Bitan (碧潭) is a wide, green stretch of the Xindian River in Xindian, New Taipei, once named one of the "Eight Views and Twelve Scenic Spots of Taiwan" (台灣八景十二勝). It is the easiest escape from the city on this list: ride the MRT to the end of the line, walk a few minutes, and you are on the water. Come in the afternoon, cross the suspension bridge, take a boat out or climb Hemeishan, and stay for the lights after dark.
- MRT Xindian Station (Green Line, G01), 21 minutes from Taipei Main Station, NT$30
- Walk About 4 minutes from the station to the suspension bridge
- Entry Free; the scenic area and bridge are open at all hours
- Time A short trip: an afternoon into the evening
How to get to Bitan from Taipei
Take the Green Line (Songshan-Xindian Line) to the end, Xindian Station (G01): 21 minutes and NT$30 from Taipei Main Station. New Taipei City puts the Bitan Suspension Bridge a four-minute walk from the station. Tap your EasyCard. → How the MRT works
What to see
The Bitan Suspension Bridge (碧潭吊橋)
Opened in 1937, the bridge is 186.6 meters long and 3.5 meters wide, hanging about 30 meters above the water. Before it, people crossed the river by ferry. After dark it is lit with 17,472 LEDs, and New Taipei City calls it Taiwan's first suspension bridge whose lights move with music. It is open at all hours.
Boats on the river
Renting a boat is the classic Bitan thing to do. New Taipei City lists pedal boats, which need everyone to pitch in, and easier electric boats; the swan boats were out on the water in October 2026. Prices are set by the operators on the riverbank, so check at the dock before you board, and wear the life jacket.
The riverside
The Bitan Scenic Area (碧潭風景區) follows the river, and New Taipei City suggests cycling along the bank as well as boating. The east bank, on the station side, has a strip of shops and restaurants with river views. At night the bridge and the shop lights reflect on the water, which is the best time to be here.
You can also cross on the Xindian Ferry (新店渡), a hand-pulled ferry with a history of about a century, which UDN describes as linking up with the Hemeishan trail.
Hemeishan Trail (和美山登山步道)
A short hill walk beside the suspension bridge, about 2.8 kilometers in all, open at all hours. There are two routes: a blue one that stays near the water and a green one into the hills. The first part is a gentle slope, then you can carry on along the path or take the steps up to the top of Hemeishan, where New Taipei City says the view takes in the whole Taipei basin, with Taipei 101 in clear sight, as well as the bridge and the east bank below. → More hikes around Taipei
Until 13 December 2026: the Little Prince lights
New Taipei City's Bitan landscape installation show, "Meet the Little Prince" (遇見小王子 漫遊碧潭間), runs from 17 October to 13 December 2026, with a 19-meter-wide inflatable of the Little Prince in a rowing boat on the river and 70 light-up water bikes to rent. The installations are lit from 18:00 to 22:00 every day.
Timing tips
- Come in the late afternoon. Walk or take a boat out while it is light, then watch the bridge light up.
- Hike first. Hemeishan is a daylight walk, so do it before the boats and the lights.
- Pair it with Wulai. Xindian Station is also where bus 849 leaves for Wulai, so Bitan makes an easy evening stop on the way back. → Wulai
- Rainy day? Skip the boat. The bridge and the riverside are still worth the short ride.
Sources
The MRT ride from Taipei Metro's fare and travel time search. The scenic area, its history, boats, riverside and hours from New Taipei City's Bitan Scenic Area page, with swan boats also on its Xindian page. The bridge from its suspension bridge page and Hemeishan from its trail page. The Little Prince show, the swan boats running and the ferry from UDN and UDN travel (October 2026). Checked October 2026.