Taiwan Hits: Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen and Shifen Old Street

It was not only a few years back when more Pinoy tourists started discovering Taiwan and its amazing natural wonders and great food as it offered visa-free entry for short-term stays. Before this, Philippine passport holders had to either apply for a tourist visa at the embassy or get a visa entry pass done online granted that you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, or Schengen visa with multiple entries. I first travelled to Taipei back in 2015 and it was delightful to see more of our kababayans choosing to visit Taiwan when we came back in 2018.

For a 5-day stay, we decided to squeeze in a one day tour of Yehliu Geopark since we haven't been there yet and we don't have any other plans except go to as much night markets as we possibly can. Yehliu is about an hour away from Ximen Station so we thought it's more economical and time saving to join a tour rather than DIY. For this, we chose Klook, our go-to app/site for discounted tour rates, attraction passes, airport transfers, and even restaurant vouchers.

Yehliu Geopark

Home to the famous "Queen's Head" and other unique geological formations, Yehliu Geopark is a foremost tourist spot in Northern Taiwan. The amazing views of Pacific Ocean and the park's interesting attractions make this a worthwhile visit and a great place to recharge with nature.

Tip: As with most tourist spots, best time to go is early morning during weekdays to avoid the crowd. Also, remember to wear sunscreen and a hat as it can get very hot during dry season.

Queen's Head

Jiufen

Our 2nd stop was Jiufen, a mountain town in New Taipei City known for its numerous alleys that snake around the area filled with Chinese- and Japanese-styled tea houses, cafes, and souvenir shops. It was actually my second time here but the place never fails to amaze as new and amusing finds continue to find its way to make tourists look forward to visiting again and again.

Our favorite grilled king oyster mushrooms!

Shifen Old Street

This charming old street is actually a rail track but home to the tradition of releasing sky lanterns for goodluck. For a minimal fee, you can buy yourself a colorful paper lantern from one of the shops where you can write your wishes, send it to the heavens, and pray it will come true.

Back in Taipei after 8 hours with new learnings, great experience, and wonderful memories. It was indeed a tiring tour with long walks and some hikes but a fun and enjoyable one!

Conveyor Belt Sushi at Kura Sushi, Taipei TW

Any place we go, visiting a sushi place at least once during the trip is a must. In Taipei, we were able to try one of the most popular Japan-based revolving sushi chain - Kura Sushi, another addition to our list of the best and most sulit sushi places. In fact, it has already gained a following all over the world with its 400 restaurants and 35 years of brand experience.

Once you're seated, you'll immediately notice a parade of delightful sushi on the lower conveyor but if you fancy something premium or simply not available on the belt, you can always order from the iPad provided which will then be delivered on the upper conveyor in a jiffy.

What we ate

Hotate (Scallop) Sushi

Inari Sushi

Maguro (Tuna) Sushi

Shime Saba (Cured Mackerel) Sushi

Fatty Salmon Sushi

We basically ate 3 to 5 plates of each of the above but seeing our total bill was nowhere near a shocking experience as each plate only range between TWD40 (Php70.00) for the basic sushi up to TWD80 (Php140.00) for the premium ones. With its fast service and a wide variety of quality offerings at affordable prices, Kura Sushi is a great find indeed!

Tip: Download the Kura app on your mobile phone to make a reservation or prepare to wait at least an hour if walk-in as Kura Sushi is always packed anytime of the day.

~o~o~o~

Kura Sushi
B1, No. 101, Sec. 2 Nanjing East Road
Zhongzhang District
Taipei, Taiwan
Tel.: (8862) 2568-1519

Heritage Cafe, Taipei TW

One random afternoon walking around Taipei brought us to this charming and beautifully-designed spot in Zhonzheng District called Heritage Cafe because honestly, who could pass up for some delicious sweets and cold drinks on a hot day? Definitely not me!

Heritage Cafe has two floors with brick walls and modern industrial interiors. Just my type.

