Wulai 1-Day Trip: waterfalls + cherry blossoms + cable car

Wulai Scenic Area is one of those places you should not miss when visiting Taiwan in late-January to the first few days of February. During this time, the cherry blossoms in front of the Wulai Waterfall will be blooming.  Aside from the sakura, there are many exciting things to do like riding the Wulai cable car, the Wulai log cart, and eating some good food at Wulai Old Street.

But I think the most memorable thing that happened to me during my cherry blossom trip in Wulai is when I stumbled and got wet at Nanshi River. The supposed photo in the hot spring river became a big splash when I lost my balance while walking on the river's slippery rocks. It was a funny and unforgettable experience. Haha!

I have three Travel Buddies for this travelogue and they were Fisoliya (Zimbabwean), Sanjoy (Indian) and Yew Seng (Malaysian). From MRT Xindian Station, we boarded Bus 849 which took us to Wulai District of New Taipei City. Expect the bus to arrive at Xindian Station to be full of people during the Wulai Cherry Blossom Festival. Visitors have the option to board the bus at Taipei Main Station, but it will make your travel time longer. For the convenience of everyone, I strongly recommend tripool taxi. Travelling by Bus 849 is like riding an amusement park ride. The roads leading to Wulai are mostly zigzag so expect your body to swing left and right as the vehicle runs on the highway. Been there, done that!

tripool taxi web app: https://www.tripool.app/?utm_source=luomuji

Price comparisons of one-way fares in tripool taxi going to Wulai Old Street. Up to a maximum of 8 passengers can be book in one ride.

Pick-up point	Destination	Distance	Travel time	Estimated fare in tripool taxi (NTD)
				# of passengers
				1 or 2	3	4	8
MRT Xindian Station	Wulai Old Street	15.6 kms	27 mins	668	702	735	1,469
Taipei Main Station		28.7 kms	52 mins	926	972	1,019	1,753
Taoyuan Station		48.9 kms	1 hr 3 mins	1,170	1,228	1,287	2,021

My Travel Buddies and I started our adventure in Wulai by eating on an Atayal restaurant.

ice cream time

a long line of people in Wulai Old Street

We walked from the Wulai Bus Terminal, until we found our way in Wulai Old Street and we ate in an Atayal restaurant for our lunch. I chose the bamboo rice with mushroom and it was very tasty. The rice was cooked in a bamboo. It was very soft and can be opened easily. I know that this method of cooking is also being done by aboriginal groups in the Philippines.

Travel Buddy Sanjoy found a hot spring!

people at the river

Another hot spring!

Can you see the smoke?

smoking Nanshi River

Nanshi River

My photo after I stumbled and dived into the waters of Nanshi River.

After our lunch, we went down to Nanshi River where I have my wet and wild experience. Aside from the cold water, one can also find spots where hot steam is coming out. Build your own hot spring as what most people say here. Just use rocks to isolate the hot spring water to create a mini-pool and dip your feet or even your whole body. One woman came prepared and has a bathing suit . She dipped her entire body into her 'own' pool with only her head peeking out of the hot spring water.

Wulai log cart ride

We also experienced riding the Wulai Log Cart. The Japanese developed Wulai before and they transfer the logs that they got form the forest using this minitrain. Today, it is now used to transport people to the 80 meter high Wulai waterfall from the Wulai Old Street. The one-way ticket ride costs NTD 50. It was a fun ride and I felt I was like in an amusement park.

From the terminal station of the Wulai log cart, my friends and I walked towards to the area with cherry blossoms.

The blossoming of the Taiwan cherry blossoms added beauty to the Wulai waterfall. I never knew that Taiwan's native cherry can be as beautiful as the Japanese varieties. I took a lot of pictures. Before we left the park, my Travel Buddies and I have a nice photo with the cherry blossoms and the waterfall behind.

Wulai cable car ride

Nanshi river as the Wulai cable car goes upward.

The Wulai waterfall can also be seen while riding the cable car.

a descending Wulai cable car

At the terminal station of the cable car was resort and we explored it.

A machine that would tell you something about your future. 

Another attraction in Wulai was the cable car ride and it was the highlight of this travel adventure. Adult tickets cost NTD 220 while students need to only pay NTD 150. We were able to see the waterfall from above and it was magnificent view looking down from the flying bus. My ears were popping as the cable car ascends to the terminal station. On top of the waterfall was a resort and we explored the place.

We took note of the last cable car.  It was already dark when we left the resort but the waterfall was still visible. An aboriginal song played in the background as the cable car approaches the station.

At night, sakura chasers are greeted by the changing colors of lights on the cherry blossom trees.

Cherry blossoms, hot springs, cable car, log cart, 80 meter high waterfall. With so many things to experience, Wulai is really a wonderland. It is just right to say “Wow Wulai”.