Pingxi

We decided on a trip to Taipei at short notice, but they were kind and responsive despite our tight schedule. My wife was a little nervous as it was her first trip abroad, but we were able to fully enjoy Jiufen, which was a must. Unfortunately, it was raining, but we were able to light the lanterns. Our driver, Ou Yan, was also very kind and responded to our requests, taking care of everything. It was a wonderful day.

We booked this plan to create memories with our children. We're so glad we did! Our driver, Philip, is a very gentlemanly and kind man, and he speaks English very well. I highly recommend Philip to anyone looking for a guided tour in English. He was also very kind to our children, and always made sure they were not tired. He also drove safely. The tour was all scheduled to accommodate our free time, so we had a stress-free trip! What's great about this plan is that so many experiences are packed into one day. From making pineapple cakes to visiting the coast and waterfalls, walking around Jiufen, and even raising lanterns, it was a tour that naturally brought our family closer together! I recommend booking the 9-hour plan if you have small children. Thank you, Philip!

We were efficiently guided around many tourist spots that would be difficult to see in one day on our own. What surprised me was that even in a small area with no nearby parking, a minibus arrived at the meeting point out of nowhere. We were able to conserve our energy while riding, and the journey was completely stress-free. And what I liked best was the guide's stories. His stories were very interesting, and I listened intently the whole time. I think this is something you can only get on a tour. My only regret is that I didn't get to thank the guide properly. Thank you to Kyu-san and the driver for a fun time. We went to the restaurant you recommended. It was delicious!

We chartered a car directly from Taoyuan Airport. Instead of heading toward the less crowded station, we headed east on Provincial Highway 2C, guaranteeing a sky lantern encounter from the bridge (Exclamation ①). Due to a landslide, the Pingxi Line train passing event wasn't happening at this time of year, but we were able to experience the sky lantern rush. Perhaps because we were a group, the shop staff were incredibly attentive. When writing your wish, there's a small chance of ink splashing (Exclamation ②). Following the staff's guidance and watching your wishes float up into the sky lanterns is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (Exclamation ③). At the launch, we handed our smartphones to the friendly staff, who took photos and videos automatically. It was great, as there was no need to take selfies or ask for help. They even managed to get the shop sign perfectly framed—professional, as you'd expect (Exclamation ④). Apparently, local volunteers recycle the fallen lantern remains (Exclamation ⑤). Thank you to everyone at Kissho Sky Lantern for this wonderful experience! The bonus Tokachi soft serve ice cream can be redeemed at the Jiufen shop, a little further away near the Family Mart. You can also choose a cute mini lantern. I'll definitely be back, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Next time, I'd like to trigger the Pingxi Line passing event.

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.

Mr. Yu provided information on hidden tea-brewing spots in Jiufen. Despite the poor weather, the beauty of the misty mountain town was still evident. Our Japanese friends thoroughly enjoyed the mellow taste of Taiwanese tea and the pleasure of brewing it. Mr. Yu also helped document the entire process of releasing sky lanterns and even edited the photos, which was very touching!