【Taipei chartered bus route recommendation】Yeliu, Jiufen, Shifen, Pingxi one-day tour

When it comes to Yehliu Geopark, the first thing that comes to mind must be the famous Queen’s Head. In fact, there are not only queen’s heads to see in Yehliu Geopark, but also other more famous ones such as fairy shoes, mushroom-shaped stones, candlestick stones, etc. In fact, these strange shapes and even stones that can form a certain shape are produced by nature’s miraculous workmanship, through the action of orogeny, weathering, sea erosion and other actions on the rocks.

It is worth noting that since this is a natural landscape, it is in danger of being destroyed by nature with time and the degree of weathering. It is said that the queen’s head is thinner and thinner year by year than before, and one day she may face the danger of “decapitation”. If you haven’t been there yet, go and explore it while she still exists, and feel the wonders of nature at the same time!

The Gold Museum

Whether you want to go up the mountain from Yehliu to Jiufen, or Jiufen to the north coast area, you will definitely pass through the Jinguashi, which includes the Golden Waterfall and the Gold Museum, which can give you a glimpse of the life of Taiwan’s mining pit area in the past.

The Gold Museum is a former gold mine that was once the largest gold mining region in Asia. As early as in the 16th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, when Liu Mingchuan, the governor of Taiwan at that time, led the workers to build the railway, he accidentally found gold sand in the riverbed, and found gold ore after tracing the river to Jinguashi, which opened the gold mining era of Jinguashi. During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese government introduced mining equipment, which allowed the gold mining to reach its peak. However, as the quality of gold and copper ore deteriorated and depleted, the Taiwanese government ordered the abolition of mining in 1987. Then, in 2002, in order to preserve this mining history, the government rebuilt the original office into what is now the Gold Museum.

In the Gold Museum, in addition to revisiting the history of mining and related cultural relics, there is also a gold panning experience area on the third floor, so that visitors can experience the fun of mining in the past.

Jiufen Old Street

Speaking of Jiufen, don’t talk about Taiwanese, presumably even tourists outside the island know and know! Jiufen is located on the mountain in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, and once prospered because of its abundance of gold mines. But when the minerals were exhausted, the village went into decline. It wasn’t until Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 1990 film “City of Sadness” in Jiufen and the famous Japanese animation “The Hidden Girl” that the Amei teahouse was used as the background, which quickly made the already lifeless Jiufen village active again!
Of course, it’s not just because of the movie, Jiufen has a magnificent landscape of mountain and sea views, plus must-eat delicacies such as taro balls and grass cakes, and most importantly, there is also a sightseeing Jiufen Old Street, which attracts a large number of people to go on weekdays and holidays, and it is also one of the most designated attractions in Taipei when chartering a bus!

“Ten Waterfalls”

Shifen Waterfall is located in Pingxi, New Taipei City, and is one of the important scenic spots on the Pingxi Line of the Taiwan Railway, and it is also a scenic spot that tourists will consider visiting together when arranging a trip to Pingxi. Shifen Waterfall is about 20 meters high and 40 meters wide, because its outer rock is in the opposite direction of the water flow, which is a reverse slope waterfall, which is similar to the famous Niagara Falls in North America. Therefore, in addition to being the largest waterfall in Taiwan, Shifen Waterfall is also known as the “Taiwanese version of Niagara Falls“. It is recommended that if you are tired of playing the old street itinerary and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Shifen Waterfall can let you relax temporarily and wander in the atmosphere of dancing with nature.

“Pingxi/Jingtong Sky Lantern”

Pingxi and Jingtong are both railway stations in the Pingxi area of New Beibei, and after walking out of the station, there are old streets and all kinds of souvenirs to buy along the way. Of course, tourists don’t come here to walk the old streets and take the railroad tracks, and the most important activity is to “put out sky lanterns“.

Sky lanterns, also known as Kong Ming lanterns, were first invented to transmit military intelligence. And why does the Pingxi area also follow the sky lanterns? In fact, it was a tool for the Han people who entered the mountains to reclaim in the early days, in order to avoid the pursuit of the Pingpu tribe, to hide in a safe place, and wait until the crisis is resolved.

With the evolution of the times, the sky lantern is now used as a prayer to make wishes. Many of the shops that use sky lanterns offer a variety of colors to represent different aspects of prayer. For example, red represents good health and peace, pink represents longevity with lovers, yellow is good luck and wealth, sky blue is good luck and everything goes well, etc.

In addition, during the Lantern Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival every year, Pingxi will launch a limited “Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival” activity, which has been selected by CNN as one of the “14 must-visit festivals in the world”. Hundreds of tourists gather together to write down their wishes and release them into the air together, and the beauty and emotion of that moment will really make you unforgettable!