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Jioufen Old Street 九份老街
Jioufen Old Street 九份老街 :
Add: Shuici Rd, Jishan rd, Cingbian Rd in Jioufen, Rueifang Township, Taipei County
Main area of interest-town's historic commercial district (Jishan Street (基山街) & Shuchi Street (豎崎路)
WHAT TO SEE: Historical buildings & scenic views along narrow winding streets, steep mount slope, after sunset: fav place for tea n watch fishing boat lights on distant sea.
WHAT TO EAT: Jiufen. Fishball soup, yuyuan (taro balls), dumplings hot/cold with sweet bean, mochi / ma shu, traditional snacks(taro balls)
Grandma Lai's Yuyuan (賴阿婆芋圓)
No.143, Jishan Street- most famous one for taro balls
Jiufen boasts numerous teahouses that offer great views over the Pacific Ocean.
City Of Sadness Restaurant (悲情城市小上海茶樓)
35 Shuchi Road, Tel:+886 2 2406-2289, just on the corner of Shuqi and Qingbian Roads, is featured in the Taiwanese movie City Of Sadness by Hou Hsiao-hsien
Jiufen Teahouse (九份茶坊)
142 Jishan Street, Tel:+886 2 2496-9056, [1]
- the first teahouse in Jiufen since 1991
FROM TAIPEI TO JIOUFEN:
From Taipei - Zhongxiao-Fuxing Stnt, No. 1 Exit, take Keelung bus to Jioufen. Get off just before 7/11.
FROM KEELUNG TO JIOUFEN:
- Board Keelung bus from Keelung bus stop (Jinguashih Line) to Jioufen (About 50min, NT$45)
- Buses have English bus signs & Chinese LED but no bus number. Will bypass Rueifang Train Stnt - Alight at bus stop along Jioufen Old Street (Chishan Street) stop just before Seven-Eleven convenience store.
FROM JIOUFEN TO TAIPEI :
- Take Keelung bus from Jioufen bus stop (near police post) to Rueifang train / railway station 瑞芳 Jui-fang 089 (About 15min)
- Take train to Taipei Main Station (About 40-50min, NT$80)
Alternative:
- Take bus to Keelung (about 50min)
- take train to Taipei Main Station (About 50-60min; approx. NT$66 depending on train type)
We visited Yehliou Geo-Park followed by Keelung before heading to Jioufen Old Street (see the other 2 sets).
Finally, we took the bus which took us back to Taipei Bus Terminal. I followed my original plan to shop at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept Store (near Taipei Main Station)
However, I eventually gave HUAYIN ST. SHOPPING AREA a pass as I was really tired by then. Furthermore, the early enthusiasm to shop for wholesale craft materials had died off even before the trip as my attempt to sell my crafts online did not fall through :( after a lot a lot a lot a lot of hard work, money & time were exhausted.
Thanks to Monica's recommendation, shopping was Shin Kong was a delight. I bought some quality stuffs there with some discount. While the prices are steeper, I could shop in comfort at leisurely pace. I got praises for the bronze metallic bag & little blue velvet coat bought there.
After a few purchases at Shin Kong also asked for direction to walk back to Ximending, thinking it was only a stop away. Wrong decision. I ended up getting lost in the rain along the dark streets after getting quite a few wrong directions by well-intended locals.
My origin al plan after visiting Yehliou, Keelung & Jioufen:
4) BOOKSTORE STREET (CHONGQING(CHONGCING) S. RD) (near Huaxi St)
- 5mins’ walk fr Taipei Main Stnt; lots of book stores; mostly Chinese titles
JOYCE: TAIPEI MAIN STNT (if nothing much, might go Ximen)
1) HUAYIN ST. SHOPPING AREA
- wholesale-priced accessories, clothes, cheap winter wear, NT200 (SGD$9.20) ~ NT350 (SGD$16)
- take the metro ( Bannan (Blue) Line or Danshui (Red) Line ) to Taipei Main Stnt, walk about 10-15 min, behind Taipei Main stnt, ( Huauyin St & Chongqing N. Rd)
2) Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept Store (Shin Kong Tower) (recommended by Monica)
- 66, Sec.1, Zhongxiao W. Rd (02) 2388-5552, wkdays 11am-9.30pm, Wkends 11am-10pm, No OFF
- original (Shin Kong Life Tower), across Taipei Main Stnt, biggest dept store in W. Taipei
XINYI STORE: MRT to Taipei City Hall Stnt; walk 15min to Songshou Rd, Bus 621, 294, 611, 20, 288, 612, 284, 2, 77, 37, 46, 69, 537 to Taipei City Hall.
OPTIONAL:
Taipei New World Shopping Centre - Sec. 1, Zhongxiao (Jhonsiao) W. Rd, quite new
ICE MONSTER - Fr Taipei Main Station, Bus 22 to Xinyi- YongKang intersectn, walk 5min, Seasonal fruits on huge portioned ice desserts, 15 Yongkang St,Taipei, (02) 2394-8279, Nov-Mar (11am-11.30pm), No OFF
Miramar Entertainment Park (NT150, ferris wheel & Imax theater- optional photo-stop)
20Jingye 3rd Rd, Neihu District, Taipei (02)2175-3456
Bus - 110, 21, 222, 247, 267, 286, 287, 620, 646, 72, 902, red 2; MRT: Fr Jiantan or Zhongshan J. High Sch Stnt, take Miramar shuttle bus; Ferris Wheel, 95m X70m Ferris wheel; NT150, +886-2-2175-3456, www.miramar.com.tw/
Dept stores 11am-10pm, Restaurants, Ferris Wheel, Merry-Go-round 11am-12pm
Jioufen Old Street 九份老街
Jioufen Old Street 九份老街 :
Add: Shuici Rd, Jishan rd, Cingbian Rd in Jioufen, Rueifang Township, Taipei County
Main area of interest-town's historic commercial district (Jishan Street (基山街) & Shuchi Street (豎崎路)
WHAT TO SEE: Historical buildings & scenic views along narrow winding streets, steep mount slope, after sunset: fav place for tea n watch fishing boat lights on distant sea.
