[2024 New Taipei City Attraction] Travel Guide for Shifen Old Street (Updated Dec)

SHIFEN STATION

A MUST VISIT, bustling hub for those eager to get a glimpse of an old railroad town which still retains the charm of yesteryear. Originally built to transport coal, the Shifen Old Street stop has now become one of the most popular on the Pingxi rail-line. It is easy to see why so many are drawn here - local food, souvenir shops and puffing trains add to the charm of this little gem, as well as make it a fantastic place for photography. Sky lantern is one of popular activities here, Worth to try!

Half day trip to Jiufen and Shifen

Getting There - Join a tour group or hire a driver for eash access as Jiufen is higher up on the mountains. Attractions - In Shifen, there is the famous Shifen old street and railway where you can fly a sky lantern, and there is also Shifen waterfall nearby. Jiufen is an amazing old town/ street with tons of local street food and beautiful chinese lanterns. Hotels - There are many hotels in Jiufen where you can choose from depending on whether you like to stay higher up the mountains or near the food. Food & Restaurants - Tons of local delicacies in Jiufen and Shifen old streets, Jiufen old street is known for the taro balls as well. Shopping - So many shops in Jiufen old street to buy souvenirs like local snacks, local tea and so on.

A Romantic Mountain Town Journey｜Explore Shifen in Taipei

▪️ Shifen is a charming town near Taipei, located in the Pingxi District of New Taipei City. This place is famous for its unique sky lantern culture and beautiful natural scenery. Originally a quiet mining town, Shifen now attracts numerous tourists with its enchanting landscapes and rich cultural activities. 🎈 Sky Lanterns One of the must-do activities in Shifen is releasing sky lanterns. Visitors can purchase paper lanterns by the railway on the old street, write their wishes on them, and then release the lanterns into the sky, hoping for a bright future. The old street of Shifen at night, with sky lanterns rising one after another, feels especially romantic and warm. 🚂 Shifen Old Street Shifen Old Street is built along the Pingxi Line railway, with unique shops and food stalls lining both sides of the railway. Walking down the old street feels like traveling back in time. Here, you can find many nostalgic souvenirs and taste local delicacies. 🌊 Shifen Waterfall Shifen Waterfall, also known as the "Niagara Falls of Taiwan," is the widest curtain-style waterfall in Taiwan. The trails and viewing platforms around the waterfall allow you to experience the impact of the water flow and the magnificence of nature up close. This is also a paradise for photography enthusiasts, where you can capture the waterfall's stunning scenery from any angle. 🚶 Trails and Natural Scenery Besides releasing sky lanterns and visiting the waterfall, there are many hiking trails around Shifen for you to explore the beauty of nature. You can stroll along the trails and enjoy the tranquility and freshness of the natural surroundings. 🔺 Transportation and Travel Tips Getting to Shifen from Taipei City is very convenient, either by train or bus. It is recommended to set aside a whole day to slowly explore this charming town. In addition to the daytime natural scenery, the experience of releasing sky lanterns at night is also a highlight not to be missed. 🐱 Surprise Cat At Shifen Happiness Station, there is a cat that leisurely leaves the platform just before the train departs, which is super cute!

Discover the age-old tradition in New Taipei

One stop for multi-stations to experience the historic relics, natural wonders, and cultural traditions 🤗 💫 Shifen Old Street Located down Keelung River from the waterfall area. The street is lined with souvenir shops, sky lantern shops and eateries. You don't wanna miss out the opportunity to experience this special tradition - setting up the sky lantern on the railway track and release it into the sky. 💫 Shifen Waterfall One of the most popular attractions in this area, widely-known as the “Little Niagara Falls” of Taiwan. 💫 Nanshan Village Not as popular as the old street and waterfall station, but for me, it's also worth for a visit to have a close look at the praying tree and enjoy the peacefulness. #timetotravel #culture #tripblazers

Putting up sky lanterns at Shifen Old Street in Taipei😍Eating peanut roll ice cream🍦Attached is the traffic guide~

One of the must-see attractions in Taipei is Shifen Old Street😝 Shifen Lao Street is the birthplace of sky lanterns The special thing is the integration of the old street and the train tracks Therefore when the train passes by need to avoid it😚 📌Very old street If you live in Ximen, it is very convenient 🥰 There is a 965 bus stop near Ximen Town to reach Ruifang Station (You can also go directly to Jiufen.) You can get off at Ruifang Station and walk to Ruifang Station That's where you see a lot of taxis🫶🏻 Then you can directly use the Taiwan Transportation Card to take the train to Shifen Station No need to buy extra tickets ~ get off the bus 😌 Of course you have to try the most famous sky lanterns 😗 I went to the one closest to the door Will go out of their way to do publicity Although the price here is a bit more expensive than the small shop in the back (NT$250). But their service is very attentive Remove the sky lantern to help turn sides for me to draw the ground It includes helping you take pictures, helping me adjust poses, etc. and even helping you make videos It can give you beautiful memories 🩷 Incidentally, it turns out that different colors of sky lanterns represent different luck!! ️ Can decide what to write on the sky lantern based on the color Unfortunately there is no air conditioning inside write write it is really hot 🥵 After the sky lanterns, of course we should eat ice cream to cool down 😮‍💨 There is peanut roll ice cream nearby that you can eat You can see how he made the peanuts 🥹 on site Personally, I think the ice cream tastes bad and can skip😀 It takes about half an hour to walk from Shifen to Shifen Waterfall Never take a taxi🚕 It's really not worth it Because after getting off the bus you need to walk some distance to get there Unfortunately, it didn't rain much before so I didn't see a waterfall with water😅 #Taipei Attractions #ShifenStation #ShifenOldStreet #ShifenSkyLantern #ShifenWaterfall #TaipeiShifen #TaipeiAttractions #TaipeiFoodRecommendations #TaipeiGood Places #TaipeiTravel #TaipeiFeatures

