Jiufen Old Street & Yehliu Geopark Day Tour from Taipei

Trains still run through the middle of Shifen's main street.

A guided day tour from Taipei visiting Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Waterfall, Shifen Old Street and Houtong Cat Village, with a live English or Chinese-speaking guide and all transport included. The tour runs nine to ten hours and covers four distinct stops across northern Taiwan's coast and mountain villages. Hotel pickup is not included; you'll meet the guide at a central Taipei location. Sky lanterns at Shifen cost extra and are not part of the package.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Yehliu, Jiufen, Shifen, and Houtong

• Visit Yehliu Geopark rock formations
• Explore Jiufen Old Street alleys and shops
• See Shifen Waterfall
• Walk Shifen Old Street and release sky lantern
• Visit Houtong Cat Village and meet cats

The Experience

The day starts at Yehliu Geopark on Taiwan's north coast, where wind and sea erosion have carved thousands of rock formations into the cliffs. You walk the coastal paths to see the Queen's Head, the country's most recognizable stone landmark, and photograph the sculpted shapes that line the shore. From there the tour moves inland to Jiufen Old Street, a former gold mining town turned village, where lantern-lit alleys wind between traditional shops and teahouses. You browse at your own pace, taste local street food like taro balls and peanut ice cream rolls, and stand on the hillside terraces looking out toward the Pacific.

Next is Shifen Waterfall, called the Little Niagara of Taiwan—a single powerful cascade dropping into the river below, framed by the forested gorge. The tour then stops at Shifen Old Street, a historic railway town where trains still pass through the center of the street during the day. This is where the sky lantern tradition happens: you can write wishes on a colored lantern and release it into the air (the lantern itself costs extra). The final stop is Houtong Cat Village, a former coal mining community now filled with free-roaming cats, cat-themed cafés and souvenir shops. The atmosphere is relaxed and the cats are accustomed to visitors.

A live guide in English or Chinese leads the group through all five stops and handles the logistics—you don't navigate between them or arrange tickets separately. Transportation is included in the price. The full nine to ten hours accounts for travel time between sites, so the day is structured around getting to each place and having time to explore once you're there. Weather can affect what you see at the natural sites, and traffic or other delays may mean some stops get shortened or skipped, in which case the operator offers a partial refund.

What’s included

• Tour guide service in English or Chinese.
• transportation between all five stops.
• entry to Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Waterfall, Shifen Old Street and Houtong Cat Village.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TREVOPEDIA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Taipei without a rental car and want to see the north coast and mountain villages in a single day—the guide handles navigation and timing, and transport is arranged, so you just show up at the meeting point and the day unfolds from there.

Top questions

Do I need to arrange my own way to meet the tour in Taipei?

Yes. The tour does not include hotel pickup, so you'll need to get yourself to the meeting point in central Taipei. Public transportation options are available nearby the meeting location, and the operator will provide the exact address when you book.

What is the Queen's Head at Yehliu Geopark?

The Queen's Head is a natural rock formation at Yehliu Geopark that has been carved by wind and sea erosion over thousands of years. It's one of Taiwan's most recognizable landmarks and the most photographed feature at the park.

Can I release a sky lantern at Shifen?

Yes, you can write a wish on a sky lantern and release it at Shifen Old Street, but the lantern itself is not included in the tour price—it costs about 7 dollars per lantern and is purchased separately on the day.

What should I expect at Houtong Cat Village?

Houtong Cat Village is a former coal mining town where cats roam freely through the streets and cafés. You can walk around, visit cat-themed shops and cafés, and interact with the cats, which are used to visitors. It's a relaxed, low-key stop at the end of the day.

What happens if weather or traffic affects the tour?

If delays caused by traffic, weather or other factors result in the cancellation of some attractions, the operator will contact you and arrange a partial refund for the missed stops. Weather can also affect visibility of natural scenery, and no refund is given if you're unable to see a site due to conditions.

Is this tour accessible for people using wheelchairs?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants are required to sit on an adult's lap during transport.