Northern Taiwan

Why go

Taipei and New Taipei form a continuous urban area but lead to quite different outings. Jiufen climbs through a former mining settlement, Keelung faces the northeast coast, and Yangmingshan rises between Taipei and New Taipei. These anchors make the region useful for contrasting city culture with coast and mountain landscapes.

What to look for

• Taipei’s National Palace Museum and Longshan Temple
• Jiufen’s steep former gold-mining settlement in New Taipei
• Yangmingshan’s sulfur vents, hot springs and trails

Useful to know

• Group Taipei sights by neighborhood before adding a coastal or mountain excursion.
• Give Jiufen’s hillside lanes and Yangmingshan’s trails separate weather plans; both involve exposed terrain.

The route, stop by stop

1. 01

   Optional · – min

   National Palace Museum

   This hillside museum brings imperial Chinese art into a series of galleries. Come for the collection and the palace-style building, but give yourself time to choose what to see.

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2. Walk · 152 min · Estimated

   02

   Optional · – min

   Longshan Temple

   Longshan Temple is a working Buddhist and folk-religious temple in old Wanhua. Its layered roofline and carved halls reward a slower visit than a quick exterior photograph.

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3. 03

   Optional · – min

   Taipei

   Taiwan’s capital brings major museums, temples, memorials and modern towers into one northern city. Its range rewards a few focused neighborhood days more than a landmark sprint.

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4. 04

   Optional · – min

   New Taipei City

   New Taipei surrounds Taipei City and reaches from the metropolitan basin to northern coast and hills. The municipality is best explored as several separate outings.

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5. 05

   Optional · – min

   Jiufen

   Jiufen is a steep hillside settlement in New Taipei whose dense lanes grew from a gold rush. Come for the layered mining-town setting and allow for climbing.

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6. 06

   Optional · – min

   Keelung

   Keelung is a working port on Taiwan’s northeast coast, close to Taipei but shaped by the sea and frequent rain. It suits a maritime contrast to the capital.

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7. 07

   Optional · – min

   Yangmingshan National Park

   Yangmingshan is a volcanic mountain area between Taipei and New Taipei, with trails, sulfur vents and hot springs. Weather and walking effort shape the visit.

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