Private Shifen and Jiufen tour from Taipei: Release sky lanterns

Trains run through the town while you light a sky lantern on the tracks.

A private 6-hour charter from Taipei visits Shifen Waterfall, Taiwan's widest at 40 meters, and the railway town of Shifen Old Street, where you release a sky lantern along the tracks. The day ends in Jiufen Village, where you wander narrow alleyways, sample street food like taro ball desserts, and sit in a traditional teahouse with views over Keelung Port. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The driver speaks English, Chinese or Japanese but does not serve as a guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Shifen Waterfall1h · entry included
2. Pingxi Branch Rail Line1h · entry included
3. Jiufen Village1h

Visit Shifen and Jiufen in Taiwan

• Admire Shifen Waterfall
• Ride to Shifen Old Street
• Release a sky lantern
• Explore Shifen Old Street
• Travel to Jiufen Village
• Enjoy street food and Taro Ball dessert
• Relax at a traditional tea house
• Return to Taipei hotel or Raohe Night Market

The experience

The tour starts at Shifen Waterfall, a 40-meter-wide cascade that holds the title of Taiwan's broadest. From there, a 10-minute drive takes you to Shifen Old Street, a railway town where trains pass directly through the bustling center. This is where you light your own sky lantern (a physical moment most travelers come specifically to do), and watch it rise above the tracks. The street itself is lined with local snack stalls and souvenir shops. The experience is built around the trains and the lanterns, not a guided narration of the place.

After Shifen, the route moves to Jiufen Village, where the day shifts to wandering and eating. The narrow alleyways are packed with specialty street food: taro ball is the signature dessert, a sweet glutinous rice confection that locals describe as addictive. You move through the village at your own pace, stopping where you want. Once you've walked enough, you settle into one of the traditional teahouses scattered through the town, order Taiwanese tea, and rest while looking out over Keelung Port. The driver returns you to your hotel in central Taipei or to Raohe Street Night Market when the afternoon ends.

This is a private charter, so the vehicle and timing are yours alone. Groups of one to four travel in the S-Regular plan. Groups of five to seven book the W-Regular plan. The driver provides transport and knows the route. You navigate the stops and the moments yourself. Hotel pickup is included, and the driver speaks your language (English, Chinese or Japanese), but the experience is self-directed, not narrated.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Taipei or Raohe Street Night Market.
• parking fees, transfer fees, and fuel.
• driver's fee.
• a driver fluent in English, Chinese, or Japanese.

Options for this experience

3 options

Six-hour tour of Shifen and JiufenUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Japanese or Chinese · 9 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 14:30Duration: 6 hours. Choose this option for 1 to 4 travelers. Includes pickup.

Shifen and Jiufen tour with a child seatUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Japanese or Chinese · 9 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 14:30Child seat. Pickup is included.

Six-hour tour covering Shifen and JiufenUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English, Japanese or Chinese · 9 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 14:30Duration: 6 hours. Choose this option for 1 to 7 travelers. Includes pickup.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 14:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Operated by 台湾旅行会社Finemakers

Is this one for you?Book the S-Regular plan if you're traveling with one to four people. The W-Regular plan seats five to seven. A private charter means you control the schedule and stops (useful if you want to linger at the teahouse or spend extra time releasing lanterns) rather than moving as part of a larger group on a fixed timeline.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Japanese.

How wide is Shifen Waterfall compared to other waterfalls in Taiwan?

Shifen Waterfall is 40 meters wide and is Taiwan's broadest waterfall, earning the nickname "little Niagara" for its scale and power.

What exactly do you do when you release a sky lantern in Shifen?

You light your own sky lantern along the railway tracks in Shifen Old Street, then watch it rise into the air. The lantern fee varies from NT$150 to NT$200 depending on its color and is not included in the tour price.

What kind of food will I encounter in Jiufen Village?

Jiufen is known for specialty street food sold in the narrow alleyways. Taro ball, a sweet glutinous rice dessert, is the signature item. You walk through the village and choose where to eat, then rest in a traditional teahouse with Taiwanese tea.

Does the driver provide commentary and guide the tour, or do I explore on my own?

The driver handles transport and knows the route but does not serve as a tour guide. You explore Shifen Old Street and Jiufen Village at your own pace and decide where to stop and how long to stay.

How much time do you spend at each location?

The itinerary allocates roughly 10 minutes of travel from Shifen Waterfall to Shifen Old Street, then the remaining hours are split between the railway town and Jiufen Village. The exact time at each stop is flexible since you set the pace.