Hidden gems make the list too！ Top 10 “Most Unique in New Taipei” Photo Spots – How Many Have You Visited?

▲ Known as “Shui Zhong Yang 2.0,” Tianshixin Pool. (Photo /Craving, Capturing)

Reported by Yu Jiayun / New Taipei

New Taipei City boasts rich natural landscapes and distinctive cultural history, making many of its attractions popular photo spots. To promote local characteristics, the New Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau selected 10 “Most Unique in New Taipei” sites, including Laomei Green Reef Slots, Taiwan’s Best Mailbox, and Taiwan’s Sweetest Tianshixin Pool. Physical landmarks have been set up for visitors to find and take photos, sharing the beauty of New Taipei with the world through images.

Largest Curtain Waterfall in Taiwan – Shihfen Waterfall

Shihfen Waterfall is the largest curtain-type waterfall in Taiwan. With the rock layers tilted opposite to the direction of the water flow, it features reverse-dipping strata. Resembling Niagara Falls in North America, it is nicknamed Taiwan’s Niagara. Majestic and thunderous, the waterfall is an awe-inspiring sight that showcases nature’s incredible craftsmanship.

▲ The magnificent Shihfen Waterfall. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government)

Oldest Mailbox in Taiwan – Pingxi Old Mailbox

Located at the entrance of Pingxi Post Office, this old mailbox has been in service since its establishment in Showa 16 (1941) during the Japanese colonial period. It is the oldest still-functioning mailbox in Taiwan. Its cylindrical shape was the most common design in early Taiwan, and it continues to serve, delivering stories from Pingxi to people everywhere.

▲ The Pingxi old mailbox retains the original appearance of early mailboxes. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau)

Largest Century-Old Terraced Fields – Songshan Terraced Fields

The Songshan Terraced Fields in Shishe Village, Shimen District, are New Taipei’s largest century-old terraced fields. Local seniors continue to cultivate rice on these terraces. Since the combined age of the farmers exceeds a thousand years, the rice they grow is marketed as “Thousand-Year Rice.” Grown using toxin-free farming methods, the rice is glossy and has a bouncy texture, making it a local specialty. Visitors can not only stroll through the fields and enjoy the scenery but also experience the joy of drying and harvesting rice during harvest season.

▲ Scenic century-old terraced fields. (Photo / Screenshot from New Taipei City Government website)

Only Green Reef Slots in Taiwan – Laomei Green Reef Slots

The “Laomei Reef Slots” in Shimen District, New Taipei City, are the only such landscape in Taiwan. Every spring, green algae attach to the originally gray-black reef slots along the northern coast, covering them like a vast green carpet. By summer, the algae whiten and wither under the sun, only to regrow the following year. This once-a-year cycle of life creates a seasonal spectacle unique to the northern coast.

▲ The Laomei Green Reef Slots along the northern coast. (Photo / By reporter Ji Xiangru)

Sweetest in New Taipei – Tianshixin in Sanzhi

The Baxian Settlement once had the picturesque scenery reminiscent of “Shui Zhong Yang,” though it no longer exists, leaving many prospective visitors disappointed. Along the Beiqi Township Road (Northern Route 8) between Tamsui and Jinshan, you can find another hidden gem comparable to Shui Zhong Yang – “Tianshixin.” Instead of stones in the lake, there are trees, creating a harmonious scene that makes for a highly photogenic “advanced version of Shui Zhong Yang.”

▲ Tianshixin Pool has been selected as the sweetest in New Taipei. (Photo / Provided by netizen mrdolllll. Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Only Human-Powered Ferry in Taiwan – Xindian Ferry Crossing

In the 1940s, the upper and middle reaches of the Xindian River had nine ferry crossings: Wazai, Xindian, Zhitan, Xiaocukeng, Wantan, Tutan, Kuangyao, Xiaokeng, and Guangxing. They facilitated transportation and daily life across the river. Later, with the completion of transportation infrastructure, people shifted to more convenient modes of transport, causing the crossings to decline one by one. Today, Xindian Ferry is the only remaining human-powered ferry crossing in the Xindian River basin, rich in local cultural character.

▲ The Xindian ferry operators are a rare sight in Taiwan. (Photo / Archival image)

Oldest Cinema in New Taipei – Shengping Cinema

Located in Jiufen, Shengping Cinema is a frequent filming location for artists. Many films such as “A Borrowed Life,” “City of Sadness,” and “Blue Mountain Coffee” were shot here, capturing classic scenes. After renovation, it resumed cinema operations. Inside, the old projectors were donated by the Wu Cangfu family, and Mr. Lai from the Jiufen Local Museum arranged the interior to recreate the ambiance of the 1950s and 1960s, giving visitors the feeling of stepping into an old-time theater.

▲ The nostalgic Shengping Cinema.

Full List of New Taipei’s Top 10 Most Unique Spots:

Only Green Reef Slots in Taiwan – Laomei Green Reef Slots
Taiwan’s largest curtain waterfall – Shifen Waterfall
New Taipei’s sweetest – Sanzhi Sweetheart Taro
New Taipei’s largest temple to the Earth God – Hongludi
New Taipei’s largest lake – Xizhi Golden Dragon Lake
New Taipei’s oldest banyan tree – Xindian Jiuding Banyan
Taiwan’s only human-powered ferry – Xindian Ferry Crossing
Taiwan’s largest curtain waterfall – Shifen Waterfall
New Taipei’s oldest cinema – Shengping Theater
Taiwan’s oldest mailbox – Pingxi Old Mailbox
Largest century-old terraced fields – Songshan Terraced Fields