Chinese New Year One-Day Tours in New Taipei City – 5 Must-Visit Themed Routes in Pingxi, Jiufen, and Temple Streets

▲ The “Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival” has been listed as one of the 14 global carnivals that one must experience in a lifetime, taking place on February 3, 8, and 14. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau, same for all below)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

With Chinese New Year approaching, have you planned your holiday itinerary yet? The New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau today (23rd) unveiled five recommended travel routes for the Lunar New Year. These routes not only span both Taipei and New Taipei City but also feature internationally renowned festive events, inviting travelers from around the world to welcome the Year of the Horse in New Taipei City.

This year’s Spring Festival holiday spans six days from Lunar New Year’s Eve (January 30) to the fifth day of the New Year (February 4), which is shorter than usual. Therefore, the New Taipei City Tourism Bureau recommends opting for short trips during the holiday and using public transportation to avoid spending too much time commuting. Based on this principle, the bureau has planned five themed one-day tour routes for the public, including: “Praying for Blessings: Historic Sites Tour of Xinzhuang Temple Street,” “Spring Walk: Railway Mini-Tour through Banqiao, Shulin, and Yingge,” “Attracting Wealth: Gold Exploration Route in Shuinandong, Jinguashi, and Jiufen,” “Releasing Sky Lanterns: A Blissful Day Trip through Muzha, Shenkeng, and Pingxi,” and “Temple Fair Fun: Exploring the Festive Vibes of Sanxia Old Street.”

1. Temple Street Prayers: Historic Sites Tour of Xinzhuang Temple Street

Visiting temples to offer incense and prayers for blessings is a traditional essential during the Taiwanese Lunar New Year. The Xinzhuang area, with its high density of temples, is also known as “Xinzhuang Temple Street” — making it an ideal choice for New Year explorations. This 600-meter stretch is home to numerous century-old shops and densely clustered historic temples, including several designated as national heritage sites, such as the Grade II Guanfu Temple, Grade III Wusheng Temple, and Ciyun Temple.

2. Railway Spring Walk: Banqiao, Shulin, and Yingge Railway Tour

Traveling by train to explore historic landmarks and scenic spots in the city is a wise and enjoyable choice. For just a small fare on the Taiwan Railways, you can reach attractions along the route such as the “Banqiao Lin Family Mansion and Garden” (Lin Ben Yuan Garden Residence), the Shanjia Railway Station (a municipal historic site), as well as Yingge Old Street and the Yingge Ceramics Museum.

%Jialun? Fenhuai? Have historical value and are located here (left image), hence the name “Xinzhuang Temple Street”; Shulin’s Sancha Station (right image), though closed for renovation in 2011, remains a municipal historic site.

3. Attracting Wealth: Gold Exploration Route in Shuinandong, Jinguashi, and Jiufen
“Shui-Jin-Jiu” refers to three charming small towns: “Shuinandong,” “Jinguashi,” and “Jiufen.” Shuinandong features the 13-Level Ruins, Yin-Yang Sea, and Golden Waterfall, along with the Shuinandong Visitor Center, which was originally an idle restaurant owned by Taipower. After adaptive reuse and the arrival of local artists, it became the nation’s first visitor center integrating cultural, artistic exhibitions, and performances.

Near Jinguashi, you’ll find the Gold Museum, Golden Shrine, Crown Prince’s Residence, and the International Peace Memorial Park. The Gold Museum not only allows visitors to go deep into a mine and try their hand at gold panning but also houses a massive 220-kilogram gold bar. Touching this giant gold bar during the New Year is believed to bring wealth and good fortune. In the afternoon or evening, head to Jiufen — loved by international tourists as one of Taiwan’s top attractions for three consecutive years — to experience its distinct charm in both daytime and nighttime settings.

4. Temple Fair Fun – Exploring the Festive Vibes of Sanxia Old Street

The Sanxia Qingshui Zushi Temple, renowned as the “Oriental Art Palace,” and the lively Sanxia Old Street — buzzing from the first incense offering on Lunar New Year’s Eve to the Qingshui Zushi Festival on the sixth day — are both rich in traditional local character and brimming with festive cheer. Visiting these spots during the holiday is sure to usher in a fresh and prosperous new year.

%Jikang Sauce Navigation Building... and the 13-Level Ruins in Shuinandong, Jinguashi (right image), are among the New Taipei City Tourism Bureau’s recommended destinations for the Spring Festival.

5. Releasing Sky Lanterns: A Blissful Day Trip through Muzha, Shenkeng, and Pingxi

New Taipei City boasts many internationally renowned tourist highlights. Among them, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has been recognized by the famous U.S. travel channel Discovery as the world’s second-largest festival carnival. In early 2013, it was selected by CNN as one of the 52 most worthwhile experiences globally, and more recently, it was included by the world’s largest travel guide publisher, Fodor’s, in its list of 14 must-visit carnivals in a lifetime — making it one of Taiwan’s most internationally acclaimed large-scale festivals.

Besides taking the Pingxi Line train to Pingxi to release sky lanterns, you can also take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle “Muzha–Pingxi Line” bus starting from Muzha.“See the rice dumplings in Muzha, eat tofu in Shenkeng, and release sky lanterns in Pingxi”is an increasingly popular one-day itinerary. This year’s Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will be held on February 3 (Fourth Day of the Lunar New Year), 8 (Ninth Day), and 14 (Lantern Festival). In addition to traditional lanterns, visitors can also enjoy the beautiful sight of ingot-shaped and heart-shaped lanterns soaring together.

Finally, the Tourism Bureau reminds everyone to check the operating hours of museums and parks in advance during the Spring Festival holiday and to make use of public transportation as much as possible. During the Lunar New Year holiday (January 30 – February 4), the New Taipei City Tourism Service Center and visitor centers will operate until noon on January 30 (Lunar New Year’s Eve), while maintaining regular hours on other days. Information on the five recommended Spring Festival travel routes and the 29 districts of New Taipei City can be found on theNew Taipei City Tourism Website.