Few moments capture the magic of a Taiwan trip like releasing a paper lantern from the middle of an active railway line. Shifen — a tiny mountain town on the Pingxi Line, about 90 minutes east of Taipei — is the home of Taiwan’s living sky-lantern tradition. Visitors buy a paper lantern, write their wishes on its sides in calligraphy ink, light the fuel pad, and watch it lift into the sky from the very tracks where the train runs every 30 minutes. Combined with Shifen Waterfall — Taiwan’s so-called “Niagara Falls” — and a few traditional shops along Old Street, a Shifen day trip is one of the most photographed and most-loved excursions outside Taipei.
It’s also misunderstood by a lot of travelers. The lantern release is real local tradition, not a manufactured tourist attraction — sky lanterns originated in this region as a 19th-century signaling system between mountain villages, and the modern release ritual descended directly from that. The waterfall is a 30-minute walk away and rewards visitors who don’t rush. The Pingxi Railway Line itself, a single-track scenic line that runs through small mountain stations, is part of the experience. And combining Shifen with Jiufen makes one of the best day trips in northern Taiwan.
This Shifen day trip guide covers it all for 2026: how to get there from Taipei, when to arrive, the lantern release process and what the colors mean, the waterfall walk, what to eat on Old Street, how to combine with Jiufen, and the photo spots most travelers miss. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to plan a satisfying day in Shifen.
Shifen Day Trip at a Glance
- Where: Shifen, Pingxi District, New Taipei City — about 30 km east of Taipei
- Travel time from Taipei: 70–90 minutes one way
- Best transport: TRA train to Ruifang + Pingxi Line train to Shifen
- Cost: NT$95 round trip for trains; NT$200 for a basic sky lantern; NT$30 entry to Shifen Waterfall (free since 2014)
- Time at Shifen: 2–4 hours
- Highlight: Sky lantern release on the railway tracks
- Best combine with: Jiufen (afternoon and evening) or Houtong Cat Village
- Best day: Tuesday–Thursday for fewer crowds
What Is Shifen?
Shifen (十分) is a small mountain village in the Pingxi District of New Taipei City, sitting along the historic Pingxi Railway Line. The village’s name means “ten parts,” referring to the ten original families who settled the area in the 19th century. For most of its history, Shifen was a coal-mining town and a stop on the railway built to carry coal out of the mountains. When the mines closed in the 1980s, the town’s economy turned to tourism, and today it’s best known for two things: the sky lantern tradition and Shifen Waterfall.
The town itself is small — basically the railway station, a single street (“Old Street”) that runs alongside the train tracks, a few small shops and food stalls, and the lantern-release area on the railway itself. You can walk the whole village in 15 minutes.
How to Get to Shifen from Taipei
Three main options, ordered from cheapest to easiest.
1. Train (Recommended)
The cheapest and most flexible option, and the way most independent travelers go. Two-stage:
- From Taipei Main Station, take a TRA local or limited-express train to Ruifang Station. About 35–60 minutes. NT$49–76.
- At Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi Railway Line on Platform 3. Take the Pingxi Line train to Shifen Station. About 30 minutes. NT$15–20.
Total round-trip cost: About NT$130 per person. Total time each way: 70–90 minutes.
The Pingxi Line is itself a tourist attraction — a single-track scenic railway through mountains, with small stations every few kilometers (Shifen, Pingxi, Jingtong, Houtong, Sandiaoling). A Pingxi Line one-day pass (NT$80) lets you hop on and off the line at any station — useful if you want to combine Shifen with Houtong (cat village) or Pingxi (smaller, quieter sky lantern village).
2. Organized Day Tour
Many tour operators run combined Jiufen + Shifen day trips from Taipei in air-conditioned minibuses, often with Yehliu Geopark added. Pickup is from a central Taipei meeting point or your hotel.
Cost: NT$1,500–2,800 per person.
The advantage: easy logistics, fast transitions between sites. The disadvantage: tour groups arrive at peak times and you spend less time at each stop. If lantern photos are the priority, the public-transport DIY trip lets you stay later for the magic-light hours.
