TW · New Taipei · 25.11°N 121.84°E

jiufen

Lantern-lit hillside teahouses that feel like Spirited Away, with sea views.

Best time
Weekdays, from late afternoon into the evening, when the lanterns come on and the day-trip crowds thin a little. It rains a lot here, especially from October to March.
How long
Half a day, or a full day with Jinguashi and Shifen
Getting there
Fly from KL to Taipei (about 4.5 hours). Direct buses from central Taipei take about 1 to 1.5 hours. Or take the train to Ruifang, about 45 minutes, then a 15-minute bus or taxi up the hill.
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TW · New Taipeijiufen25.11°N 121.84°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Lantern-lit hillside teahouses that feel like Spirited Away, with sea views.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingJiufenTW, New Taipei
KLjiufen
≈ 3,258 km from KL, as the crow flies
A-mei Tea House, at night

Photo: lumoplank · CC0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A former gold-mining town clinging to a hillside above the sea, north-east of Taipei. Its narrow old street of teahouses, snack stalls and red lanterns gets very busy, but at dusk, with the lanterns lit and the coast below, it's easy to see why people come.

Makan

  1. Taro ballsChewy taro and sweet potato balls in sweet soup or with shaved ice, Jiufen's best-known treat.Map ↗
  2. Peanut ice cream rollIce cream and shaved peanut brittle wrapped in a thin crêpe, sometimes with coriander.Map ↗
  3. Fish ball soupBouncy fish balls in a clear soup, sold along the old street.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Jiufen Old StreetA narrow, partly covered lane of snack stalls and souvenir shops winding along the hill.Map ↗
  2. Shuqi RoadThe steep, lantern-lined stairway with the famous teahouse views. Best after dark.Map ↗
  3. A teahouse with a viewSit down for a pot of Taiwanese oolong looking out over the sea.Map ↗
  4. JinguashiThe old mining town next door, where the Gold Museum has a mine tunnel to walk through and a huge gold bar.Map ↗
  5. ShifenRelease a sky lantern over the railway tracks and see the nearby waterfall.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bring an umbrella. Jiufen is often misty and wet.
  • The lanes and stairs are steep and packed at weekends. Go on a weekday if you can.
  • Queues for buses and taxis back to Taipei get long in the evening, so leave yourself time.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.