The first stop is Shifen Railway Station. The station is located down Keelung River from the waterfall area, right alongside Shifen Old Street, originally built for transporting coal during Japanese colonization. Today it stands as a reminder of Taiwan’s history.

Shifen Old Street is lined with souvenir shops, sky lantern shops and eateries, where you can enjoy a little shopping before you head off to the next stop. You will also see a lot of people set up their sky lanterns on the railway track, getting ready to release them into the sky. Since you are here, of course, you will not miss out on the opportunity to experience this special tradition.

Sky Lantern release in Taiwan originates from Shifen in Pingxi District, New Taipei City. Nowadays, the lanterns are used as the symbols of peace and good fortune; the world-renowned Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is a great yearly event that draws hundreds of thousands of people every year. On this tour, you will experience this meaningful and unforgettable Taiwanese tradition.

3 or 4 people will share one lantern, and each of you can write down your wishes on one side of the lantern. Your tour guide will teach you how to release a sky lantern correctly, so you can fully enjoy the tranquil and peaceful moment.

Your tour continues with a visit to Shifen Waterfall. Shifen Waterfall is one of the most popular attractions in this area, widely-known as the “Little Niagara Falls” of Taiwan, a cascade-type waterfall similar to North America’s Niagara Falls.

There are several viewing platforms near Shifen Waterfall, where the visitors can see the waterfall from different angles, even have a close-up look. On sunny days, if you are lucky, you can capture a beautiful rainbow created by the mist of this 20-meter tall waterfall as it splashes into the lake.

At the end of the tour, you may choose to disembark at Xinyi Shopping District (Taipei 101) or MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station.