Explore Hidden Gems: 10 Ways to Experience New Taipei’s Unique Style

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

With the Taipei Basin as the compass and Taipei City as the center, the outline of New Taipei City resembles a beautiful "doughnut"-shaped metropolis. Spanning over 2,000 square kilometers and home to nearly four million residents, this city has evolved with advancements in transportation infrastructure, making "one-day mini trips" the latest way to explore New Taipei. In October, the New Taipei City Government launched"New Taipei Style Private Trips: A Colorful and Vibrant City Adventure"— a new book centered around cultural landscapes, featuring ten one-day private travel routes full of discovery, while also introducing some of this year’s most popular new attractions such as the "Crescent Moon Bridge" that connects Xinzhuang and Banqiao. It also includes nine urban projects that provide an accessible yet insightful look at New Taipei’s festivals, film and drama locations, art and creativity, leisurely old street strolls, seasonal charm... and other must-see highlights. This allows both locals, urban light travelers, and international backpackers to easily explore the cultural characteristics and hidden gems of New Taipei City.

Led by Locals: One-Day City Route to Discover New Taipei’s Scenery
Most of the planners and interviewees involved in this book are locals of New Taipei City. They embarked on a journey to rediscover their homeland, embarking on private trips right in their own neighborhoods—hopping on trains to explore hidden Japanese-style dormitory complexes and unmanned train stations nestled in the mountains; strolling through old streets to relive childhood memories of pottery-making and appreciate the beauty of traditional arts; getting lost in alleyways just to find a charming cultural and creative shop. They’ve meticulously documented their favorite hidden spots, hoping to help more people discover the beauty of New Taipei together.

New Taipei City boasts a wealth of natural beauty including mountains, sea, valleys, waterfronts, and hot springs, along with pastoral scenery from farms and tea plantations, and traces of centuries-old settlers who developed the Taipei Basin. With exciting events throughout the year, it is a vibrant and colorful city. In recent years, travel books have delved deep into local cultural stories, and this year, those narratives are combined with even more hidden gems to create ten unique private travel routes. Led by locals, readers can experience the diverse, rich, and deeply humanistic side of New Taipei City.

Young writer Yang Fumin, who has won numerous literary awards, also contributed recommendations. With just a public transport ride, you can head to Sanxia and Gongliao to embrace mountain and sea views, relax leisurely in Wulai and Jinshan, or enjoy the harbor and ferries in Tamsui and Bali.