WHAT TO EAT: Jiufen. Fishball soup, yuyuan (taro balls), dumplings hot/cold with sweet bean, mochi / ma shu, traditional snacks(taro balls)
Grandma Lai's Yuyuan (賴阿婆芋圓)
No.143, Jishan Street- most famous one for taro balls
Jiufen boasts numerous teahouses that offer great views over the Pacific Ocean.
City Of Sadness Restaurant (悲情城市小上海茶樓)
35 Shuchi Road, Tel:+886 2 2406-2289, just on the corner of Shuqi and Qingbian Roads, is featured in the Taiwanese movie City Of Sadness by Hou Hsiao-hsien
Jiufen Teahouse (九份茶坊)
142 Jishan Street, Tel:+886 2 2496-9056, [1]
- the first teahouse in Jiufen since 1991
FROM TAIPEI TO JIOUFEN:
From Taipei - Zhongxiao-Fuxing Stnt, No. 1 Exit, take Keelung bus to Jioufen. Get off just before 7/11.
FROM KEELUNG TO JIOUFEN:
- Board Keelung bus from Keelung bus stop (Jinguashih Line) to Jioufen (About 50min, NT$45)
- Buses have English bus signs & Chinese LED but no bus number. Will bypass Rueifang Train Stnt - Alight at bus stop along Jioufen Old Street (Chishan Street) stop just before Seven-Eleven convenience store.
FROM JIOUFEN TO TAIPEI :
- Take Keelung bus from Jioufen bus stop (near police post) to Rueifang train / railway station 瑞芳 Jui-fang 089 (About 15min)
- Take train to Taipei Main Station (About 40-50min, NT$80)
Alternative:
- Take bus to Keelung (about 50min)
- take train to Taipei Main Station (About 50-60min; approx. NT$66 depending on train type)
We visited Yehliou Geo-Park followed by Keelung before heading to Jioufen Old Street (see the other 2 sets).
Finally, we took the bus which took us back to Taipei Bus Terminal. I followed my original plan to shop at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept Store (near Taipei Main Station)
However, I eventually gave HUAYIN ST. SHOPPING AREA a pass as I was really tired by then. Furthermore, the early enthusiasm to shop for wholesale craft materials had died off even before the trip as my attempt to sell my crafts online did not fall through :( after a lot a lot a lot a lot of hard work, money & time were exhausted.
Thanks to Monica's recommendation, shopping was Shin Kong was a delight. I bought some quality stuffs there with some discount. While the prices are steeper, I could shop in comfort at leisurely pace. I got praises for the bronze metallic bag & little blue velvet coat bought there.
After a few purchases at Shin Kong also asked for direction to walk back to Ximending, thinking it was only a stop away. Wrong decision. I ended up getting lost in the rain along the dark streets after getting quite a few wrong directions by well-intended locals.
My origin al plan after visiting Yehliou, Keelung & Jioufen:
4) BOOKSTORE STREET (CHONGQING(CHONGCING) S. RD) (near Huaxi St)
- 5mins’ walk fr Taipei Main Stnt; lots of book stores; mostly Chinese titles
JOYCE: TAIPEI MAIN STNT (if nothing much, might go Ximen)
1) HUAYIN ST. SHOPPING AREA
- wholesale-priced accessories, clothes, cheap winter wear, NT200 (SGD$9.20) ~ NT350 (SGD$16)
- take the metro ( Bannan (Blue) Line or Danshui (Red) Line ) to Taipei Main Stnt, walk about 10-15 min, behind Taipei Main stnt, ( Huauyin St & Chongqing N. Rd)
2) Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept Store (Shin Kong Tower) (recommended by Monica)
- 66, Sec.1, Zhongxiao W. Rd (02) 2388-5552, wkdays 11am-9.30pm, Wkends 11am-10pm, No OFF
- original (Shin Kong Life Tower), across Taipei Main Stnt, biggest dept store in W. Taipei
XINYI STORE: MRT to Taipei City Hall Stnt; walk 15min to Songshou Rd, Bus 621, 294, 611, 20, 288, 612, 284, 2, 77, 37, 46, 69, 537 to Taipei City Hall.
OPTIONAL:
Taipei New World Shopping Centre - Sec. 1, Zhongxiao (Jhonsiao) W. Rd, quite new
ICE MONSTER - Fr Taipei Main Station, Bus 22 to Xinyi- YongKang intersectn, walk 5min, Seasonal fruits on huge portioned ice desserts, 15 Yongkang St,Taipei, (02) 2394-8279, Nov-Mar (11am-11.30pm), No OFF
Miramar Entertainment Park (NT150, ferris wheel & Imax theater- optional photo-stop)
20Jingye 3rd Rd, Neihu District, Taipei (02)2175-3456
Bus - 110, 21, 222, 247, 267, 286, 287, 620, 646, 72, 902, red 2; MRT: Fr Jiantan or Zhongshan J. High Sch Stnt, take Miramar shuttle bus; Ferris Wheel, 95m X70m Ferris wheel; NT150, +886-2-2175-3456, www.miramar.com.tw/
Dept stores 11am-10pm, Restaurants, Ferris Wheel, Merry-Go-round 11am-12pm