It would be a favorable way for people who enjoy in-depth travel to go to Ruifang by train. Ruifang is an adorable town next to Keelung, where the mining industry used to flourish and nowadays is known as a tourist attraction featuring rich mining culture and the beauty of nature.
Ruifang station of Pingxi Line
At the beginning of the trip, tourists can buy a one-day pass for Pingxi Line at Ruifang station, which allows passengers to go on and off the train at any station they would like to unlimitedly in a single day. The train of Pingxi Line goes through Ruifang, Hou-tong, Shifen and on to Jingtong, enabling tourists to travel around Ruifang and Pingxi District easily. To immerse in the charm of the railway and of the historic sites with a whole heart, it is recommended for tourists to keep their luggage stored near Ruifang rear station. The luggage storage service of Lalalocker is at a café named “Injoy,” and more information for tourists’ reference is available here.
Ruifang Old Street
The Injoy café is on Ruifang Old Street, so tourists can appreciate the ancient buildings after their luggage is stored. Also, the authentic snacks provided by the aged stores and stands are things people should not miss when visiting the old street, such as the taro balls, the noodles of traditional taste, and the sausages from the 50-year-old street vendor. If the snacks can’t satisfy your appetite, the food street and the food court area in front of Ruifang station, where people can try some special food like LongFongLeg or rice noodles.
Houtong Cat Village
After admiring the elegance of the old houses and having the local cuisine, tourists can take the train to Hou-tong to visit Houtong Cat Village. Once you alight from the train and go across the bridge to the village on the other side, you can see the cats sleeping in the corner of the corridor and there are boards showing how to get along with the cats over here. In the village, the cats may sit on the low walls, under the trees or in front of the residents’ houses, being carefree and relaxed.
Via Pingxi Line, tourists can also go to Shifen after staying in the Cat Village for a while, walking for about 20 minutes to see Shifen waterfall or go on to the terminal station Jingtong to take a photo with the wooden station building. Having an in-depth journey by train, you will fall in love with the pleasant sceneries along the railway.