Northern Taiwan - Taiwan - page 236

Eating & Drinking
Palace Restaurant RESTAURANT, TEAHOUSE $$$
(Huánggōng Kāfēi Jiǎncān; 02-2495 2021; set meals NT$260; 10.30am-6pm Wed-Fri,
10am-8pm Sat & Sun; ) Set in a short row of Japanese-era houses, this restaurant has
both an old-time wooden interior and good food. Guests can sit on the floor, Japanese
style, or at tables. Set meals are available but you can also just enjoy a coffee or brew
your own tea.
To reach the restaurant, cross the bridge over the Keelung River and turn right. Palace
is 150m down the road. There are signs in Chinese. If you are interested in a homestay in
the area enquire at the restaurant.
Jingtong Crown Prince Chalet TEAHOUSE
(Jīngtóng Tàizǐ Bīngguǎn; www.hanyappf.com ; admission incl drink NT$150; 10.30am-5.30pm
Wed-Sun) Built in 1939, with hinoki cedar from the Alishan region, the chalet is actually
one of the largest and best-preserved wooden Japanese-style houses in Taiwan. After a
multiyear renovation, it's now open as a teahouse/cafe. Choose from one of a dozen
small tatami rooms, or one of the larger meeting rooms, to relax in.
The house sits on a picturesque shelf above the river, just below the village. Head to
the road from the train station - you can't miss it.
Getting There & Around
BUS
Taiwan Tourism Shuttle Buses ( www.taiwantrip.com.tw ; NT$45) run from Muzha MRT
station (walk to main road and cross for the bus stop) to Shifen Visitor Centre with stops
at Jingtong and Pingxi every hour or so on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends.
Weekday morning buses run at 7.15am, 8.20am and 9.45am, with an 11am bus just to
Pingxi. The last return bus leaves Shifen at 8.35pm.
TRAIN
If starting your journey at Houtong or Sandiaoling, catch a direct train (hourly) from
Taipei. If going to other stops first, take the train to Ruifang (fast/slow train NT$76/49,
40/50 minutes, every 30 minutes) and then transfer to the Pingxi line on the same plat-
form. All-day passes cost NT$52.
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