Shifen and Jiufen are probably two of the most popular day trips from Taipei, and it’s easy to see why. Both places feel completely different from the city, with Shifen leaning quieter and more laid-back while Jiufen feels busier and more atmospheric, especially at night.

A lot of people visit both in one day, either through a guided tour or by planning the route themselves using public transport. It does make for a fairly long day, but the combination works well since you get a mix of nature, old streets, mountain scenery, and food all in one trip.

Shifen Taiwan Day Trip

I joined a guided tour for mine, which made the day a lot easier since transportation between stops was already arranged. Whether you're joining a tour or visiting these places DIY, here's a quick guide:


How to Get to Shifen from Taipei

The most common way to get to Shifen using public transport is by train. From Taipei Main Station, you take a TRA train to Ruifang Station, then transfer to the Pingxi Line and get off at Shifen Station. The Pingxi Line itself is part of the experience since the route passes through smaller mountain towns and greener scenery outside the city.

Another option is by bus. Some people take the MRT to Muzha Station and transfer to Bus 795, which goes towards the Shifen area and the waterfall. It takes longer compared to the train, but it’s still manageable if you prefer buses over train transfers.

Shifen Taiwan Day Trip
Shifen Old Street

There are also a lot of guided day tours from Taipei that combine Shifen with places like Jiufen and Yehliu Geopark. These are probably the easiest option if you don’t want to deal with planning routes and train schedules yourself, especially since these destinations are commonly grouped together in one itinerary.

What to Do in Shifen

Shifen is known for its old railway street, sky lanterns, and waterfall, and while it does get touristy, it still feels more relaxed compared to some of the busier spots around Taipei. Here are some things you can do in this town. 

Visit Shifen Waterfall

One of the main highlights of Shifen is Shifen Waterfall, often referred to as Taiwan’s version of Niagara Falls because of its wide shape and heavy flow.

From Shifen Station, getting there takes about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on your pace and which path you take. The walk itself is quite easy and passes through smaller paths and bridges before opening up to the waterfall area. From the main view deck, you can hike for about 10 more minutes for better views. 

Shifen Waterfall
Shifen Waterfall

Explore Shifen Old Street

After the waterfall, most people head to Shifen Old Street, which is built right around the railway tracks. Trains still pass through, so everyone clears out quickly whenever one approaches before slowly filling the tracks again afterwards. The whole area is lined with food stalls, souvenir shops, and lantern stores, so it’s easy to spend time just wandering around.

Release a Sky Lantern

One of the main things people do at Shifen Old Street is release sky lanterns. You’ll see them constantly going up throughout the day with handwritten wishes and messages on them. Even if you don’t do it yourself, it’s still interesting to watch because it’s such a big part of the atmosphere in Shifen.

Shifen Taiwan Day Trip
sky lanterns in Shifen

Try the Street Food and Shop for Trinkets and Souvenirs

Food-wise, there’s plenty of street food around the area, so it’s easy to snack while exploring. You’ll find grilled sausages, fried snacks, peanut ice cream rolls, milk tea, and small local desserts being sold all throughout the old street. I didn’t really go in with a food plan here and mostly just bought whatever looked good in the moment.

There are also a lot of small shops selling trinkets, postcards, lantern souvenirs, and little Taiwan-themed items. Even if you’re not actively shopping, it’s still nice to browse since many of the stores are small and slightly different from each other. It’s the kind of place where you end up buying a few random things without really planning to.

How to Get to Jiufen from Shifen

Getting from Shifen to Jiufen using public transport takes a bit more effort compared to getting to Shifen from Taipei, but it’s still manageable. Most people take the Pingxi Line back to Ruifang Station, then transfer to a bus heading towards Jiufen Old Street.

Jiufen Day Trip Taiwan
Jiufen alleyways lined with red lanterns

Another option is taking a taxi from Shifen to Jiufen, which is faster and more convenient if you’re travelling with other people and can split the cost. Guided tours also usually handle this route directly, which is one reason why combination tours for Shifen and Jiufen are so popular.

What to Do in Jiufen

Jiufen is a mountain town known for its narrow alleyways, tea houses, lanterns, and street food. It gets very crowded, especially later in the day, but walking through the smaller lanes still felt interesting since there was always something to look at around the corner.

A lot of people compare Jiufen to the setting of Spirited Away, though Studio Ghibli has said it wasn’t the direct inspiration for the film. Still, once the lanterns start lighting up and the alleyways get busier at night, it’s easy to understand why the comparison stuck.

Jiufen Day Trip Taiwan
the famous building that was said to resemble the bathhouse in Spirited Away

Enjoy the Mountain Views

If you arrive during the day, Jiufen also has really nice mountain and coastal views from certain viewpoints and tea houses. I arrived closer to the evening, so I didn’t really get to see much of the scenery itself, but the atmosphere at night felt completely different anyway, with all the lights and lanterns.

Visit the Tea Houses

Tea houses are one of the main things Jiufen is known for, and you’ll see them everywhere throughout the old street and along the hillside. Some are more traditional and quiet, while others are more geared towards tourists with scenic seating areas overlooking the mountains.

Jiufen Day Trip Taiwan
tea set at Amei Tea House

More Street Food and Souvenir Shopping

Like Shifen, Jiufen is packed with street food stalls and souvenir shops. You’ll find things like taro balls, grilled snacks, peanut ice cream rolls, tea-related products, and plenty of small trinkets being sold throughout the area. It’s very easy to snack continuously while walking around without ever properly sitting down for a meal.


Shifen is a pretty easy day trip if you want to see a different side of Taiwan without going too far from Taipei. It’s simple to explore, doesn’t require a packed itinerary, and works well even if you prefer travelling more slowly.

I also liked that it didn’t feel like a place where you had to rush from one attraction to another. Most of the experience really comes from walking around, eating along the street, and taking your time.