Shifen

It was a very compact tour, and it was great. The tour was half Chinese-speaking and half Japanese. The local guide explained things in both Chinese and Japanese. It looked like a lot of work, so thank you very much. Yehliu Geopark was mysterious. It seems to be eroding every year. In Shifen, we lit lanterns and enjoyed spicy beef noodles and xiaolongbao, which were delicious. Cat Village is great for cat lovers. My family took a quick look around and rested at the museum. To Jiufen, we transferred to a city bus. You'll need coins ($15 one way) or an EasyCard. We paid $50 for three people in coins. They said they don't give change. It was rainy and crowded when we arrived, but we took a rest at a tea shop our guide recommended. It was great to see the beautiful illuminated scenery at the end. As the guidebook said, rain gear (raincoats and waterproof footwear) is essential. It's also a good idea to bring extra clothes for children, as it can get cold if wet. The city bus on the way back was air-conditioned and cold. My family only brought umbrellas and no raincoats, and wore ultra-down jackets under parkas and stain-resistant sneakers, but in the end, our feet and parkas got wet and we had to dry them at the hotel. Overall, it was great that we were able to get around compactly. I recommend it.

❶ Driver [Da Luo] provides excellent service, professional driving, and attentive service. He even takes beautiful photos for guests during the trip, leaving them with wonderful memories. ❷ For first-time participants of KKDay, the bus picks you up directly from your home in Taichung; afterwards, you can drop off at your Taipei hotel, which is very convenient for guests unfamiliar with Taipei, saving them time finding their way. The only thing to consider is whether you want to spend some time in Jiufen, enjoying a coffee and gazing into the distance; otherwise, 2.5 hours is enough for sightseeing and lunch, as the main itinerary needs to be completed within a certain time before returning to Taichung.

We participated as two adults. The tour was in English and Chinese, but it included all the sightseeing we wanted, so we chose it. We brought writing tools to ensure we met at each location and time, but everyone was Japanese that day. Perhaps because we didn't speak the language, the guide didn't offer detailed explanations of the tourist spots, and instead moved from one spot to the next, repeatedly disbanding and regrouping. Even in the Lantern area, it was crowded, so we didn't walk in a group, but rather in a disjointed line, so it was hard to see who was at the front and who was at the back. Each group was assigned a number, and there were frequent roll calls as we moved. We responded accordingly, and the responses gradually got faster (lol). Thanks to the careful roll calls, I was able to enjoy the tour with peace of mind. I made it to the base of Shifen Waterfall and returned on time, but I had a bit of a scare at the end, running. Some people mistook a waterfall along the way for the Shifen Waterfall. It was disappointing that they'd wanted at least a general guideline, such as the number of minutes it would take to get to the end, rather than just "follow the path." The optional tea ceremony at Amei Teahouse was a fun experience, with tour guests able to enjoy the sunset and night view from the lantern window, listen to a lecture on how to brew tea, and chat with other tour guests at a round table.

Although it was early in the morning, they arrived earlier than scheduled, so we were able to depart at the appointed time. Also, because we had already booked our flight, they were able to park near the check-in counter, which was very helpful as we had three small children.