We intended to go to Shifen, and as it was a weekend, we did not want to take the Pingxi Branch Rail Line to avoid the crowds. Instead, we took the bus route, and since Shen Keng is on the way, we decided to visit the Shen Keng Old Street as well.
After breakfast at Yong He Chinese type breakfast shop (永和豆漿), we took the MRT to Muzha to catch a bus to Shen Keng.
From Muzha MRT station, walk out towards the main road (where there is a OK Mart).
They also sell uncooked hand-make toufu and you can buy some back to cook.
After breakfast at Yong He Chinese type breakfast shop (永和豆漿), we took the MRT to Muzha to catch a bus to Shen Keng.
From Muzha MRT station, walk out towards the main road (where there is a OK Mart).
Cross the road and you can see this bus stop nearby. If you do not want to visit Shen Keng, you can take Bus number 795 to Jingtong, Pingxi or Shifen directly.
Here is the route map of Bus Number 795.
Bus number 795 also goes to Shen Keng, as well as bus number 660, 666, and 819 at the same bus stop. We took 660 as it came first of the buses that came first, and drop off near the entrance of Shen Keng Old Street.
Shen Keng, also known as Toufu street of Taiwan, is famous for having numerous stores selling toufu related products. We had some toufu ice-creams, and the toufu ice-cream comes in different flavors such as yam and sesame.
There were also stores selling souvenirs, clothes, accessories at the old street. After spending some time browsing through the stores, we settled down at Gu Zao Cuo to try out the famous hand make toufu from Shen Keng.
They also sell uncooked hand-make toufu and you can buy some back to cook.
We ordered only a clay pot toufu as we were still full from breakfast. Unlike typical toufu dishes, we did not got "sick" of the taste even though it is just 2 of us sharing this claypot of toufu. Not only the toufu was nice, the toufu skin was delicious as well.
We went back to the same bus stop and took Bus Number 795 to Shifen, passing through beautiful sceneries and also the town of Jingtong & Pingxi.
From far, we can already see that the sky of Shifen is filled with sky lantern.
Many people visit Pingxi and Shifen to release sky lanterns (放天灯), also known as Kong Ming Lanterns. People will write their wishes on a sky lantern, and after lighting up the sky lantern, it'll raise to the sky, symbolizing good luck and also bringing your wishes to the almighty. We choose to go to Shifen to fly the sky lantern as it is done along the railway tracks instead of normal pavement.
There are many shops in Shifen selling the sky lantern, and the prices are the same. You can jus pick 1 of the vendors you are comfortable with. Different colour symbolizes different type of wishes and the shop owners will explain to you and help you to with the release of the sky lantern.
The rustic charm of Shifen.
We had some nice stuffed chicken wings, where the bones of the chicken wings are removed, and fried rice are stuffed with glutinous rice.
Wishing bamboos along the railings.
After bidding this charming old town good bye, we took the bus back to Muzha, then MRT to Taipei for more shopping and eating at the night markets.
