Shifen

The railway street where lanterns rise all day

Shifen Old Street runs directly alongside the active Pingxi Branch Line railway tracks — not beside them, literally on them. The narrow street, stalls, and teahouses occupy the same level as the tracks, and the train passes through approximately every 30–40 minutes. Vendors and visitors step aside, the train passes at walking speed, and within seconds the street resumes.

The sky lanterns here are released 365 days a year. You write wishes on a lantern, the vendor lights the paper fuel cell, and the lantern rises until it disappears into the valley sky above the mountains. When lit at dusk, they glow orange against the darkening blue. When the February Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival happens, thousands launch simultaneously — one of the more genuinely spectacular events in East Asia.

Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布), a 15-minute walk up the valley from the railway station, is the widest waterfall in Taiwan — about 40 metres across and 20 metres high, shaped like a broad curtain over a black rock face. In wet seasons, the volume of water is impressive.

Where	Shifen Station, on the Pingxi Branch Line from Ruifang
Cost	Lanterns TWD 150–200; waterfall path free (viewing deck TWD 50)
Time needed	Half day (3–4 hours); full day combined with Jiufen
Getting there	Train to Ruifang (~50 min), then branch line (~25 min)
Best time	Dusk for lantern photos; before 9:00 or after 15:00 on weekends

The sky lantern experience

How it works

Multiple stalls on the Old Street sell sky lanterns. The standard size is one person per lantern; TWD 150–200 per lantern is typical. Four-colour lanterns (each colour represents a different wish category — health, love, money, career) are sold for TWD 200. You can write on the lantern with the felt-tip markers the vendors provide — this is very much part of the experience.

The vendor lights the kerosene-soaked paper ring at the base. The lantern fills with hot air, and when it’s ready — typically 30–60 seconds — you release it. On a calm day, it rises straight up. On a breezy day, the trajectory is less predictable. The vendors advise when conditions are good.

Important practical note: The lanterns eventually fall back to earth as charred paper. They come down in the surrounding hills and valleys. Taiwan’s Pingxi area does permit this specifically because the lanterns are made of certified biodegradable paper without wires. Environmentally, the biodegradable paper is genuinely better than the wire-frame versions used in many other countries.

Do not release lanterns from the train platform — this is prohibited and dangerous. The designated release area is the open railway section of the street, coordinated with the train schedule. Vendors know the timing.

Group lanterns. Several stalls offer larger lanterns for groups of two to four people to write on and release together, at a modest premium over the single-person size. This is a popular option for families or couples who want one shared lantern rather than several individual ones.

Sky lantern and Shifen Waterfall guided tour from Taipei

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (February–March)

The Pingxi International Sky Lantern Festival (台灣平溪天燈節) typically takes place during the Lantern Festival (15th day of the first lunar month, roughly February–March). Mass simultaneous launches are coordinated across Shifen, Pingxi, and Jingtong, with tens of thousands of lanterns ascending together.

The festival draws very large crowds. The railway line becomes overwhelmed — trains are so crowded they sometimes refuse additional boarding. Many visitors choose to join an organized tour for the festival, which handles transport logistics and guarantees access to good viewing positions.

See Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival dates and tips for the specific dates each year.

Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布)

A 15-minute walk upstream from Shifen Station along a riverside path brings you to Shifen Waterfall. The path follows the railway line briefly then branches to a park area; it is well-marked and flat. The waterfall drops off a basalt shelf in a curtain formation sometimes called the “Little Niagara of Taiwan” — a comparison to Niagara’s horseshoe shape rather than its size, but the profile is genuinely similar.

Entry to the park path is free. A viewing platform on the upper rim of the falls requires a TWD 50 ticket and adds a top-down perspective. The lower viewing area has the best angle for photography — the full width of the falls in a single frame, with the river pool below.

In the dry season (November–January), water flow is reduced but the falls still operate. The surrounding vegetation is lush year-round. The walk there and back takes 30–40 minutes.

Shifen Waterfall by season

Season	Water flow	Photography notes
Jun–Sep (wet)	Highest, most dramatic	Best volume; also typhoon-risk months — check warnings
Oct–Nov	Moderate to good	Good balance of flow and clear weather
Dec–Feb (dry)	Reduced but still flowing	Clearer water, less mist obscuring photos
Mar–May	Building back up	Plum rain season adds unpredictability

The waterfall never runs dry, unlike some seasonal falls elsewhere in Taiwan, so it’s a reliable stop regardless of when you visit — the main variable is how dramatic the flow looks in photos.

Shifen Old Street

Beyond the lantern stalls, Shifen Old Street has the remains of a genuine mining-era commercial street. Some buildings date to the Japanese colonial period (1895–1945) and show the characteristic wooden shopfront style. Several small museums cover the coal mining history of the Pingxi area; the most accessible is the Shifen Coal Mine Museum (十分煤礦博物館) near the station — a small but informative free exhibit.

