Jiufen Laojie: climbing a lantern-lined hill market above Neu-Taipeh
Published on 09/14/2026 at 12:26 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Jiufen Laojie is the market core of Jiufen, a hillside settlement in Ruifang District of Neu-Taipeh, where a narrow lane of shops and teahouses climbs a mountain slope above Taiwan’s north-east coast. The old street forms part of Jiufen’s former gold-mining townscape, with its present form taking shape in the twentieth century as steep alleys and stairways turned into pedestrian lanes lined with food stalls and tea rooms.
A hillside street that bends with the mountain
Jiufen Laojie is a series of alleyways running through Jiufen, a town in Ruifang District of New Taipei City that grew on a ridge above the Pacific coastline east of central Taipei.Jiufen Old Street The core lane follows the contour of the hillside rather than cutting straight across it, so walking it means constant short ramps and clusters of steps between shopfronts.
The street is locally known as Jiufen Laojie in Mandarin and Jishan Street in some guides, and it runs for close to 1 km (around 3,180 ft) along the slope before tapering into quieter residential alleys.Length of the street Buildings stand pressed close to the paved lane, with narrow frontages leading back into deeper rooms and upper floors, creating a continuous band of shop signs, balconies and lantern brackets above the passing crowds.
From gold town lanes to tea houses and snack stalls
Jiufen developed as a gold-mining settlement in the hills of Ruifang District, and Jiufen Laojie traces that origin in its tight layout and stepped access between different levels of the town.former gold-mining town The old street sits at the centre of this former mining community, and its lanes form a small network of pedestrian passages threading between houses and terraces.
Two named ways shape the core of Jiufen Laojie: Jishan Street, the covered shopping lane, and Shuqi Road, a steep stone stairway that drops across it and links terraces at different heights.Jishan Street and Shuqi Road Along Jishan Street, snack stalls, tea houses and souvenir shops occupy the ground floors, while Shuqi Road is lined with teahouses whose balconies overlook the stairway, giving the crossing a compact, multi-level character.
Lanterns, sea views and a lived-in hillside town
Jiufen Laojie is more than a single tourist alley; it is a public street within a lived-in hillside town where residents, traders and visitors share the same narrow route. The lane is paved for pedestrians, and short flights of steps appear at irregular intervals, with railings and low walls marking the edges of terraces.
Side alleys branch off Jiufen Laojie, some leading to viewing platforms looking down toward the Pacific coast and the harbours of Ruifang District, others climbing towards residential lanes higher on the slope.location in Ruifang District Rows of lanterns hang from eaves and shopfronts, and teahouses often occupy upper-storey rooms that open onto terraces above the main path, adding a vertical layer of activity to the already stepped street.
Visiting Jiufen Laojie: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Jiufen Laojie runs through Jiufen in Ruifang District of New Taipei City, north-east of central Taipei, and is reached by road and bus services from Taipei or by local transport from Ruifang railway station.
- The terrain is steep, with the main lane following the hillside and intersecting with stairways such as Shuqi Road; a visit involves walking on gradients and climbing short flights of steps.
- Side alleys from Jiufen Laojie lead to small terraces and viewpoints over the Pacific coastline, with guardrails or low parapets beside drops, so attention to footing is important on narrower passages.
- Jiufen lies in the hills above Ruifang District in Taiwan; the official language is Mandarin Chinese and the currency is the New Taiwan dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Jiufen Laojie
Where is Jiufen Laojie located?
Jiufen Laojie runs through Jiufen, a hillside town in Ruifang District of New Taipei City in Taiwan, east of central Taipei.
What should visitors expect on a walk along Jiufen Laojie?
A walk along Jiufen Laojie means following a narrow paved lane with short ramps and stairways, passing food stalls, teahouses and small shops with occasional side alleys to viewpoints.
What makes Jiufen Laojie distinctive among Taiwan’s street markets?
Jiufen Laojie is distinctive for its stepped, hillside layout in a former gold-mining town, where covered lanes, stone stairways and lantern-lined teahouses share the same sloping route above the Pacific coast.
