Taiwan · Region
Jiufen
Jiufen is a former gold-mining town clinging to the hillsides above Taiwan's northeast coast, famous for its narrow, lantern-lit Old Street stacked with tea houses and snack stalls. Its maze of covered alleys and sea-view terraces are said to have inspired the atmospheric look of several well-known animated films, drawing crowds especially at dusk when the red lanterns switch on.
Top attractions
attraction Golden Waterfall: Jiufen Travel Guide (4.4★)
Golden Waterfall (Yin Yang Hai's neighbour on Jinshui Road, Ruifang District) is a roadside waterfall near Jiufen where mineral runoff from the old Jinguashi mines stains the rocks and water shades of orange and rust. 4.4★ (13,733 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Jiufen Old Street: Travel Guide
Jiufen Old Street is a steep, lantern-lined maze of tea houses, food stalls, and mountain-sea viewpoints in Ruifang District, about 45–60 minutes from Taipei.
attraction Jiufen Qingyun temple: Travel Guide (4.7★)
Qingyun Temple sits above Jiufen's old town on Biner Road, a short uphill walk from the main Shuqi Road shopping lane, and it stays open daily from 7am to 5:30pm. 4.7★ (841 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
Top-rated things to do in Jiufen
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Where to stay in Jiufen
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Frequently asked questions about Jiufen
How do I get to Jiufen?
Jiufen has no train station of its own — the standard route is a Taiwan Railways (TRA) train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station, followed by a short local bus up into Jiufen. Travelers coming from Taipei's international gateway, Taoyuan Airport (TPE), typically connect into central Taipei first (e.g., via MRT or airport bus) before making this train-plus-bus journey, which takes roughly ~1 to 1.5 hours from central Taipei once underway.
How many days should I spend in Jiufen?
Most visitors treat Jiufen as a half-day to full-day trip, which is enough time to wander the Old Street, enjoy a tea house, and take in the viewpoints, though staying one night lets you see the lanterns lit after dark once the day-trippers have left.
What is Jiufen known for?
Jiufen is a former gold-mining town clinging to the hillsides above Taiwan's northeast coast, famous for its narrow, lantern-lit Old Street stacked with tea houses and snack stalls. Its maze of covered alleys and sea-view terraces are said to have inspired the atmospheric look of several well-known animated films, drawing crowds especially at dusk when the red lanterns switch on.