"Discover New Taipei" – Take you on a journey to hidden gems known only to locals

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Traveling in New Taipei City is outdated if you only visit famous spots like Jiufen Old Street and Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf. The New Taipei City Tourism Bureau has launched a travel book that highlights hidden gems known only to locals, allowing visitors to discover a different side of New Taipei. In addition, the bureau invited renowned record designer and “longtime resident” Xiao Qingyang to serve as a guide, sharing lesser-known features of Zhonghe and Yonghe.

▲ Shuinshe Cave mentioned in the travel book. The area’s yin-yang sea, formed at the cove of Liandong Bay and nurtured by unique water sources and geology, creates a scene where golden waves chase the azure sea. (Photo / Courtesy of the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications)

The travel book "Discover New Taipei: 12 Travel Life Stories" was created through over five months of on-site interviews and photography. It features 12 local routes, with insights shared by veteran residents, cultural historians, and returning youth. Through photos and text, the book documents these life stories, recreating the old streets, small shops, ancient trails, beautiful mountains and waters, and hidden gems known only to locals that the authors explored.

The Tourism Bureau says that when visiting New Taipei, you can ride a bike in Wulai Fushan to explore the serene Atayal tribe and enjoy waterfalls and rose-flavored sea salt coffee. You can also take a railway or branch line train, stopping at small stations like Pingxi, Lingjiao, and Houtong to explore coal mining trails and hear stories from locals about the past. For an artistic experience, head to Shuinshe Cave and Luojia Mountain Town for a cup of hand-brewed coffee.

Designer Xiao Qingyang has lived in Zhonghe and Yonghe for over 30 years. He enjoys finding inspiration on Zhongyong Art Street and having international cuisine for lunch on Thai-Myanmar Street. He says, “If you want the feeling of going abroad, a trip to Zhonghe and Yonghe is all you need!” In the height of summer, he swims at the break of dawn on the Northeast Coast and watches fishermen at Shen’ao Fishing Port before heading back to work by noon.

Xiao Qingyang mentioned that there are several “celebrity spotting spots” in Zhonghe and Yonghe, where directors Wei Te-sheng, Tsai Ming-liang, and Nine Knives often hang out. Keep an eye out while walking around – they might just be nearby. Ye Siyin, one of the book’s authors, said that after concluding their exploratory journey, she will never forget her lunch date at Shuinshe Cave and Shan Cheng Museum of Fine Arts, and also discovered the Jianyuan Coal Mining Ancient Trail ruins in Pingxi and a nearly pollution-free water source gem.

%Napo Education and Technology Training School, vibrant and youthful energy (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)

"Discover New Taipei: 12 Travel Life Stories" is available in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, and Japanese. It went on sale from January 20 at major bookstores, online retailers, and e-bookstores, with a recommended retail price of 79% of the listed price.