“Shi-fen” hao wan (fun)

my first trip to shifen. and not disappointed. it wasn’t a huge place but huge enough to experience the ancient train ride. nice food option there and a variety of drinks during this hot weather. sky lantern is not expensive and you can play with fireworks too. we went into a small store selling noodles and it tastes good! reasonable price too. the queue back to ruifang train station is quite crowded as many of us queues for the same timing. overall, it’s an interesting one!#shifen

Shifen - Sky Lantern

Shifen is the place if you wish to put up sky lanterns in Taiwan. This place provides local and tourists the option of sending off a sky lantern at any time of year, even outside of official festivals. We took the train in Rui Fang to Shifen, do note that the train run usually hourly to Shifen direction. The time scheduled is fixed so do ensure that you check the timing as the train depart punctually. Google map is a good gauge of timing as it shows the train timings too. A few stops away from Rui Fang, and once reached there will be an old street along the track where shops selling the sky lantern and foods. You can decorate your own sky lantern, and choose the colour for 4 sides and write your wishes on it. The colours are supposed to represent different themes. For example, yellow is for wealth, red is for health, pink is for romance and and blue is for good luck and you can choose other colours that suit you too. The shop owners will help you light the lantern and even take photos and videos before launching the sky lantern. We chose the first shop as you can ensure your photos taken does not have people behind it. It is a must visit place if you wish to 放天灯 or just soak into the atmosphere of an old street. #shifen

Shifen Old Street

226, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Pingxi District To get to shifen from ximending, you can take a train to Taipei station. From there, take a train to Ruifang for an hour. Then you changed to the pingxi line to take the train. The train arrives once every hour. The journey takes about 30 minutes. At shifen, you can fly your own sky Lantern. You can choose from a single colour to all four different colour lanterns. It is believed that the higher you fly the sky lanterns up into the sky, the higher chances that your wish written on the sky lanterns will come true. Do explore the shifen area and share your wishes with your family and friends. Best time to come would be in the fall season as the weather is good. #fallingforfall #tripblazers #family

Taipei Shi Fen

#passionpassport - Missed Taipei so much ever since my last trip in 2019! Had the opportunity to explore the very lovely Shi Fen area in search of Tian Deng (Sky Lanterns) but before that I got to explore the lakes and places that offered these wooden blocks thingy to write wishes and all. I came across some funny ones as well 😂 The scenery was really beautiful and felt really good! The weather in October is extremely chilling too. Food was available in some shops though it was quite quiet that weekend. Would definitely try out the Wooden Blocks wishing system the next time round I visit! Can’t wait for taipei to open up :)

Shifen & golden waterfall (taiwan)

Shifen is popular for its beautiful train railway track (that appeared in many popular taiwanese movies such as 那些年) and people usually visit to release the tian deng (lantern) for blessing & wishes. Which we paid to do the same as well, just for the experience. There’s a lot of stalls along the train railway & if you’re lucky, you can even witness the train passing by the rails !! this is when the locals would ask tourists to step aside for the train to pass before resuming their normal activities. Truly an interesting experience to bond with the locals & if you’d like to walk a few km from shifen, you can actually see quite a nice waterfall which we didn’t visit due to lack of time. On the way up to shifen & jiufen, we actually stopped by the golden waterfall for some quick picture time as well, however, it’s just a very small waterfall, though the color looked really special. #shifen #taiwanshifen #goldenwaterfall

A Magical Stop at Shifen, Taiwan

#asiatrip My journey through Taiwan brought me to the charming town of Shifen十分, and it was nothing short of amazing! Known for its famous railway tracks and sky lanterns, Shifen perfectly captures the spirit of Taiwan's culture and traditions. 🚂 Walking Along the Tracks
The first thing I noticed was the vibrant activity along the railway tracks. Small shops lined the sides, selling souvenirs, snacks, and colorful lanterns. It felt surreal walking along tracks that are still functional—it’s a bustling marketplace and a train route all in one! 🎈 Sky Lantern Tradition
A highlight of my visit was writing wishes on a sky lantern. Each lantern represents hope and dreams, and watching it float into the cloudy sky was such a peaceful, magical experience. It's a moment to reflect and set intentions, all while embracing this cultural tradition. 🍍 Snacks & Treats
The streets were filled with stalls offering local delicacies. From the classic pineapple cakes to freshly grilled skewers, every bite was a treat. Don’t miss the pineapple cakes with sky lantern packaging—they make a great souvenir! 🌉 Shifen Waterfall
Though the drizzle kept me from venturing too far, I caught a glimpse of the Shifen Waterfall's beauty. Surrounded by lush greenery, it’s often called the “Niagara of Taiwan” and is worth the walk if the weather allows. Shifen is more than just a destination; it’s an experience that brings together tradition, culture, and scenic beauty. It’s a must-visit on any Taiwan itinerary! #traveldiaries #myhiddengems

