The brown line (also referred to as the Wenhu line) was the first MRT line built in Taipei and the subway itself goes a little slower and you’ll notice the cars are a bit narrower. Josh and I live and work off the Brown Line. So I guess its no surprise that this line we know best is also our favorite. 🙂 There are lots of hidden treasures off this line and we’re glad to share them with you!
(green font = link to blog or website on place or activity, blue font = link to google maps pin)
THe Brown Line’s – Taipei ZOO Station:
The Zoo
Well, ok this isn’t a hidden treasure, is it?! The MRT is pretty nice about naming its stations according to its nearby highlights. So that should help you as a Taipei visitor! The Taipei zoo (and gondola ride!) is located at the tip of the Brown line. The zoo is quite cheap and engaging. It’s most popular attraction is the panda bear house. Although, having managed our own butterfly garden in Costa Rica, I was most excited about the zoo’s butterfly house!
Details: Go to zoo station, then follow the signs! Price: $60NT for adults $30NT for students. Hours: 9am-5pm daily. Also always a good idea to check out their official website for up-to-date info especially if there’s a specific exhibit you’re hoping to see!
Maokong Gondola
A must see Taipei attractions! Take the a gondola away from the city and up to Maokong, the tea growing mountain village overlooking the city. Then tuck into any one of the many quaint tea shops, sip some tea and enjoy the view! (read more here)
Directions: Take the Brown line to the Zoo exit, then follow signs – or gondolas:) If you want to go all the way up to the top it will cost you less than $10 USD round trip. AND you can pay with your MRT EZ card!
Brown Line’s – Muzha Station
The 795 Pingxi Bus –
Heads up! If you are looking for a fantastic daytrip out of the city jump off of the MRT here and take the 795 bus either to Pingxi, Shifen Waterfall, the Wormhole, Shen Kung Old street or all of the above! All of these great spots are directly accessible from bus 795 which conveniently stops every hour right outside of Muzha Station.
Only about a 30 minute bus ride from Muzha station. For more info & directions read our bog post about it!
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Pingxi & Shifen Waterfall
By bus from Muzha to Pingxi is about an hour and to Shifen its about an hour & a half. We did write a post about going up to Pingxi for their famous Lunar New Years Lantern Release. But we haven’t gotten around to writing a post about the spectacular Shiffen falls yet. But its on most must see Taiwan lists so a quick google search will easily give you all the info you need!
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Shen Keng Old Street 深坑老街
Shen Keng Old Street is also just a 15 minute bus ride from Muzha Station by bus. This old market street is famous for its stinky tofu (which I DID try! Actually, not too bad.) and is just a very quaint street to wander with lots of curious store fronts. Its easily a stand alone destination but also a good stop by on the way to or from Shifen, Pingxi or the Wormhole.
THe Brown Line’s – Da’an Park:
THE PARK
Taipei’s best known city park, Da’an is always a great place for a stroll. Besides taking pictures with whatever public art they have up at the time, my favorite thing is to hang out at the pond and watch the ducks, egrets, turtles & fish. You may also get lucky and catch a free concert or event!
THe Brown Line’s – Nanjing Fuxing station:
(Transfer station for the Green Line)
Ice Skating at the Taipei Arena
Need to escape the summer city heat? Well, then go ice-skating with the locals at Taipei Arena! We went on a weekday afternoon and were surprised by how many people were there. It was a fun mix of ages and skill levels to watch. And while we were VERY unsteady on our feet it wasn’t too crowded to enjoy it. The spot is easy to get to and there are lots of English signs in the Arena which will direct you to “Iceland” and then instruct you on how to buy tickets and rent equipment. So it’s a very doable local experience – no Chinese required!
Details: Open Mon – Fri 10am – 9pm & weekends 9am – 9pm. Costs about $330 for 2 hrs of skate time plus gear (refer to their site here). Gloves are required while skating and you can buy a pair there for 50NT. Then again if you just want to sit in the air conditioning, listening to classical music and watch people fall and twirl, 30NT will get you a 4 hour spectator ticket.
Directions:Take exit 5, walk straight down the street for about 5 minutes and it will be on your right. (Or you can transfer to the green line and get off at Taipei Arena)
Salsa Night Tuesdays at the Brass Monkey
Here’s something fun and different! A chance to watch Latin dancing in Taipei. There is a large and diverse dance scene in Taipei. And if you want to see the Latin dance side this one of the best places to observe it. Although you can do more than just watch! The Brass Monkey advertises free beginner salsa lessons at 9pm every Tuesday.
