Explore Beitou by YouBike: Discover Quaint Historical Memories in Hidden Alleys

Text/Photos byYouBike Light Travel

Though Lichun (the Beginning of Spring) has passed, it's still a great season for leisurely sightseeing (huh??). Renting a YouBike to explore Beitou is a solid choice. But beyond the hot springs, Beitou has many alleyways to wander through, revealing different facets of Taipei.

First, rent a YouBike at U-Li'an Station, then ride toward the bridgehead on the right where you’ll see a factory. On the second floor is a mail-order company — suddenly makes you wonder if anyone even uses mail order anymore with online shopping being so convenient? The third floor is “Open Space,” an arts and culture venue converted from a textile factory, currently hosting the “Court Joy” photography exhibition. How great that there’s an exhibition space in Beitou too.

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Next, pass under the elevated MRT tracks, turn left onto a small bridge, and enter downtown Beitou. Soon, you'll see a red-and-white church. This church was originally established thanks to George Leslie Mackay, but it was later relocated here and is now a municipal historic site. A pity its surroundings block its charm a bit...

The municipal historic site “Presbyterian Beitou Church” is located at No. 77, Section 1, Zhongyang South Road, Beitou District. Designed and built in 1912 by Canadian missionary William Gauld, it is one of the few remaining old churches near Taipei. At the time, most worshippers were local Pingpu Aboriginal people, giving the site historical value in Taiwan’s modern religious development. This small church, built with red bricks and wooden frames, resembles an English country chapel. Its entrance is centered on the front facade, and the cozy interior offers a warm atmosphere. The exterior walls feature earthquake-resistant buttresses, a distinctive design touch. Most churches designed by William Gauld in the early 20th century have been demolished, making Beitou Church a rare surviving example worth preserving.
(Sight Interpretation)

Turn left into an unnamed alley and stumble upon the “Happiness Brand Bicycle” — perhaps also a memory of your grandparents’ time. Though it no longer looks like a bike shop...

After winding through a few more alleys, you’ll arrive at the “Chou Family Chastity Archway.” It features imperial decrees, fish, lions, and more. Legend says officials had to “dismount from horses or step out of sedan chairs” in its presence — so I dismounted and walked as a sign of respect. Of course, whether such lifelong mourning is necessary by today’s standards is a personal matter...

The woman honored was named Juan, born in the 53rd year of the Qianlong reign (1788) and died in the 26th year of the Daoguang reign (1846). She became a widow young, raised her child alone, and cared filially for her in-laws. Due to her devotion, in the 30th year of the Daoguang reign (1850), officials including Governor-General Liu Yunke of Fujian and Zhejiang petitioned to build the archway, which was completed in the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign (1861). Made of relatively fragile Guanyin Mountain stone, parts of it were damaged in an earthquake in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (1897). It was restored and renovated by Taipei City Government’s Civil Affairs Bureau in recent years.
(Source of Information)

In Beitou’s alleyways, you can still find traditional wooden doors — a rare sight in Taipei.

You can also spot Beitou’s old grain silo in the alleys. Though not open to the public, it has plenty of vintage charm, with a sign still reading “Beitou Town.”

Then cycle to Beitou Market — I've heard there’s lots of delicious food there. (You can park at the YouBike Dafeng Park Station.) Along the way, you’ll find a rare old-school convenience store — something you won’t see in the East District but can enjoy in Beitou.

Right at the entrance, you’ll see a line stretching from the second floor down to the first. Not knowing what they’re lining up for, I joined in anyway. (Obsessive-compulsive much?) Halfway through, I realized it was for the famous braised pork rice from “Aizai Cai”! At NT$25, it’s affordable, tasty, and worth a try (though those who dislike pork hair might skip it).

On the first floor, there’s Gao Ji Black Tea — the only branch, and a local favorite. It’s a tea you can try to blend in with the locals. They even use milk from small farms for their milk tea — definitely worth a sip.

If the weather’s nice and it’s not too crowded, check out the rare publicly-run, privately-operated hot spring: Beitou Qinghuang. The radioactive element “radium” in Qinghuang water is said to activate human cells and boost immunity — it’s considered a therapeutic, precious spring quality, even praised by the Japanese. Imagine living nearby and soaking daily — you’d probably be super healthy (or so they say).
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After eating and drinking, you can choose one of two routes:

1. Head north along Zhongyang North Road toward Tamsui to reach Xingtian Temple’s Beitou Branch. Its layout is quite different from the Taipei location, and you get a nice view over Guandu Plain — adding a peaceful vibe. (Bonus: cherry blossoms are blooming in the park by National Defense University.)

2. Return your YouBike at the Datong/Daye intersection station, walk along Datong Road toward Fuhsing High School, then take the alley toward Anguo Temple. It’s about a 45-minute walk to the currently popular “Cherry Blossom Tunnel”!

Both are great options.

Bonus Highlights:
Other must-visits include Beitou’s hot spring district spots like Thermal Valley, Beitou Hot Spring Museum, Beitou Cultural Artifacts Museum, the “Kimi wa Left, Kimi wa Right”-inspired Beitou Park, and the eco-friendly Beitou Public Library. All are fantastic sights.