel Peak leisurely. The café has a wide selection of exquisite drinks and unique desserts, such as marshmallow chocolate pizza with a salty and sweet taste, which is a surprise in every bite.After having the sweet and delicious Wanli crab and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Yehliu, remember to visit the Guihou Crab Theme Park before leaving Wanli. This sea view park with the theme of Wanli crab has many cute giant crab doll statues, adding lively colors to your autumn trip to Wanli.