*Scroll to the end of the post for the winners’ list!
*If you are one of the 18 winners, please email me at kelvin@cheekiemonkie.net for details on prize collection. Thanks!
If you are planning a trip to Taiwan this or next year, read on because there’s now an easier way to get around – PLUS, you may just win a travel package too! 😁
The last time we visited Taipei, Taiwan was in 2008 and I’ve got the photo to prove it.
This was taken more than 15 years ago – and Ale wasn’t even born then!😱
Since then, a lot have changed but some of the attractions within Taipei and New Taipei City remain popular with tourists… like Jiufen, Yehliu Geopark, Wulai Hot Springs, Pingxi, Shifen and many more!
But truth is, if you are not self-driving, it can get a little tricky to get to the outlying areas in New Taipei City. Visitors, especially families with kids, usually hire a private driver or join a day tour. So it is not really straightforward to move around on your own.
BUT GREAT NEWS! Did you know there is now a Tourist Shuttle Bus service that takes you from Taipei all the way to Shifen? Plus, it makes stops along the way at major tourist attractions too!
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 (台灣好行795) lets tourists conveniently board at the bus stop at Muzha MRT Station (Exit 2) and they will be able to hop on and off the bus at various stops like Jingtong Keng, Pingxi Old Street, Tianzi, Qinghe or Shifenliao (Old Street).
How convenient is that???
Some of the highlights that Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 stops at include:
A2 Shenkeng Old Street
Shenkeng Old Street boasts a hundred-year-old tofu culture and is famous for “The Tofu Town” and the distribution center of Tamsui-Kavaian South Trails.
A3-1 Wenshan Coal Mine
Located at Zhong Min village of Shiding district, Wenshan Coal Mine was a famous coal mine field of Greater Wenshan area. From Wenshan Coal Mine along Shi Ba Zhong stream, you can walk about 300 meters and arrive at Sun Gertain Eco Farm B&B and Fireflies’ Bookhouse.
A5 Jingtong Keng
Head to “Jingtong Sky Lantern Pavilion”, where a 9-metre tall Sky Lantern-shaped awaits. Made of glass and using 200 thousand LED lamps, travellers write down their wishes on cards and watch them appear on the sky lantern during the 7-min sky lantern show.
A6 Pingxi Old Street
Featured in the movie, “Your Are the Apple of My Eye” (那些年，我們一起追的女孩), Pingxi Old Street exudes old charm, complete with the stone-covered roads. You will also find the oldest mailbox in Taiwan here!
A9 Shifenliao
During the Pingxi mining period in the past.Shifen was the earliest and the largest village. Not only is Shifen Old Street popular with tourists, it is also popular with those who are looking to release sky lanterns.
A10 Shifen Visitor Center
The most famous attraction here has to be “Shifen Waterfall Park”, otherwise known as the Taiwan version of Niagara waterfalls.
And the most convenient thing about visiting all of these attractions is you just have to hop onto the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795!
6 Tour Itineraries of “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 – Muzha Pingxi Route”
To further enhance your experience, the New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau has introuduced ‘TK Trails’ which consists of 6 package tour itineraries titled [穿越淡蘭—悠遊深石平].
The various tour itineraries will take travellers to explore different cultures and enjoy a leisurely discovery of the towns of Shenkeng, Shiding, and Pingxi in partnership of 39 local partners.
Of the six tour itineraries, I highly recommend the following two:
Danlan Tea Road Travel Package ― Crossing the Southern Route of TK Trails
穿越淡兰南路｜百年茶道行旅
Explore the ecology of Shiding and cross the Southern Route of TK Trails with a 200-year-old Tea Road History!
Tour Recommendation
▌ Starting from Muzha Station of Taipei Metro (✽ Recommended departure time: 8:00-10:00 am)
• Take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 to depart.
