On day 3 of our travels in Taipei, we started our chartered bus tour (thanks to arrangements by 2nd Uncle and Aunt) which would be covering some major attractions in the vicinity of Taipei, including
1. Yang Ming Shan (陽明山)
2. Jinbaoli Street (金包里老街)
3. Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園)
4. Jiufen (九份)
5. Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)
We had breakfast at 達人豆漿大王 (Da Ren Dou Jiang Da Wang) near Caesar Metro Taipei again this morning. We had the Fan Tuan (饭团 – Rice Ball) and Jiu Cai (韭菜) Pancake for 30NT. Thereafter, we bought some iced coffee and hot americano from a convenient store nearby for 72NT. At 9am, we gathered at the hotel lobby of Caesar Metro Taipei and we’re off for our day trip!
Rainy Weather Up at Yang Ming Shan (陽明山)
Our tour guide, Charles knew about Singaporean guests and were able to weave in hokkien here and there as well as recommendations that we’d like. For instance, when people think about Oyster Mee Sua (Taiwanese
Orh Ah Mee Sua) in Taipei, they’d normally think about Ay Chung Rice Noodles 阿宗麵線. However, he recommended Chen Ji Oyster Mee Sua (陳記專業蚵仔麵線) instead. When we had it the next morning, we knew his recommendations were spot on (yup, we were to try Ah Chung Oyster Mee Sua a few days later and it paled in comparison).
Charles also shared with us about the history of Taiwan:
– In the 1600s, Portuguese ruled in the north and the Dutch in the south. In the mid-1600s, Koxinga (鄭成功) defeated the Dutch and began the rule by the Qing Dynasty for the next 200 years.
– Japan colonised Taiwan from 1895 to 1945 and from 1945, after Japan lost WW2, Chiang Kai Shek (蔣介石) lost the civil war in China and came to Taiwan, establishing the government-in-exile after the Chinese Civil War. Today, Taiwan is known officially as ROC or the Republic of China.
– There are 2 types of hot springs areas in Taiwan. One where the hot springs have sulphur (硫) which is said to be good for blood circulation. The other is rich in carbonic acid water (碳酸) which is good for the skin.
On the way up to Yang Ming Shan, we stopped by the Sulphur Valley to get some views of the sulphur pools in the vicinity. The smell was not too pungent though we could smell that sulphur was in the air. There, we took in some views of pools where the gas and moisture emerges.
Thankfully Charles did this stopover at Sulphur Valley because when we ascended up to Yangmingshan, the rain and winds had come. The umbrella that we borrowed from the bus driver had inverted due to the strong wind and dad also loss his umbrella to the wind – which Tom ran to pick up. There, we decided that it would not be wise to continue walking in the wind and rain. Hence, after a quick toilet break, we headed back to wait on the bus for the rest of the family.
@2bearbeartravel Yang Ming Shan is also known for its hot springs and at the Sulphur Valley, you’ll see the source of this hot spring at 硫磺谷，阳明山! Got more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #sulphur #sulphurhotspring #hotspring #yangmingshan #阳明山 #硫磺谷 #travel #taiwan #taipei #2bearbear #travelblog #travellife #traveltiktok #traveltok ♬ Feelings Back – Olivia Addams
Lunch and Shopping at Jinbaoli Street (金包里老街)
For lunch, we went to the Jinshan area（金山区) and picked our dishes at a temple/canteen at Jinbaoli Old Street (金包里老街). According to Charles, the best foods are usually found in and around temples because that would usually be where people would gather. This time, we bought lunch from a cookhouse located right inside a temple where they cooked. You can then bring the dishes to the seating areas about 20 to 30 metres away.
There were many dishes available at the temple at Jinbaoli Old Street. All you have to do is just grab the dish and go to the seats 20-30 metres away. After the meal, the staff would count the plates and bill you accordingly. As we travelled in a group, we were able to try different dishes. Our favourite for lunch were the deep fried shishamo fish, the duck as well as the prawn balls. Noodles (Charles’ favourite) was not too bad as well.