What we ordered

Apple Earl Grey Iced Tea

Seasonal Fruit Tea

Blueberry Cheese Tart

Everything tasted great plus the presentation were visually stimulating so dining here was a win-win! Both iced teas were sweetened perfectly and the addition of fresh fruits made it even more refreshing. The cakes were equally delicious but the star of the day really was the cafe's bestselling cake - the Guava Delight. Taste and texture were exemplary, not to mention that the guava flavor was a delightful treat from the usual cakes you can find anywhere. 

Guava Delight

Finding spots like Heritage Cafe is one the reasons why I love traveling with minimal (or zero) planned itinerary nowadays especially if I've been to a place once. I just love discovering hole-in-the-wall restaurants and secret spots where most locals hang out and keep for themselves.

~o~o~o~

Heritage Cafe
No. 73 Section 1, Hankou St.
Zhongzheng District
Taipei, Taiwan
Tel.: (8862) 2311-1079

Raohe Night Market, Taipei TW

Another must visit destination in Taipei, the Raohe Night Market is a 600-meter long street market packed with quaint shops selling bargain fashion finds, interesting snacks and even traditional games located along Raohe Street in Songshan District. The abundance of local and exotic delicacies is a major draw for most Taiwanese who love spending their time in night markets. Compared to Taipei's most popular night market Shilin, the Raohe Night Market is the best alternative with lesser crowd and more intriguing food choices.

Raohe has been synonymous to these yummy and seriously addicting Pepper Buns sold in a stall just as you enter the night market. It's easy to spot because the smell of freshly cooked buns will lure you to line up along with other people hoping to get a piece of these delicious babies.

With the maddening amount of shopping destinations in Taipei, I'd still prefer Raohe Night Market any day mainly because of the more local feel it exudes rather than the commercialized Shilin Night Market. The substantial mixture of fashionable items, amazing food and cute knick-knacks make this the best venue to experience why Taiwan has been dubbed as "Asia's Treasure Island".

Feast for the Eyes at Juifen Old Street, Taipei TW

Once a prosperous gold mining town, Juifen Old Street is another popular attraction just two hours away from Taipei's city center. The isolated town became famous upon the discovery of gold during the Japanese occupation back in 1893. After World War II, gold mining activities declined and Juifen has since become a tourist destination and mecca for Taiwan's rich culture and history. From the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, we took the train to Rueifang Station (via TRA Yilan Line) then rode the bus to Juifen with a total travel time of approximately an hour and 30 minutes.

According to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau website, Juifen (English translation: nine portions) was the home of nine families back in the day. Because all the materials were generally transported by ship, the families formed a habit of purchasing nine pieces per object. Juifen Old Street is a Japanese-inspired village with a long stretch of food and shopping experience. From the charming tea houses, souvenir shops selling unique finds, interesting local snacks, exotic food and artisan drinks, this is one place you should never miss out in your itinerary. One important advice I wish someone had given me before going here was to come early and come hungry!

For an inexperienced first timer in Taiwan food scene like myself, the smell of competing aroma kinda overwhelmed my senses that it took me a while before I decided which ones to try. Late lunch was a bowl of Taiwan's all-time favorite beef noodles followed by the popular dessert of shaved ice with your choice of toppings. I always prefer mine with plain and simple red beans.

We passed by this stall thrice before we actually bought a cup of this Auntie's perfectly grilled king oyster mushrooms. I do love mushrooms (golden mushrooms are my ultimate favorite) but I felt like paying TWD100 (Php150) for a few slices was a bit exaggerated. But hey, it's not everyday that we get to travel to Taiwan so might as well try as much food as we can. It only took one bite and I instantly knew that we made the right choice because they were juicy and very tasty!

Some people may dislike how commercialized Juifen has become but after the collapse of the mining industry, tourism has been the major pillar of support of this small village. The view of the old houses may be obstructed by the rows of stalls in the Old Street but if it means that we can still enjoy this amazing scenery and learn Taiwan's rich history through the food and the people themselves, I guess it's a small price to pay in order to sustain Juifen for the future generation.