▌ In the morning, go to A3 Shuangxi Station, walk 5 minutes to Danlan Suspension Bridge (✽ Recommended stay time: 3 hours)
• Experience TK Trails Shiding section and explore the tea culture of Danlan South Route through the context of tea ceremony, leisurely wander through the Shiding mountains, forests, and streams, and go to Shiding Old Street.
• Experience Sock Fish DIY at HA SOCK Sock Doll Shop ( Reservation required: 0906-988266).
• Stroll through Shiding Old Street and taste local snacks.
▌ In the afternoon, go to A3-1 Wenshan Coal Mine Station – Sungertain Eco Farm (✽ Recommended stay time: 3 hours)
• Visit the Firefly Bookhouse and care about rural companion reading, environmental education, and ESG sustainable development.
• Walk barefoot on the grass and enjoy the foot SPA with healing herbs.
• Enjoy dinner with Ganoderma Medicinal Cuisine of “Danlan Family Feast.”
▌ Take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 to return.
Danlan Folk Road Travel Package ― Crossing the Central Route of TK Trails
穿越淡兰中路｜百年茶道行旅
Explore the beautiful TK Triails, Century-old Mining Railway, and Pingxi Sky Lantern Blessing Culture!
Tour Recommendation
▌ Starting from Muzha Station of Taipei Metro
(✽ Recommended departure time: 8:00-10:00 am)
• Take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 to depart.
▌ Morning: A5 Jingtong Station | Jingtong Train Station
(✽Recommended stay time: 1 hour)
Stroll through Jingtong Old Street, try the traditional Jingtong Red Treasure Noodles at the Jingtong Hongbao Restaurant
Visit the Jingtong Sky Lantern Pavilion and write a wish card
Write a wish on a bamboo tube and appreciate the 7-minute “Prayer Sky Lantern Show”
Hang the wish bamboo tube next to Jingtong Train Station and enjoy a photo-taking salon
▌ In the morning, transfer to the Pingxi Line of Taiwan Railway and go to A9 Shifen Station (✽Recommended stay time: 1 hour)
Stroll through Shifen Old Street
▌ At noon, go to A10 Shifen Visitor Center Station (✽Recommended stay time: 1 hour)
Experience the friendly trail and walk to Shifen Waterfall
▌ In the afternoon, go to the Xinpingxi Coal Mine Heritage Park (✽Recommended stay time: 3 hours)
Experience the century-old mining tour and the culture of the century-old mining railway Coal Train Experience-Kiko
▌ Cross the most beautiful TK Trails – the Central Route of TK Trails and hiking enthusiasts can arrange ample time to cross in the direction of Nuannuan.
▌ Take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 to Return / Or after experiencing the long-distance trail as a hiker at Nuannuan Station by Taiwan Railway Train back.
[GIVEAWAY!] CLOSED
Thanks to New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau, I have Tour Packages to give away, with a TOTAL of 18 prizes up for grabs!
They will come in really useful if you are planning a trip to Taiwan as the expiry date is 31 December 2024 (that’s next year)!
PRIZES
*If you are one of the 18 winners, please email me at kelvin@cheekiemonkie.net for details on prize collection. Thanks!
