Since my grandmother is Taiwanese, I've been back and forth to Taipei but never had the chance to explore the outskirts.
This is why I'm a bit excited about this trip. Something different than the usual.
Since we had a chartered car, after our visit at Yehliu Geopark, We headed straight to Shifen and Jiufen.
Shifen at PingXi District
I've heard and read stuff about this place, It's the popular place where you release sky lanterns on the side of the railroad.
There are a few stalls in the area but there's nothing spectacular or anything else you can do besides the releasing of sky lanterns.
Another main attraction is the Shifen Waterfalls which is a 10 - 15min walk from the Shifen Old Street. My mom isn't really good at walking unless it involves food or mall. So we decided to skip the waterfall attraction.
Jiufen at RuiFang District
It is said that Jiufen Old Street was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki's animated film, Spirited Away. Sorry fans, but he already denied this.
The place does feel like a real-life Spirited Away. Probably because Taiwan was Japan's first colony and its architecture in a lot of ways is reflected in the old town.
Aside from the pack of people, there is also a sloped night market where snacks and souvenirs are available.
Just a tad of advise, visit on a weekday. Walking path is a bit uneven and some paths are uphill/downhill. It may be a hassle bringing strollers or tagging people with difficulty in walking. On the plus side, definitely a good source of cardio.
