Jinshan

The north coast town most tours skip past

Jinshan sits on Taiwan’s northern coast between Tamsui to the west and Yehliu to the east. It’s a genuinely small township — roughly 20,000 residents — where fishing, sweet potato farming, and increasingly tourism share the landscape. Tour buses pass through Jinshan on their way between Tamsui and Yehliu, but few stop for more than the sweet potato stalls near the Jinbaoli Old Street.

That’s a miss. Jinshan has hot springs of a different chemical type from Beitou’s (colourless sodium bicarbonate instead of sulphur), the Juming Sculpture Museum (one of Asia’s best outdoor sculpture parks), and direct views of the Candlestick Islets — two basalt sea stacks that jut from the water just offshore and appear on every tourist poster for the north coast.

Where	North coast, between Tamsui and Yehliu
Cost	Free to walk; hot springs TWD 200–500; Juming Museum TWD 350
Time needed	Half day for the township; full day with the museum
Getting there	Bus 1815/1815A/1717 from Taipei, 60–75 min
Best time	October–April; avoid July–September typhoon season

What to see and do in Jinshan

Jinshan Old Street and Jinbaoli Old Street (金包里老街)

Jinbaoli is Jinshan’s historic commercial street, concentrated around the Qing Shui Zushi Temple area. The main draw is food: Jinshan is famous throughout Taiwan for its sweet potato products. The local golden sweet potato (金山金鑽地瓜) is distinctly sweet and dense, and shops along the street sell it baked, in cakes, in ice cream, and as vacuum-packed bags for home. Budget TWD 50–150 for sweet potato products.

Other street food worth trying:

• Duck meat noodles: Jinshan has a local tradition of braised duck, and noodle shops along the old street serve it in generous portions (TWD 70–100).
• Sesame tofu: Cold, silky, and served with sauce.
• Fish cakes and sausages: Standard north coast coastal food.

The street is short — 200–300 metres — and can be walked in 20–30 minutes including eating.

Candlestick Islets (燭台嶼)

The two Candlestick Islets are basalt columns that rise about 10 metres from the sea about 200 metres offshore near Jinshan’s Shuiwei Fishing Harbour. They were formed by the same volcanic activity as Yangmingshan National Park. The view from the coastal path and from the harbour area is the attraction — there is no ferry to the islets and no landing is permitted.

The viewpoint is a short walk from the harbour, which is 3–4 km east of Jinshan Old Street (accessible by taxi or bicycle). Sunrise and sunset light are particularly striking here. Local photographers use the islets as a standard composition subject.

Jinshan Hot Springs (金山溫泉)

Jinshan’s hot springs use sodium bicarbonate water — colourless, nearly odourless, and slightly alkaline. This contrasts with Beitou’s more famous but stronger-smelling sulphur springs. The sodium bicarbonate type is often described as feeling softer on the skin.

Several small bathhouses and hotels in the township offer hot spring baths. Unlike Beitou, which has public community baths, Jinshan’s options are almost all private rooms or hotel facilities (TWD 200–500 for a private room, 45–60 minutes). The atmosphere is local and low-key rather than touristy.

Notable options:

• Huang Ting Hot Spring Hotel (皇庭溫泉飯店): One of the more established hotels with day-use hot spring facilities. Ask for rates when visiting.
• Lao Dao Hot Spring Hotel (老道溫泉): Smaller and more traditional; primarily private rooms.

Jinshan’s hot springs are a legitimate alternative to Beitou for visitors who prefer a less crowded experience. The downside is the journey time — 60–75 minutes from Taipei versus 20 minutes for Beitou.

Juming Sculpture Museum (朱銘美術館)

The Juming Museum sits in a landscaped park about 4 km southeast of Jinshan Township. It holds an extensive collection of work by Ju Ming (朱銘), one of Taiwan’s most celebrated sculptors, whose monumental “Taichi Series” bronzes occupy outdoor terraces alongside a lake and garden. Indoor galleries hold works from his various series, including the “Living World” figures and earlier woodcarving pieces.

Entry is TWD 350 for adults (~€9.50 / $11). The museum is spread across approximately 11 hectares — allow 2–3 hours for a thorough visit. The grounds are worth visiting for the landscape alone.

Getting there without a car is inconvenient — take a taxi from Jinshan Old Street (TWD 150–200 one way). There is no direct public bus to the museum entrance.

Yangmingshan National Park (nearby)

The road between Taipei and Jinshan via Provincial Highway 2 crosses over the shoulder of Yangmingshan National Park, offering scenic viewpoints and the option to stop at Qingtiangang grassland or the various hot spring pools within the park. This route adds 20–30 minutes to the journey but is worth it in good weather.

Jinshan vs. Beitou for hot springs

	Jinshan	Beitou
Water type	Sodium bicarbonate, colourless	Sodium bicarbonate, sulfate & radioactive types
Atmosphere	Local, low-key, few tourists	Historic, more polished, busier
Travel time from Taipei	60–75 min	20 min
Facility type	Mostly private rooms	Public pools + private rooms
Price	TWD 200–500 private room	TWD 40–4,000 depending on tier

If proximity matters more than atmosphere, Beitou wins easily. If you want a quieter, more local hot spring experience and don’t mind the extra travel time, Jinshan is a legitimate alternative — particularly as part of a north coast day rather than a dedicated trip.

