Taiwan North Coast Attraction Guide: Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu Geopark

Taiwan north coast attractions - Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu Geopark are the must-visit attractions for tourists who come to Taiwan. How can I visit these 3 attractions in limited time? First, a local guide with a car saves a lot of time, because the three are spread along the coast and public buses are slow. Second, you need a clear plan of what to see and eat.

Now, MyProGuide points out the must-eat and must-visit tourist spots of Jiufen, Shifen, Yehliu Geopark for you!

Jiufen Old Street

Must-Eat in Jiufen Old Street

You can see the fishball shop (魚丸伯仔) at the beginning of the old street. It has been making fishballs since 1946, so if you want to taste the local fishball, this is the place. The aroma of fish fills your mouth when you bite into one. Other must-eat items here include stuffed tofu pockets and mung bean noodles.

Taiwanese meatball (肉圓) is a Taiwanese street food and it is like a giant dumpling because of the translucent dough made of sweet potato starch filled with pork. The red vinasse Taiwanese meatball is filled with pork slices, which is soaked in red vinasse.

Tsaozaigou (草仔粿) is a very traditional food in Taiwan. The green dough is made by glutinous rice and Chinese mugwort or cudweed, and filled with dried radish. It is sweet and the aroma of herb and pepper full of your mouth.

Taro balls with sweet soup is a very iconic street food in Jiufen. There are two famous taro balls shops - A-Ganyi (阿柑姨) and Lai A-Po (賴阿婆). Tasting a bowl of taro balls with sweet potato, green bean, red bean and soy is a blissful thing in Jiufen.

Must-Visit in Jiufen Old Street

Drink a cup of Taiwanese tea with local desserts at A-Mei Tea House (阿妹茶樓), one of Jiufen’s most famous landmarks, especially when its red lanterns light up at dusk. Nearby, Shengping Theater (昇平戲院) dates back to the Japanese era, when it was the most important entertainment venue for the gold-mining towns of Jiufen and Jinguashi. It closed in 1986, was restored, and reopened in 2011 as a small museum where old films are still screened.

Shengping Theater is free to enter and closes one day a month for maintenance, and A-Mei Tea House stays open into the evening; check current opening hours before you go.

Learn more about Jiufen

Shifen Old Street

Must-Eat in Shifen Old Street

On Shifen Old Street, visitors can taste many kinds of street food at very reasonable prices, like rice-stuffed chicken wings, peanut ice cream rolls, traditional flour tea and rice noodles.

Must-Do in Shifen Old Street

People can wander along the old railway track and release their own sky lanterns. The old rail was lined with different kind of sky lantern shops, snack shops that you can have fun and eat local food at a time. Oh! Please mind that the railway is still in use: when a train is coming, staff blow whistles and everyone steps back to the side.

Another must-visit attraction is Shifen Waterfalls, near by the Shifen old street, and it is nicknamed as " Niagara waterfalls of Taiwan". It is about a 20–30 minute walk from Shifen Old Street.

Learn more about Shifen Old Street

Yehliu Geopark

A natural classroom of bizarre rock formations, shaped over thousands of years as the cape rose out of the sea and wind and waves carved its sandstone.
Yehliu Geopark - Opening times: usually 8:00am-5:00pm all year
Ticket price: around NT$120 for adults, with discounts for children, students and seniors (check before you go)

Must-Visit Rock in Yehliu Geopark

• Queen's Head (the most famous rock, its slender “neck” is slowly eroding, so see it while you can)
• Cute princess
• Candle rock
• Fairy's shoe
• Carp rock
• Mushroom rock group
• Tofu rock
• Marine bird rock

The north coast is one of the most popular areas in Taiwan, with millions of visitors every year. We hope these must-eat and must-visit spots help you make the most of your limited time. Have a great Taiwan trip!

• Plan a day trip to Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu with a local guide.
• Pick a professional licensed tour guide to guide you.
• Make a customized itinerary.