Sponge with lots of food

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent There are plenty of food options in Spen, where many people flock to fly lanterns! There are plenty of food stores lined up in a row!! ✅SfenLaojie 十分老街 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

Taiwan travel!

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent It's nice to walk around the streets and see things here and there while traveling in Taiwan! Among them, the best was Spun! The alleys are pretty ✅Sifen Laojie 十分老街 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

A nice place to walk around

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent A great place to walk around and see while traveling in Taiwan! There are many things to see, so it's a good place to walk around~! ✅SifenLaojie 十分老街 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

Taiwan travel destination Spun!

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent Sfen, a Taiwanese travel destination! A popular travel destination in Taiwan with great train tracks, great photo opportunities, and great food~ ✅Sfen Old Street 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

A great sponge for traveling

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent A great place to visit while traveling in Taiwan, Shifen! There are many things to see and eat in Shifen, so it's great for walking around and flying lanterns ✅Shifen Old Street 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

Pretty sponges in every alley

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent Sfen is famous for flying lanterns, but the alleys and streets are beautiful, so it's a great place to wander around~ Popular Places ✅Sfen Laojie 十分老街 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

A pretty alley sponge

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent Since every alley is beautiful, I took a lot of pictures and saw a lot while walking around the streets, one of the Taiwanese travel destinations, Shifen!! ✅Shifen Old Street 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

Taiwan's must-visit travel course

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent Sfen, famous for its lanterns! In addition to lanterns, there are many pretty places in the alleys of Sfen, so it's great to visit ✅Sfen Laojie 十分老街 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

Places to visit in Taiwan

#NovemberTravelSupportEvent A place worth visiting in Taiwan! Sfen!! A place where many people visit to fly lanterns~ ✅SfenLaojie 十分老街 📍No. 81, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226

Taiwan: A vibrant city, blend of tradition and modernity.

They say a trip to #Taiwan isn’t complete without releasing sky lanterns. Of course, we had to join in the fun and laughter! #taipei #shifen #lantern #yehliu #taipeicity #cityexplore #leisuretime

Pingxi District, Shifen Village.

- Nice place to visit - #pingxidistrict

Family Love❤️

shifin old street at taipei

Try shifin old street in taipei.There sky Lantern where you can write your wishes a beautiful place to explore in Taipei Taiwan

Flying Lanterns in Shifen!

Shifen Old Street is a home to old railway system and colorful sky lanterns. People go here to create their lanterns with their aspirations, wishes or prayers written on it. As if it is a personal message going to the heavens. The fun part is the photo-ops, they teach you cute poses and then after, they lit up the lanterns for flying. The sky is full of many lanterns and each contains prayers and hopes of it becoming true. Yet, the fun part is, old trains still operate on the old railway system. When you hear it choo choo, you know it's passing through. #voyagevibes #traveldudes

Wishes and Lanterns

Shifen Old Street is a home to old railway system and colorful sky lanterns. People go here to create their lanterns with their aspirations, wishes or prayers written on it. As if it is a personal message going to the heavens. The fun part is the photo-ops, they teach you cute poses and then after, they lit up the lanterns for flying. The sky is full of many lanterns and each contains prayers and hopes of it becoming true. Yet, the fun part is, old trains still operate on the old railway system. When you hear it choo choo, you know it's passing through. #traveldudes #voyagevibes

Shifen Old street

One of the tourist spot in Taiwan #shifen #shifenrailway

Shifen old street! Cute little town

Unique experience One of the most interesting experiences here is the releasing of the sky lantern which bears your handwritten wishes. Different stalls offer different kinds of lantern ranging from a single color, four-color, and eight-color. Each color has its own meaning. Apart from this activity, there are food stalls and souvenirs around the rail tracks.

SHIFEN OLD STREET

One of the most memorable trip in Taiwan 💗

Releasing Sky Lanterns at Shifen Old Street

#traveldiaries Shifen Old Street, in Pingxi District, Taiwan, is a popular spot where people release sky lanterns. The street, built along a working train track, has small shops and stalls where you can buy lanterns to send your wishes into the sky. It’s a special experience, as each lantern, often written with hopes or messages, floats up, creating a beautiful sight. The trains passing through the street add to the charm. Shifen is also close to Shifen Waterfall, making it a favourite place for visitors in northern Taiwan.