Food on the street:

• Grasshopper balls (草仔粿): Green glutinous rice cakes stuffed with sweet or savoury fillings. Widely available; TWD 20–35 each.
• Fish balls in broth: Standard and dependable; TWD 50–80.
• Iron plate noodles: Several stalls cook noodles on iron plates with various toppings; TWD 80–120.
• Locally made sweet potato products: Shared with the Pingxi area generally.

Shifen and Pingxi sky lantern combined tour (New Taipei)

Getting to Shifen from Taipei

By train: Take TRA from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (瑞芳) — about 50 minutes, TWD 49–63. At Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi Branch Line (平溪線) to Shifen Station — about 25 minutes, TWD 27. The total journey is approximately 75–80 minutes each way.

Pingxi Branch Line one-day pass: Available at Ruifang Station for TWD 80. Allows unlimited rides on the branch line for one day, covering Houtong (one stop before Ruifang), Jingtong, Pingxi, and Shifen. Worth buying if you plan to visit more than one stop on the branch line.

By tour: Organized tours from Taipei cover Shifen in combination with Jiufen and often Yehliu. This handles the connection between Shifen and Jiufen (which requires backtracking to Ruifang by train, then bus or taxi up to Jiufen) without the timing stress of public transport.

Combining Shifen with other destinations

Shifen + Jiufen: The standard pairing. Visit Shifen in the morning (train from Taipei → Ruifang → Shifen, arrive by 10:00 AM), walk to the waterfall and do lanterns by noon, then train back to Ruifang and taxi or bus up to Jiufen for the afternoon and evening (15 min, TWD 180–220). Return from Ruifang to Taipei.

Shifen + Houtong: One stop apart on the Pingxi Branch Line. Houtong is 8 minutes from Shifen by train. Combine them in a morning (Houtong first for cats, then Shifen for lanterns) before continuing to Jiufen.

Shifen + Pingxi: Pingxi is two stops further along the branch line from Shifen. The town is smaller and more about atmosphere than activities, but the lantern releases there are less crowded than Shifen. See Pingxi.

For the full routing plan with timing, see the Pingxi line day trip guide.

Practical advice

When to go for photos: Lanterns look best in low light — 30 minutes before sunset until about 30 minutes after dark. Midday lanterns wash out in bright sun. If photography is a priority, time your lantern release for dusk.

The train through the street: The Pingxi line train passes through Shifen Old Street 6–8 times per day in each direction. The train moves slowly and gives a warning signal. Vendors know when to clear the tracks. It’s not dangerous if you’re paying attention.

Weekend crowds: Shifen is extremely popular on weekends. Arrive before 9:00 AM or after 3:00 PM. Midday on a Saturday is wall-to-wall crowds that make the street difficult to navigate.

Weather sensitivity: Lanterns can’t be released in strong wind or heavy rain. If weather is poor, you can still walk to the waterfall, but the main draw is affected. Check the forecast before committing to a specific day.

Entrance and exit: The branch line runs until approximately 10:00 PM from Ruifang. Do not miss the last train back if you’re relying on public transport — the next connection back to Taipei would require a taxi to a main line station.

Restrooms and facilities. Public restrooms are available near the station and by the waterfall park entrance. There are no lockers at Shifen Station, so plan to carry your belongings for the full visit or leave larger bags at a hotel in Taipei before setting out.

Frequently asked questions about Shifen

Is the sky lantern release in Shifen year-round?

Yes, 365 days a year, conditions permitting. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in February–March adds a mass simultaneous launch event, but individual lantern releases happen daily regardless of festival dates.

How much do sky lanterns cost in Shifen?

Standard lanterns cost TWD 150–200 (~€4–5.50 / $5–6.30). Four-colour lanterns with different wish categories cost TWD 200. Prices are consistent across the stalls. No admission is charged for Old Street.

How far is Shifen Waterfall from the station?

About 1.5 km, roughly 15 minutes on foot along a flat riverside path. The path is well-marked and passes through light woodland alongside the river. The walk is suitable for all fitness levels.

Can I do Shifen and Jiufen in the same day?

Yes, and it’s the most popular combination. Train from Taipei to Ruifang (~50 min), Pingxi Line to Shifen (~25 min), visit and lanterns, train back to Ruifang (~25 min), taxi or bus to Jiufen (~15 min), return from Ruifang to Taipei in the evening. Allow a full 10-hour day.

Is the Pingxi one-day pass worth it?

If you plan to visit two or more stations on the branch line (Houtong, Shifen, Pingxi, Jingtong), yes — TWD 80 for unlimited rides is better value than separate tickets. If you’re only visiting Shifen, buying individual tickets (TWD 27 each way) is fine.

Is Shifen better than Pingxi for a first-time visitor?

For most first-timers, yes — Shifen packs the lanterns, the waterfall and the railway-track atmosphere into one compact stop, giving more to see per hour than Pingxi’s quieter town centre. If your schedule only allows one branch line stop, Shifen is the higher-value choice; add Pingxi if you have time for a second.