Getting to Jinshan from Taipei

By bus (primary option): Routes 1815, 1815A, and 1717 from Taipei Bus Station serve Jinshan via Yangmingshan or the coast road. Journey time 60–75 minutes, fare approximately TWD 80–100. Frequency is every 30–60 minutes; check the latest schedule as routes vary seasonally.

Bus via coastal road from Tamsui: Buses 862 and 790 connect Tamsui MRT station to Jinshan along the coast (Provincial Highway 2), passing the Houbi Lake recreation area and coastal cliffs. This route takes about 55–70 minutes from Tamsui and is useful if combining Tamsui and Jinshan.

By private car or tour: Jinshan is most comfortably visited by private car or as part of a north coast tour. The flexibility to stop at the Candlestick Islets viewpoint, the Juming Museum, and Jinshan Old Street without worrying about infrequent buses makes a car worthwhile.

Full-day northern Taiwan private chartered car from Taipei

Combining Jinshan with other north coast stops

Jinshan sits geographically between Tamsui and Yehliu, making it a natural waypoint on a coast circuit. A practical sequence from Taipei:

Taipei → Tamsui → Jinshan → Yehliu → Keelung → Taipei: This is the complete north coast loop. It requires a car or private driver. By public transport, the timing becomes impractical — buses between Tamsui and Jinshan run infrequently, and the connection to Yehliu from Jinshan involves another bus.

Taipei → Jinshan → Yehliu → Taipei: A focused morning visit to Jinshan (Old Street, Candlestick Islets), then bus or taxi to Yehliu for the afternoon. Return from Keelung or take the bus back to Taipei directly. This works on public transport with careful timing.

See the north coast loop guide and best day trips from Taipei guide for detailed routing options.

Private north Taiwan tour: Yehliu, Jiufen, Pingxi

Where to eat in Jinshan

Lao Dao Duck Noodles (老道鴨肉麵): One of the more established duck noodle shops near the old street area. TWD 75–120 per bowl.

Sweet potato stalls along Jinbaoli: Multiple vendors sell variations. Look for freshly baked sweet potatoes rather than the pre-packaged product-counter shops — the fresh-baked ones at TWD 30–60 each are far better.

The Juming Museum café: The museum has a café serving simple hot and cold drinks and snacks. Pleasant for a break after walking the sculpture park.

Jinshan seafood restaurants: Several restaurants near the harbour serve fresh local seafood. Prices are lower here than at equivalent spots in Keelung or Tamsui — a seafood meal for two costs around TWD 400–700.

Weekend breakfast market: A small morning market near the old street sells breakfast staples — soy milk, dan bing, steamed buns — from around 06:00 to 10:00, mostly patronised by locals rather than tourists. Worth a stop if you’re arriving on an early bus.

Practical notes

Limited public transport between coast points. Buses on the north coast run every 30–60 minutes and timing information is not always easily available in English. Build in buffer time or use a taxi for specific segments.

Juming Museum visit timing. The museum is closed on Mondays. If planning a Jinshan day trip around the museum, check opening days and hours before departure.

Cycling the north coast. The north coast road (Highway 2) from Tamsui to Keelung is a recognised cycling route with good scenery. Rental bikes are available in Tamsui. Jinshan is a logical midpoint rest stop. The full route is 70+ km and takes 6–8 hours — feasible for experienced cyclists in good weather.

Hot spring bookings. Private hot spring rooms at Jinshan’s bathhouses can be taken without advance booking on weekdays. Weekend afternoons may require a short wait. Prices (TWD 200–500 for 45–60 minutes in a private room) are considerably lower than equivalent facilities in Beitou.

Frequently asked questions about Jinshan

What is Jinshan known for?

Sweet potato products (particularly the golden local variety), coastal scenery including the Candlestick Islets, sodium bicarbonate hot springs, and the Juming Sculpture Museum. It’s a quieter alternative to the busier north coast stops.

Are Jinshan hot springs good?

Yes — sodium bicarbonate water is clear and gentle on the skin, in contrast to Beitou’s stronger sulphur springs. The facilities are simpler and less touristic, which suits visitors looking for a local rather than polished experience.

How long should I spend in Jinshan?

Two to three hours covers the Old Street food, a view of the Candlestick Islets, and a hot spring visit. Add 2–3 hours more for the Juming Museum. As part of a north coast loop, Jinshan is typically a 1.5–2 hour stop.

Is the Juming Museum worth the entrance fee?

For visitors interested in contemporary sculpture or landscape gardens, yes — it’s an exceptional collection in a well-designed outdoor setting. For visitors with limited time on a north coast circuit, it’s probably the least essential stop given the travel time from the coast road.

Is Jinshan worth visiting without a car?

Yes, but plan carefully. The bus from Taipei is direct and reasonably frequent, and the Old Street, Candlestick Islets viewpoint and hot springs are all within walking or short-taxi distance of the bus stop. The Juming Museum is the one attraction that’s genuinely awkward without a car or taxi — factor in the extra time and cost if you want to include it.