What To Do In Neiwan (內灣)
Traveling to Neiwan
Noted as being one of the Eight Historic Tourist Sights (大新竹八景) in Hsinchu, traveling to Neiwan (內灣) is a must for any traveler passing through the region. This old lumber/mining town has gone through quite a transformation over the years. Starting as an industrial headquarters, Neiwan has survived by becoming one of the top things to do in Hsinchu and Miaoli.
Neiwan’s old street is well known throughout Hsinchu. With food stalls and souvenir shops snaking through the narrow alleys like the tentacles of an octopus, you’ll never run out of things to eat and see. With a special train line running straight from downtown, this is one of the best Hsinchu day trips you can experience!
One of the other historic sights in Hsinchu is Green Grass Lake. Read more on the lake here!
How To Get To Neiwan
Located along the banks of the Youluo River (油羅溪), Neiwan is blessed with its very own train service that links itself to the rest of the country. The best way to travel to Neiwan is by train. There are direct train services from downtown Hsinchu to Neiwan early in the morning with the first service at 5:56 am. The train ride takes a little under an hour and costs 42 NT (1.38 USD)
In the middle of the day, there are few services going direct from Neiwan back to Hsinchu and vice versa. If there are no trains going straight from Hsinchu to Neiwan, you’ll have to first take the train to Zhuzhong (竹中) and then transfer to continue on to Neiwan. You won’t have to wait long either, the services are all fairly frequent.
Another market you’ll need to experience in Hsinchu is the Weekend Flower Market!
Neiwan Old Street (内灣老街)
While under Japanese rule, Neiwan was an important logging and mining hub in Hengshan Township (橫山). When the local mine finally closed in 1960, many thought it would be the end for this charming village nestled along the feet of the mountains. Luckily, Neiwan rebranded itself as a tourist destination and opened its doors to a steady trickle of tourists.
The railway is the main artery for Neiwan. Daily, the trains bring in hundreds of tourists to try out many of the local Hakka delicacies. All of the famous Taiwanese street food can be found along the stalls. With everything from stinky tofu to sticky rice, you’ll want to be sure to pace yourself in order to try a little bit of everything.
As far as history is concerned, you’ll find the Forestry Museum and the well-preserved Japanese-era police station. What is truly eye-catching, however, is the Neiwan Movie Theatre (內灣戲院). The movie theatre was built in 1950 and closed down in 1970. The doors of the cinema were reopened in 1990 when the grounds were turned into a restaurant, while still preserving its old-timey atmosphere. With covid-19, the doors have closed once again. Hopefully, the Neiwan Cinema will be given another chance to fill its hall with curious visitors.
Neiwan is a great day trip from Hsinchu. Looking for another day trip? Why not travel to Putian Temple?
Outside Of The Old Street
Unless you stop to eat at every single stall or are roped into the tacky oddities museum (幻多奇另類博物館), you’ll quickly find yourself outside of the old street. Down some of the quiet streets in the town, you’ll come across the famous Guangxi Temple (廣濟宮) and other small shrines. The real reason to leave the crowds of downtown Neiwan behind is to check out the Neiwan Suspension Bridge (內灣吊橋) which offers breathtaking views of the valley.
On the opposite side of the bridge, travelers will discover many hot spring resorts as well as glamping campsites. If you’re looking to relax without the endless drone of crowds, you’ll want to be sure to check out the Spectrum Jazz Klub-SJK (德國爵士音樂咖啡廳). After having your breakfast, you can start the real adventure: hiking.
Another old town in Hsinchu’s mountains you’ll want to be sure to explore is Beipu!
Hiking In Neiwan
There are several ways to hike around Neiwan. The most accessible hikes from the town are the Nanping Trail (南坪古道) and the Panlong Suspension Bridge Trail (內灣攀龍吊橋).
The Panlong Suspension Bridge is best reached from the Newwan side of the Youluo River. Tucked behind a closed tacky photo trap, you’ll find the rickety suspension bridge swaying over the river. On the other side of the bride, there is a not so well maintained hiking trail that leads to the Nanping Historic Road. This main road will take you to the trailhead for the hike of the same name.
Located just above the Spectrum Jazz Klub is the start of the Nanping Historic Trail. There are actually two entrances to this hike, one called Nanping and the other is the Matai Historic Trail (馬胎古道). Nanping is much easier to reach than Matai from Neiwan, but the path is not as well kept. Many bridges have fallen into disrepair and ropes are needed to shimmy along narrow ledges. Both of the trails connect and end in the town of Yixing (義興村), a small Atayal village nestled up the mountain. After hiking the steep 2.6km, you’ll want to have a hot coffee and snack before heading back down the trail to Neiwan.
Looking for more hikes in Hsinchu? Be sure to hike the Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Trail!
Is Neiwan Worth Visiting?
Neiwan stands right in line with other surviving villages such as Beipu, Pingxi, and Jiufen. At the heart of the city, you’ll find little that separates it from other old streets around Taiwan. Much of the same souvenirs are being sold and the same tempting snacks are teasing your tastebuds. The half-a-century-old movie theatre is what really adds charm to downtown Neiwan, unfortunately, the cinema is closed indefinitely.
Neiwan’s old street is great for people-watching and fueling up before heading out on one of the short hikes around the village. From the suspension bridge or one of the nearby mountain lookouts, you can really take in the beauty of the valley. If you were to simply wander among the sea of people, you’d be unable to appreciate how picturesque Neiwan truly is. In short, Neiwan should be enjoyed two different ways. One way is through its food and the other is through its nature.
You can find even more of the best things to do in Hsinchu here!
