Hot air balloon releases in Pingxi, railway mini-trips – Top 5 themed tours for a spring outing in New Taipei
Last updated 2026-09-25 — With the Lunar New Year approaching, the New Taipei City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau has introduced five recommended travel routes for the festive season. These include “Praying for Blessings: Heritage Tour of Xinzhuang Temple Street,” “Spring Outing: Railway Mini-Trip through Banqiao, Shulin, and Yingge,” “Attracting Fortune: Gold-Rich Stroll along the Shuǐjīnjiǔ Route,” “Releasing Sky Lanterns: A Happy Day Trip to Muzha, Shenkeng, and Pingxi,” and “Joining the Festive Fun: Exploring the Yearly Vibes at Sanxia Old Street.” These routes span both Taipei and New Taipei, offering internationally-themed festive events for welcoming the Year of the Horse.
By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Chen Guanxin
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the New Taipei City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau has introduced five recommended travel routes for the festive season. These include “Praying for Blessings: Heritage Tour of Xinzhuang Temple Street,” “Spring Outing: Railway Mini-Trip through Banqiao, Shulin, and Yingge,” “Attracting Fortune: Gold-Rich Stroll along the Shuǐjīnjiǔ Route,” “Releasing Sky Lanterns: A Happy Day Trip to Muzha, Shenkeng, and Pingxi,” and “Joining the Festive Fun: Exploring the Yearly Vibes at Sanxia Old Street.” These routes span both Taipei and New Taipei, offering internationally-themed festive events for welcoming the Year of the Horse.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is hailed as a must-visit carnival. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
(1) Temple Street Prayers — Heritage Tour of Xinzhuang Temple Street
Visiting temples to offer incense and pray for blessings is a traditional essential activity during the Taiwanese Lunar New Year. The Xinzhuang area, with its high density of temples, is also known as “Xinzhuang Temple Street,” making it a top choice for a New Year’s spring outing. This street is lined with century-old traditional shops and densely packed historic temples. Within just 600 meters, there are multiple temples designated as national heritage sites, including the Grade II Guanfu Temple, Grade III Wusheng Temple, and Ciyi Palace.
Ciyi Palace on Xinzhuang Temple Street. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
(2) Railway Spring Outing — Railway Tour through Banqiao, Shulin, and Yingge
This Lunar New Year holiday is shorter than usual, so traffic congestion may be worse than in past years. Opting for a railway-based spring trip to explore historic sites and scenic spots in the city is a wise choice. For just a small fare, you can take the Taiwan Railways to visit attractions along the line such as the “Banqiao Lin Family Garden” (Lin Ben Yuan Garden Residence), the Shanjia Railway Station—a municipal heritage site, as well as Yingge Old Street and the Yingge Ceramics Museum.
Enjoy a relaxing railway mini-trip during the Lunar New Year. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
(3) Attracting Fortune — Gold-Rich Stroll along the Shuǐjīnjiǔ Route
Shuǐjīnjiǔ refers to three charming small towns: “Shuǐdòng” (Shuǐdòng Cave), “Jīnguāshí” (Gold Mine Mountain), and “Jiǔfēn” (Jiufen). Shuǐdòng features the 13-Level Ruins, Yin-Yang Sea, and Golden Waterfall, as well as the Shuǐdòng Visitor Center. Originally an idle old restaurant owned by Taipower, this center has been repurposed through creative reuse and the involvement of local artists, becoming Taiwan’s first visitor center that combines cultural, artistic exhibitions, and performances.
Nearby Jīnguāshí boasts attractions like the Gold Ecological Park, Qitang Old Street, the Golden Shrine, the Crown Prince’s Guesthouse, and the International Peace Memorial Park. The Gold Ecological Park not only allows you to experience going deep into a mine and try your hand at panning for gold, but it also houses a massive 220-kilogram gold bar. Rubbing this big gold bar during the New Year is believed to attract wealth and bring good fortune and luck for the year ahead. In the afternoon or evening, head to Jiufen, loved by international visitors for three consecutive years as one of Taiwan’s favorite destinations, to enjoy the distinct vibes of this place by day and night.
The Shuǐjīnjiǔ area is a popular tourist spot in New Taipei City. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
(4) Joining the Festive Fun — Exploring the Yearly Vibes at Sanxia Old Street
The Sanxia Qingshui Zuoshi Temple, hailed as the “Oriental Art Palace,” and the Sanxia Old Street, which stays lively from the eve of New Year’s Eve (when people rush to be the first to offer incense) through to the sixth day of the New Year during the Qingshui Zuoshi Festival, are both brimming with Lunar New Year cheer and rich traditional local character. Visiting these spots during the New Year offers a fresh and festive start to the year.
This year’s Lunar New Year holiday extends to the fifth day of the first lunar month (February 4th), and most people have to return to work on the sixth (February 5th). However, retirees are not bound by these holiday restrictions and might consider joining the Qingshui Zuoshi Festival on the sixth. To accommodate the large crowds, additional medical service stations and portable toilets will be set up around the old street.
The Qingshui Zuoshi Festival on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year is a significant local celebration. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau, photographed by Chen Dingxin)
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