Shifen

Shifen (十分) is a small village in the Pingxi District of New Taipei City, set in a forested valley in the hills of northern Taiwan. It is the busiest and most popular stop on the historic Pingxi Line railway, and for most visitors it is the heart of the Pingxi sky-lantern experience. Like the rest of the district, Shifen grew up around coal mining in the early 20th century; when the mines closed, tourism took over, drawn by the village's distinctive railway street and its waterfall.

Shifen's defining image is its old street, where shops, stalls and houses line both sides of a working railway track — and where visitors crowd onto the rails between trains to release paper sky lanterns inscribed with wishes. A short walk away lies Shifen Waterfall, the broadest waterfall in Taiwan, sometimes nicknamed "Little Niagara." Together, the lantern releases and the waterfall make Shifen one of the most photographed small places in northern Taiwan.

Shifen is an easy day trip from Taipei. The valley setting makes it cool and notably wet — the Pingxi area is among the rainiest parts of northern Taiwan — so carry a waterproof layer in any season. Autumn brings the most settled weather, while the Lantern Festival period in the first lunar month is the most atmospheric but extremely crowded. The village itself is tiny and entirely walkable.

By Plane

The nearest international airport is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), well over an hour away on the far side of Taipei. Visitors reach Shifen via Taipei by rail.

By Train

Rail is the classic and recommended way to reach Shifen. Shifen station (十分車站) sits on the TRA Pingxi Line, a scenic branch railway. From Taipei Main Station, take a Yilan-bound train to Ruifang, then transfer onto a Jingtong-bound Pingxi Line train; Shifen is one of the main stops. A Pingxi Line one-day pass allows unlimited hop-on, hop-off travel and is the best-value option.

By Car / Road

Shifen can also be reached by road from Ruifang and the surrounding Pingxi valley, with limited bus services along the route. Driving offers flexibility, but the railway is so central to the Shifen experience that most visitors arrive by train.

Shifen is a tiny village and everything — the old street, the railway station and the waterfall park — is reached on foot. Shifen Old Street runs alongside the active railway, so watch your footing and stay alert for approaching trains, which sound a warning before passing. The walk from the village to Shifen Waterfall takes around 20–30 minutes along a well-marked path. The Pingxi Line train links Shifen to the other villages of the district.

• Shifen Old Street (十分老街) — The village's signature sight: a market street with shops, lantern vendors and eateries lining both sides of a working railway track. The space between the rails is where visitors release sky lanterns.

• Shifen Waterfall (十分大瀑布) — The broadest waterfall in Taiwan, roughly 40 m wide and 20 m high, set in a forested park about a 20–30 minute walk from the village; viewing platforms overlook the curtain of water.

• Jingan Suspension Bridge (靜安吊橋) — A pedestrian suspension bridge near the village, originally built to transport coal, offering views over the Keelung River.

• Shifen Visitor Center (十分遊客中心) — Open 08:00–18:00; a useful stop for information on the area's attractions.

• Release a sky lantern — The quintessential Shifen activity: buy a paper lantern from an old-street vendor, brush your wishes onto it and send it aloft from the railway tracks. Lanterns come in different colours, each linked to a particular kind of wish.

• Walk to Shifen Waterfall — Follow the riverside trail to Taiwan's widest waterfall and its viewing decks.

• Watch the trains — Stand back as the Pingxi Line train edges through the old street, a classic Shifen photo moment.

• Cross the Jingan Suspension Bridge — A short, scenic walk over the river.

• Attend the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival — Around the Lantern Festival in the first lunar month (usually February), mass lantern releases in the area create one of Taiwan's signature spectacles.

Shifen's food is casual Taiwanese street fare sold from the old-street stalls — grilled sausages, chicken-wing rice rolls, dumplings, peanut-and-ice-cream rolls, and taro and sweet-potato treats.

Eating is done informally from the stalls; budget prices throughout. Vegetarian travellers will find some snack options; ask for "su shi" (素食).

The old-street stalls and small cafés sell Taiwanese tea, bubble tea and coffee. Tap water in Taiwan is generally not drunk unboiled; rely on bottled or boiled water. Shifen is a daytime destination with no real nightlife — most visitors leave by evening unless staying for the Lantern Festival.

Shifen is a very small village and the great majority of visitors come on a day trip from Taipei rather than staying overnight.

• Budget / Mid-range: A small number of guesthouses and minsu (homestays) operate in and around the village.
• Upscale / heritage: Shifen does not have upscale hotels; travellers seeking higher-end accommodation generally base themselves in Taipei.

Shifen Old Street is the place to shop. Sky lanterns are the signature purchase, sold in many colours and inscribed to order. The stalls also sell coal-mining-themed souvenirs, local snacks and small handicrafts. Prices are generally fixed; bargaining is not customary.

• Pingxi — The neighbouring old-street village on the same railway line, a short train ride away.
• Jingtong — The historic coal-mining village at the end of the Pingxi Line.
• Ruifang — The transfer town for the Pingxi Line, with rail connections back to Taipei.
• Jiufen — The lantern-lit former gold-mining town, reached via Ruifang.
• Jinguashi — The former gold and copper mining village near Jiufen, home to the Gold Museum.