Pingxi Old Street 平溪老街
Located in the Pingxi area (平溪), Pingxi Old Street is a collection of shops and xiaochi snacks located nearby the Pingxi railway station.
The old street is unique in that it is built into a hill with a train track going overhead right through the middle with shops around selling local foods and gifts. Visitors are able to check out shops built during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as wooden houses built during the Japanese occupation era.
The area is especially well known for setting Chinese lanterns, and visitors are able to stand directly on and along the track to set their wish-covered lantern into the sky!
Visitors are recommended first to travel along the Pingxi Line from Ruifang (瑞芳) to Shifen Old Streets and waterall before traveling to the end of the Pingxi Line at Jingtong and walking back towards Pingxi to set a lantern around dusk.
From Taipei Main Station, take a northbound train (except Keelung-bound trains) towards Ruifang Station. Transfer to the Pingxi Line (平溪線) and purchase a One Day Ticket for the Pingxi Line, NT$52.
Many visitors prefer to visit Keelung (基隆) and Miaokou Night Market before returning to Taipei City (台北).