Starting our 3rd day in Taipei at the railway station.
Plans for Day 3: 九份/瑞芳/十份
We took a bus from 瑞芳 station to 九份. Before we left for 九份, we bought a 瑞芳day ticket so we can take the 平溪线 all day. If you are only going for one/2 stops, you can just use your 悠遊卡.
You should buy your express train ticket to and fro 瑞芳 to Taipei Main Station (about 45mins train ride using the express) earlier. We got ours the day we arrived Taiwan in case of the crowd.
First Stop: 九份
The bus stop to 九份 is a bit of distance from the station. walk out of the station, cross the pavillion and the road, then turn left (following the direction of the cars.) There are few buses to 九份, just check with the drivers. Some are express buses.
The View from 九份。
The main entrance of 九份旧道
The view from the end of the street
Ocean View
阿信的店: Souvenirs!
From ginger tea to muachi! Mango pudding, this shop is the one to go. We bought all our souvenirs from here, cheap and taste good. then you can leave your things in the shop and come back to collect after you finish exploring.
Eating time! First food stop: 芋圆
Second food Stop: Fishball 鱼丸
Honestly, I am not the biggest fan of this. The fishball has a more floury starchy texture and flavour to the norm.
We were filled after a few food stops, we decided to start exploring along 平溪线.
Back at the railway station.
Please be reminded that you should check the train schedule ahead of time because the frequency is about 1 train every hour.
At every station, you can check the train timing for the next train up and down from the station.
Second Stop: 十份老街
Its a nice experience because the railway pass through the town, and the town revolves around it.
Sky lantern 纸灯笼 is a must do activity here.
十份瀑布
It's quite a distance from the station. Be prepared to walk 40-60 mins to and fro. So plan your time well.
But the waterfall is definitely worth the walk.
The water is green and the waterfall is magific!
Third Stop: 平溪
We keep seeing the Peanut Ice-Cream popiah roll. And P had to try some.
It taste alright, quite bland.
平溪山泉豆花
This is one of the few recommended food to try here.
Its quite good. You get to choose your own ingredients to suit your own taste.
The town is very small, we finished walking in less than an hour.
Because of the tight schedule, since we have already gotten our express train ticket back to Taipei Main Station, we had to be back in 瑞芳 by 7. And, the only train we can take is the one at 5 plus to make it back in time with alot of time to spare.
We were exhausted by the time we were back in Taipei Main Station.
Some tips:
Recommended amount of time to explore 平溪线 is 1 full day.
We did a mistake and went to 十份 first. you can go down to 青铜first, there are more things to see there according to the brochure. We couldn't make it in time.
Start your day as early as possible, and maybe go to 九份 on another day.
But overall, it is still an awesome day, P and I enjoyed it very much.
But maybe we wont go back to 十份 and 平溪 a second time. We might just go ahead and explore 青铜.
