Jiufen Old Street Travel Guide (2026): How to Get There & What to See

Last updated: June 2026

Book Tours & Activities in Jiufen Old Street

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Jiufen is the mountain town that launched a thousand photographs: red lanterns glowing over a maze of stone steps, teahouses clinging to a hillside above the sea, and steam rising from food stalls in narrow alleys. A former gold-mining settlement turned into Taiwan’s most atmospheric day trip, it is the place most visitors picture when they imagine “old Taiwan.” Best of all, it costs nothing to enter — Jiufen is a town, not a ticketed attraction.

Here is how to get there from Taipei, when to go, and how to enjoy it without being swallowed by the crowds.

A Little Context

Jiufen boomed during the gold rush of the late 1800s and early 1900s, growing rich and crowded under Japanese rule before the mines closed in the 1970s and the town faded. It found a second life in the 1990s after the film A City of Sadness was set here, drawing a wave of nostalgic visitors. Its hillside teahouses, lantern-lit lanes, and misty mountain setting have since made it world-famous, often (if unofficially) linked to the look of animated films set in bathhouse towns. Today tourism is its livelihood, and the old gold-mining streets are packed with teahouses, snack stalls, and souvenir shops.

Quick Facts for 2026

Jiufen is a free, open town — there is no entrance fee. The main draw, Jiufen Old Street (Jishan Street) and the stepped Shuqi Road, are busiest from late morning through early evening. Most shops and stalls open around 9:00–10:00 AM and many close by 7:00–8:00 PM, with teahouses often open later. Weekends and holidays are extremely crowded — to the point where the narrow alleys can become a slow shuffle — so a weekday visit is far more pleasant.

The town really comes alive at dusk, when the red lanterns light up; aim to be there as the sky darkens for the iconic view, but know that the last buses and trains back to Taipei get busy in the evening.

Quick Cost Overview — Jiufen

Checked 21 Jul 2026. Jiufen itself is free to walk around — these are the real costs of getting there and around. Fares can change with season and operator — confirm current prices before you travel.

TRA train and local bus fares are set at the station/on board — confirm the current fare at the ticket machine or railway.gov.tw. TWD→USD rate: 32.33 (open.er-api.com, checked 21 Jul 2026).

How to Get There

Jiufen is about an hour and a half northeast of Taipei, and there are a few ways to go.

The most flexible public route is train plus bus: take a TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station (about 40–50 minutes), then a short bus (788, 825, or 1062) or taxi up the mountain to Jiufen (about 15 minutes). The 1062 bus also runs directly from Taipei (near MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing) to Jiufen, which is simpler but slower and can be standing-room-only on weekends.

Many visitors combine Jiufen with the Shifen lantern-release village and the Golden Waterfall on a single trip, which is where a guided day tour or private driver earns its cost — it removes the bus queues and ties the scattered sights together.

What to See

Jishan Street (the Old Street)

This is the covered main lane, a tight, twisting corridor of food stalls and shops. Come hungry: signature bites include taro balls (yuyuan) in sweet syrup, fish ball soup, peanut ice cream rolls wrapped with coriander, and grilled mushrooms and sausages. Eat as you go and let the crowd carry you along.

Shuqi Road and the Teahouses

The postcard image of Jiufen is Shuqi Road, the steep stone staircase lined with red lanterns and traditional teahouses. Climb it slowly and stop at a hillside teahouse — the classic experience is to sit on a wooden balcony with a pot of high-mountain oolong, looking out over the rooftops to the sea while mist drifts up the valley. It is touristy and not cheap, but it is the quintessential Jiufen moment.

The Sea and Mountain Views

Jiufen’s setting is half the appeal. From the upper streets and viewpoints you look down across the tiled rooftops to the East China Sea and Keelung Mountain. On a clear evening the combination of glowing lanterns, dark hills, and distant sea is unforgettable; on a misty day it is moody and atmospheric in its own right.

