Day 5: Banqiao > & Day 6: Back to SG

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)

Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street

Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)

 Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge

Day 5: Banqiao >
Day 6: Back to SG

Day 5: Banqiao 

It was purely a shopping day. Just relax, eat, shop and go. We headed for Mega City Mall (Banqiao).  From Taipei Main Station, just take the train to Banqiao Station and followed the signs to the mall. A pity we were there too early and Xmas deco wasn't up yet else it would have been a romantic/crowded date.

Finally the first time we had Ding Tai Fung at Taiwan.

Quality food from Ding Tai Fung.

Back to Taipei Main Station after Banqiao's shopping trip, we continued more shopping around Taipei Main Station. 

Just more food and drinks before we ended our shopping spree for the day!

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Day 6 : Back to SG

Start of our day, finally get to visit 八方云集 (again)！Their gyoza are delicious. With a variety of flavors to choose from, my personal favorites are the original and curry flavors.

Their gyozas!

As we had a flight to catch, we could only go for a brunch before we head for the Taoyuan Airport.

Travelling to Taoyuan Airport is a breeze from Taipei Main Station location. There is this Taoyuan Metro Line which can bring us right to the Airport and if in time, the Express train which has fewer stops and more space for luggage.

Surprised to see the train was already at the station earlier than the scheduled time but it left the exact time as scheduled. 

Looking forward to my next Taiwan Trip!!!

Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge (Part 2)

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)

Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street

Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)

Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge

Day 5: Banqiao >
Day 6: Back to SG

Raohe Night Market

From  Xindian (Bitan) Station, we took train to Songshan Station and walked to Raohe Night Market. 

So after a long journey, what's next at the Night Market is food!! We took no time to buy, take photo and eat! 

Some snacks we go along our night market walking. Takoyaki, Soufflés Pancake and Fried Sweet Potatoes!

Apart from food indulgence, there is the popular Rainbow Bridge. 

A big LOVE sign that has many locks on it.

The Rainbow Bridge

We took train back to Taipei Main Station.

For our dinner, we bought takeaways from 三商巧福 Always tasty, always for you, an outlet that sells delicious Taiwanese style family meals and is conveniently located near to our hotel. Just a short walk and we were there.

Our piping hot dinner.

》Day 5: Banqiao >

《  Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)

Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge (Part 1)

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)
Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street
Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)

Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge

Day 5: Banqiao >
Day 6: Back to SG

New place to explore in Taiwan

Chanced upon Wulai from other blogs when I was planned my Taiwan travel itinerary. 

Getting there: Take MRT from Taipei Main Station to Xindian (Bitan) Station to transfer to Bus No. 849, where the bus ends at Wulai District Scenic Area. 

After we reached Xindian (Bitan) Station, we headed straight for the bus stop but the bus interval was around an hour long. So we walked around and chanced upon a lake beside the bus interchange. That place is actually Bitan Scenic Area. 

Bitan Scenic Area

Rental Boats

A cupid reading a newsletter

The bridge @ Bitan Scenic Area

Bitan Scenic Area

Bitan Scenic Area

Lunch time

Still quite sometime, we decided to fill our stomach. Just around the bus interchange, there is a Formosa Chang 胡须张 an outlet and fortunately, it was already opened for business. 

Braised Minced Pork Rice

A quick lunch and we headed back to wait for Bus 849 to Wulai District Scenic Area.

The bus stop for our bus is not at the interchange, but along the roadside. When we board the bus, it was almost full house. And along the way as we head up to Wulai, the bus was totally packed. 

A Guide Map for Wulai District Scenic Area

The gloomy weather (once again) welcomed us. So we didn't loiter around long and headed straight for the waterfall area. To the waterfall area, a LONG walk is possible, but we opted for a short train ride 10 mins ride instead.

The train

The waterfall.

It was starting to rain heavily. So we didn't went up to the waterfall. 

Instead, we went to the cafe and chill out before we head out of Wulai District Scenic Area. 

Conclusion: Although my original destination was to Wulai District Scenic Area, but I took more pictures of Bitan Scenic Area as compared to Wulai District Scenic Area.

Done with our short visit at Wulai District Scenic Area, we went back to the bus terminal to board Bus 849 to get back to the Xindian (Bitan) Station.

Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)
Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street

Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)

Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge
Day 5: Banqiao >
Day 6: Back to SG

Our time at Jiufen Old Street

Day 3 marked the end of our 3d2n stay at Jiufen. Throughout the 3D2N, it rained almost 90% of the time. So we only managed to walk around Jiufen Old Street. And I liked that. I don't know why but rather than having a pack itinerary of exploring everywhere within a day time, I preferred to relax and take time to just laze and enjoy the scenery while sipping tea, eating and shopping.

From Jiufen Old Street back to Taipei

Once again, we engaged a taxi that took us back to Taipei instead of lugging our luggage and take the bus->train to Taipei. Yes, the cost is a lot more but we picked the ease of travelling back to Taipei.

Back at Taipei

Too early to check in, we left our luggage at O2 Hotel (Taipei Main Station), our accommodation area  in Taipei, to go to look for food.  

First, we headed out to look for Wu Lao Guo 無老鍋 (Ximending outlet). Didn't realized we can make online reservations. But we were able to get a table without issue. (We were there before the lunch crowd. After we settled down, the crowds came in to quickly fill up the table. But it wasn't noisy or rowdy despite the crowd. Maybe because of the space and the tables being quite far apart.)

At the entrance, we were greeted by their friendly staffs. They were informative and patient in introducing their menu and also their house special. I liked this place for their special soup base and they had such fresh + wide variety of ingredients to choose from. 

