Ring in the New Year with a festive outing to three charming old streets in Pingxi, Houdong, and Jiufen

▲ A wish lantern rises into the sky in Pingxi. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Where to go for a festive New Year outing? Visiting old streets is a popular choice for many travelers. Along the Pingxi Railway Line in New Taipei City, there are several well-known old streets, including Shiding, Houdong, and Pingxi, as well as the nostalgic mountain-town charm of Jiufen Old Street further afield. Among these, releasing wish lanterns in Pingxi is an unmissable Lunar New Year activity. Linking up these old streets makes for a fantastic one-day trip.

▲ Specialty snacks in Pingxi Old Street: “Story Sausage” (left) and “Yang Family Chicken Rolls” (right). (Photo / FromPingxi Story Sausage Facebook;Yang Family Chicken Rolls Facebook)

“Sky lanterns in the north, bee hive fireworks in the south”—Pingxi’s sky lanterns are the most important traditional event during the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival in northern Taiwan. Visitors will find numerous shops selling wish lanterns. After purchasing a lantern, writing down New Year wishes, and having the vendor light it for release, you’ll see people sending lanterns skyward from the train tracks at the station all the way to Pingxi Old Street. Watching the softly glowing lanterns float upward often draws exclamations of awe from visitors.

Pingxi isn’t just about the lanterns—its old street specialty shops are also not to be missed, including “Pingxi Art Workshop” at artist Chen Wenhui’s studio, “Mingtong Yashe,” and the “Louzai Cu Coffee Homestay.” The owner of Yashe is a cultural historian dedicated to promoting local tourism. For food, besides the famous “Story Sausage” and “Almond Tea Crispy Cake,” “Yang Family Chicken Rolls” are also a beloved local dish rich in old-time flavor.

▲ %己铐咸厣?昙摇昂镯?Empress Gallery (Catwalk 219), a space transformed from an old street building with an artistic vibe. (Photo / FromHoudong Empress Gallery (Catwalk 219) Facebook)

Along the Pingxi Railway Line, you can also visit the “cat village” of Houdong. Originally known as Hou Cave due to frequent monkey sightings, it’s now famous for its adorable felines. The Houdong Old Street commercial area is built around the train station, featuring specialty shops like “Empress Gallery,” which regularly exhibits various cat-themed artworks, and also offers pour-over coffee and chilled imported beer. “Damenfa Traditional Noodle Shop” retains its old white-tiled walls and serves simple yet time-honored noodles.

▲ A specialty shop in Jiufen Old Street: “A-Mei Teahouse,” with its classic wooden architecture. (Photo / From Wikipedia; Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications website)

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Jiufen, located near Ruifang next to Pingxi District, boasts a unique hillside terrain and stepped architecture full of nostalgic charm. The old street here is enjoyable both during the day and at night.

Jiufen is famous for its taro balls. “A-Gan Yi Taro Balls,” open for over 30 years, is the oldest taro ball shop in the area. “A-Lan Herb Pancake Shop” is another long-standing eatery. “A-Mei Teahouse,” located on Shuqiji Road, features a wooden exterior with strong Japanese architectural style and preserves the original landscape character of Jiufen.