Day Trip to Juifen & Shifen

Taiwan is a little bit larger than the state of Maryland in terms of area, but with 4x the number of people. So when they all go on holiday it can be crushing.

This was the case today as we took a day trip out of Taipei to a small village on the eastern coast called Juifen.

Juifen is best known for it’s “Old Street”. It is a small alleyway lined with shops that winds through the middle of the village and is a super popular place to visit on weekends (or over the New Year’s holidays!).

To get there required about an hour train ride followed by a 15 minute bus ride.

The bus conveniently drops you off at the beginning of the Old Street and you just naturally work your way from there.

Shops were just opening as we arrived and the crowds were building. We did manage to get into the famous A-Mei Teahouse for tea and sweets.

The view from the teahouse is magnificent!

After walking to the end of the Old Street, we turned around and headed back to the bus stop.

We clearly had beaten the crowds!

Once the bus dropped us back off at the train station, a short 20 minute train ride later and we were in Shifen.

Lunch was the order of business when we were here, and people were serious about it,

Shifen is known for its’ lanterns. Usually after dark hordes of lanterns are set alight and up into the sky. During the day tourists are able to do the same. Obviously not as picturesque during the day but people weren’t any less enthusiastic.

The guide would set a bundle of something inside the lantern afire, and then when it had enough gas it would take flight.

What was interesting is that the lanterns were launched from the train tracks that ran through the village.

One moment the tracks are covered with people launching lanterns and then someone blows a whistle loudly and the tracks clear for the next train. Once the train passes, everyone streams back out onto the tracks.

After we finished looking around, we got back on the next packed train and returned to Taipei for dinner at Din Tai Fung!

The wait times for Din Tai Fung were incredible – 145 minutes when we took a number, but shortly afterward went up to a 200 minute wait for a table. insane, but it really is that good!