Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The museum is on the Tamkang University campus, in the hills above town. Take a
taxi up (NT$150) and walk down.
Bali
Just across the wide mouth of the Danshui River where it pours into the Sea of China is
this little waterfront village (Bālǐ) with landscaped parks, boardwalks and bike paths run-
ning north and south through one of the most postcard-perfect landscapes in the north.
ends, every 15min weekdays)
ride connects Tamsui with Bali making it possible to visit both
in one day. Consider sailing over in the late afternoon for a few hours of biking after see-
ing the sights in Tamsui. Heading south, the bike and walking paths run along a land-
scaped riverside and offer open views of Tamsui framed by Yangmingshan mountains, as
well as Bali's own emerald volcanic Guanyinshan.
Heading north, the paths run past a row of food stalls, cafes and restaurants, then a
dark-sand beach, more landscaped parks, and the 60-hectare Wazihwei Wetlands (an im-
portant habitat for migratory birds). Further along (3.5km from the pier) is the
Shihsan-
hang Museum of Archaeology
(Shísānxíng Bówùguǎn; 2619 1313;
www.sshm.tpc.gov.tw
;
9.30am-5pm, closed 1st Mon of each month)
, which displays the prehistory of the
Bali region, in particular the Shihsanheng Culture, which thrived some 500 to 1800 years
ago.
Bicycles can be rented in Bali at varying prices at a number of shops right off the boat
dock from Tamsui. Most places rent until 8pm, the time of the last ferry back to Tamsui.
Eating & Drinking
The MRT area is chock-a-block with restaurants and food stalls. Zhenli St, on the way to
Fort San Domingo, has some charming little cafes, the Missionary House restaurant, as
well as some of the best
a-gei
(
Ā gěi
) outlets in town.
A-gei
is fist-sized pouches of fried
tofu filled with crystal noodles and served in hot broth. Along with 'iron eggs' (tiě dàn;
braised and dried eggs that are black and have a rubbery consistency) it is one of Tam-
sui's signature local snacks.
Along the waterfront are dozens of small outlets, stands and cafes as well as some fan-
cier and more romantic digs further north where the banyan trees slump over the board-
walk. Just north is Hobe Fishing Port (about the size of an Olympic swimming pool),
