New Taipei: Wulai Old Street

  Highlights : 

  • Try indigenous food.
  • Bathe in a Hot spring
  • Ride the Wulai Scenic toy train.

Estimated visit time: half-day trip (Start from Morning or Afternoon)

Wulai Old Street (烏來老街) is a small old street in the heart of the Atayal indigenous people’s village. It is located in the vast mountain area of New Taipei City. Here, you will experience the Atayal people’s culture, bathe in hot springs, and relax amid nature. Wulai is quite close to Taipei City. So, it is a famous hot spring place as well as Beitou.

How to get to Wulai from Taipei City Center: Wulai is located in New Taipei City. So, you can take the MRT to Xindian Station (G01). Then, get on the bus number 849 (20 minutes/trip) in front of the MRT station to Wulai town (the last station). Travel time is about 40 minutes. When you return, you also need to walk to this bus stop to get on the bus back.

Wulai’s main attractions

  1. Wulai Old Street (烏來老街)

You have to walk from the bus stop about 300 meters. There are several convenience stores and visitor information centers along the way, and you can visit for information or get a detailed map.

The old street has a community museum of the Ataya people, and you can enter for free. The space is relaxed and informative, and you can learn about Wulai and the Ataya people’s life.

Besides, the old town has many hot spring bathing services combined with motels from affordable to high-class resorts. Along both sides of the old village are local shops with local food such as salt-roasted small stream shrimp, bamboo rice, wild vegetables, bamboo shoots, wild boar, traditional sausages, cakes, tea, etc. Prices range from 50 – 150 NT/dish. However, some restaurants do not have English menus and will ask you to pay when ordering.

In the past, there was a free public hot spring beach; however, it is now permanently closed.

  1. Wulai Waterfall (烏來瀑布)

You can walk about 2 km to Wulai waterfall or take the Wulai Scenic train (烏來觀光台車) to the falls. It had used to transport timber and became travel carts. In the old days, the carts were pushed by humans; however, it is now changed to run with simple engines. The train costs 50 NT/person/ticket.

You can find information about the train and Japanese logging history at the Wulai forestry Living Museum near the falls. The waterfall area is a small park where you can rest, get drinks and food, or buy souvenirs.

In addition, you can choose to ride the Waterfall Cable Car in combination with visiting the amusement park in Yun Hsien Resort on the mountain for 500 NT/person. You have to buy a ticket and board the cable car at the uphill station, opposite the museum.

  1. Wulai Fude Temple (烏來福德宮)

When returning to the bus station, you can go back the same way, passing the old town, or go straight up the mountain and visit a small temple. The temple is tranquil, and you can see the whole Wulai old town from the temple and experience crossing a beautiful suspension bridge to the bus station.

Travel Tips:

  • You should bring an umbrella or raincoat and insect repellent spray because this area is in the mountains.
  • If you come to Wulai in the morning, you can go straight up the mountain and experience the Wulai log cart to the waterfall area. Then, you can return to the old town for lunch and visit the community Atayal museum. If you come at noon, you can leisurely have lunch and explore Wulai later.
  • Visitor information centers and museums have water dispensers. You can bring bottles to get water there.

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