Taipei YouBike Light Travel: Brunch in Xinyi District & a Visit to Hexing Coal Mine

Text & Photos /YouBike Light Travel

If you live in greater Taipei, coal mines probably aren’t unfamiliar to you — places like Jiufen, Jinguashi, and Houtong still preserve remnants of old industrial sites. However, those are all located some distance from the city center. Now, not far from Taipei 101, you can cycle there on a YouBike to visit the newly renovated “Hexing Coal Mine,” which is waiting to greet you.

After exiting Yuanshan MRT Station, Taipei 101 comes into view. Grab a YouBike and set off right away. Head south along Songren Road, turn right at Zhuangjing Road — wait, is this the right way? No — before setting off, it’s always good to refuel. There’s a breakfast spot here that’s hailed as one of Taipei’s must-visit cafés: “Chen Gen Tea & Find.” Their French-style soy milk toast is especially famous.

After eating and drinking your fill, take a stroll. There are also design shops tucked away in the nearby alleys — their fresh, minimalist vibe and floor-to-ceiling windows may be low-key, but they sell practical stationery. The most memorable item is a labor-saving stapler that can staple up to 20 sheets of paper at once — and without much effort either.

But your legs still have to keep moving — time to head toward Hexing Coal Mine. Walk back along Zhuangjing Road, turn right all the way to the end until you see the YouBike Wuxing Bus Terminal. Then take Xinyi Road Lane 150, Alley 401. After spotting the Joint Logistics School, turn left, walk along the school fence, cross the highway, and you’ll soon see the sign and the “steep slope”!

At the sight of this slope, I thought to myself, “As someone who considers themselves pretty energetic, there’s no way I can make it up!” So I locked my YouBike at the foot of the hill (thankfully YouBikes come with built-in locks), and continued on foot like I was hiking. About five minutes later, the park’s sign came into view.

Besides railway imagery, you’ll also be welcomed by the 18 Arhats (huh?) and a mining-loving pangolin. Mining here began during the Japanese colonial period but gradually declined over time. It was only recently, after slope and stream restoration projects, that this place was brought back into public memory...

Then, while walking back down the hill, I saw an uncle riding a GIANT bike. I asked him if it was far, and he said about a 5–10 minute walk. Upon hearing that, he immediately pedaled up the slope. With a slope like that, even professional cyclists wouldn’t find it too tough (though I’ve also heard of people biking up to Wuling on a YouBike... ha!).

After descending, I walked back and cycled into Wuxing Street to find another must-visit breakfast spot in Taipei. There are so many iconic cafés near the compact Taipei Medical University campus — students and residents around here are so lucky. I arrived at “Find Café 2 Shop,” where several YouBikes were already parked outside. No wonder it’s so well-known. Their most famous item is the toast, so after having a burger, I ordered another one to-go for a picnic...

Then I headed toward Tonghua Street, turned onto Leli Road, and found another well-known stationery shop, “Laibi Stationery.” It has no signboard and keeps a low profile, but students on bikes often stop by. Each piece of stationery is uniquely designed, full of creativity. For instance, for those of us who can’t afford Persian rugs, there’s always a Persian rug-style coasters. There are plenty more cleverly designed stationery items waiting to be discovered.

Next stop: also on Leli Road, a izakaya that became famous thanks to an advertisement — another great spot for photos.

Then I rode to Dunhua South Road. Cycling under the tree-lined median strip there for the first time felt special, forming a sharp contrast with the traffic on both sides. Watching people walking their dogs made me realize Taipei can be quite a relaxing place.

On the right side of Dunhua South Road is the brick-and-mortar store of renowned food critic Yilan Ye — PEKOE. Tea lovers or those interested in local ingredients shouldn’t miss a visit. On the left side of Dunhua South Road, there’s also a cozy little coffee shop called Eyewear Café, where you can take a short break and start dreaming up your next destination.

Travel Route:
YouBike at Yuanshan MRT Station → Chen Gen Tea & Find / urban prefer → Hexing Coal Mine → Find Café 2 Shop → Laibi Stationery → Kabuli Flavor Skewers → Dunhua South Road Tree-Lined Boulevard → PEKOE → Eyewear Café