New Taipei Pingxi Old Street Sky Lantern Experience｜The first sky lantern store in Pingxi

The Pingxi Old Street sky lantern experience is a unique cultural activity that allows visitors to write personal wishes and blessings on a paper lantern before releasing it into the sky. This tradition is deeply rooted in local history and offers a profound, memorable moment. It's a symbolic way to send hopes heavenward, set against the charming backdrop of the old street, making it a highly cherished experience for many travelers.

The Pingxi sky lantern experience offers a unique blend of cultural immersion, personal expression, and picturesque scenery. Unlike typical sightseeing, it's an interactive activity where you actively participate in a local tradition by creating and releasing your own lantern. This provides a deeply personal connection to the destination, creating lasting memories as you watch your wishes float away into the vast sky, making it distinct from passive observation tours.

While both Pingxi Old Street and Shifen are famous for sky lanterns, they offer distinct atmospheres. Pingxi Old Street provides a more traditional old street vibe, often considered the heart of the sky lantern tradition, with shops lining the narrow alleyways. Shifen is known for its impressive Shifen Waterfall and a bustling area where lanterns are released directly on the active train tracks. Shifen also offers additional activities like the suspension bridge, making it popular for both natural scenery and lantern release.

During the Pingxi sky lantern experience, visitors first choose their lantern size and color, each color representing different blessings. You then use a calligraphy brush to write your wishes and messages on the lantern's four sides. Afterwards, shop staff will assist in preparing the lantern for release, lighting the fuel, and guiding you to launch it into the sky. It's a highly interactive and photo-friendly activity, allowing you to immerse yourself in this beautiful tradition.

Each color of the Pingxi sky lanterns carries a specific blessing meaning. For instance, a red lantern typically symbolizes health and peace, while yellow is associated with wealth and good fortune. Blue lanterns are often chosen for career success, pink for love and happiness, and purple for academic achievements. White can represent brightness and future prospects, while orange signifies success and prosperity. Visitors select colors that best match their personal wishes.

You can purchase the Pingxi sky lantern experience directly at various shops along Pingxi Old Street, or for added convenience, pre-book your experience through travel platforms. Booking via KKday, for example, allows you to secure your lantern and often includes assistance with the release process, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable activity upon arrival. Typically, the purchase includes a sky lantern of your chosen color, calligraphy brushes for writing wishes, and guidance from local vendors during the lantern release.

To reach Pingxi Old Street, a common method is to take a train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station. From Ruifang, you transfer to the scenic Pingxi Line, which takes you directly to Pingxi Station. Alternatively, several bus routes connect Taipei to the Pingxi area, or you can opt for a private car or charter service for a more direct and convenient journey, especially for groups or those with limited time.

Yes, public transportation is a popular and scenic way to access Pingxi Old Street. The Pingxi Line train is specifically designed to connect several charming towns in the Pingxi District, including Pingxi Old Street. To use it, travelers typically take a regular train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station, then transfer to the Pingxi Line. This allows for convenient travel while enjoying the picturesque railway views, and tickets are usually easily purchased at the stations.