Xindian

New Taipei is generally less salubrious than the city proper, however the IT-industry center of Xindian is an exception. One of the county's newer municipalities, Xindian is a spacious suburb with good recreational facilities. In addition to the Bitan Lake, a widened part of the river and popular recreation spot, the city also boasts good hiking areas in the surrounding mountains.
The Hwa-yuan Xin-cheng (New Garden City) area was developed in the 1970s and 1980s with the aim of attracting artists and writers: the green hills, quiet environment and relatively inexpensive real estate still attracts the art crowd, and many Westerners have also settled there. New Garden City is about 20 minutes from downtown Xindian, off the road to Wulai.

By MRT

The MRT Xindian (Green) and Xiao Bitan (Light Green) lines serve the area.

By bus

Xindian Ke-yun buses criss-cross the city and connect it with Taipei and other cities in Taipei County.

From Taoyuan International Airport

From the Taoyuan International airport, take bus number 1968 (City air Bus) until its terminus at Xindian MRT Station.
The bus from Xindian to Taoyuan runs every 20 minutes from 04:40 and 23:00.
From Taoyuan to Xindian the bus start at 06:40 and runs till 00:40.

• MRT stations in Xindian City on the Green and Light Green Lines (Xindian Line and Xiao Bitan Line): Xindian, Xindian City Hall, Qizhang, Dapingling, and Xiao Bitan.
• Green 3 bus run by the Xindian Ke-yun bus company heads to Hua-yuan Xin-cheng (New Garden City) from Jung-shing Road and also near Xindian MRT station - one bus every 40 minutes.
• Taipei Rapid Transport Coorporation.

• Bitan

  phone: +886 2 2913 2579
  (emerald lake) a stretch of the naturally emerald-turquoise Xindian River that has been dammed and turned into a recreational area. Paddle boats can be hired, and there are some great river-side coffee shops (the ones furthest from the station, such as 'Waterside Bistro', are recommended) offering views over the river and the lush green mountains beyond. While it is not worth traveling a long distance to visit, enjoying a coffee at Bitan is certainly a very pleasant and relaxing way to round off a day of bathing in the hot springs of nearby Wulai. Food at the Bitan cafes is a little expensive. Try the great and cheap veggie restaurant across the Bitan pedestrian bridge - 43 Bitan Road. Just use the lakeside cafes for drinks. Bitan is directly behind Xindian MRT Station (the last station on the Xindian (green) line)

Museums

• Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park

  phone: +886 2 2218 2438
  address: No. 131, Fuxing Road
  A former detention center for prisoners during the White Terror, the building is now a museum to human rights and the history of Taiwan's path towards democracy.

Parks & nature

• Yinghe Cave Hiking TrailA scenic mountain hiking trail that passes under a waterfall.

Temples

• Taiping Temple

  phone: +886 2 2211 0081
  address: No. 61, Taiping Road
  A very popular, multi-storey temple on the opposite side of the river to Bintan. It can often get crowded in this temple.

• Fourteen Zhang Sixin Temple

  phone: +886 2 8667 5579
  address: No. 126-1, Minsheng Road
  A more modern structure built around a small shrine dating back to 1779.

• Hike up Wufeng Shan (Five Peak Mountain). This pleasant walk passes through forests, offers views over Xindian and Taipei, and along the way takes in a Tibetan style temple in the Nyingma Tradition (there are no resident monks, but at weekends there are occasional ritual ceremonies) and a Tibetan style stupa. Start from Wufeng Road, entered from Zhongxing Road, Sec. 1 (near the junction with Zhongzheng Road).
• Lion's Head Mountain offers a short, but steep hike to its peak. At the top, hikers are rewarded with wonderful views over the northern end of the Central Mountain Range. There are two main paths leading from the base: from Zhongxing Road, Sec. 1, the path begins from next to the Old Postal Hall bus stop (across the road from property number 101), and from Wenzhong Road, Lane 64, the path begins from next to the rather attractive Zhulin Chan Sz (Bamboo Forest Chan Monastery).
• The main Taiwan center of Penor Rinpoche, the head of the Nyingma school of Buddhism, is in Xindian. While rinpoche only visits occasionally, there are several resident monks and the center hosts a full schedule of activities. 3 Floor, 135 Minquan Road (nearest MRT station: Dapinglin). Tel:2218-2486~7
• Watch the colorful Dragon Boat races at Bitan (see Taipei festivals for more information). The races are held on the 5th day of the 5th month according to the lunar calendar.

There are three large shopping complexes, and the bustling downtown.

• Green Hornet Café

  phone: +886 2 2911 1237
  address: 23147 Taipei, Taiwan1F, 108 Xindian Road - 新北市新店區新店路108號1樓
  Mexican bar/restaurant. A great place to eat some nachos, burritos, enchiladas, pasta, steak with some friends around a beer or some cocktails. The food is great and a relaxed ambiance.

Vegetarian

See Taipei 'Eat' section for information on the various kinds of vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan.

• Miao-xin

  address: 43 Bitan Road
  An excellent and cheap menu-type vegetarian restaurant serving traditional Chinese dishes. Cost is NT$100-200 per person.

• Xiang-gu

  phone: +886 2 2915-3078
  address: 125 Zhongzheng Rd
  2F, (near the junction with Beixin Road, sec 2). One of Xindian's best vegetarian restaurants - excellent and cheap, specializes in Chinese cuisine, but has a few extra international dishes.

• organic

  phone: +886 2911 2168
  address: 69 Zhonghua Road
  A vegetarian restaurant and food store.

• Minder

  phone: +886 2 8218-7858
  address: 137 Minchuan Road
  A very large buffet style vegetarian restaurant serving Chinese dishes.

• Bruce Kitchen

  phone: +886 2 8666-6181
  address: 137 Chezi Road
  Rustic reds, French cafe blues and outdoor decking among trees define the decor of this hillside restaurant. Bus number 839 (Danan bus company) stops nearby. Otherwise, private transportation is required. Excellent international vegetarian meals. Prior reservations essential, especially at weekends.

• Waterside Bistro

  phone: +886 2 2912 5568
  a good, albeit expensive place to enjoy tea or coffee. Located on the promenade at Bitan, the cafe offers great views over the lake and the green mountains beyond.
• 玄史生

• Bi-ting(Emerald Pavilion) at Bitan is a tea house located on the opposite bank of the river to the MRT station (cross pedestrian bridge, immediately turn left and go up stones stairs. Bi-ting Tea House is at the top). While the decor of the tea house is not inspiring, the tea is good and, being located on the top of a cliff, the views of the river and bridge are second to none.

• Dzongtung

  phone: +886 2 2913-2498
  address: 35 Zongxing Rd
  A funky tea house serving various kinds of teas (though don't expect top notch oolong), coffee, freshly made juices and light meals. The interior of the two story cafe is all wood and has some interesting features.

• Om-Para

  phone: +886 2 2913-4977
  address: 8 Mingchuan Rd
  The especially comfy chairs make up for the rather drab decor of this cafe. Serves a varieties of coffee brands and simple, but well prepared meals.

• China Trust Hotel

  address: 219-2 Zhongxin Rd
  Sec 3, A mid-range business hotel conveniently located near Dapinglin MRT Station (Xindian line).

The area code for Xindian is the same as Taipei City: 02