3. Taxi or Private Driver
A round-trip taxi from Taipei costs roughly NT$3,000–4,500 with waiting time. Splits well between 3–4 passengers and offers maximum flexibility.
When to Visit Shifen
Crowd levels and lantern-photo conditions vary meaningfully by time:
Best time to arrive: Mid-morning (10:00–11:00 AM). Most lantern shops open at 9:30 AM. Crowds are still building, the morning light makes lantern photos clean, and you’ll have time to do the waterfall before the afternoon tour buses arrive.
Magic-light arrival: 4:00–6:00 PM. Lanterns released just before sunset look stunning against the warm sky. Day-trip buses are leaving by 5 PM, so the village quiets down. Last Pingxi Line train back to Ruifang is around 9:00 PM — confirm before traveling.
Worst time: 1:00–4:00 PM on weekends, when tour buses cluster at peak.
Best day of the week: Tuesday–Thursday. Weekends and Taiwanese holidays are very busy. Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (held annually on the 15th day of Lunar New Year) is the most spectacular but also most crowded — thousands of lanterns rise simultaneously.
The Sky Lantern Release: How It Works
The lantern release is the iconic Shifen experience. Here’s the actual process:
- Buy a lantern. Multiple shops along Old Street sell lanterns. Standard prices: NT$200 for a single-color lantern, NT$250 for four-color, NT$350 for eight-color.
- Choose your colors. Each color carries a meaning (see below). You can pick a single color or split a multi-color lantern between several wishes.
- Write your wishes. The shop provides Chinese-style brushes and ink. Write on each side of the lantern in any language. English, Chinese, French, anything works. Most lanterns have four sides.
- Walk to the railway tracks. The lantern shop staff escort you to the tracks. Lantern releases happen on the actual active railway line, but the village pauses release activity when a train is imminent.
- The shop staff light the lantern. A fuel pad in the base is lit with a torch. Hot air begins filling the lantern.
- Hold the lantern down briefly. The staff or a friend holds the lantern while it inflates. This is the photo moment — most shops include free photography on your phone.
- Release. Let go. The lantern rises gently and floats up into the mountain air, carrying your wishes with it.
The whole sequence from purchase to release takes 15–30 minutes including writing and waiting your turn.
Sky Lantern Color Meanings
- Red: Health, peace, long life
- Yellow: Wealth, money, good earnings
- Blue: Career, promotion, business success
- Purple: Study, exam success
- Orange: Love, marriage, family
- Green: Vigor, success, no illness
- Pink: Bliss, joy, happiness
- Magenta: Attraction, popularity, good relationships
- White: Bright future, good luck — note: white lanterns are also traditionally used to honor the deceased; consider this when choosing
Lantern Release Tips
Wear something photogenic. The lantern release is one of the most photographed moments of any Taiwan trip. Avoid pure-white tops if you want the lantern colors to pop in the photo.
Bring a phone with good camera. The shop will help take photos and videos.
Don’t release in heavy wind. Most lanterns are waterproof so light rain is fine, but strong wind makes the lantern unstable and unsafe.
Don’t release white if you’re celebrating. White is the funeral color. Stick with red, yellow, or any other for joyful occasions.
Buy a multi-color lantern for a small group. Each person writes wishes on one side; the lantern carries the group’s collective hopes.
Environmental note: The biodegradable paper lanterns are designed to fall harmlessly back to earth. Local volunteers regularly collect spent lanterns, and the village has been working on more sustainable materials. Some travelers have ethical concerns about the practice; consider whether it aligns with your values before participating.
Shifen Old Street
Shifen Old Street (十分老街) is the single street that runs along the railway tracks through the village. Roughly 200 meters long, lined with lantern shops, food stalls, snack vendors, and small shops selling Pingxi-region souvenirs.
The most distinctive feature: the train tracks run through the middle of the street. There are no barriers between the shops and the active railway. When a train approaches (every 30–45 minutes), an announcement plays, the shops pull in their displays, and visitors step back from the tracks. The Pingxi Line trains move slowly here, but the moment the train passes between you and the row of food stalls is one of Taiwan’s strangest, most photographed scenes.
