Pingxi
The sky lantern village on the Pingxi Branch Line — home to the famous lantern festival, Jingtong's Japanese-era railway station, and coal-mining heritage.
Pingxi: New Taipei Pingxi Sky Lantern experience with stickers
Quick facts
- Distance from Taipei
- ~40 km
- Travel time
- ~75–80 min (Taipei Main → Ruifang → Pingxi by train)
- Branch line pass
- TWD 80 (unlimited stops for one day)
- Lantern release
- TWD 150–200 per lantern; year-round
- Festival dates
- Lantern Festival (15th day of 1st lunar month, typically Feb–Mar)
- Key stations
- Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen, Houtong (on same line)
The village that sends lanterns into the valley sky
Pingxi is a small township in the mountains southeast of Taipei, best known as the location of Taiwan’s most famous sky lantern festival. The village sits in a narrow river valley surrounded by forested slopes, accessible only by the single-track Pingxi Branch Line railway or a winding mountain road. This geographical isolation preserved its character long after the coal mines closed.
Sky lanterns have been released in Pingxi since the Qing Dynasty era, when isolated mountain communities would signal safety to neighbours using lit lanterns. The tradition became a festival, the festival became internationally known, and now Pingxi is synonymous with the glowing rectangles that rise above the valley on the night of the Lantern Festival each year.
The village is quieter than Shifen most of the time. Shifen gets the bulk of day-trippers because it also has the waterfall; Pingxi is primarily for people who want the lantern experience in a more contemplative setting, or who are here specifically for the festival.
| Where | Mountain valley on the Pingxi Branch Line, ~40 km from Taipei |
| Cost | Free to walk; lanterns TWD 150–200; branch line pass TWD 80 |
| Time needed | Half day, usually combined with Shifen and/or Houtong |
| Getting there | Train to Ruifang, then the Pingxi Branch Line (~90 min total) |
| Best time | Feb–Mar for the festival; Oct–Nov for the best weather |
The Pingxi Branch Line
The Pingxi Branch Line (平溪線) is a short mountain railway originally built to transport coal from the Pingxi area mines to the coast at Ruifang. Today it operates as a regular commuter and tourist line with seven stations over 12.9 km. From Ruifang, the sequence is: Sandiaoling — Dali — Houtong — Lingjiao — Shifen — Wanggu — Jingtong — Pingxi.
One-day branch line pass: TWD 80 from Ruifang Station gives unlimited rides for the day. This is the right choice for anyone planning to visit more than one station. Each train runs every 30–40 minutes; plan your stops accordingly.
Key stations for visitors:
- Houtong (猴硐): Cat Village — see Houtong
- Shifen (十分): Sky lanterns, waterfall — see Shifen
- Jingtong (菁桐): Japanese railway station; quietest, most atmospheric
- Pingxi (平溪): Central town, festival hub
What to see in Pingxi township
Pingxi town centre
The town centre around Pingxi Station is small — a few streets of shops, restaurants, and lantern stalls. The atmosphere is closer to a genuine mountain village than to a tourist market. Residents still live here; the primary school and the police station share the narrow streets with the souvenir shops.
Lantern stalls operate throughout the day. Releasing a lantern over the Keelung River valley here — surrounded by forested mountains with no tall buildings blocking the view — is less crowded and more scenic than the railway-track release in Shifen.
Pingxi sky lantern experience with personalised stickersJingtong (菁桐)
Jingtong is the end of the branch line and the most historically preserved station on the route. The Japanese-era wooden station building (dating to the 1930s) is still the original structure, with its wooden platform and small waiting room. A nearby coal sorting facility has been partially converted into a heritage exhibit.
The small township around the station has several old wooden houses and a coal mining workers’ dormitory that is partially open to visitors. The Jingtong Old Street (菁桐老街) is only 200 metres long but has a genuine early-20th-century character.
Jingtong is notably quieter than Shifen and Pingxi. On weekday mornings in the off-season, you may have the station platform almost to yourself. The contrast with the weekend crowds at Shifen is striking.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
The festival takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month — the Lantern Festival (元宵節). In most years, this falls between late January and early March. Multiple organised launch events are scheduled across the night at different locations in Pingxi and Shifen.
The organised launches involve designated lanterns of specific colours, each representing a category (health, happiness, career, love). Festival launches go up in large coordinated groups, with countdowns — far more visually impressive than individual daily releases.
Crowds and logistics: The festival draws tens of thousands of visitors. The Pingxi Branch Line becomes so crowded that trains are sometimes suspended at peak times. Buses run supplementary services, but these also fill quickly. Most experienced visitors take an organised tour for the festival, which handles transport and guarantees access.
See Pingxi sky lantern festival dates for the specific dates each year.
Photography at the festival: Wide-angle lenses capture the mass launches best. The launches happen after dark — typically starting from 6:00–7:00 PM. Bring a tripod for long-exposure shots if photography is a priority.
Sky lantern and Shifen Waterfall combined tour from TaipeiHiking in the Pingxi area
The mountains around Pingxi have several walking trails of varying difficulty. The most accessible is the path between Shifen and Pingxi along the river valley — approximately 5 km, taking 1.5–2 hours on foot, relatively flat. The trail passes waterfalls, bamboo groves, and several historic mining structures.
The Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail (三貂嶺瀑布步道) from Sandiaoling Station is one of the most impressive hikes in the New Taipei area — passing three waterfalls including the dramatic Pipa Waterfall. The trail is 3.6 km, well-marked, and takes about 2–3 hours. Bring water and wear proper footwear.
Pingxi vs. Shifen: which one to prioritise
| Pingxi | Shifen | |
|---|---|---|
| Lantern crowds | Lighter | Heavier |
| Extra attractions | Jingtong’s Japanese-era station | Shifen Waterfall |
| Atmosphere | Genuine mountain village | Railway-track street, more commercial |
| Festival role | Official festival hub | Also hosts festival launches |
| Best for | Travellers wanting quiet and atmosphere | Travellers wanting the waterfall plus lanterns |
Most visitors with a full branch line day do both — they’re a few stops apart and the one-day pass makes hopping between them cheap. If you can only pick one, Shifen has more to see; Pingxi has more atmosphere.
Getting to Pingxi from Taipei
By train: Taipei Main Station → Ruifang by TRA (~50–55 min, TWD 49–63) → Pingxi Branch Line to Pingxi (~35 min from Ruifang, TWD 38). Total: about 90 minutes. Buy the branch line one-day pass at Ruifang if visiting multiple stops.
By bus: From Muzha area in southern Taipei, bus routes cross the mountain and reach the Pingxi area. This is a less convenient option and primarily used by residents.
By private car or tour: Useful for the festival and for combining Pingxi with Jiufen. A private vehicle allows stopping at viewpoints that aren’t near a station.
Shifen and Pingxi sky lantern tour (New Taipei)Combining Pingxi with other destinations
Pingxi + Shifen + Houtong: The classic branch line day. Take the one-day pass and hop between stations: start at Houtong (cats), continue to Shifen (waterfall and lanterns), then Jingtong or Pingxi (quieter lanterns and atmosphere). Return via Ruifang. Allow a full 9–10 hours from Taipei.
Pingxi + Jiufen: Possible in a day but requires careful timing. From Pingxi, take the branch line back to Ruifang, then taxi or bus to Jiufen (15–20 min, TWD 180–220 by taxi). Works best if you go to Pingxi in the morning and Jiufen in the afternoon–evening.
Pingxi + Yehliu + Jiufen: The extended north coast and mountain circuit, best done by tour. See the Pingxi line day trip guide and jiufen day trip guide.
Practical notes
The train frequency on the branch line is 30–40 minutes. There is no bus replacement or taxi service between branch line stations within the valley; the train is the only practical transport. Time your departures carefully.
Rain and the valley. Pingxi is in a narrow valley and receives significant rainfall. The forested slopes hold humidity; even after rain has stopped in Taipei, it may still be drizzling in Pingxi. A waterproof layer and umbrella are standard equipment.
Lanterns in wind. Strong winds, which occur on the ridge-top section of the valley, can make lantern releases unreliable. Vendors will advise if conditions are poor.
Festival capacity. During the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, the area’s entire transport infrastructure is at capacity. Plan to arrive several hours before the main event. The organised tours handle this best.
Cash and connectivity. Pingxi’s small shops and lantern stalls are almost entirely cash-only, and mobile signal can be patchy in the deeper parts of the valley. Withdraw cash before leaving Taipei or Ruifang, and download offline maps if you plan to hike the Sandiaoling trail.
Frequently asked questions about Pingxi
What is the difference between Pingxi and Shifen for sky lanterns?
Both offer year-round daily sky lantern releases. Shifen has more vendors, the railway-track street atmosphere, and the nearby waterfall. Pingxi is slightly quieter, has more mountain scenery around the launch area, and is the official focal point of the annual Lantern Festival. If doing both, combine them on a branch line day.
When exactly is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival?
The festival date changes annually based on the lunar calendar — always the 15th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival). This typically falls in late January or February. See Pingxi sky lantern festival dates for current year dates.
How do I get to Pingxi by train?
Taipei Main Station → Ruifang by TRA (50 min, TWD 49–63), then Pingxi Branch Line to Pingxi (35 min, TWD 38). Buy the branch line one-day pass at Ruifang for TWD 80 if visiting multiple stations. Trains run every 30–40 minutes.
Is Jingtong worth visiting?
Yes, if you have time on a branch line day. It’s the quietest and most historically preserved station on the route. The Japanese wooden station building and the surrounding old mining village have an atmosphere that the busier stations have lost. Worth 45–60 minutes as a final stop before returning to Ruifang.
Can I release sky lanterns every day?
Yes, outside of festival blackout periods and adverse weather (strong winds, heavy rain). The daily release in Pingxi and Shifen operates year-round for individual visitors. The formal festival events happen once a year.
Is Pingxi worth visiting if I’ve already done Shifen’s lanterns?
Yes, if atmosphere matters more to you than ticking a box — Pingxi’s release area has more mountain scenery and fewer people, and Jingtong’s preserved Japanese-era station is a genuinely different experience from anything in Shifen. If you’re pressed for time, though, Shifen alone covers the core lantern experience.
Top experiences
Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.
