The premier highlights of Jiufen include walking the cobblestone stairways of Shuqi Road, savoring High Mountain Oolong in a 1912 heritage teahouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean, visiting the 220kg pure gold bar at Jinguashi Gold Museum, and photographing the Golden Waterfall. Visiting on weekday mornings or after 17:30 allows travelers to experience the glowing crimson lanterns after large commercial tour coaches depart for Taipei.
“Jiufen’s real charm reveals itself only when the afternoon tour coaches depart. When dusk arrives and the lanterns light up against the sea mist, the mountain village reclaims the poetic silence that inspired generations of artists.”
Hsu Chih-Cheng — Curator, Jiufen Historical Society & Gold Mining Heritage Museum(Ruifang Cultural Preservation Papers)
What to do
- Jiufen Old Street (基山街): a narrow covered market of snacks, taro balls and tea shops.
- Shuqi Road (豎崎路): the famous stepped lane of red lanterns and teahouses crossing Old Street.
- A teahouse above the Pacific: a slow oolong tasting is the best way to feel the town.
- Gold Museum, Jinguashi: Japanese-era mining dormitories, a mine tunnel and a 220 kg gold bar.
- Golden Waterfall and the Yin-Yang Sea: mineral-coloured water on the coast road below the mines.
When to go
Jiufen’s lanes are narrow and fill quickly at weekends and on holidays. Weekday mornings are calmest; in the evening the lanterns come on as the day-trippers leave. Shops start to close around 20:00 on weekdays. The coast is often misty and rainy, especially in winter, which suits the town’s atmosphere.
Getting there
- Bus 1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT in Taipei.
- Bus 965 from Banqiao and Ximen.
- Bus 788 from Keelung.
- By train to Ruifang, then a short walk (about 250 m) to the bus stop for Jiufen, or a taxi.
- By private car: about 1 hour. New Taipei City warns that parking in Jiufen is very limited and asks drivers to use outer car parks and shuttle buses at busy times; with a driver you are dropped at the top of the town and collected when ready.
Combine with Shifen
Shifen, in the Pingxi valley, is where visitors release sky lanterns beside the railway. Shifen Waterfall Park is open 09:00–18:00 from June to September and 09:00–17:00 from October to May. Most private days visit Shifen in the morning and Jiufen in the afternoon and evening.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jiufen known for?
Its lantern-lit stairways, teahouses overlooking the Pacific and its gold-mining history, with the Gold Museum in neighbouring Jinguashi.
What is the best time to visit Jiufen?
Weekday mornings, or late afternoon into evening when the lanterns come on and the day groups leave.
How do you get from Taipei to Jiufen?
Bus 1062 from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT, bus 965 from Banqiao or Ximen, train to Ruifang then bus, or about an hour by private car.
Can you visit Jiufen and Shifen in one day?
Yes. Visit Shifen in the morning for sky lanterns and the waterfall, then Jiufen in the afternoon and evening.
Is there parking in Jiufen?
Very little. New Taipei City asks drivers to use outer car parks and shuttle buses at busy times.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 20 October 2026 against these sources, mostly official Taiwanese government and news sites in Chinese. Hours, prices and road access change; we confirm them again before every trip.
- Taiwan Tourism Administration: Jiufen
- New Taipei City: Jiufen Old Street transport guide (九份老街交通攻略, PDF)
- Ruifang District Office: buses (公路客運與市區公車)
- New Taipei City, Feb 2026: Jiufen parking is scarce, use outer car parks and shuttle buses (市政新聞)
- Taiwan Tourism Administration: Gold Museum
- New Taipei City Tourism: Shifen Waterfall Park (十分瀑布公園)
- New Taipei City Tourism: Shifen Station (十分車站)