After lunch, we walked along the street at Jinbaoli Street (金包里老街). Here, you’ll be able to find many stalls selling food that range from sweet potato balls to taro desserts and cake, as well as the mont blanc ice cream that we tried. For 80 NT (~$3 SGD), we had the sweet potato ice cream which was lined over vanilla ice cream, which we think had mango tastes to it. The mont blanc was so rich, smooth and velvety but not too sweet. Perfect actually. And as you eat further down the cone, you’ll find cornflakes below, just like how you’d find “gold” – a nod to the Jinshan area that started out as a gold mining town. Right at the end, there was a little custart as well. Yum!
@2bearbeartravel For lunch, we headed to Jin Shan (金山), Jinbaoli Old Street. Lunch was introduced by our guide Charles where the entrance of the local temple was transformed into a kitchen that serves out all kinds of foods. Our favourite included the prawn ball, fried salmon, fries noodles, Sotong and the Shishamo. There also lots of great sweet potato options like deep fried balls, candied sweet potato and our favourite, the Mont Blanc ice cream which was SO good! (80NT). The layer was so velvety and the ice cream below is like a mix of vanilla and a very light hint of mango. As you bite into the cone (which is crunchy), you’ll find «gold» cornflakes and a bit of custard as a last bite. Yum! HUGE seafood bowl is also a local hit where queues start to form even before they open at 12pm! For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #jinshan #jinbaoli #jinbaoliancientstreet #金山 #金包里老街 #老街 #taiwan #taipei #2bearbear #travel #traveling #traveler #traveltiktok #traveltok #traveltheworld #travellife #food #foodie #sgfoodie ♬ Some Kind Of Beautiful – James Blunt
Seeing the Queen’s Head at Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園)
Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園) is located northeast of Taipei City and is known for the formations from erosion of sedimentary rock layers. The most of these – Queen’s Head at Yehliu Geopark. This afternoon, we reached Yehliu Geopark at 1:30pm. The entry fee for Yehliu Geopark was 120NT or about $5 per person.
At Yehliu Geopark, you’ll be able to see sand stone structures caused by the sea, wind and rain erosion. Interestingly, there’s a monument that really does resemble the head of the queen – thus the name Queen’s Head at Yehliu Geopark. Almost everyone’s here to take a photo with the Queen’s Head. Hence, the queue can be quite long. Thankfully, we didn’t queue for too long this time and everyone had their personal/family shot taken with the Queen’s Head, thanks to the expert photography by Charles.
The boardwalk at Yehliu Geopark is very well developed, circling over the different formations. Besides Queen’s Head, you can also see Ice Cream, Candles, Heart-shaped, Camel (lying down) and Fairy’s shoe formations as well. They really do look like what were described. We were thankful for a beautiful, windy and cool day for the visit this time.
@2bearbeartravel Yehliu Geopark is a ticketed park (120NT) where you’ll be able to see sandstone formations due to weather by sea, weather and wind. One of the most famous of these structures is the Queens Head – which really does look like with it’s hair, to the left, eye and mouth to the lower right. You’ll find other structures such as fairy’s shoes and candle as well. Use your imagination and you’ll be able to see something out of the ordinary as well! For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #yehliu #yehliugeopark #野柳 #野柳地質公園 #nature #naturelover #naturevibes #travel #traveler #taipei #taiwan #traveltiktok #2bearbear #travellife #traveling #traveltheworld ♬ Dream It Possible（DJ咚鼓版） – 南辰Music
Jiufen Old Street (九份)
According to legend, there used to be 9 families that lived in this mountainous village in Jiufen (九份). Whenever they came down to get their daily supplies from the nearby towns, they would ask for “9 portions”, one for each of the families staying there. Hence, overtime, the term Jiufen (九份) – literally, 9 portions, came to be the name of the town.
What made Jiufen (九份) famous was probably due to 3 reasons. Firstly, the movie “A City of Sadness” (悲情城市) shot the area to fame because Tony Leung starred in this movie and within, they were in a teahouse located inside Jiu Fen. Secondly, Jiufen, because of its old structures and lanterns, gives a “Spirited Away” vibe. Although “Spirited Away” was not based on Jiufen but on the Dogo Onsen area in Ehime Prefecture, fans of Spirited Away would also fall in love with similar architectural structures that you’ll be able to find in Jiufen. Lastly, because of its location near to Taipei City, less than an hour’s drive away, Jiufen makes for a great weekend trip for the city dwellers in Taipei.
