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Pingxi Story Sausage

Many tourists from Asian countries have fallen in love with the popular Taiwanese “high school” teen movie “You Are the Apple of My Eye” and can’t wait to walk on rails or fly sky lanterns in Pingxi when they visit Taiwan. But if you get a bit hungry during your visit to Pingxi and want to grab a small snack, then Pingxi Story Sausage is probably the most attractive choice on offer, as it sells an amazing variety of flavours, all of which go perfectly with the famous sausage of Pingxi. In addition to garlic and chilli, there are also kimchi, basil, black pepper, red pepper, wasabi and many more flavors. Many tourists are willing to wait in a long queue in the sun for more than ten minutes in order to savour the perfect marriage of special sauces and hot grilled sausages sold here. The best flavour on offer would have to be the black pork sausage which has first been soaked in sorghum liquor, making it taste especially delicious. A definite indication of its high reputation, this sausage stall has been the subject of interviews by many Taiwanese food TV programs. It is definitely the taste not to be missed in Pingxi!

Phone

+886-2-2495-2858

Address

No.23, Pingxi St., Pingxi Dist., New Taipei City 226, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Business hours

Sunday - Monday 01:00 - 12:00
Tuesday - Saturday 02:00 - 09:00

Nearby

Shifen Old Street

Shifen Old Street is a bustling hub for those eager to get a glimpse of an old railroad town which still retains the charm of yesteryear. Originally built to transport coal, the Shifen Old Street stop has now become one of the most popular on the Pingxi rail-line. It is easy to see why so many are drawn here - local food, souvenir shops and puffing trains add to the charm of this little gem, as well as make it a fantastic place for photography.

The sky lanterns at Shifen Old Street are of particular note. Once used as a signaling system for those living and working in the railroad industry, visitors today paint their wishes with calligraphy before releasing the lanterns into the sky. We think Shifen Old Street is one of the best stops on the Pingxi Line, but if you have time, jump back on the train to visit some of the other stations, offering gentle mountainside strolls, sky lanterns and an up-close look at the early days of train travel and coal mining in Taiwan.

Releasing a sky lantern costs TWD100~150 each.

Our Jiufen - Sky Lantern tour is a brilliant choice for those visiting Shifen Old Street as it combines this attraction with Jiufen’s Old Street for a fantastic look at Taiwan of the past. Our guides, with their unique knowledge of the history of these sites, can make them come alive for you. Most importantly, they can also alert you to the not-to-miss delicacies among the hundreds of choices on offer!

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Golden Waterfall

Golden Waterfall is located near the Gold Ecological Park (黃金博物園區) in Jinguashi. Although real gold flowing from these falls would be too good to be true, the water is certainly a beautiful gold color as a result of the combination of regular rainfall in this mining area and the abundance of heavy metal elements deposited in the riverbed. The cascade of gold flowing down the hillside contrasts to the luminous green grass at its head. Indeed, the natural beauty of this place makes it a favorite for photography among newly-weds. But it’s not just star-struck lovers who will fall for this place, we guarantee impressive photographs to everyone who makes a visit.

Add to the color of your day with a visit to Yin Yang Sea (陰陽海) in the nearby Changren community (長仁社區). The name of this site refers to the two opposing principles of light and dark in Chinese philosophy, and refers to the striking contrast in the colors of the cove.

The water may be beautiful but its toxicity makes it unsafe even for touching.

Our guides are knowledgeable about the rich history of gold mining in the Jiufen region. Join us on our Jiufen - Sky Lantern tour or create your own day or multi-day trip using our customized tour option.

Attractions

Yin Yang Sea

What a strange scene – a bay where the sea is a mix of yellow and blue! This is Yin Yang Sea (陰陽海), located beside the northern coastal road.

Located beside the northern coastal road in the Gold Ecological Park region is Yin Yang Sea, a curiously colored patch of water. The complementary blue and yellow coloring of this bay brings to mind the ancient Chinese principle of yin and yang, the natural concept of duality. Just as with the dichotomy of light and dark, or cold and hot, Yin Yang Sea expresses a natural balance of two sides of a mutual whole. This awe-inspiring scene provides a perfect opportunity to pause and contemplate what other contrary forces in nature are actually interconnected concepts. Remove assumptions, take a step back, and open your mind to the beauty of nature.

