New Taipei City Travel

In the past, Shenkeng was known as Zanying, in reference to the crest worn by officials. Shenkeng was once the political and economic center of Wenshan District (today’s New Taipei Districts of Shenkeng, Shiding, Pinglin, Xindian and Wulai, and the Wenshan District in Taipei City), and has been an important location in between Taipei and Yilan since ancient times. Not only was it a key route along the South Damlan Road, but it has also become the most important waterway shipping center in Southern Taipei due to the convenient waterway transportation of Jingmei Creek. Wenshan Tea, which is brought from Shenkeng via Jingmei Creek and Xindian Creek to Dadaocheng along the Tamsui river, is sold all over the world. Most notably the end of the Qing Dynasty to the beginning of the Japanese rule in Taiwan was the golden period for Shenkeng tea.Shenkeng has many different bus routes to and from Taipei’s downtown area, making for convenient traffic. Because of this, during the holidays, it attracts many tourists. The large kabocha tree at the entrance of the old street is the welcoming tree of Shenkeng, and on the street behind it is the century-old Tingzai Foot house. Because of Shenkeng’s clear water and its special salt braising method, the charcoal taste of Shenkeng-made tofu has attracted many gourmands and has become known as the “hometown of tofu”, which in turn re-invigorated the Old Street. The Old Street is home to various tofu-based dishes, such as fried stinky tofu, stinky tofu skewers, charcoal-grilled tofu ice cream, sesame tofu ice cream, milky tofu pudding and much more. The local tofu menu is full of dishes that will satisfy all who visit.In addition to its famous tofu, Shenkeng’s specialties include Wenshan Baozhong tea, green bamboo shoots, and black pork, which together with the tofu are known as the “Four Jewels of Shenkeng” and should not be missed. Additionally, the architecture in Shenkeng is also very interesting, and includes the magnificent baroque red-brick De Xing Building, and the Anxi-style three-in-one residence, the Eternal Peace Building, both of which are masterpieces of Taiwanese architecture.After trying the four jewels of Shenkeng, you can walk onto the Paozilun Trail and enjoy the purity of the mountains and see the water from which residents make their delicious tofu. The Paozilun Trail is one of the trails of New Taipei’s Smiling Mountain Line, and is a popular hiking trail in Shenkeng which connects the Shenkeng Paozilun area with the Caonan area in Taipei’s Muzha District. On the trail, you can find several ancient clay and stone alleyways, and the rustic scenery of paddy fields and tea plantations makes people forget the city noise. Then, when they get to the top, they can enjoy the view, looking out on Muzha District, the Maokong gondola, and Taipei 101.In addition to the hiking trails, Shenkeng’s lust mountains and forests, with streams of all sizes are a place of natural beauty. Among them, one of the most famous is the Paozilun Waterfall; when the water flows heavily, it streams down in four columns, which earned it the name “Four Dragons Waterfall.” The pavilion next to the waterfall is decorated with tables and chairs, where people can make tea and enjoy the waterfall, similar to what the merchants of Shenkeng did a hundred years ago.

As the spring transits to summer in May, the hilly regions around Tucheng in New Taipei City are adorned with snowy white tung blossoms. These pristine blossoms transform the verdant hilltops into a snowy spectacle. The fragrant tung flowers gently fall from the branches in the spring breeze, creating a picturesque scene reminiscent of snowfall. After tung trees were introduced from southern China during the Japanese domination period, they were extensively planted in low-altitude mountainous areas in central and northern Taiwan. Tung trees were once important economic crops for the Hakka people and were used to produce paints, and furniture in the early days. The New Taipei City Hakka Tung Blossom Festival takes place in April and May each year. We invite everyone to hike though the mountains, and explore the nearby century-old railway station!The century-old railway station of ShulinIn this era of pursuing efficiency, people try to minimize the time it takes to get from point A to point B. As we often rush towards our destinations at high speed, we often neglect the scenery along the way. As the holidays approach, let's take a break from your usual rush and explore train stations that you have often heard about from the radio during your commute, but never had the chance to visit! Situated between Shulin and Yingge, Shanjia Railway Station was established in 1903 and is now over 120 years old. Originally named the “Sanzijiao Parking Space”, Shanjia Railway Station once bore the heavy responsibility of transporting coal. You can still find remnants of past mining around the station, such as Dafeng Coal Mine No. 1 Pit and Dafeng Coal Mine No. 2 Pit, offering a glimpse into the coal mining history of the Shulin area.Recognized as a designated historical site by New Taipei City, the second-generation Shanjia Railway Station, constructed with bricks, represents a fusion of Western and Japanese architectural styles. It preserves the