When it comes to Jiufen, most people think of the crowded old street, taro balls, and night view cafes. But did you know? After 6 AM or after 5 PM in the evening, you can practically have the entire mountain road to yourself—this is a secret only known to cyclists.
Jiufen itself is indeed not suitable for cycling in and out—stone step streets, narrow alleys, and dense crowds. However, the surrounding mountain area hides several stunning cycling routes. This article won't cover the official information you can find online, but shares a route that locals have ridden countless times: starting from Ruifang Station, passing through the اصول (pronounced "Azuo Wu") Creek Valley, and finally looping back to Jiufen for the night views.
The highlight of this route lies in its "sense of time." Setting off in the early morning, you can watch the mountain mist slowly rise from the Keelung River Valley, the dew on the tea fields hasn't dried yet, and there's a faint cypress fragrance in the air. When returning in the evening, the streetlights have just lit up. Looking down from the high point at the entire Jinguashi settlement, that quiet mountain town is a hundred times more beautiful than when it's crowded during the day.
First Stop: Riverside Bike Path Around Ruifang Station
Don't ride directly up to Jiufen—first warm up on the riverside bike path in Ruifang city. This section is wide and easy to ride, with a tributary of the Keelung River alongside. In the morning, you can even encounter local uncles fishing by the river. Rent a Ubike from Ruifang Station and follow the signs toward Shuinandong. It takes about fifteen minutes to leave the city area and enter the mountain industrial road.
Second Stop: Waterfall Secret Spot at اصول Creek Valley
The true essence of this route lies in the creek valley scenery along the way. After passing Lingjiao Tunnel, turn right onto an unremarkable industrial road. After riding about three kilometers, you'll see a small waterfall—this place rarely sees any tourists. The waterfall isn't large, but the water is crystal clear. Riding here in summer and stopping to play in the water, you really will lose track of time. This section has more primitive road conditions with gravel on the surface. It's recommended to use a gravel bike or a cyclocross bike.
Third Stop: Romantic Highway's Climbing Challenge
Continuing uphill from the waterfall secret spot, you'll connect to industrial road numbered 102—this is what locals call the "Romantic Highway." The name sounds dreamy, but riding it is anything but romantic. The entire climbing section is about four kilometers long with an average gradient of 8%, and the steepest parts exceed 15%. If you don't have much climbing experience, you might need to push your bike for this section. But the good news is: after completing this climb, the rest is either downhill or flat terrain.
Fourth Stop: The Unbeatable View at Buyan Pavilion
The endpoint of the Romantic Highway is Buyan Pavilion, which is the highest point between Jinguashi and Jiufen. Standing in the pavilion, you can simultaneously see Keelung Islet, the coastline, and the entire Jinguashi settlement surrounded by mountains. On clear days, you can even see the distant Keelung Volcano. This is also a must-photograph spot for many cyclists, but if you come in the early morning or evening, you'll usually have the place to yourself.
Fifth Stop: The Night View Section for a Relaxed Return
Riding down from Buyan Pavilion, after about two kilometers you'll connect to the road outside Jiufen Old Street. By this time, it's already dark and the streetlights are on. It's recommended not to enter the old street at this time (too many people). Instead, ride along the outer road and look down at Jiufen's night view from above. The stone-step old street with its twinkling lights glowing in the darkness—that serene beauty is something you can't experience during the day.
Practical Information
For transportation, the most convenient way is to take the Taiwan Railway to Ruifang Station. There are Ubike rental stations in front of the station (NT$80 per ride, with additional charges for rides exceeding 4 hours). If driving, you can park at the Ruifang Junior High School parking lot (NT$50 per time).
The entire route, including photo stops and rest breaks, takes approximately 3-4 hours. It's recommended to set off at 6 AM and return to Ruifang for lunch around noon; or depart at 3 PM to catch the night view just in time.
For bike rentals, there are several bicycle shops around Ruifang Station that offer mountain bike rentals, with average daily rates of NT$300-500. If you don't have your own bike and want a more comfortable experience, you can consider e-bikes, with rental fees of approximately NT$500-700 per day.
Travel Tips
The biggest pitfall of this route is the "timing." Jiufen Old Street is too crowded during the day, and cycling properly is impossible. If you're the type of rider who prefers fewer people and likes to explore slowly, be sure to set off in the early morning or evening.
Additionally, mountain weather changes dramatically. Even if it's sunny when you depart, it's recommended to bring a light jacket—mountain temperatures are 5-10 degrees lower than at the base, and that's no joke. The waterfall secret spot section has no streetlights, so it's not recommended to continue after sunset.
Finally, this route is not suitable for rainy days—the industrial roads become slippery and dangerous. Before departing, you can check the Central Weather Administration's real-time road conditions to confirm stable weather before setting off.
If you're the type who's already visited Jiufen Old Street several times and wants to try something new, this morning ride and twilight secret cycling route is worth another trip to Jiufen.
📚 台灣旅遊產業研究數據
| 核心事實 | 來源/年份 | |
|---|---|---|
| 📊 | 台灣 2030 年海外觀光市場目標：每日接待旅客 1 萬人次，帶動旅遊外匯收入顯著增長 | 台灣觀光署 2030 觀光發展計畫 2030 |
| 📊 | 2024 年來台旅客達 819.1 萬人次，觀光局目標 2030 年突破每日 1 萬人次、平均消費 3 萬元 | 台灣觀光署統計 2024 2024 |
| 📈 | 台灣自行車旅遊（Cycling Tourism）發展成熟，環島騎行路線獲國際媒體評為全球十大單車旅遊目的地 | 台灣觀光署 / CNN Travel 2024 2024 |
數據來源：CloudPipe 研究資料庫 · 最後更新：2026-05-22