Due to the pollution from nearby mining activities in years past, local belief has it that the coloration of this bay was caused by chemical runoff. Yet, even many years after the closure of all mines, the unusual hue of the water remains. After closer examination, it appears this blue/yellow coloring is a result of the insoluble floating iron ions from the heavy concentration of pyrite (also known as “Fool's Gold”) in the area.

Because of the highly concentrated heavy metal ions in the water, it's strongly recommended not to go into the water.

Attractions

Jiufen Old Street

With an unmatched old town atmosphere and seaside flair, Jiufen (九份) is a must see spot when visiting northern Taiwan. Always teeming with tourists, you might notice that Japanese people make up a huge proportion of the crowds gathered. Many are keen to catch a glimpse of the setting of Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award winning “Spirited Away”, especially the iconic red lanterns. This is also a film mecca for lovers of Taiwanese film, especially fans of Hou Hsiao-hsien's “A City of Sadness” (悲情城市), which utilized Jiufen as the backdrop to the events of the 228 Incident. Given Hou’s recent award of Best Director in the 2015 International Cannes Film Festival for his new film “The Assassin”, we expect even more people will make their way here in years to come.

Among the many treats and souvenirs to be enjoyed, you should be sure to try a local favorite, taro balls (芋圓) in a sweet red bean soup. Tea houses and coffee shops line the old streets of Jiufen and provide exquisite views of the sleepy mountainside town and Keelung Harbor, not to mention provide a great place to rest your feet! For those itching for some adventuring, try the Keelung mountain hiking trail (雞籠山). No matter which way you choose to enjoy it, you'll be sure to come away from Jiufen with some of the most memorable photos of your trip to Taiwan.

(In case you are interested, the name of the township comes from a rather funny story: A long time ago, there were only nine families living in the area. Because there were no roads serving it, goods could only be delivered by ship. Due to the inefficiency of transportation to the region, the families used to reserve nine portions of household goods to be delivered at one time. Thus, the name Jiufen, “Nine Portions”, stuck and has been the name of the town ever since).

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Shifen Waterfall

Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布) is the most renowned cascading waterfall in Taiwan. Although not nearly the tallest the island has to offer, it's is certainly the widest at an impressive 40 meters. Because of its horseshoe shape and powerful flow, it is nicknamed the Little Niagara of Taiwan. Recessed within a beautiful forested mountainside setting, this waterfall often delights visitors with a bright rainbow on sunny days. Its colorful spectacle has also lent the waterfall its other nickname of “Rainbow Pond”.

Similar to the naming convention of Jiufen, Shifen was named for the ten original families who developed this area. Shifen is a short walk from Shifen Old Street which is along the Pingxi Branch railroad line. While at Shifen Waterfall, you may notice some interesting holes in the riverbed. At various points along the river, the uneven flow of the water creates vortexes that traps passing rocks, causing them to spin and carve deep holes. This constant erosive action has produced potholes and are in greatest abundance in the Dahua Station area.

Get a deeper understanding of the history of the Jiufen area on our Jiufen Sky Lantern tour. With guides who are local and deeply familiar with the area, you will come away with a rich understanding of its gold mining past, as well as have minimized the fatigue associated with travelling to some of the busiest of Taiwan’s tourist destinations.

Attractions

Gold Ecological Park

The Gold Ecological Park (黃金博物園區) mainly showcases the history of gold mining in the Jiufen area. The park is divided into three permanent exhibition halls, as well as a gold panning experience area on the third floor. Visitors can descend into the tunnels to experience the historical mining environment and also sign up for a VR experience, offering a combination of real and virtual scenes, which is very exciting!

During the Japanese colonial period, modern mining equipment was introduced to Jiufen, leading to a significant increase in gold production. At the Gold Ecological Park (黃金博物園區), visitors can see mining tools and railways used in the past, and experience the challenging mining environment inside the tunnels. One of the most popular attractions is the opportunity for visitors to touch a gold nugget weighing over 220 kilograms, valued at over 200 million New Taiwan dollars.

In addition to the museum, visitors can also visit the Prince Hotel, the Ogon Shrine, and the Shuinandong Smelter, all within the vicinity. With an admission ticket of $80, visitors can spend half a day exploring the area. Whether visiting with family, friends, as a couple, or solo, everyone can immerse themselves in the memories and stories of Taiwan's prosperous industry in the past.

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