Shifen is a village in the Pingxi valley, east of Taipei, where the little Pingxi railway line runs straight down the middle of the main street. Shops and snack stalls line the tracks, and when no train is coming visitors stand between the rails to release sky lanterns: big paper lanterns painted with wishes, lifted by a small flame and sent drifting over the hills. The custom is linked to the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, held around the Lantern Festival at the end of the Lunar New Year season, but lanterns go up here all year. A short walk away, the Shifen Waterfall is one of the widest curtain falls in Taiwan, set in a wooded gorge. This small-group tour combines Shifen with Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen, and includes the lantern.
How it works: the tour meets at Exit 2 of Zhongxiao Xinsheng MRT station at 08:30 and returns about nine hours later, with drop-off near Taipei 101 or back at the meeting point. Groups are capped at 18 and travel by minibus or minivan, with a licensed guide speaking English and Mandarin. Yehliu entry and a sky lantern, shared between three or four people, are included. Free cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before.
What to expect: the timetable gives about an hour at Yehliu, two hours in Jiufen, time at the waterfall and an hour and a half in Shifen for the lantern. Shifen Old Street is busy and commercial, and when a train approaches staff clear the tracks quickly, so follow their lead.
Making the most of it: write your wishes before you reach the front of the queue, and take photos as the lantern rises. If you go independently, take the train to Ruifang and change to the Pingxi Line for Shifen.
What to expect
The experience
A small-group day tour with Yehliu, Jiufen, the Shifen Waterfall and a sky lantern release on Shifen Old Street.
Best time
Weekdays and dry days; lanterns go up all year.
How long
About nine hours, from 08:30.
Tips
Plan your lantern wishes in advance and wear shoes with grip for the waterfall path.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want the sky lantern included and a smaller group.
- Families
- Children love painting and launching the lantern.
- Couples
- Release a lantern together over the railway tracks.
- Pair with
- A relaxed evening at a Taipei night market.
- Time needed
- A full day.
Good questions
Is the sky lantern included?+
Yes, one lantern is shared between three or four people, and Yehliu entry is also included.
How big are the groups?+
A maximum of 18 people, travelling by minibus or minivan.
Can I cancel?+
Yes, free cancellation and rescheduling are allowed up to 24 hours before the tour.
When is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival?+
It is held around the Lantern Festival at the end of the Lunar New Year season, but lanterns go up all year.
How do I get to Shifen by train?+
Take a train to Ruifang, then change to the Pingxi Line for Shifen.
