Taiwan
Jiufen and Pingxi
Mountain mining towns above the northeast coast, with old streets and waterfalls. Stay 1 day or one night. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 2 activities and 3 outdoor spots from our curated routes.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Oct – Dec, Mar – May
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
2 See · 2 Do · 3 Outdoors · 1 Eat · 1 Drink
Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko
from our route notes
28°C / 83°F avg high
17°C / 63°F avg high
about 263 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Jiufen and Pingxi
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
2 sights worth building a day around across Jinguashi and Houtong.
Photo: ifchen chen · GoogleSeeGold Museum, Jinguashi
Former Japanese-era gold mine with a walk-in tunnel and a 220 kg gold bar to touch.
Tip Combine with the Teapot Mountain hike nearby.
Photo: 夏羽晞（MiNa） · GoogleSeeHoutong Cat Village
Former coal-mining village now home to dozens of resident cats.
Tip It is right by Houtong station on the way to Shifen.
Do
2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Ruifang and Pingxi.
Photo: Σ64 · CC BY 3.0DoJiufen Old Street
Narrow lanes of tea houses and snack shops climbing a hillside above the sea.
Tip Stay past 6pm when day tours leave and lanterns glow.
Photo: Michelle · GoogleDoShifen Old Street
Rail-side street where visitors paint and release sky lanterns between trains.
Tip Ride the Pingxi Line and buy a one-day pass.
Outdoors
3 outdoor spots for fresh air across Jinguashi and Pingxi. All 3 are free to visit.
Photo: 湯志翔（阿湯） · GoogleOutdoorsTeapot Mountain Trail
Short, steep hike to a rocky summit over the coast and the Yin Yang Sea.
Tip Wear grippy shoes; the top section involves scrambling.
Photo: Jacky Chung · Google
Photo: 呂朱耕 · GoogleOutdoorsShifen Waterfall
Wide curtain waterfall reached by a riverside path from Shifen.
Tip Free entry; check closing time, it shuts before dark.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Jiufen and Pingxi in Jiufen.
Photo: 阿柑姨芋圓 · GoogleEatA-Gan Yi Taro Balls
Hillside shop serving chewy taro and sweet potato balls in shaved ice or warm soup.
Tip Grab a window seat for valley views.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Jiufen and Pingxi in Jiufen.
Photo: 阿妹茶樓 · GoogleDrinkA-Mei Teahouse
Red-lantern teahouse on Jiufen's stairway, a classic spot for oolong with a view.
Tip Ask for a balcony table facing the sea.
How to fit Jiufen and Pingxi into a trip
Jiufen and Pingxi is stop 2 of 4 on our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route. Follow it as-is or lift Jiufen and Pingxi into your own plan.
Stop 2 of 4
Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko
Night markets, mountain towns and marble cliffs
- Trip length
- 9 days
- Best season
- Oct – Dec, Mar – May
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Taipei
- Next: Hualien and Taroko
Getting here and onward
- Taipei to Jiufen and PingxiTaipei is about 29 km / 18 mi away in a straight line
- Jiufen and Pingxi to Hualien and TarokoHualien and Taroko is about 127 km / 79 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Jiufen and Pingxi month by month
Average daily highs run from 17°C / 63°F in January to 28°C / 83°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 263 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan17° / 63°F average high
- Feb18° / 65°F average high
- Mar20° / 67°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr23° / 73°F average high, in our recommended season
- May25° / 77°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun27° / 81°F average high
- Jul28° / 83°F average high
- Aug28° / 83°F average high
- Sep27° / 80°F average high
- Oct24° / 75°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov22° / 71°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec19° / 65°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Jiufen and Pingxi weather and the best time to visit →
Near Jiufen and Pingxi
3 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.
Jiufen and Pingxi questions, answered
How many days do you need in Jiufen and Pingxi?
Our route notes suggest 1 day in Jiufen and Pingxi. On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route it is stop 2 of 4 in a 9-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 10 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Jiufen and Pingxi best known for?
Mountain mining towns above the northeast coast, with old streets and waterfalls. Stay 1 day or one night. Standouts on our list: Gold Museum, Jinguashi (Former Japanese-era gold mine with a walk-in tunnel and a 220 kg gold bar to touch); Houtong Cat Village (Former coal-mining village now home to dozens of resident cats); Teapot Mountain Trail (Short, steep hike to a rocky summit over the coast and the Yin Yang Sea).
When is the best time to visit Jiufen and Pingxi?
Our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route is best Oct – Dec, Mar – May. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (28°C / 83°F), the coolest in January (17°C / 63°F) and the most rain in August (about 263 mm).
What are the best things to do in Jiufen and Pingxi?
Start with Jiufen Old Street, Gold Museum, Jinguashi, Teapot Mountain Trail, Golden Waterfall and Shifen Old Street. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 3 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat and 1 bar or café.
What is near Jiufen and Pingxi?
The closest destinations in our guides are Taipei (about 29 km / 18 mi), Hualien and Taroko (about 127 km / 79 mi) and Tainan (about 286 km / 178 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Jiufen and Pingxi with your crew
Open the Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.