Seniors looking for a slow vacation will not be disappointed by New Taipei’s wide variety of art museums, historic architecture, relaxing hot springs, historic old streets, and natural environments. Must-visit destinations include the tranquil hot springs of Jinshan, and Yingge, Taiwan’s ceramics capital.
📍 Route 1: Museums and Jinshan
Ju Ming Art Museum
The Ju Ming Art Museum was built in the mountains of Jinshan at Ju Ming’s own expense, and is his largest work. The Taiwanese master sculptor designed the museum’s architecture, landscapes, wirings and plumbing over the course of 12 years. Today, the museum features 2000 of his works on display for public viewing.
Yehliu Geopark & Guihou Fishing Port
Yehliu Geopark, located on Taiwan’s Northern Coast, is famous for its bright-yellow rock formations. Here, the soft limestone along the seashore has been shaped into unique attractions with names like “Queen’s Head”, “Fairy’s Shoe and Candle”, “Bean Curd”, and “Dragon Head”. These geological spectacles are the result of thousands of years of wind and water-based erosion.
Jinshan Hot Spring
If the weather is on the chillier side, and you just want to relax in a hot spring, there is no better place to go than Jinshan’s secluded seaside hot springs. Unlike the more popular hot spring destinations of Wulai and Beitou, Jinshan’s hot springs are tucked away on the north side of Yangmingshan National Park, and as a result, are far less likely to be packed. While many hot spring hotels in Jinshan offer public pools, The Governor-General Hot Spring is the only one to feature rooftop pools facing the ocean and Yangmingshan. These public pools are segregated by gender and open until late in the evening.
📍 Route 2: Pingxi and Jiufen
The Lin Family Mansion and Garden
The Lin Ben Yuan Family Mansion and Garden is a nearly 200-year-old classical Chinese mansion located smack dab in the middle of downtown Banqiao, Taiwan’s third most densely-populated urban district. Built in 1847, this mansion was once the home of Taiwan’s richest family. Today, it has been designated a class-2 historic site and is the most complete surviving example of traditional Chinese garden architecture in Taiwan.
Pingxi Old Street
Pingxi, located at the end of the nostalgic Pingxi Rail Line, is a rather small village that is built on a slope around the rail tracks. With only two streets, one of which borders the railroad tracks, it’s no wonder this town’s quaint aesthetic once served as the backdrop for many of famed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien’s films about pre-industrialized Taiwan. Today, Pingxi is one of the best destinations for sky lantern launching, snacking on authentic traditional small eats, and getting in a healthy dose of nostalgia. While the old streets are not as large as many of the other towns around Taiwan, they are still overflowing with local authenticity—one particularly delicious local snack, the peanut butter flake ice cream rolls, can be found just to the south of the railroad tracks.
Jiufen
What makes the village of Jiufen particularly magical is its mountaintop location overlooking the Northern Coast. Not even the streets that cut across the mountain are flat, and many of the labyrinth-like alleys are simply staircases lined with shops. In the evenings, rows of red lanterns illuminate the streets and teahouses of Jiufen, and depending on the season, a fine mist might settle over the town adding to the already otherworldly ambience.
📍 Route 3: Waterfalls and Pottery
Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area
The Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area is a 40-minute drive into the Rui-zi River Valley in Sanxia, directly south of Yingge’s Ceramic Streets. Manyueyuan’s rich ecology includes a great variety of ferns and small birds in particular. Keep your eyes peeled for the Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush and the Varied Tit. The park’s main attractions, however, are its waterfalls. Both the Manyueyuan Waterfall, and Virgin Waterfall are connected by walking paths and have viewing platforms, making them good places for a rest or a picnic. The park also features a highly-rated forest cafe which offers sweats and refreshments—the coffee is particularly good! In the winter, Manyueyuan National Forest is the location of Taiwan’s prettiest low-altitude red maple trees.
Yingge Ceramics Museum & Old Street
Lauded as one of the most memorable places to visit in Taiwan by tea, ceramics and pottery lovers alike, Yingge Ceramics Street is one of the best examples of traditional industry turning into the focal point of tourism (as opposed to fading out in the face of globalization). Yingge’s Old Streets stay true to the town’s roots as a pottery center, with shops offering selections of both household items and authentic artisan pieces. Some studios in Yingge also offer DIY pottery classes. Due to the finishing process, DIY pieces must be mailed (international shipping is offered) approximately a month after the class.
