Beitou Foothills Festival

Transportation in Beitou

Railway Noryo Train

Tamsui Railway started operation on August 25, 1901, and greatly shortened the distance between Taipei and Beitou. On May 26, 1902, the first Noryo Train event was held in Yuanshan, Beitou, which was also the beginning of Beitou's leisure activities. It is worth to mention that there were two cafe-style Noryo Train events held after 1930. Participants needed to pay a membership fee of 1 yen. In addition to enjoying the train ride, they could also take hot spring bath in Beitou. Food and beverage like beer were also provided in the train. It was s a very interesting entertainment.

1906.08.04-Za Bao-Beitou Noryo Train. Mandarin Taiwan Daily News

Railway Shin-hokuto Eki (Xinbeitou Station)

After the Hokuto Public Bathhouse and Beitou Park were founded, the number of tourists to Beitou increased year by year. In 1916, the government decided to build a railway from Hokuto Eki (Beitou Station) to the hot spring area. It was called the "Shin-hokuto Karijokojo" when opened, and renamed to “Shin-hokuto Eki” (Xinbeitou Station) afterwards. It was the first railway built only for the purpose of tourism in the railway history of Taiwan. Although it was only 1.2 km in length, people who were willing to visit and participate in activities or enjoy hot spring baths had increased accordingly.

“Sketch map of Tamsui Railway” Guidebooks of Taiwan Railway Tour 1935 (p.133)

Bicycle

Trains were not the only transportation in Beitou; bicycles were also being used. After the development of bicycles in Taiwan, many cyclists formed bicycle clubs, and the public also rode bicycles to participate in activities in Beitou.

"Taiwan Yuejin Rotating Car", "Taiwan Gonglun", 1936.09.01

Carriage

Before mechanical transportation became popular, if people needed to go to Beitou, the horse-drawn carriage was one of the options.

Rickshaw

Before the railway construction was completed, apart from walking, the most common ways to travel were sedan chair or rickshaw. Because the Beitou Hot Springs covered a large area, rickshaw had become the main way of transportation when moving to hotels or The Public Bathhouse. At that time, The entrance of the Public Bathhouse, which is now the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, was a pick-up and drop-off point for the rickshaws.

Create by Cmie Design

Bus

On August 17, 1915, there were shared automobiles between Taipei City North Gate and Beitou. In June 1925, the bus route was set. The bus between Taipei and Caoshan ran twice a day, and the fare was 1 yen 20 sen one way. A regular bus route started to operate in May 1929, and the trips to and fro per day were increased to 6 each way; the fare for a single-trip ticket was reduced to 60 yen. The reduction in fares and the increase in frequency of operation had made Beitou a good place for the public to relax.

“Tomoe Automobile Shokai” Taiwan National Library

“Road to Beitou Hot Spring”，Guidebooks of Taiwan Railway Tour. 1935

A Newly Purchased Automobile by Jidosha Kaisha Taiwan Daily News 1919.6.28

“Japanese occupation In front of Xinbeitou Station”,Juzhen,Taiwan,1940.