Half Day Private Tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern
Description
Discover scenic Northern Taiwan on a private day tour from Taipei. Explore the beauty of historical Jiufen, which inspired Oscar-winning animations, then make a wish with a sky lantern flying over Pingxi.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your driver-guide will meet you in the hotel lobby or on the 1st floor, holding a sign with your name.
Shifen Old Street is a 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.
Shifen Waterfall is the most renowned cascading waterfall in Taiwan. The watercourse is from Keelung River, height 20 m. (66 ft.) and width 40 m. (131 ft.).
Watch the bay where the sea is a mix of yellow and blue before heading to Jiufen.
The Remains of the 13 Levels is a former smelter plant in Lianxin Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. It is also called the Potala Palace of Mountain Mines.
(If traffic control is in effect during the public holiday, we will not proceed to this location.) Golden Waterfall is located in Jinguashi. Although real gold flowing from these falls would be too good to be true, the water is certainly a beautiful gold color as a result of the combination of regular rainfall in this mining area and the abundance of heavy metal elements deposited in the riverbed.
With an unmatched old town atmosphere and seaside flair, Jiufen is a must see spot when visiting northern Taiwan. Always teeming with tourists, you might notice that Japanese people make up a huge proportion of the crowds gathered. Many are keen to catch a glimpse of the setting of Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award winning “Spirited Away”, especially the iconic red lanterns. This is also a film mecca for lovers of Taiwanese film, especially fans of Hou Hsiao-hsien's “A City of Sadness”, which utilized Jiufen as the backdrop to the events of the 228 Incident. Given Hou’s recent award of Best Director in the 2015 International Cannes Film Festival for his new film “The Assassin”, we expect even more people will make their way here in years to come.
Back to hotels or other spots you preferred in Taipei City at the end of the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your personal driver-guide will wait for you at the hotel lobby / b&b entrance with a sign (YOLO Taiwan + lead traveler name)
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(413)
Our experience was shaped positively by our VIP guides, Jacky & Vincent. Our family of 9 enjoyed the trip, stopping for sights and food along the way. They both offered a personal touch to the experience, providing a memorable trip for the adults and children. Communication pre-booking to during the trip was especially helpful. Be sure to take up their suggestions for food & coffee, the coffee in Jiufen was so good! Jacky and Vincent provided enough space for our group to wander and return to our air-conditioned rides (a must in balmy June!!) Their love and pride of Taiwan was palpable and we appreciated all the fun facts shared along the way. Both Jacky and Vincent let us know they would take photos of the group and share immediately after the tour. This was a nice touch because we had 4 kids taking our attention. It was nice to receive such nice quality photo memories!
2026 Multiple Long drives separated by long strenuous walks / climbs. These are old towns built on mountainsides. The driving portion to get there was well done on narrow mountain roads (highways on the return). Little conversation by our driver, Ryan, during the drives. The destinations are fabulous, interesting and picaresque. Ryan's choices for food and drink were excellent recommendations. All in all, an excellent outing that could have benefitted with some additional narration.
Thank you so much for your time, and showing us around your beautiful country. We hope the next people have as much if not more fun on their tours with you. Take care of yourself. You have definitely made a memorable day for us. Thank you again！
We had a great day visiting these beautiful sites definitely worth doing if you visit Taipei, thanks to Cody who took us around for the day.
Roger from YOLO contacted me before the trip using WhatsApp to reconfirm regarding the pickup which was really great. I had quite a limited amount of time in Taipei and managed to visit all of the sights in half a day which I couldn’t have done otherwise. The car and transport was very comfortable and it was a pleasure to meet Roger and have him show me around. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the places we visited and gave me some great advice about foods and drinks to try there, as well as places to eat back in Taipei after the tour. It was a very enjoyable day. Thanks so much!
It was a great experience and our tour guide Bubble was fantastic! He shared so many great stories and insights and was friendly and helpful.
Our tour host, Roger, was friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. I would highly recommend doing a private tour. It was affordable, visited great locations, and it's really nice being able to have the tour host to yourself.
It is an excelkent tour. All of the places we went were fun and interesting. The waterfall and view from the tea restaurant were outstanding. We all (four of us) are very happy we went on this tour.
We traveled with our family of 4 & our friends (family of 4 as well). Our tour guide, Vincent was so personable and friendly from the start. From Shifen waterfalls to sky lanterns to lunch in Jifen, we thoroughly enjoyed our half day tour. As most of us were first time visitors to Taiwan, this tour gave us a nice overall experience & balance away from Taipei. We would definitely recommend this tour!
Hi, Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re very happy to hear that your family and friends had such an enjoyable half-day tour with Vincent. It’s wonderful to know that he was personable and friendly from the start, and helped make the experience comfortable for everyone. We’re also glad you enjoyed the stops at Shifen Waterfall, the sky lantern experience, and lunch in Jiufen. For first-time visitors to Taiwan, we’re happy this tour gave you a nice balance and a chance to experience beautiful places outside of Taipei. Thank you again for choosing YOLO Taiwan and for recommending our tour. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you and your family back to Taiwan again in the future. —Frank @ YOLO Taiwan
This was an excellent tour and exceeded our expectations! Vincent was a wonderful guide, very experienced and always thinking about our comfort and how to give us the best experience possible. All the stops were lovely and unique locations, and we really enjoyed the experience!
Hi, Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re very happy to hear that the tour exceeded your expectations. It’s wonderful to know that Vincent helped make the day enjoyable with his experience, thoughtful guidance, and attention to your comfort throughout the tour. We’re also glad you enjoyed all the stops and found them lovely and unique. Creating a smooth and comfortable private tour experience is very important to us, so we’re happy the day worked well for you. Thank you again for choosing YOLO Taiwan and for sharing your experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back to Taiwan again in the future. —Frank @ YOLO Taiwan
