Alleyhops

Jiufen and Jinguashi: teahouses, the Gold Museum and key tips

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Taiwan's 6th most asked-about place. How we rank places

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The A-Mei teahouse in Jiufen, hung with red lanterns, below a green mountain

Jiufen is an old gold-mining town on a hillside above the sea: stone steps, teahouses and red lanterns that light up in the evening.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel Go in the afternoon and stay until dark. Add Jinguashi, at the end of the same bus route, for the Gold Museum and the old mine.

How long have you got?

  • Half a day: Jishan Street, Shengping Theater and a teahouse.
  • A day: start at the Gold Museum in Jinguashi, then come back to Jiufen for the evening.
  • A night: stay for the night views, as the Tourism Administration suggests, and climb Teapot Mountain in the morning.Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw

Top things to do

  • Jishan Street (Jiufen Old Street)Jishan Street (Jiufen Old Street): narrow lanes of taro balls, meatballs, mugwort rice cakes and souvenir shops. 08:00 to 19:00 Monday to Thursday, and to 22:00 Friday to Sunday, though each stall sets its own hours.Tip Come back after dark, when the lanterns are lit.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
  • Shengping Theater: built in 1934–37 and called northern Taiwan’s first theatre, at the corner of Shuqi and Qingbian roads. 09:30 to 17:00 on weekdays, to 18:00 at weekends.Tip Closed on the first Monday of each month.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
  • A teahouse: A-Mei Teahouse, once a blacksmith’s shop for the miners, has mountain and sea views from every table and a rooftop tea area, open from 08:30 until late.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travelTip The teahouses are where to sit out the crowds on the street.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
  • Gold Museum, Jinguashi: the old mine site, with a mining tunnel, Japanese-era buildings and a 220 kg gold bar you can touch through its case. NT$80, 09:30 to 17:00 on weekdays and to 18:00 at weekends and holidays.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travelTip Closed on the first Monday of each month, and tickets are valid only on the day you buy them.Gold Museum (opens in a new tab)gep.ntpc.gov.tw
  • Benshan Fifth Tunnel: walk the first 70 m of an old mine tunnel in a safety helmet, NT$50 on top of the museum ticket. 09:30 to 16:30 on weekdays, to 17:30 at weekends.Tip Wear closed shoes with grip; the tunnel can be wet and slippery.Gold Museum (opens in a new tab)gep-en.ntpc.gov.tw
  • Gold panning: NT$100, in sessions of 50 people at 11:30, 13:30 and 14:30, plus 10:30 at weekends.Tip Buy from the booth beside the Gold Pavilion between 09:30 and 14:30, or book online ahead.Gold Museum (opens in a new tab)gep.ntpc.gov.tw
  • Golden Waterfall: a free roadside waterfall stained orange-gold by minerals in the rock, with a view of the two-coloured Yin Yang Sea.Tip The colour comes from rain washing over the rock, so it’s at its best after rain.Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw

Hidden gems

  • The Remains of the 13 Levels: a 1933 ore smelter stepped down the hillside at Shuinandong, lit gold from 18:00 to 21:00. See it from the Shuinan Cave car park.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
  • Teapot Mountain: a 602 m peak shaped like a teapot, about an hour’s climb, with views over the Yin Yang Sea and Keelung. Open all day.New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel

Getting there and around

If it doesn’t go to plan

  • Bus 1062 full? Take bus 788, 825, 827 or 856 down to Ruifang, then the train.
  • It’s the first Monday of the month? The Gold Museum and Shengping Theater are closed. Jishan Street, the teahouses and the Golden Waterfall are open.
  • Raining? Spend it in the Gold Museum and a teahouse, and see the Golden Waterfall on the way back.