Summer is all about water fun — top 9 refreshing routes in New Taipei

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

A passionate summer calls for unrestrained fun, and New Taipei City has specially launched an exclusive cooling party. It has curated three major themed travel routes: waterfront music light shows, cool mountain forests and waterfalls, and family-friendly riverside parks, totaling nine routes. Whether you want to enjoy the romantic vibe of a waterfront bay, including this year’s addition, the Bali Left Bank Light Spots; escape the hustle and bustle to mountain waterfalls for a cool retreat, breathing in phytoncides and washing away the summer heat; or spend the long summer vacation with your kids, taking a water bus and fully embracing the summer sea breeze — these are all must-try recommended routes.

Theme 1: Summer Exclusive！New Taipei’s Water Fun for a Cool Summer
Cool off by the coast & enjoy romantic light spots
 
New Taipei City, by the sea, boasts naturally blessed waterfront scenery. Attractions such as Tamsui-Bali and Fulong Beach are internationally renowned. This summer will be even more vibrant, as the left bank of the Tamsui River offers a different charm. For the first time, from July 1 to August 31, the existing landscape will be decorated with LED lights to transform into the “Bali Romantic Light Spots” riverside, where you can experience the touching sight of summer evening breezes and romantic lights interwoven along the waterfront. From July 28 to July 30, you can immerse yourself in the “Gongliao Ocean Music Festival”; and from July 8 to August 20, every weekend night, you can also head to the Tamsui Fisherman’s Stage to enjoy rock performances.
 
★ Route 1: Tamsui Golden Waterfront / Tamsui Old Street → Tamsui Art Workshop → Tamsui Customs Wharf → Tamsui Fort San Domingo → Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf → Fisherman’s Stage
★ Route 2: Tamsui → Bali Wazihwei Nature Reserve → Sanxia Street Museum → Bali Old Street
★ Route 3: Fulong Station → Yuanwangkeng Water Park → Lingjiushan WuSheng Taoist Temple → Old Caoling Tunnel / Old Caoling Cycling Loop → Maokou Fishing Village → Sijiaokou Viewpoint → Fulong Beach (New Taipei Gongliao Ocean Music Festival)

Theme 2: Summer Exclusive！Secret Waterfall Trail Adventure
Breathe in negative ions & enjoy a healthy, cool escape
 
During the peak of summer, why not visit New Taipei’s waterfall trails to feel the coolness and enjoy a baptism in nature? New Taipei isn’t just home to Shifen Waterfall — there are many stunning waterfall trails that feel like being abroad. For example, the Lingjiaoliao Trail lets you admire the Wanggu Waterfall up close, cross streams, and listen to the babbling brook while experiencing the serene atmosphere of the mountains. The famed Shifen Waterfall, often called the “Niagara of Taiwan,” offers an abundance of negative ions, and after rain, you might even spot a rainbow hovering above the falls, creating a fairy-tale scene. The Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail, surrounded by lush forests, features a series of waterfalls, cliffs, potholes, and rock caves, full of pristine charm. The Pinglin Fern Trail, known as a family-friendly path, highlights stream views and fern ecology, with rich plant life being a major highlight. Shuangxi’s Hupao Pond boasts crystal-clear waters and a tranquil, peaceful setting.
 
★ Route 1 (Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Muzha Pingxi Line): Jingting Old Street → Pingxi Old Street → Lingjiaoliao Trail → Wanggu Waterfall → Shifen Waterfall
★ Route 2: Shuangxi Old Street → Hupao Pond → Hou Dong Cat Village → Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail
★ Route 3: Pinglin Fish Fern Trail → Tea Museum → Wulai Old Street → Wulai Waterfall → Bi Tan Scenic Area

Theme 3: Summer Must-Go！Family Fun at the Riverside
Nature & culture exploration & biking along the riverside
 
Riverside parks located in the suburbs have always been popular spots for family outings. The vast green spaces by the river, a wide range of recreational facilities, and interconnected bike trails make them perfect for summer family trips, allowing urban kids to enjoy a unique cityscape. New Taipei’s riverside parks, each with its own character, include Xindian Sunshine Sports Park, Yonghe Green Light Riverside Park, and Greater Taipei Metropolitan Park. There’s also the newly developed Butterfly Landscape Park. Before the end of July, you can also stroll along the butterfly-shaped trail at Jiangcui Gravel Waterfront Park and admire the breathtaking sea of flowers.
 
★ Route 1: Bi Tan Scenic Area → Sunshine Sports Park → Sunshine Bridge
★ Route 2: Yonghe Soy Milk → Yang Sanlang Art Gallery → Green Light Riverside Park → Yonghe Korean Street
★ Route 3: Greater Taipei Metropolitan Park → Zhongxiao Wharf → Duck/D butterfly Landscape Park → Sanhe Night Market
 

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