What to Eat on Shifen Old Street
- Bamboo Tube Rice (竹筒飯): Sticky rice cooked inside a hollow bamboo tube. NT$50–80.
- Sausage (香腸): Grilled Taiwanese-style pork sausages. NT$40 each.
- Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐): Several stalls; the deep-fried version with pickled cabbage is a Pingxi-region classic.
- Squid Tempura (花枝燒): Fresh squid breaded and deep-fried. NT$80.
- Mochi (麻糬): Sticky-rice cakes in various flavors. NT$30 each.
- Bubble Tea or Local Tea: Multiple small shops.
- Cabbage Filled Pancake (高麗菜煎): A regional snack — savory pancake stuffed with cabbage and pork.
The Old Street isn’t a sit-down-restaurant area — it’s grazing food. Plan to share several small bites between you.
Shifen Waterfall (十分大瀑布)
About a 25–30 minute walk from Shifen Station, Shifen Waterfall is often called Taiwan’s “Niagara Falls” — slightly hyperbolic, but the 40-meter wide horseshoe-shaped fall is genuinely impressive and the largest waterfall in northern Taiwan.
How to get there: From Shifen Station, walk northeast across the suspension bridge (free, scenic), then follow signs along the river path. The walk is paved, mostly flat, and takes about 25 minutes one way.
Entry: The waterfall has been free to enter since 2014.
Hours: Park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (4:00 PM in winter). The path closes at sunset.
Viewpoints: Multiple platforms at different angles. The classic angle is from the wooden viewing platform directly below the falls; the upper platforms give wider perspectives.
Time needed: 1.5–2 hours round trip from Shifen Station, including time at the falls.
Best time: Morning light is cleanest. After heavy rain (24–48 hours later), the falls are at their most impressive.
Sample Shifen Day Trip Itineraries
The Shifen-Only Half Day
- 9:00 AM: Leave Taipei Main Station by TRA train
- 10:30 AM: Arrive Shifen via Pingxi Line
- 10:45 AM: Walk to Shifen Waterfall (calmer in morning)
- 12:00 PM: Walk back, lunch on Old Street
- 1:00 PM: Buy lantern, write wishes, release
- 2:00 PM: Train back to Ruifang, then Taipei
- 3:30 PM: Back in Taipei, free afternoon and evening
The Shifen + Jiufen Combo (Most Popular)
- 8:30 AM: Leave Taipei Main Station
- 10:00 AM: Arrive Shifen
- 10:15 AM: Walk to and from Shifen Waterfall
- 12:00 PM: Lunch and lantern release on Old Street
- 1:30 PM: Pingxi Line back to Ruifang
- 2:00 PM: Bus 1062 from Ruifang up to Jiufen
- 3:00 PM: Jiufen Old Street wandering, tea house
- 5:30 PM: Lanterns lit at Jiufen Shuqi Steps
- 7:00 PM: Bus back to Ruifang, train to Taipei
The Pingxi Line Hop (For Train Lovers)
- 9:00 AM: Train to Ruifang
- 10:00 AM: Pingxi Line one-day pass; first stop Houtong (cat village) — 30 min
- 11:00 AM: Continue to Shifen, lantern + Old Street
- 1:00 PM: Walk to Shifen Waterfall
- 3:00 PM: Continue to Pingxi (smaller, quieter, also has lantern releases)
- 4:30 PM: Reverse direction back to Ruifang
- 6:00 PM: Train back to Taipei
Combining Shifen with Other Stops
Shifen + Jiufen: The classic combo. Do Shifen mid-morning to early afternoon, transit to Jiufen by mid-afternoon, stay through the lantern lighting at Jiufen.
Shifen + Houtong Cat Village: Houtong is one stop before Shifen on the Pingxi Line. Add 60–90 minutes if you stop. The cats are real, friendly, and a low-effort win.
Shifen + Pingxi: Pingxi village is one stop further on the Pingxi Line. Smaller, less touristy, also offers sky lanterns.
