Three names that first-time visitors often treat as one place — but they offer completely different experiences. Here's exactly who should go where, and whether you need to choose at all.
Understand what each one actually is before you decide.
Approximate figures for 2026. Verify prices before you travel.
| Dimension | 🏮 Jiufen | 🎆 Shifen | 🚃 Pingxi / Jingtong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Atmospheric, romantic, cinematic old town | Energetic, family-friendly, active | Quiet, pastoral, unhurried |
| Signature | Red lantern steps + bay view teahouse | Sky lanterns over railway tracks | Branch-line train + wishing wall |
| Travel from Taipei | ~90 min (TRA + bus) | ~75 min (TRA + Pingxi Line) | ~75–90 min (TRA + Pingxi Line) |
| Time needed | 2–4 hrs (best if you stay till dark) | 2–3 hrs (station + waterfall) | 3–4 hrs (multiple stops) |
| Cost per person | NT$200–600 (bus + tea + food) | NT$300–500 (tickets + lantern + food) | NT$200–400 (Day Pass + lantern) |
| Crowd level | Very high (weekends) | High | Moderate–Low |
| Photography | Outstanding at dusk | Great — lanterns in flight | Good — forest and trains |
| Best for | Couples, photographers, first-timers | Families, groups, experience-seekers | Solo, nature lovers, slow-travel fans |
* Prices are estimates. Always verify current fares before travelling.
Six traveller types — direct recommendations, no hedging.
→ Jiufen + Shifen in one day. These are the two images most people associate with northern Taiwan — the red-lantern stone stairways and lanterns floating over the railway tracks. Combine them and you tick both iconic experiences in a single outing.
→ Jiufen at golden hour. Arrive before 17:00 to find your position on the steps or a teahouse terrace, then shoot as the lanterns light up and mist drifts in off the bay. No other spot in Taiwan combines old architecture, warm artificial light, and atmospheric haze quite like this.
→ Shifen first. Kids love releasing lanterns — it's a tangible, exciting activity. Shifen Waterfall is an easy walk and genuinely impressive. Jiufen's steep stone steps and crowds can be exhausting with young children. Consider skipping Jiufen entirely if you have a pram or toddlers.
→ Jiufen evening + Shifen lantern. Release a lantern together at Shifen in the afternoon (write a shared wish), then head up to Jiufen in time for the lanterns to glow. Share a pot of tea on a teahouse balcony overlooking the bay. It's genuinely one of the most romantic day trips in Asia.
→ Full Pingxi Line day. NT$80 Day Pass, no schedule pressure. Start at Houtong for the cats, continue to Shifen for a lantern, drift up to Pingxi for the wishing wall, end at Jingtong for a bento lunch. Come back at your own pace. The whole valley feels like a place that forgot to hurry.
→ Pingxi Line. NT$80 Day Pass, one lantern at NT$150, a Jingtong bento for NT$80 — the whole day including return TRA fares from Taipei sits around NT$350–450 per person. Jiufen tea can easily cost NT$300–500 on top of transport, making it the pricier of the three day-trip options.
The most common question — answered directly, with two recommended itineraries.
Jiufen + Shifen together? Yes — and it's the classic pairing. Adding Pingxi and Jingtong on top? Physically possible, but it shortchanges all three places. Pingxi's appeal is in lingering — 30 minutes there is barely worth the detour. The best approach is two separate days.
Approximate 2026 prices. Always check current fares before you go.
Pro tip: overnight guests get Jiufen's stone steps and lantern glow entirely to themselves — here are our fully reviewed B&B picks.
Klook's Jiufen + Shifen day tour includes transport, a sky lantern, and an English-speaking guide. Ideal for first-timers who want a hassle-free experience.
Hour-by-hour DIY itinerary, transport details, food picks, and what not to miss.
Read the guide →Every Pingxi Line station, the Lantern Festival, how to buy a Day Pass, and environmental notes.
Pingxi guide →Top B&Bs, teahouse picks, street food, and tips for overnight visitors.
Jiufen hub →Jiufen, Yehliu, Wulai, Tamsui, Beitou, and more — all the options in one place.
All day trips →