Wulai: the trolley, waterfall and Atayal food, with key tips

Do Wulai as a half-day trip from Taipei on bus 849 from Xindian MRT station. Ride the trolley up to the waterfall before 11:00 or after 14:00, when it’s quieter, then walk back down along the river.

How long have you got?

• Half a day: the Old Street, the trolley to Wulai Waterfall, and the walk back.
• A day: add the Atayal Museum and the waterfalls of Neidong forest, or a hotel hot spring.

When are you going?

• February and March: cherry blossoms. Wulai is one of New Taipei’s five cherry blossom areas, with shuttle buses in the season.1New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
• Summer: fireflies.2New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
• Autumn and winter: hot spring season.3New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel

Top things to do

• Wulai Old Street: 300 m of Atayal food: wild boar sausage, millet mochi and rice cooked in bamboo. 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, to 18:00 at weekends.4New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
• Wulai trolley: a 1.5 km ride up the valley to the waterfall, NT$50, 09:00 to 17:00, and to 18:00 in July and August.Tip The station is a 15-minute walk past Lansheng Bridge.5Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (opens in a new tab)recreation.forest.gov.tw
• Wulai Waterfall: viewed from the platform at the top station.Tip The cable car crosses the river for a view from the other side, 09:30 to 17:00.6New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
• Wulai Atayal Museum: free, 09:30 to 17:00, to 18:00 at weekends, with tours at 10:00 and 14:00.Tip Closed on the first Monday of each month.7New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
• Hot springs: run by the hotels along the river, each setting its own hours.8New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
• Neidong National Forest Recreation Area: ferns and a string of waterfalls on a gentle 1 km trail, NT$65 on weekdays and NT$80 on holidays.Tip It’s 6.8 km on from Wulai, so take a taxi, about NT$285 from the trolley.9Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (opens in a new tab)recreation.forest.gov.tw

Hidden gems

• The walk back down: ride the trolley up, then walk down the Nanshi River valley to Lansheng Bridge.10New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel
• Lansheng Bridge light show: on the hour from 18:30 to 20:30, Friday to Sunday.11New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel

Getting there

• Bus 849 runs from Xindian MRT station to Wulai every 15 to 20 minutes.12Taipei e-bus (opens in a new tab)ebus.gov.taipei
• Bus information: the Wulai visitor centre, 09:00 to 18:00, is on +886 2 2661 6355.13New Taipei Travel (opens in a new tab)newtaipei.travel

If it doesn’t go to plan

• Trolley closed or queuing? Walk the 1.5 km up the valley instead.
• Raining? Go to the Atayal Museum, unless it’s the first Monday of the month.
• At Neidong: keep out of the waterfalls and stream beds; the rocks are slippery.14Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (opens in a new tab)recreation.forest.gov.tw