Taipei outskirts most beloved spots 🏮🐾

Here’s a 1-day sample itinerary combining Shifen + Houtong Cat Village (“Cat Town”) + Jiufen — a very popular route from Taipei.

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🚆 Getting There
• Take the TRA train from Taipei Main Station → Ruifang Station (≈ 40–50 min).
• At Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi Line (small local train).

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🌟 Itinerary

Morning – Houtong Cat Village (Cat Town)
• Stop first at Houtong Station.
• Explore the cat village, take photos, visit the cat-themed shops and cafes.
• Optional: check out the coal mining museum and old mining ruins.
⏱️ Suggested time: 1.5–2 hours

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Late Morning / Early Afternoon – Shifen
• Take the Pingxi Line train from Houtong → Shifen Station (≈ 20 min).
• Walk along Shifen Old Street, enjoy snacks, release a sky lantern.
• Visit Jingan Suspension Bridge for views.
• Walk (≈ 15 min) to the famous Shifen Waterfall.
⏱️ Suggested time: 2.5–3 hours

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Afternoon to Evening – Jiufen Old Street
• From Shifen, return by train to Ruifang Station, then take a bus or taxi (≈ 15–20 min) to Jiufen.
• Explore Jiufen Old Street:
• Try local street food (taro balls, peanut ice cream roll, fishball soup).
• Visit A-Mei Tea House or other tea houses with mountain & sea views.
• Enjoy the lantern-lit streets at dusk — very atmospheric.
⏱️ Suggested time: 3–4 hours

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Return to Taipei
• From Jiufen → Bus or taxi back to Ruifang Station → train to Taipei.
• Or take a direct bus Jiufen → Taipei City Hall MRT (≈ 1 hr).

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📝 Tips
• Best to start early morning (~8am train from Taipei) so you have enough time.
• Wear comfy shoes (lots of walking + some stairs in Jiufen).
• If it rains (common in this area), bring umbrella/raincoat.
• Try to be in Jiufen around sunset for the most beautiful views.
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