classic and elegant appearance of buildings from the Japanese domination period and still stands adjacent to the third-generation Shanjia Railway Station, creating a unique juxtaposition of old and new. Shanjia Railway Station is the only remaining station built during the Japanese domination period along the Taiwan Railways Administration (hereinafter referred to as the TRA) corridor between Qidu and Hsinchu; and is a must-visit attraction for railway enthusiasts. The indoor space of the Station exhibits a replica miniature model of Shanjia Railway Station made from recycled materials, the TRA's passenger timetables from Taiwan's Early Restoration, and railway tourism brochures from the Japanese domination period, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.While strolling along Shanjia Street, which runs along the station's edge, you will come across several walls adorned with colorful murals depicting the cultural and scenic elements of Taiwan's old-time landscapes. These include scenes like farm ox carts and traditional barber shops, seamlessly blending with the nostalgia of Taiwan's past. Furthermore, you'll encounter 3D murals featuring dinosaurs, Taiwanese black bears, and other playful and incredibly realistic depictions. The Shanjia Railway Scenic Park was constructed by the local residents to revitalize the vacant land along the railway. In 2017, the local authorities even stationed a 35H1304 black coal hopper car and DL1044 shifting machine to preserve the historical memories of Shanjia.Relish the tung flowers in the mountainous area of TuchengCrossing over the Dahan River, you'll find yourself in Tucheng District on the southern bank. The slopes of Tianshangshan (Tianshan Mountain), often referred to as the first peak, are covered in full bloom tung blossoms. These blossoms grace the entire mountainous region with swathes of snowy white, forming a captivating sight when viewed from afar. It stands as one of the prime locations in New Taipei City to savor the beauty of tung blossoms. The Tung Blossom Park on the mountain is even the primary venue for the annual New Taipei City Hakka Tung Blossom Festival. To savor the beauty of tung flowers, you can drive to the Park's first and second parking lots; or hike from Chengtian Temple to the Tung Blossom Park for exercise and photography.🚌Public Transportation Guide: Take the MRT to Yongning Station, then transfer to Bus Blue 43 Extended Line (Nantianmu) or Blue 44 Extended Line. Get off at the “Trailhead” stop, where you'll find the Tung Blossom Park archway. Your mountain hike begins here.The Chengtian Temple Trail is also known as the Chaoshan Trail, Nantianmu Trail, or Master Guang Qin Trail. Chengtian Temple was established by Master Guang Qin, a renowned Buddhist monk. This trail that leads to the Temple was paved with rough stones in the 1960s. Situated within a lush forest, the Trail is adorned with more than 40 stone tablets and stone pillars inscribed with the names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The sides of the trail are lush with greenery, creating a serene and tranquil ambiance. Along the trail, you can also come across devoted pilgrims offering their prayers.There are also numerous tung trees along the Chengtian Temple Trail, creating a tranquil atmosphere as you hike toward the solemn Chengtian Temple. This is also a scenic spot for savoring the beauty of mountain tung flowers from a commanding height, allowing you to enjoy picturesque views of the Greater Taipei Basin and Guanyinshan (Guanyin Mountain).The Firefly Viewing Trail between Chengtian Temple and Tung Blossom Park is approximately 600 m long. This stone-paved trail is constructed with beautiful patterned stones. As you walk along the Firefly Viewing Trail, you can enjoy the sight of butterflies dancing in the melodic sounds of flowing water and the chorus of insects and birds, creating a natural symphony. Due to the successful ecological restoration in recent years, the fireflies sparkle like stars in the night sky after dark.Over the years, Tung Blossom Park has served as the primary venue for the annual New Taipei City Hakka Tung Blossom Festival. The Park is planted with nearly a hundred tung trees. Each year, during the blooming season of the tung trees in April and May, the entire park, including the mud-covered ground, stairs, plant leaves, and wooden platforms, is blanketed with snowy white tung blossoms, making it a sacred place for enjoying tung blossoms in New Taipei City. The Tung Blossom Park is designed with an outdoor performance area and a viewing platform; a tea brewing platform for taking a rest; an observation platform that offers views of the urban area of Tucheng; and several leisure pavilions. It also features an exciting and fun suspension bridge, allowing visitors to traverse the dense forest on a rope less than 20 cm wide.Strolling along the park trail to savor the snowy beauty of tung blossoms, gazing into the distance to witness their graceful descent from treetops, collecting fallen tung blossom petals to create meaningful words or hearts, and capturing a selfie with tung blossoms in hand - all of these experiences offer a temporary escape from the hustle and bustle, allowing you to immerse yourself in the tranquil early summer forest scenery.