24/7 door-to-door service in Beitou — all-inclusive courier service even more convenient than convenience stores

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin

The "Time-Limited Express Delivery" service, which has been operating in Beitou for 50 years, provides passenger transport, document delivery, bill payment services including "three-thirty runs," and even roadside assistance when cars or motorcycles run out of gas — regardless of weather. It has been praised by local residents as a helpful helper that "delivers everything except babies." Some operators also offer rides around Beitou’s famous attractions with brief introductions.tour, lasting about 30–40 minutes per trip and costing around NT$250 per ride, has become another unique experience in the Beitou area besides hot spring bathing.

Currently, there are about eight "Time-Limited Express Delivery" operators in the Beitou area, some of which are open 24 hours a day. Because the first three digits of the phone numbers used to be the same for all operators, the last four digits were used as the shop names. Services include taking local residents to bus stops, picking up and dropping off elementary and middle school students to and from school or after-school care centers — at NT$40 per trip. Grocery shopping, bill payments, and bank “three-thirty runs” cost NT$60. For grocery shopping, customers can specify shops and request items from multiple stores in one trip, which will then be delivered to a designated location.

According to Mr. Zhou, a driver from the "4288" operator, ordering fast food from chain restaurants through Time-Limited Express allows for immediate pick-up, not only reducing the wait time at home but also offering lower delivery fees compared to the chains’ own services, making it very convenient and cost-effective for customers buying small amounts. During heavy rain or bad weather, the phones at the operators never stop ringing. Because of the many affordable and convenient services provided in daily life, they have become familiar and trusted helpers for locals. Women or students returning home late often choose to take Time-Limited Express home, and even wives going to hotels to "catch cheating spouses" ask drivers for help.

As the drivers are very familiar with the locations of local attractions, many tourists wanting to experience zipping through Beitou’s alleys and lanes via Time-Limited Express will split into several vehicles and ask the drivers to act as local tour guides. In addition to visiting various famous attractions, there are also simple introductions to the sights. A 30–40-minute trip costs about NT$250.

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