Houtong Cat Village, New Taipei, Taiwan
I first heard about Houtong Cat Village from a friend. After looking into it, I learned it was once a thriving coal mining town. I arrived by train, and as soon as I got to the waiting area at Houtong Station, I noticed cat-themed decorations everywhere—and even a few station cats lounging on benches. I spent some time just taking photos of them before leaving the station.
As I explored the town, I saw many stray cats, all well cared for by the locals. There were cat houses, clean water, and food near shops and in designated areas.
Since it was raining heavily, I ducked into a few shops, each with its own resident cat. It was fun watching them interact with customers. After wandering for a bit, I stopped at a cat café for a light lunch, served on a cat-themed plate.
Unfortunately, the coal mining park was closed for maintenance, but I still walked around the outside and saw the old coal carts they used. I caught the next train towards my next destination - Shifen.
Route Detail
Distance: 3.13km out & back from Houtong Station
Total elevation gain: 96m
Time: 1h 13m (total time with breaks 1h 30m)
Difficulty: Easy
Transportation & Miscellaneous
Train from Taipei Station to Houtong Station NT$83
Souvenir NT$270
Food NT$300
