Jiufen Day Trip Guide 2026: Taipei's Lantern Town

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Taipei, Taiwan Travel

Created by Red Lanterns and Narrow Alleys,

The Jewel of the Day Tour

Jiufen

九份 (Jiufen)

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Hey there! I'm Ciel, your go-to travel creator!

Today, I want to introduce you to

a must-visit day trip destination from Taipei that many travelers explore via taxi or bus tours:

"Jiufen."

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What is Jiufen?

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Nestled in the mountains of northern Taiwan,

Jiufen was once a bustling gold mining town during the gold rush era.

Today, it has transformed into a beloved day-trip destination from Taipei,

usually visited as part of the famous "Yehliu-Shifen-(Jinguashi)-Jiufen" route.

It's globally renowned for its magical streets beautifully lit up by glowing red lanterns!

📍Jiufen, the Highlight of the Day Tour with its Beautiful Lantern-Lit Streets📍

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🏮Taipei, Taiwan Trip: Jiufen

Highly recommended for those who:

✔︎ Want to see the gorgeous night view of glowing red lanterns

✔︎ Want to visit a place that instantly reminds you of the movie *Spirited Away*

✔︎ Want to enjoy delicious nougat crackers with a stunning view

✔︎ Are looking for the best pineapple cake (Feng li su) spots

✔︎ Want to sip traditional tea while taking in a beautiful night view

How to Travel to Jiufen

Since Jiufen is located in the outskirts of Taipei,

it can be a bit tricky to get there independently unless you book a private tour.

That's why many travelers opt for taxi or bus tours.

I've actually been there twice—once on a private tour and once on a bus tour.

The private tour was amazing because we could take our time and enjoy the night view,

and while the bus tour didn't allow as much time for the night scenery,

I still highly recommend it because the transportation is incredibly convenient.

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Tips for Choosing Your Tour

Even though Jiufen is famous for its night scenery,

I noticed that not all bus tours actually include the evening view in their itinerary.

MyRealTrip

KKday

Klook

The links I shared above are specifically for bus tours that include the night view.

But since some tours offer extended routes (like adding Shifen Waterfall or Jinguashi),

I highly recommend browsing around to find the package

that matches your travel style best!

+ Quick tip: Even if a tour "includes the night view," depending on the season and sunset times,

you might end up seeing the lanterns light up from the window of your departing bus!

So make sure to check out recent reviews before booking.

(I booked a night-view tour, but I barely caught a glimpse of the lanterns lighting up as our bus was already heading back! 😂)

Enjoying Jiufen

From the entrance of Jiufen to the observation deck,

you’ll walk through narrow, winding alleyways like these. As you wander,

you'll encounter an endless variety of delicious street food,

tons of cute accessories and unique trinkets,

and if you're a tea lover,

you can even pick up some Oriental Beauty Tea (Dongfang Meiren)—the perfect souvenir! ❤️

Ciel's Souvenir Picks

Shu Shin Bou Pineapple Cakes

You can't talk about Taiwanese souvenirs without pineapple cakes (Feng li su), right?

Shu Shin Bou is so famous that it's practically synonymous with pineapple cakes here! Haha.

To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of pineapple cakes myself,

but I figured they'd make a much better gift for my grandparents

than chewy, sticky nougat crackers.

So, I decided to pick up a box here.

For reference, they offer options with either 100% or 80% pineapple filling.

Since they were for my grandparents, I was naturally going to go with the 100% option, but...

Our guide recommended trying them before buying.

They said the 100% pineapple version can sometimes be a bit too tart, while the 80% version might suit your taste buds much better.

And indeed, after a quick taste test, the 80% pineapple one was my absolute favorite!

So, I went ahead and bought the 80% pineapple content version.

If you're reading this, definitely take advantage of the free samples and taste them before you buy! ✨️

Misty Nougat Crackers

Besides pineapple cakes, the other must-buy souvenir when traveling in Taiwan...

...is definitely nougat crackers! 😋

While there are super famous nougat cracker shops in the city center,

I was on a packed fam tour and didn't have time to make the trek.

On my last trip, my friend and I had bought some from

Jiufen No. 55, which was delicious, so I was planning to go there again.

But then I spotted Misty Nougat Crackers—the rising star of the nougat cracker world!

Instead of wandering off and risking getting separated from my group,

I decided to keep it simple and buy them right where I saw them.

By the way, Misty also offered free samples!

Honestly, as long as you don't buy them from a regular supermarket,

almost all specialty nougat crackers in Taiwan taste incredible. Misty was no exception—

they were absolutely delicious, so I highly recommend them!

Here is the price list for the green onion nougat crackers for your reference.

Ocarinas

The ocarina—often affectionately dubbed the "pretty trash" of Jiufen souvenirs.

I bought one about 8 years ago, and it's still sitting in the corner of my room as a decoration.

Of course, I've barely ever played it,

but let's be honest, we don't buy these to actually play them, right?

It's just so cute as a decoration that I still don't regret buying it.

So, I totally recommend picking one up!

Though I have to say... is it just me, or are the designs exactly the same as they were 8 years ago? 😂

Plus, the shop owner plays live music for you,

which makes the whole experience really fun to watch and listen to!

Wishing Lanterns

I originally wanted to buy a mini wishing lantern in Shifen,

but the price was a total rip-off, so I passed.

Still, it felt a bit sad to leave Taiwan without one.

So when I spotted these wishing lanterns here, each representing different blessings,

and saw the price wasn't bad at all, I went ahead and got one!

I bought it because I loved the sound of the little bell,

and though it feels a bit noisy now every time it jingles,

it's a great keepsake that reminds me of Shifen's sky lanterns.

It makes for the perfect travel memento! ❤️

Aside from souvenir shopping, as you wander around, you'll spot unique teahouses

and plenty of pretty cafes tucked away.

Jiufen Photo Spots (Day vs. Night)

Once you walk up to the observation deck and follow the path,

you'll reach Jiufen's iconic photo spot, just like in the pictures.

It's beautiful during the day, but the evening views are on a whole other level.

So if you're booking a bus tour instead of a private one,

make sure to check if it includes time to see the night view! ‼️

The downside of the photo spot at night: it living up to its nickname "Jiufen Hell."

It gets so packed that in the photos you take, you're the only one who can actually identify yourself in the crowd.

Looking back as you make your way down after taking photos,

the red lanterns glow so beautifully—Jiufen's charm by day and night! ❤️

Jiufen Teahouse Recommendation

When you think of Jiufen teahouses, "A-MEI Tea House" is probably the first that comes to mind, right?

But because it's so famous, the lines there are absolutely insane.

That's why I highly recommend "Jiufen Tea House" (Jiuhuyu / 九戶茶語) instead.

The drinks are on the pricier side, but completely reasonable for a tourist spot,

and the view is stunning with the bonus of no endless waiting.

⬇️My honest, self-funded review of Jiuhuyu (九戶茶語)⬇️

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✔︎ A must-visit day trip from Taipei, Taiwan

My Honest Review of Jiufen

To be honest, if I had to choose between Jiufen by day or night,

I wouldn't hesitate for a second to choose the night when the glowing red lanterns create a magical night view.

But the absolute BEST way is to arrive around sunset, because the daytime views are also gorgeous.

You can explore the charming winding alleys,

relax with a cup of tea at a cozy cafe until the sun goes down, and then marvel at the glowing night view.

So, if you’re planning your trip, I highly recommend scheduling it

so that you can experience that stunning night view.

Cielso

ⓒ2026.Cielso All rights reserved.

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