Crossing the Southern Route of TK Trails – Danlan Tea Road Travel Package [2 PRIZES] (valued at NTD1,580)
*WINNERS*
1. Samantha Tan
2. Germaine Gerald Gervaise Gerianne
includes:
🟢Classic Shiding Eco Voucher @ Shiding―Sungertain Eco Farm B&B
– Ganoderma Medicinal Cuisine*1 set
– Herbal Foot SPA*1 set
🟢TK Trails Easy Card
– Includes NTD100 Traffic Fee
– Show “TK Trails Easy Card”and get a 10% discount on the recommended tastes of co-op partners
– Get one set of Roasted Wheat Flour of Jingtong Miners Canteen and Foot Bath DIY of Shiding Sungertain Eco Farm after showing the above card mentioned
🟢Cultural & Creative Gifts
– Postcard*1 piece
– Pocket Map*1 set
– Envelope*1 set
🟢Shangde Teahouse from a century-old tea farm:
– Baozhong Tea*2 packets
Crossing the Central Route of TK Trails – Danlan Tea Road Travel Package [2 PRIZES] (valued at NTD1,480)
*WINNERS*
1. Ernest Chan
2. Phyllis Tan
includes:
🟢Xipingxi Coal Mine Heritage Park Voucher @ Xipingxi Coal Mine Heritage Park
– Guided Tour
– Coal Train Experience –Kiko*1 person
🟢Refreshing Pingxi Blessing Voucher @Jingtong Sky Lantern Pavilion
– Sky Lantern Show*1 set
– Wishing Card*1 piece
– Wishing Bamboo Tube*1 set
🟢Refreshing Pingxi Blessing Voucher @Jingtong Miners Canteen
– Roasted Wheat Flour (Taiwanese local snack)*1 set
🟢TK Trails Easy Card
– Includes NTD100 Traffic Fee
– Show “TK Trails Easy Card”and get a 10% discount on the recommended tastes of co-op partners
– Get one set of Roasted Wheat Flour of Jingtong Miners Canteen and Foot Bath DIY of Shiding Sungertain Eco Farm after showing the above card mentioned
🟢Pingxi Six Door Teahouse
– Pingxi Tea*1 packet
🟢Cultural & Creative Gifts
– Postcard*1 piece
– Pocket Map*1 set
– Envelope*1 set
Pingxi Sky Lantern Blessing Travel Package [2 PRIZES] (valued at NTD1,080)
*WINNERS*
1. Wawa Chen
2. Joel Tan 조엘
🟢Classic Pingxi Sky Lantern Blessing Voucher
– @ Pingxi Six-Door Teahouse: Pingxi Tea*1 set, Tea Snack (brioche and dried fruit)*1 set & Classic Sky Lantern Releasing Experience*1 set
– @ Mei Yun Hakka Printed Clothes Workshop: Classic Sky Lantern Releasing Experience*1 set
– @ Mei Yu Sky Lantern: Mini Hand-made Sky Lantern*1 set
🟢Taipei Fun Pass｜Transportation 1-Day Pass
– Unlimited rides on MRT, city buses, and five Taiwan Tourist Shuttle routes within the period of validity
– Get a 10% discount on the recommended taste of co-op partners
– Get one set of Roasted Wheat Flour of Jingtong Miners Canteen and Foot Bath DIY of Shiding Sungertain Eco Farm after showing the above card mentioned
🟢Cultural & Creative Gifts
– Postcard*1 piece
– Pocket Map*1 set
– Envelope*1 set
Shiding Firefly Bookhouse Charity Giftbox [2 PRIZES] (valued at NTD880)
*WINNERS*
1. Lynn Koh
2. Stephanie Yeo
🟢Giftbox includes Ganoderma Coffee and other secret gifts
Taipei FunPASS – Transportation 1-Day Pass: Unlimited rides [10 PRIZES] (valued at NTD180)
*WINNERS*
1. Karen HK Tan
2. Yammy Pm
3. Doreen Wong
4. Ng Chow Yong
5. Esther Ang
6. Neo Shirley
7. Wendy Ong
8. Anne Aoka Low
9. Agnes Yam
10. Liping Tai
🟢Taipei Fun Pass gives you unlimited rides on MRT, city buses, and four Taiwan Tourist Shuttle routes within the period of validity
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
To participate, all you have to do is the following:
1. COMMENT in the corresponding FACEBOOK POST HERE with “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 +1″.
2. BONUS CHANCE #1: TAG 2 of your friends in the comment for one bonus chance!
3. BONUS CHANCE #2: SHARE the Facebook post for one bonus chance!
*Giveaway ends on 17 May 2023, 2359 hours.
GOOD LUCK! 😊
Useful Information
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