Fly light and travel smart along the Airport MRT line: a lazy traveler’s guide to 5 top attractions – historic sites, painted villages, and airplane views

Reported and photographed by Chen Hanyin / Taoyuan

The Taoyuan Airport MRT has recently opened to the public, providing access to many Taoyuan attractions that were previously hard to reach. Take advantage of the free riding period and plan a “MRT Light Travel” weekend getaway. Below are 5 must-visit spots near Kun Kou Station, Shan Bi Station, Ling Hang Station, and Huan Bei Station – perfect for a journey through century-old heritage sites and fragrant tea houses.

▲ With the opening of the Taoyuan Airport MRT, traveling to Taoyuan has never been easier.

A11 Kun Kou Station – Kun Kou Painted Village

▲ A quaint painted village themed around rural scenery, where you can even look up to see planes soaring across the sky.

Covering about 1,000 pyeong (approx. 3,300 sqm), the Kun Kou Community Painted Village features murals and graffiti all over the walls of 30 hectares of residential and factory buildings. Just a 10-minute walk from the MRT station, this colorful village draws inspiration from 1950s and 60s rural life, transporting you back to old-time Taiwanese countryside scenes. From here, you can also get an up-close view of planes taking off and landing – ideal for a day out in nature.

▲ Interactive painted graffiti adds plenty of fun.

A10 Shan Bi Station – Dexin Hall
Address: No. 90, Section 3, Nanshan Road, Luzhu District, Taoyuan City

▲ The giant owl at the entrance is absolutely adorable.

History buffs will love this MRT mini adventure. Dexin Hall, located near Shan Bi Station, is a traditional Minnan-style building with swallowtail roof ridges. Now a Taoyuan Municipal Historic Site, it preserves the living spaces of earlier generations – complete with an entrance gate tower, ancestral hall in the middle, and century-old brick walls. It offers a glimpse into the timeless beauty of traditional architecture. Please note, there’s no café or nearby attractions, so it’s best enjoyed as part of a historic site tour.

▲ Touring this century-old heritage site lets you admire the charm of traditional architecture.

A9 Linkou Station – Zhufeng Tea House
Address: No. 1, Miaoweiqi, Linzi Zi (12th neighborhood), Luzhu District, Taoyuan City (recommended to ride U-Bike for about 3.5 km)

▲ Spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying the mountain scenery and sipping tea when the weather is nice.

Zhufeng Tea House is a leisure tea garden with a century-long history of tea cultivation. Originally a tea seedling nursery during the Japanese colonial period, it became the only tea-producing area in Luzhu Township. Its unique Acacia charcoal-roasted tea has even been selected as one of Taoyuan’s Top 10 Souvenirs. Here, you can enjoy authentic mountain flavors, including delicious traditional Hakka cuisine. Groups of 10 or more can also sign up for a 100-TWD-per-person Lei Cha (pounded tea) experience, grinding and brewing your own tea – a fun and immersive process.

▲ The Lei Cha workshop lets you DIY your own tea.

▲ The different varieties of tea are all carefully selected for their excellent flavor.

A17 Ling Hang Station – Da Fu Mansion
Address: No. 1632, Section 2, Long’an Street, Luzhu District, Taoyuan City

▲ This Huizhou-style ancient house, over 300 years old, was rebuilt brick-by-brick in Taiwan.

Located at A17 Ling Hang Station, “Da Fu Mansion” is a highly recommended new historic attraction. This 300- to 400-year-old Huizhou-style mansion feels like stepping onto the set of a period drama. The mansion is both a historic Huizhou architectural site and a café. After admiring the grand historic structures, visitors can quietly sip hand-brewed coffee in the side rooms, escaping the city noise and finding peace and healing in the tranquility.

▲ The inner courtyard and Bagua (Eight Trigrams) pond design allow sunlight to pour into the old house, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

A21 Huan Bei Station – House+ Café 1910
Address: No. 32, Zhengda Street, Zhongli City, Taoyuan County

▲ This century-old red-brick building was constructed in the style of British colonial architecture from the mid- to late 19th century.

This Western-style red-brick building in Zhongli is an annex to the famous Liu family’s historic residence, Ran Li Mansion. Preserved for over a century, it was built in the style of British colonial architecture from the mid- to late 19th century. The two-story red-brick structure features Western-style stairs, bricks, and stone pillars – all marks of history. Inside, works by emerging artists are displayed, turning it into a cozy little art gallery. Head upstairs for stunning views – perfect for snapping romantic photos. Plan a trip to Huan Bei Station this weekend for an English-style romantic afternoon tea experience.

▲ Sitting by the window at sunset is the epitome of comfort and relaxation.