Nearby: Shifen and the Gold Museum

Most people pair Jiufen with Shifen, where you write wishes on a paper sky lantern and release it over the old railway tracks, and the nearby Shifen Waterfall. The Jinguashi Gold Museum, a short ride away, tells the area’s mining history and lets you see a giant gold bar. Together they make a full, varied day out of Taipei.

When to Go

Jiufen is famously misty and rainy — it is one of the wettest spots in northern Taiwan — so flexibility helps. Autumn (October–November) and spring (March–April) bring the most stable, comfortable weather. Summer is hot and prone to afternoon downpours and typhoons; winter is cool, damp, and atmospheric, with the mist that gives Jiufen its signature mood.

For timing, the magic hour is dusk, when the lanterns glow against the darkening sky. The trade-off is crowds and a busier journey home. A good strategy is to arrive in the early afternoon on a weekday, explore in daylight, settle into a teahouse as the light fades, and head down before the very last transport crush. Bring a light rain jacket or umbrella whatever the forecast says.

Where to Stay

Klook.com

Most visitors do Jiufen as a day trip from Taipei, but staying overnight lets you enjoy the town after the day-trippers leave.

In Jiufen itself, a handful of guesthouses and small hotels let you wander the lantern-lit lanes in the quiet of evening and early morning — the most magical way to experience the town.

Back in Taipei, basing near Taipei Main Station keeps you on the train line to Ruifang and connected to the rest of the city and its day trips.

Combine It with the Rest of the Northeast Coast

Jiufen is the centerpiece of Taipei’s best day trip. Add Shifen for sky lanterns and the waterfall, Jinguashi for the gold-mining history, and the Golden Waterfall and dramatic Yin-Yang Sea along the coast road — see our things to do in Taipei guide for more and our Taipei transport guide for getting around. The mountain weather flips fast, so pack smart: bring a portable charger to keep your camera and phone alive through a long day of photos, and stash a light rain layer near the top of your bag.

Practical Tips

• Go on a weekday if you can — weekends turn the alleys into a crawl.
• Aim for dusk to see the lanterns lit, but plan your return before the late-evening transport rush.
• Bring rain gear — Jiufen is one of the rainiest spots in the area.
• Come hungry and bring cash — it is a street-food town and many stalls are cash-only.
• Wear good shoes — it is all stairs and slopes, often wet and slippery.
• Consider a tour or private driver if pairing with Shifen, to skip the bus queues.
• Always confirm current bus routes and shop hours before you go, as they change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an entrance fee for Jiufen?
No. Jiufen is an open town, free to walk around. You only pay for food, tea, and souvenirs.

How do I get to Jiufen from Taipei?
The common route is a TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (about 40–50 minutes), then a short bus or taxi up to Jiufen. The 1062 bus also runs directly from Taipei but is slower and crowded on weekends.

What is the best time to visit?
Dusk on a weekday — you get the lanterns lit against the evening sky with fewer crowds than weekends. Autumn and spring have the most reliable weather.

How long should I spend there?
Two to three hours covers the Old Street, a teahouse stop, and the views. Allow a full day if you combine it with Shifen and the gold-mining sights.

Is Jiufen worth visiting?
Yes — its lantern-lit lanes, hillside teahouses, and sea-and-mountain setting are among the most atmospheric sights in Taiwan, especially at dusk.

Should I do Jiufen as a tour or independently?
Independently is easy and cheap if you are only doing Jiufen. A tour or private driver makes more sense if you want to combine it with Shifen, Jinguashi, and the coast in one day without bus queues.

Final Word

Jiufen is the most atmospheric corner of northern Taiwan: a steep, lantern-lit old gold town of teahouse balconies, taro-ball stalls, and sea views half-lost in the mist. Go on a weekday, time it for dusk, bring a rain jacket and an appetite, and let the stone steps and red lanterns do the rest.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hours and prices can change — always confirm on official sources before you visit.