The soup base

The sliced fish, seafood paste in bamboo holder

The sliced beef & pork platter

Food Hunting 

A very filling brunch it was. We continued our shopping around Ximending. Amazingly, I could still eat. So it was more eating and drinking (bubble tea) around Ximending. As both of us were (and still are) lazy bum, we bought dinner back and call it a day for Day 3 in Taiwan.

Monga Chicken

Bubble Milk Tea by 50 岚

The popular Ah Zong Oyster Mee Suan 

Thefreen Burger 

(Our dinner)

O2 Hotel (Taipei Main Station)

Review on O2 Hotel (Taipei Main Station)

This is my second time staying in O2 Hotel (Taipei Main Station). 

First, the location is great. Walking distance to Taipei Main Station and Ximending and night market etc. 

Second, they have a bathtub. Although it's just enough for one, but for the rates they charged per night, it's really worth it's value. 

On top of all this, the cleanliness of the place and the ease of check-in and out. Maybe the only thing to really not like is they only have 1 lift. The stairs were just beside the lift so not an issue to walk down the stairs.

》Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge

《  Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street (Part 2)

Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street (Part 2)

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)

Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street

Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)
Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge
Day 5: Banqiao >
Day 6: Back to SG

Jiufen Old Street

The way back to Jiufen Old Street seemed shorter. Maybe it's also because we were just too keen to go for food and get some shelter from the rain.

Although it was still early, tourists were already gathering at the Jiufen Old Street. We went to popular A Mei Teahouse. This is definitely a nice place to chill out.

The stairway to the teahouse

Had snacks, sipped some tea, enjoyed the view.

But our hungry stomach reminded us to head out for more food since we were at Jiufen Old Street.

Local Delicacies not to miss: Braised Pork Belly Rice, Meatball Soup, Egg Omelette

九份芋圆 (Jiu Fen Taro Balls)

Cold weather? It's time for steamboat!

And some Xiao Long Bao

Some snacks to takeaway.

Due to rain (and laziness), we headed back to our accommodation way earlier than expected after eating and walking around Jiufen Old Street.

Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street (Part 2)

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)

Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street (Part 1)

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)

Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street (Part 1)

Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)
Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge
Day 5: Banqiao >
Day 6: Back to SG

Jilong Mountain

Start of our day

We woke up to a gloomy weather, cloudy morning. But after a quick simple breakfast catered for together with our accommodation package, we proceed to make our very FIRST attempt at hiking. 

Cloudy morning

Hiking... Walking

It was only around 10 minutes walk from our accommodation place and we at the foot of Jilong mountain. Along the way, there were warning signs to look out for snakes which was a main concern for me. But fortunately, we didn't encounter it.

The nice stairway up the mountain. The red color plate is the warning sign.

Further up the walkway.

And more steps ahead

The more we ascended, the colder it became.

We were still this far away and we turned back because it started drizzling. But behind us, there were still some people making their way up.

All we could see was the gloomy skies even as we descended.

We head back to Jiufen Old Street as the rain starting pouring.

》 Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street (Part 2)

《 Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)

Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)

I wrote the below 2 years ago but didn't post it.. Thinking I could actually revisit Taiwan again but sadly due to covid-19... Anyway, posting it now.

Went during Oct 2019, it was a rainy season. 

Took an afternoon flight... 

The good and bad about travelling in the afternoon.

"Good" = can check-in to our accommodation once we reached.
"Bad" = caused of the timing. Almost the entire day gone when we finally reach our accommodation area.

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A trip where I finally went for "trekking". 

My 6D5N Trip
Day 1: SG > Taipei (Jiufen)
Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street
Day 3: Jiufen Old Street > Taipei Main Station (Ximending)
Day 4: Xindian (Bitan) > Wulai > Raohe Night Market + Rainbow Bridge
Day 5: Banqiao >
Day 6: Back to SG

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It was a rainy day on our day of arrival. 

Transport

Fortunately we pre-arranged for a chartered ride to Jiufen accommodation. Our the driver did his homework beforehand so we were able to get our accommodation easier despite the heavy rain. Our driver was also kind enough to bring us to Ruifang Food Street to get our dinner before heading up to Jiufen.

We could have:

Alternative way to Jiufen was to take a bus from
Taoyuan Airport to Taoyuan HSR ->
Taoyuan HSR to Taipei HSR ->
Taipei Train Station to Ruifang train station ->
Ruifang Train Station change to bus again to get to Jiufen Old Street.
(Can save on transport $$ but have to spend more time on travelling with much inconvenience)

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Our Stay @ He Feng Xiao Zhu

The room

 The view from the balcony

My accommodation at Jiufen is at He Feng Xiao Zhu. I read from reviews it was close to Jiufen Old Street. Apparently they have 2 buildings and the one I booked with balcony view is nearer to Jiufen Old Street. Less than 2 mins and we were at Jiufen Old Street. My room was at level 3 and we had to carry our luggage up the stairs.

Prior to arrival, the host had given us instruction on the shortcut way to the accommodation place. So it was really easy getting there. The lady host was also very nice to share with us which shops to go for good food, where to walk and sip tea and upon hearing us wanting to trek, she shared with us a nearby mountain, Jilong Mountain trail which was just 10 mins walk away from the accommodation area.

Jiufen Old Streets

The empty streets and the red lantern 

By the time we reached, most of the shops at Jiufen Old Streets were closed for the day. There were still some people walking around the streets taking photographs. Despite the rain, it was nice strolling along the empty lanes with the red lanterns that lighted up the Jiufen Old Street. 

》 Day 2: Jilong Mountain > Jiufen Old Street