Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei: Sky Lanterns
You release a sky lantern on an active railway line where locals still set them free.
A nine-hour guided day tour from Taipei visiting three coastal districts: Yehliu Geopark with its mushroom rocks and Queen's Head formation, Jiufen Village's 1940s hillside streets, and Pingxi District's Shifen Waterfall and sky lantern tradition. The tour includes park entry, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide, and a shared sky lantern experience where you write wishes before release. Available as a private tour with hotel pickup or a shared group departure. Guides speak English, Chinese, Vietnamese or Japanese.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Yehliu, Jiufen, and Pingxi
- Visit Yehliu Geopark rock formations
- See the iconic Queen’s Head rock
- Explore Jiufen Village alleys and teahouses
- Taste local foods and buy souvenirs
- Visit Shifen Waterfall viewing platforms
- Walk along Shifen Old Street
- Write wishes and release sky lantern
- Return to Taipei with optional Taipei 101 drop-off
- Yehliu Geopark 35m
- Jiufen Village 2h
- Shifen Waterfall 10m
- Pingxi Branch Rail Line 1h 30m
- Taipei 101 passing by
What’s included
- Yehliu Geopark entrance ticket.
- sky lantern launching experience shared among three to four people.
- professional licensed tour guide.
- air-conditioned vehicle transport.
- local general liability insurance.
- hotel pickup and drop-off on private tour option.
Times
- Every day 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30
Before you book
Operated by Edison Travel Service
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
Nine hours takes you north and northeast of Taipei through three distinct stops that show Taiwan's coastal character. You start at Yehliu Geopark, where wind and sea have carved the rock into formations with names (Queen's Head, the Fairy Shoe, the Ginger Rocks, the Elephant Rock) that map onto the shapes themselves. The Queen's Head, a mushroom rock that echoes the profile of Queen Elizabeth, draws over ten thousand visitors each year, especially for the night illumination. Your guide walks you through the geopark to see the chessboard rock and trace fossils alongside the more famous pieces.
From there you move to Jiufen Village, a hillside settlement that boomed during the 1940s gold mining era and then emptied for decades before the 1989 film "A City of Sadness" brought it back to life. The movie's melancholic tone matched the village's atmospheric alleys, and tourism followed. You walk the narrow streets lined with teahouses where you can order tea and watch the view, taste local foods, and buy souvenirs. The traditional Jiufen dessert, taro ball, is worth trying if you have a sweet tooth. The village sits on a slope, so the streets wind and layer, and the guide explains the history as you move through.
The final stop is Pingxi District, a former mining town now known for the sky lantern festival. You see Shifen Waterfall first, a 20-meter cascade called the "Little Niagara Falls" of Taiwan because of its shape. Viewing platforms let you approach from different angles, and on sunny days the mist throws a rainbow. Then you walk to Shifen Station, built during Japanese colonization to haul coal, which now sits alongside Shifen Old Street lined with lantern shops and eateries. This is where you release your sky lantern: three or four people share one, and each person writes a wish on a side before your guide teaches you how to launch it correctly into the sky. The moment is quiet and deliberate, not rushed.
The tour runs nine hours total with an air-conditioned vehicle and a licensed guide included. You can choose a private departure with hotel pickup and drop-off, or join a small group. On the return to Taipei, you have the option to be dropped at Taipei 101 instead of your hotel. Bring cash for meals, drinks, souvenirs and tips: most eateries and convenience stores in Taiwan don't take credit cards. Comfortable shoes help because a small amount of walking is involved at each stop.
Is this one for you?Book the private tour if you want hotel pickup and the flexibility to set your own pace through the three stops. Choose a group departure if you prefer to share the cost and meet other travelers, and note that group tours run in English and Chinese, or English, Chinese and Japanese depending on the departure.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
In English, Chinese, Chinese and Vietnamese, at 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30. In Japanese, at 08:30.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What exactly is the Queen's Head at Yehliu Geopark?
The Queen's Head is a mushroom-shaped rock formation at Yehliu Geopark that resembles the profile of Queen Elizabeth. It's the most famous rock at the park and draws thousands of visitors each year, especially during the annual night tour when it's illuminated with light shows and water projections.
Can I really release a sky lantern, or do I just watch?
You release a sky lantern yourself at Shifen Station. Groups of three or four people share one lantern, and each person writes a wish on one side before your guide teaches you how to launch it correctly into the sky. It's a hands-on part of the tour, not a demonstration.
Is Jiufen Village just a tourist trap, or is there actual history there?
Jiufen Village has real history. It flourished in the 1940s because of gold mining, then fell into disrepair for decades. The 1989 film "A City of Sadness" was shot there and brought the village back to life by drawing attention to its melancholic atmosphere and historic setting. The teahouses, local foods and narrow alleys reflect that past, though tourism is now the main economy.
How much walking is involved on this tour?
A small amount of walking is involved at each stop. Comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with physical disabilities.
What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?
The tour includes the Yehliu Geopark entrance ticket, the sky lantern experience, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional licensed guide, and insurance. You pay separately for meals, drinks, souvenirs and tips. Bring enough cash, as most eateries and convenience stores in Taiwan don't accept credit cards.
Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei: Sky Lanterns
9h · EN +4
from US$ 85 per person
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