Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
scrambles over boulders and rock faces, and traverses across uneasily narrow and
bare sections of ridge. Don't go on a windy day!
The entire hike can take six to eight hours, but if you want to cut it short, a num-
ber of side trails lead off the ridge down to roads leading (eventually) back to Shiht-
ing. Pick up a copy of Richard Saunders'Taipei Escapes Ifor a full description of
this hike and all its possibilities.
To get to Shihting take the bus of the beast, 666 (NT$30, 20 minutes), from
Muzha MRT station in Taipei: exit the station, walk to the main road and cross. The
bus runs about every hour: the morning schedule is 5.50am, 9.12am, 10.12am,
11.15am and 12.15pm. Useful return buses are at 2.40pm, 3.40pm, 4.40pm and
5.40pm.
Sights
Yingge Ceramics Museum
MUSEUM
(Yīnggē Táocí Bówùguǎn;
www.ceramics.ntpc.gov.tw
;
200 Wenhua Rd; museum admission free,
ceramic studio admission NT$50; 9.30am-5pm Tue-Sun, ceramic studio 2-3pm & 3.40-4.40pm
Sat & Sun, book a place 30min earlier)
At this stylish and informative museum, exhibits cover
everything from 'snake kilns' and woods used in firing, to influences on Taiwanese
ceramics from China, Japan and the Netherlands. Special exhibitions show the direction
modern Taiwanese ce ramics is taking, and the flashy videos and occasional humorous
display help to keep interest high as you move around the three floors. The museum has
a DIY ceramic class on weekends. See the website for details.
To get here, exit on the right side of the Yingge train station, cross the street and head
through a covered alley (it's obvious). This quickly opens up to a beautiful river land-
scape. Head down to the park and go right. The museum is a five minute-walk away.
Yingge Old Street
STREET
(Yīnggē Lǎo Jiē)
Although not really old, the street is rather quaint, with its cobbled roads,
traditional street lamps, red-brick facades and walk-in kiln. Dozens of pottery shops and
stalls, large and small, compete for your business, and you could spend hours just brows-
ing.
Prices start at around NT$20 for a cup or saucer, while quality handmade pieces can
cost tens of thousands. A good compromise for the budget shopper (who still wants
something nice) are tea sets, coffee mugs, and earthenware jars and vases that can be pur-
chased for NT$1000 to several thousand dollars. Most shops close about 6pm or 7pm.
