Taipei Northeast Coast Tour: Yeliu, Juifen & Shifen Guide

Summary

Explore Yeliu rocks, Juifen old street eats & Shifen lanterns

You’ll wander surreal rock formations at Yeliu Geopark, snack your way through Juifen’s winding alleys with local street food (yes, even stinky tofu), and send your own sky lantern floating above Shifen’s old railway tracks—all with a friendly guide who knows every shortcut and story. It’s one of those days in Taiwan you’ll remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

“You ever try to pronounce ‘Yeliu’ before coffee?” That’s how our day started—Li, our driver-guide, grinning as we tumbled into the Mercedes van outside our Taipei hotel. The city was just waking up, scooters humming past as we headed north. I didn’t expect the air at Yeliu Geopark to smell so much like salt and seaweed. The rocks really do look like mushrooms and honeycombs—Li pointed out one that locals call “Queen’s Head,” though honestly it looked more like a camel to me. We wandered between wind-carved stones while a group of schoolkids practiced their English on us (“Where are you from?”). I still think about that weird silence when the wind dropped for a second and all you could hear was the ocean slapping the shore.

Juifen was next—a maze of alleys stacked up the hillside, red lanterns everywhere. It’s busy but not in a bad way; there’s this cinnamon-sugar smell from the taro balls frying somewhere (I never did find the exact stall). Li insisted we try stinky tofu—he laughed when I winced at the first bite, but honestly, it grows on you. Bubble tea here tastes different than back home—less sweet, more tea-ish? We ducked into a tiny shop for pineapple cake samples and watched an old lady wrapping them faster than I could blink. The whole place feels like it’s holding its breath between rain showers.

Shifen village is where things got unexpectedly sentimental. There’s this old railway running through town—people writing wishes on paper lanterns, then letting them float up over the tracks. Mine wobbled sideways but still made it up (Li says that means good luck). Kids were chasing each other with sparklers and someone played Jay Chou songs on a tinny speaker nearby. We finished at Shifen Waterfall—the spray cool even in muggy weather—and just stood there for a minute not saying much. Sometimes you don’t need words for those bits.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Northeast Coast Natural Wonders

• Visit Yeliu Geopark
• Taste street food at Juifen Old Street
• Fly sky lantern at Shifen Old Village
• See Shifen Waterfall

Day 2 — Taipei City Highlights

• Tour National Palace Museum
• Visit CKS Memorial Hall and watch guard changing
• See Taipei 101 Tower

Top questions

How long does the Taipei northeast coast tour take?

The day trip usually lasts around 8 hours including travel time.

Is hotel pickup included in this Taipei day tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included.

What food can I try at Juifen old street?

You can taste stinky tofu, bubble tea, ice taro balls, sausage, and pineapple cake.

Will there be a local guide during the tour?

Yes, an experienced licensed driver-guide leads the tour.

Can I fly a sky lantern at Shifen village?

Yes, flying sky lanterns on the old railway is part of the experience.

Is rain gear provided if it rains during the tour?

Raincoats and umbrellas are available for guests if needed.

Are infants or young children allowed on this tour?

Infants are welcome; specialized infant seats are available upon request.

Does the vehicle have WiFi onboard?

Yes, WiFi is provided in the Mercedes van during your tour.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Taipei city, transport by new Mercedes van with WiFi onboard, bottled water for everyone (which came in handy after spicy sausage), plus raincoats and umbrellas if clouds roll in. You’ll have an experienced local driver-guide looking after all logistics so you can just focus on exploring—and eating—without worrying about anything else.