Popular Tours & Experiences in Shifen

From Taipei Main Station, you can take a Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) train to Ruifang Station. Upon arrival at Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi Line train to Shifen Station. From Shifen Station, it's approximately a 20-30 minute walk to the entrance of the Shifen Waterfall park, with signposts guiding the way. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or a paid shuttle bus, which takes about 5-10 minutes. This route offers beautiful scenery along the way and is a popular choice for many visitors.

Shifen is very suitable for family trips with children. It offers diverse and safe activities, such as the sky lantern experience in Shifen Old Street, where children can personally paint and release lanterns, immersing themselves in the unique cultural charm. The path to Shifen Waterfall is gentle with viewing platforms, allowing children to safely admire the magnificent scenery. Riding the Pingxi Line train itself is a novel experience. It's advisable to avoid peak holiday times and be mindful of safety when trains pass through the old street.

Both Shifen and Pingxi are located along the Pingxi Line and are famous for sky lanterns, but the experience atmosphere differs slightly. Shifen Old Street's sky lantern activity is more distinctive, allowing visitors to release lanterns directly on the railway tracks, and it's close to Shifen Waterfall, making it convenient to combine sightseeing. Pingxi Old Street is more rustic and serene, with sky lantern activities usually taking place in front of shops. Both locations host the 'Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival' annually, but the experience of releasing lanterns on regular days is available year-round.

The Sky Lantern Festival in Shifen (Pingxi area) is usually held after the Lunar New Year, around February or early March of the Gregorian calendar. This is a major event organized by the New Taipei City Government, attracting global travelers. In addition to the grand lantern release event during the festival, Shifen Old Street also offers sky lantern releasing experiences on regular days. Visitors can go to the shops anytime to write their wishes and personally release sky lanterns, without needing to wait for a specific festival.

To travel from Taipei Main Station to Shifen, you first need to take a TRA train to Ruifang Station, which takes about 40-50 minutes depending on the train type. Upon reaching Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi Line train to Shifen Station, a journey of about 25-30 minutes. The Pingxi Line has fixed schedules, so it's recommended to check the timetable in advance for smooth transfers. The entire journey takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and is a popular choice for experiencing Taiwan's railway scenery, with beautiful mountain views along the way.

The Shifen area boasts rich natural and cultural attractions. First is 'Shifen Waterfall,' known as the 'Niagara Falls of Taiwan' for its magnificent scale. 'Shifen Old Street' is a hotspot for releasing sky lanterns, where visitors can experience this tradition by the railway tracks and sample local delicacies. Additionally, 'Jing'an Suspension Bridge' offers panoramic views of the Keelung River valley, making it a great spot for photos. Combining these with the unique characteristics of stations around the Pingxi Line can make your Shifen trip even more fulfilling and diverse.

For a day trip along the Pingxi Line, the most recommended transportation ticket is the 'Pingxi Line Day Pass.' This pass allows you unlimited train rides on the Pingxi Line between all stations within a single day, making it ideal for a hop-on, hop-off exploration. With this pass, you can freely get on and off at stations between Ruifang and Jingtong, making it convenient to explore popular spots like Hou Tong Cat Village, Shifen Old Street, and Pingxi Old Street. You can purchase this pass at major TRA stations or Ruifang Station, saving you the hassle of buying tickets for each segment.

Sky lantern shops in Shifen Old Street are typically open during the day and extend their hours into the early evening or dusk. The exact releasing times may vary depending on the shop's operating hours and seasonal sunset times. Generally, from 9-10 AM to 6-7 PM are the available times for the sky lantern experience. For safety reasons and to avoid traffic disruption, the times for releasing sky lanterns are regulated by local authorities, and releases are stopped after certain hours at night.

Shifen Old Street offers a variety of specialty snacks to satisfy your appetite while enjoying the sky lantern experience. Classic must-tries include 'Chicken Wing Fried Rice,' where fried rice is cleverly stuffed into a chicken wing for a burst of flavor, and 'Peanut Ice Cream Roll,' which combines ice cream and freshly shaved peanut brittle wrapped in a thin pancake. Additionally, the nostalgic 'Ramune' soda and traditional 'Mian Cha' (flour tea) are refreshing choices. Strolling through the old street, you'll find local flavor snacks everywhere.

Generally, for small groups or individuals experiencing sky lantern releases at shops in Shifen Old Street, no special reservation is required. You can go directly to a shop, choose a lantern color, write your wishes, and the staff will assist with the release. However, during peak tourist seasons, long holidays, or specific festivals, when crowds are larger, some shops may have queues. If you wish to save time or have special requirements, such as arranging group activities, you can consider booking through travel platforms like KKday. They offer Chinese customer service support and flexible cancellation policies, which can help overcome language barriers.