A Light-Hearted Getaway to Recharge – Explore Six Hidden Gems in New Taipei

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
The nine-day Spring Festival holiday has come to an end, and many people have returned to work to prepare for the new year. But there may also be many who, although physically back at their desks, still have their minds wandering elsewhere. If you haven’t quite gotten back into the groove, why not take advantage of the weekend to explore New Taipei City and give yourself one last light-hearted getaway to recharge.

● Tian Deng Police Station XHiking the Lingjiaoliao Mountain Trail for a Recharge
Want to make a new wish for the Year of the Monkey? Visit the world’s only “Tian Deng Police Station,” located next to the entrance of Jingmei Old Street. It features a 9-meter-tall glass curtain wall shaped like a sky lantern and nearly 200,000 LED lights. Every half hour after evening falls, a personalized light show takes place, making it hard to resist stopping and admiring the display.

If you’re looking for a relaxing mini-trip, head to the “Lingjiao” section of the Pingxi Branch Line and hike the Lingjiaoliao Mountain Trail to shake off any extra weight. The trail connects Wanggu and Lingjiao, both of which have trailheads, and both are conveniently close to train stations, allowing visitors to choose different entry and exit points. Start by arriving at Lingjiao Train Station, then walk out to “Da Lu Che Workshop” to enjoy hand-brewed coffee and handmade buns and steamed buns. Next, visit the red-brick Japanese-style Western house “Tsai Family Mansion” to soak in the historical charm of the past. Then head to “Wanggu Waterfall” to take in the sight of its gushing white cascade and the emerald pool below, breathe in the refreshing mist, and take in the forest’s rich phytoncides.

● Strolling Through the Mountain City and Shuinsen Cave XArtistic Dining Delights
The Shuinsen Cave Scenic Area boasts four world-class wonders: the enchanting Yin-Yang Sea, the Shuinsen Cave Smelting Plant, abandoned flues, and the Golden Waterfall. Located near Jiufen, Shuinsen Cave gets its name from a cave on the back mountain that resembles the Water Curtain Cave from Journey to the West. The ruins of the Shuinsen Cave Thirteen Levels are an indelible part of Taiwan’s copper smelting history. Built in 1933 and constructed layer by layer along the mountain slope, it also features three massive flues, a water diversion system, and the uniquely structured Thirteen Levels ruins.