Jiufen and Jinguashi are New Taipei City's most iconic mountain towns, where old streets, mining heritage, and sweeping mountain-and-sea views blend into a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that draws travelers from around the world. If you're heading from Taipei or New Taipei City and want to skip the hassle of transfers, hop on the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Jiufen-Jinguashi Line.Buses depart every 10 to 30 minutes from Fuzhong, stopping along the way at key urban transit hubs and bustling districts such as Banqiao Bus Station, Wanhua Station, Ximending, and MRT Beimen Station, before continuing onto Civic Boulevard and the freeway straight to Jiufen and Jinguashi in Ruifang District. With no transfers needed, your mountain town adventure begins the moment you step aboard the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle!Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Jiufen-Jinguashi Line 965 operates large buses equipped with charging outlets, running directly from Taipei and New Taipei City to Jiufen and Jinguashi with no transfers and no hauling luggage between buses, making for a relaxed, comfortable visit to the mountain towns. The route from Fuzhong to the final stop at Jinguashi spans six fare sections, with a one-way fare of NT$ 90. Payment is accepted via EasyCard, iPASS, iCash, Taipei Fun Pass, and LINE Pay, and the route is also covered under the TR PASS Taipei–New Taipei–Keelung–Taoyuan 1200 commuter pass.Because the route travels on the freeway, no standing passengers are allowed after MRT Beimen Station; if all seats are taken, the driver will ask passengers to wait for the next bus. To guarantee a seat, reserve in advance through the Taipei Fun Pass official website and set off on your Jiufen and Jinguashi adventure with peace of mind.(Image source: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle official website)The bus runs directly from the city to the final stop at Jinguashi, taking about 90 minutes under smooth traffic conditions. After gold was discovered here in 1894, waves of prospectors poured in, launching the mountain town's golden age. Though the mining boom is now history, Jinguashi has shed its old bustle for a quiet, peaceful charm—visit the Gold Museum, stroll the hiking trails, and enjoy some leisurely time.Opened in 2004, the Gold Museum is Taiwan's first museum built on the concept of an "ecomuseum." Centered on mining history and community strength, it connects the mining relics, village landscapes, natural ecology, historical memory, and cultural heritage of Jinguashi and Shuinandong, promoting resource sustainability and ecotourism. This vision extends the Gold Museum beyond its walls across the entire Jinguashi mountain town, showcasing its uniquely captivating local culture.From the Gold Museum, wander through winding, hilly alleys to reach Qitang Old Street. Once Jinguashi's busiest commercial hub, it earned the nickname "Jinguashi's Ginza"; the hillside settlement built during the Japanese colonial era shaped the distinctive streetscape seen today. The old street has traded the clatter of mining days for the aroma of coffee and a slower pace—admire the mining-themed art installations along the way, then settle into a small shop to rest and savor Jinguashi's cultural charm.Hop back on Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Line 965 and cross over Keelung Mountain to reach Jiufen, the mountain town on the other side. Both Jiufen and Jinguashi flourished through gold mining and are known together as the "Golden Mountain Towns"; their lively heyday even earned them nicknames like "Little Shanghai" and "Little Hong Kong." In the late 1980s, the film A City of Sadness was shot here, bringing Jiufen's mountain-and-sea scenery, nostalgic lanes, and hillside village onto the big screen and introducing the mountain town's charm to the world.Shaped by the terrain, Jiufen's village spreads across the hillside, with its streets forming a distinctive pattern resembling the Chinese character "丰." The horizontal Jinshan Street is the busiest commercial strip, packed with snack stalls and specialty shops, while the vertical Shuqi Road is famed for its long stretch of stone steps, where you can take in tiered old houses and sweeping mountain-and-sea views. After dark, red lanterns light up one by one along the hillside, lending the old streets a quiet, romantic glow.Follow the stone steps to where Shuqi Road meets Qingbian Road, and discover the storied Shengping Theater. Opened in the 1930s, it was once one of Taiwan's largest theaters during the Japanese colonial era, reflecting Jiufen's gold-fueled prosperity. After the theater went dark in the 1980s, its distinctive architecture and old-world atmosphere made it a filming location for movies including A Borrowed Life and A City of Sadness. After strolling the old streets and tracing these film locations, hop back on Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 965 – Jiufen-Jinguashi Line for a transfer-free ride straight back to your accommodation in Taipei or New Taipei City!