Thanks to Charles’ excellent planning, we visited Jiufen from the “top-down”. We alighted at the top of the mountain and walked all the way down, instead of the other way, which would have been rather tiring for the family. Along the way, you’ll have ample opportunities to buy snacks, souvenirs, do some shopping and have tea at one of the iconic teahouses. This time, we stopped by Lan Ah Po Taro Ball Dessert (懒啊婆芋圆) famed for their taro balls. The taro balls in red bean soup was really quite nice with chewy and tasty taro balls. Of course, you’ll be able to find many other shops that sell taro balls here as well. Kate also bought 2 ear rings for 1080 NT (~$45 SGD) where she got 100 NT off.
The other main attraction at Jiufen Old Street (九份) has got to be the narrow street lined with red lanterns that led to the teahouse in the movie set of “A City of Sadness”. However, the steps can be quite tricky especially when the floor is wet – yup, it was drizzling as we walked down these iconic steps. As we came down the steps, the lanterns were originally not lighted up. Thankfully, as we transited the first couple of steps, the iconic red lanterns were litted up and everyone gasped in delight and started taking pictures and videos! Do be careful if you’re on these steps, especially in the evenings when the lanterns lit up. Stay safe!
@2bearbeartravel One of the stories of how Jiufen got its name was that about 200 to 300 years ago, there were 9 families that lived on the hill. When they came down to get stuff for the village, they would order 9 portions or 九份. Not sure if this is true but this is one saying. Today, it is made famous because of the movie #CityofSadness #SadnessCity or #悲情城市. It won accolades and also starred Tony Leong who filmed at the teahouse in Jiufen. One of the most famous part of Jiufen is the staircase lined with red lanterns. Our guide brought us to the top of Jiu Fen, so the walk down would be easier – though not so good for the knees due to the many steps on the staircase. There are also many tea shops and shops selling taro balls. Try them out while you’re here! For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #jiufen #jiufenoldstreet🏮 #jiufentaiwan #jiufenoldstreet #taiwan #taipei #九份 #九份老道 #黄金城市 #travel #traveling #traveler #traveltheworld #travelblog #travelblogger #ancient #ancientstreet #2bearbear #traveltiktok #travellife #traveltok ♬ La La Love – Ivi Adamou
Dinner from Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)
For our last stop, we stopped by Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市) to get our dinner. The black pepper buns (胡椒饼 – 60NT) is the most of the snacks here – located right at the entrance of Raohe Night Market. This time, we also bought a 大肠包小肠 (Sausage within a rice roll – 70NT).
As Tom was not feeling well, Kate suggested to grab a Star Fruit Drink (50NT) which was quite tasty. If you’re looking for a toilet at the Raohe Street Night Market area, you can visit the temple nearby as recommended by Charles. Just head all the way in and turn left.
@2bearbeartravel Ended the evening at #Raohe Night Market where we got to try the #blackpepperbun. Some of the foods that caught our eyes are featured in the video as well. For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #raohenightmarket #nightmarket #饶河夜市 #food #foodie #sgfoodie #taiwan #taipei #travel #traveler #traveltiktok #travellife #traveltok #traveling #traveltheworld #2bearbear #travelblog ♬ Sledgehammer – Fifth Harmony
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@2bearbeartravel Taiwan Trip Day 3 highlights covering Yang Ming Shan – Sulphur Valley, Jin Shan – Jinbaoli Old Street, Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen and Raohe Night Market. For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #thingstodointaiwan #thingstodointaipei #taipei #taipeiattractions #taiwan #taiwanattractions #yangmingshan #阳明山 #jinbaoli #金山 #金包里老街 #yehliu #yeliu #yehliugeopark #野柳 #野柳地質公園 #jiufen #jiufenoldstreet🏮 #jiufenoldstreet #九份 #九份老街 #raohenightmarket #raohe #饶河夜市 #饶河 #travel #traveltiktok #travellife #traveltok #traveler #traveling #traveltheworld #2bearbear ♬ Here With You(抖音重置版) – 王梦瑶
Day 3 was such an eventful and well-planned day trip from Taipei. Thanks to 2nd Uncle/Aunty as well as Charles for the great planning and timing. Enjoyed visiting the new sights, sounds and tastes for us! Definitely one of the highlights during this trip to Taiwan! Stay tuned as we have a second day with the chartered bus, visiting Waiao (外奥), Yilan (宜兰), Kavalan Distillery, Luo Dong Night Market as well as a foot bath in between!
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