Shifen + Yehliu: Yehliu Geopark is on a different line and direction; combining all three (Shifen + Jiufen + Yehliu) works as a guided tour but is rushed by public transport.
Tips for a Better Shifen Day Trip
Carry cash. Most lantern shops, food stalls, and small vendors don’t accept credit cards. Bring NT$1,500+ in small bills.
Wear shoes you can walk in. The path to the waterfall is paved but uneven in places.
Pingxi Line one-day pass for hopping. If you want flexibility to add Houtong or Pingxi village, the NT$80 one-day pass beats individual tickets.
Use the public toilets at Shifen Station. The waterfall path has limited facilities.
Check Pingxi Line train times. Trains run every 30–45 minutes — missing one means waiting. The last Pingxi Line train to Ruifang is around 9 PM. Confirm before staying late.
Buy a multi-color lantern if traveling as a group. Each person gets a side and a wish, and the photo is more interesting.
Take photos with the train passing. When the announcement signals an approaching train, get into position. The slow-moving train between the lantern shops is the iconic Shifen scene.
Don’t release lanterns in pouring rain or strong wind. Lanterns can fall and start fires.
Common Mistakes
Going to Shifen on a Saturday at peak. Crowds at their worst.
Skipping the waterfall. Many lantern-focused travelers skip the 25-minute walk and miss one of the prettiest spots in northern Taiwan.
Releasing white lanterns at a celebration. White is the mourning color. Pick another for joyful occasions.
Trying to do Shifen, Jiufen, and Yehliu in one DIY day on public transport. Doable as a guided tour, but rushed via train and bus.
Underestimating travel time. The two-stage train route + connections takes 90 minutes each way. Plan accordingly.
Not bringing cash. Some lantern shops accept cards but most food stalls and small vendors don’t.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Shifen from Taipei?
Take a TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (35–60 min, NT$49–76), then transfer to the Pingxi Railway Line at Platform 3 for Shifen (30 min, NT$15–20). Total trip is 70–90 minutes each way.
Is Shifen worth visiting?
Yes — the sky lantern release is one of the most iconic experiences in northern Taiwan, and Shifen Waterfall is the largest in the region. Combined with Jiufen, it’s the most-recommended day trip from Taipei.
How much does a sky lantern cost in Shifen?
NT$200 for a single-color lantern, NT$250 for four-color, NT$350 for eight-color. Free photography help is included.
What do the sky lantern colors mean?
Red = health and long life, yellow = wealth, blue = career, purple = study, orange = love, green = vigor and no illness, pink = happiness, magenta = relationships. White is traditionally for honoring the deceased.
How long should I spend at Shifen?
2–3 hours covers the lantern release, Old Street, and the waterfall walk. Add another 1–2 hours if combining with Houtong or Pingxi.
Can I combine Shifen with Jiufen?
Yes — it’s the most popular combination. Do Shifen first (morning to early afternoon), then take the Pingxi Line back to Ruifang and a bus up to Jiufen for the afternoon and evening.
Is Shifen Waterfall free?
Yes, free entry since 2014. Open daily 9 AM to 5 PM (4 PM in winter). About 25 minutes walk from Shifen Station.
What’s the best time to release a lantern in Shifen?
Late afternoon (4–6 PM) is the most photogenic time — magic-hour light, fewer day-tour crowds, and the lanterns rise warmly against the sunset. Early morning is also calm and good light.
Are sky lanterns environmentally friendly?
The biodegradable paper lanterns fall harmlessly back to earth and local volunteers collect them. There’s ongoing local discussion about more sustainable materials. Some travelers prefer to participate; others choose not to release for environmental reasons. Both are valid.
Final Take
A Shifen day trip is the closest most travelers come to a moment of pure, photographable Taiwan magic — a paper lantern with your handwriting, rising over a tiny mountain village from a still-active railway line, while a slow-moving train whistles past the food stalls. Combine with Shifen Waterfall in the morning and Jiufen in the evening, and you’ve assembled what’s arguably the best day trip in northern Taiwan.
