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Private Northern Taiwan Tour: Experience Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern
4.9
370 Ratings
Ruifang
Embark on a personal day trip from Taipei to the picturesque Northern Taiwan. Experience the charm of the historic Jiufen that influenced award-winning animated films, and release a sky lantern into the heavens over Pingxi.
Embark on a personal day trip from Taipei to the picturesque Northern Taiwan. Experience the charm of the historic Jiufen that influenced award-winning animated films, and release a sky lantern into the heavens over Pingxi.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Yin Yang Sea - Observe the bay where the sea beautifully blends yellow and blue before proceeding to Jiufen.
- Jinguashi 13 Ruins - The Remains of the 13 Levels is a former smelting plant located in Lianxin Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. It is also known as the Potala Palace of Mountain Mines.
- Golden Waterfall - (If…
- Yin Yang Sea - Observe the bay where the sea beautifully blends yellow and blue before proceeding to Jiufen.
- Jinguashi 13 Ruins - The Remains of the 13 Levels is a former smelting plant located in Lianxin Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. It is also known as the Potala Palace of Mountain Mines.
- Golden Waterfall - (If traffic control is in effect during the public holiday, this location will not be visited.) Situated in Jinguashi, the Golden Waterfall is renowned for its stunning golden hue, a result of frequent rainfall in this mining area and the presence of heavy metal elements in the riverbed.
- Chiufen (Jiufen Old Street) - With its unique old town charm and coastal allure, Jiufen is a must-visit destination in northern Taiwan. Always bustling with tourists, a significant number of whom are Japanese, many are eager to see the setting of Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning “Spirited Away,” especially the famous red lanterns. Jiufen is also a cinematic haven for fans of Taiwanese cinema, particularly Hou Hsiao-hsien’s “A City of Sadness,” which used Jiufen as the backdrop for the 228 Incident. With Hou’s recent accolade as Best Director at the 2015 International Cannes Film Festival for “The Assassin,” even more visitors are expected in the future.
- Shifen Waterfall - Shifen Waterfall is Taiwan’s most famous cascading waterfall. It originates from the Keelung River, standing 20 meters (66 feet) tall and 40 meters (131 feet) wide.
- Shifen Old Street - Shifen Old Street is a lively spot for those interested in experiencing an old railroad town that retains its historical charm. Initially constructed for coal transportation, the Shifen Old Street stop is now a popular destination on the Pingxi rail-line. The local cuisine, souvenir shops, and steam trains contribute to the allure of this quaint location, making it a fantastic place for photography.
What's Included
- Parking fees and tolls included
- Complimentary lantern activity (one lantern per car)
- Free bottled water provided
- Travel in comfort with a private, air-conditioned vehicle
- Parking fees and tolls included
- Complimentary lantern activity (one lantern per car)
- Free bottled water provided
- Travel in comfort with a private, air-conditioned vehicle
What's Not Included
- Food & drinks
- Food & drinks
Location
Yin Yang Sea
Shuinandong,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(370 Ratings)
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Sebastien_s
Mar 28, 2026
Highly recommended tour with Chouly - This tour highlights these serene villages outside of Taipei. The ocean view from the Chongwen district is a must see. Crossing the bridge over the Jilong River is as exhilarating as experiencing the breathtaking Shifen Waterfalls that it leads to.
But my favorite part was the Sky Lantern release at the Shifen village in Pingxi district. We send our wishes to the sky while admiring the locals’ way of life and the train passing.
All of that was made possible by our wonderful guide CHOULY!!!!!!!
She was very patient and attentive to our kids and took care of our every need.
Great communication and educational highlights. Comfortable car, safe driving despite the rain. Highly recommended tour with Chouly.
Review provided by Viator
Juliana_t
Mar 20, 2026
Wonderful half day scenic trip with James! - We took the half day private tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern. James, our tour guide, was friendly and provided a wonderful experience! As an experienced tour guide, he knew a lot about the history of each location, which he enthusiastically shared with us. He ensured that we had ample time at each destination to receive a great experience, while maintaining to schedule. We did not feel rushed at all. He also ensured that we were dropped off and picked up at the entrance of each location. We could not have asked for a better experience for touring such a beautiful part of Taiwan! Thank you James for ensuring that we had a great time and for capturing memories (pictures and videos) of the day for us!
Review provided by Viator
Q5399ywanastasias
Mar 19, 2026
A fantastic day visiting Jiufen, Shifen, Waterfall and Pingxi Sky Lantern with our guide, Nicolas Ying, - Nicolas Ying is one of the best guides we had on our stay in Taipei. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic about sharing his culture with us and made us feel welcomed.
Besides showing us the places that were listed in the itinerary, he immersed us in the local culture by taking us to a tea house where we had the tea ceremony and helped us order local foods. Without him, we wouldn’t be able to experience the different flavors of the local cuisine as we would had been intimidated ordering on our own.
In addition, the lantern experience was unique - from picking the colors of the lantern (each color has a meaning), writing the wishes on each side of the lantern, lighting the lantern and releasing.
It was a great way to end our trip to Taiwan. Both my husband and I highly recommend the tour and Nicolas Ying.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rob
Mar 16, 2026
Excellent excursion - Top notch excursion with the best tour guide Chiao Chiao. She was on the ball and very personable. We loved it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kurt_g
Mar 16, 2026
Great day trip! - Would highly recommend this tour! Richelle was a great guide and stayed right on schedule. She got great pictures of us and doing the private option is the way to go. You get dropped right off at the Jiufen old street (vs walking up a steep hill with larger tour buses). It was a great day!
Review provided by Viator
Artz_w
Mar 16, 2026
Great tour. Our driver... - Great tour. Our driver James was very knowledgeable, he made it so we avoided the large crowds who were at the sites we visited. Good half day tour if you want to explore outside of Taipei.
Review provided by Viator
Debbiea_f
Mar 12, 2026
We enjoyed the scenic... - We enjoyed the scenic Shifen waterfall. Shifen Old Street was a fun and unique experience with the sky lanterns. While Jiufen, provided breathtaking views and narrow street markets. Our guide, Henry was knowledgeable and helped make our trip enjoyable.
Review provided by Viator
Companion3277
Mar 10, 2026
A surprisingly wonderful experience! - It was a great experience. We were happy to see Shifen waterfall and the park surrounding it. The park looked natural and did not look artificial. It left a very peaceful and calming experience for the visitors.
Richelle, our tour guide was top notch! She was very good and very helpful. She helped us with a big problem we had not with the tour but our circumstance during the tour. She made sure that we enjoy every aspect of the tour. She was also a very happy person, making everyone very comfortable and at ease. Thank you very much, Richelle.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
589robinl
Mar 7, 2026
Great, so glad I did it - My guide, Nicholas was great. He was very knowledgeable, personable and accommodating. He also took me to a local tea shop to experience a tea ceremony which was so interesting and informative.
Would absolutely request him again if I had more time in Taiwan
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vonda_m
Mar 5, 2026
Only had one day in... - Only had one day in Taipei and this was definitely a memorable one!! Our guide took us all around and stayed with us to help us during our last attempt to get some shopping in. We came home with all we wanted and an entertaining day, thank you so much for the hospitality!
Review provided by Viator
