Jiufen Old Street | New Taipei Attraction

Jiufen is located on the western slope of Keelung Mountain in Ruifang District. It was once a gold-mining settlement that regained attention after serving as a film location. Winding stone-staircase alleyways, teahouses built along the slope, and lanterns that light up one by one at dusk — casting their glow across the hillside silhouette — form the visual image Jiufen is best known for. It is now one of Taiwan's most prominent tourist landmarks.

Highlights of Jiufen Old Street

The heart of the old street is Shuqi Road's stone staircase, lined on both sides with teahouses and souvenir shops climbing up the slope. Some teahouses have sea-view terrace seats overlooking the coastline where Keelung Mountain meets the Pacific. Jishan Street is the main horizontal street, concentrated with food stalls selling taro balls, fish balls, and herb rice cakes — common traditional snacks.

Peak crowds at Jiufen concentrate on weekend afternoons and around the time the lanterns are lit at dusk. If you want to avoid the crush, the stone-staircase streets are noticeably less crowded on weekday mornings, and getting a teahouse seat is much easier. The nearby Keelung Mountain has a hiking trail; from the summit you can look down over the entire Jiufen settlement and coastline — a one-way hike of about one hour, moderate difficulty.

How to make the most of your visit

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Time the lantern-lighting momentTeahouse lanterns are lit around sunset. This is when the lighting is most layered — the moment most often photographed in Jiufen. Arriving early to claim a good spot is recommended.

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Choose a teahouse with a viewTeahouses on Shuqi Road with view-terrace seating require a minimum purchase; seats are limited on weekends and you may need to wait. It is easier on weekdays.

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Climb Keelung Mountain for a panoramic viewThe Keelung Mountain trailhead is above Jiufen Old Street; the summit takes about one hour on foot. On a clear day you can look down over the entire settlement and the coast.

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Check the return bus scheduleOn weekend evenings the wait for buses back to Taipei from Jiufen can be long. Checking Keelung Bus or Taipei Bus schedules in advance, or leaving early, can help avoid a long wait.

Practical information

Getting there & timing

From Taiwan Railways Ruifang Station, take Keelung Bus routes 788, 825, and others to Jiufen. Check the Keelung Bus website for schedules; extra buses run on weekends but it's still crowded.
By car, follow Provincial Highway 2C into Jiufen; parking near the old street is limited, and public transit is recommended on weekends.

Nearby connections

Jiufen is about a 20–30 minute walk (or a short bus ride) from Jinguashi Gold Museum; the two can be combined in half a day.
Ruifang Station is the starting point for the Northeast Coast scenic area; the route continues to Fulong, Longdong, and other Northeast Coast attractions.

Sources: New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Department, Wikipedia entry for Jiufen. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.

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