Details: Every once in a while there’s a change to the normal schedule so check their website before making a special trip. The Brass Monkey is just a 2 minute walk from Nanjing Fuxing station. There’s a $200NT cover charge but you get $150 back in the form of a drink voucher. Read our blog post for more details.
Chamkar Cafe
One of my new favorite vegetarian restaurants is also just a few shops down from the Brass Monkey. It’s a vegetarian Cambodian restaurant in Taipei owned by a French expat – ha! There’s lots of vegan options an of their food is made with local organic produce. The food is great and for a their prices are quite reasonable.
Details: Last time Josh and I went we both had soup, a main dish, coffee and dessert and it came out to around $750NT.
Open Mon – Sat, 9am – 8pm. Map here.
Brown Line’s – Dazhi Station
Ride a Ubike!
Dazhi Sation is a great spot to try out Taipei’s U-bikes. U-bikes are a cheap and easy way to explore and get around city. At Dazhi you can step out of Exit 3, grab a U bike and be at a fantastic riverside park in less than 5 minutes. Check out more on our blog post here!
Martyr’s Shrine
The Martyr’s Shrine really should be high on your must-see Taipei list. And while, it’s not exactly around the corner from Dazhi station, a 20 minutes walk away is as close as any MRT will get you to it (and you can always ubike there!) The walk/bike ride there will take you past some of Taiwan’s military headquarters which is interesting to see. And just another 10 minutes past the Martyr’s Shrine is the Grand Hotel (although by then you are closer to the Red line’s Jiantan station so you might as well continue on to it and all the interesting things in that area!)
Brown Line’s – Jianan RD. Station
Unlike the Zoo station, this station name fails to tip tourists off to all the fun to be had just steps away. But that’s what we’re here for! We wrote a whole blog post on this station and here’s a quick recap:
Miramar Mall:
I’m not one to get excited about malls or retail shopping. But I do get excited about a BIG ferris wheel mounted to the fifth floor overlooking the city! Miramar also have a really nice Imax Theatre here. Tickets aren’t cheap but then again compared to theaters in the states they are cheap.
Directions & Details: Take exit 3. Walk across the street towards the massive Ferris wheel! Before walking into the mall you can buy tickets for the movies at a stand in between the mall’s two buildings. But to go to get to the Ferris wheel you need to go inside and up to the 5th floor.
Jianan butterfly trail:
Just a few steps away from this stop is a really unique hiking trail. One that has been specifically designed to attract and support local butterfly species. One of Taiwan’s nicknames is the Butterfly Kingdom – so why not go out and see why! (and if you do be sure to check out our blog for more tips on how to get the most out of it!)
Directions to Jianan Butterfly Trail: Take exit 1. Take a left as you walk out, in a few steps you’ll see a temple and a butterfly sign 🙂 Follow the steps up and past the temple. Then keep following the butterfly signs.
Brown Line’s – xihu station
This might be my favorite spot on the Brown line and it’s probably the easiest one to miss! But if you know to look for it, there’s a great hike just a 10 minute walk from the station.
This hike shouldn’t take more than 2 hours round trip starting from Xihu station. The trail is a bit of a scramble but it rewards you with great views of the city and ends with these Instagram worthy bolders (although you’ll have to wait your turn if you want the shot!)
Directions:Take Exit 1, follow google maps directions to the trail head! Or you can check this blog for very detailed directions.
Brown Line’s – Wende Station
Goldface Mountain
We’ve read that there is alternative route up to Gold Face mountain from this Station, near Bihou Lake Park. The path is supposed to be a little smoother and not so steep, but also may take a little longer as a result. We haven’t tried this route yet, but you can find the trail marked on a map here.
Lake Bihou
Josh and I came here one day thinking that we could rent ubikes and ride around the lake. But as it turns out they don’t allow you to bike on any of the paths around the lake 🙁 .
It is a really pretty park though and we got lucky to stumble upon a free performing arts event happening on the lake that afternoon.
Brown Line’s – Dahu park station
The Park
As this station’s name suggests, there is in fact a park here! And its worth checking out.
The park is beautiful & immediately visible from the MRT station. There’s a man made pond with a lovely half moon bridge and a pavilion – all great for pictures!
The Public Swimming Pool
There’s also a big swimming pool next to the MRT alongside the park. The pool costs about $5 USD plus another couple dollars if you need to buy a swimming cap (mandatory at most pools we’ve been to in Taiwan). With that you have access to an outdoor lap pool & kids playing area, indoor lap pool, spa pool, sauna and steam rooms!
Read our blog post for more details and the story of how we stumbled upon it. 🙂