New Taipei City Tour: Yehliu, Jiufen & Shifen Day Trip

The Queen's Head rock formation at Yehliu Geopark is only visible at certain tide levels, so timing matters.

A full-day guided tour from Taipei covers three northern destinations: the dramatic rock formations of Yehliu Geopark, the lantern-lit alleys and local snacks of Jiufen (a former gold mining town), and Shifen Waterfall, Taiwan's "Little Niagara." The tour includes a professional English or Mandarin-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and pickup at MRT Ximen Station at 8:15 AM. The Pingxi Branch Rail Line runs through Shifen Old Street, where you can experience the sky lantern tradition (lanterns are optional and paid separately on-site). Yehliu Geopark admission is also paid on-site in cash.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Yehliu Geopark1h 10m
2. Shifen Waterfall50m
3. Pingxi Branch Rail Line1h

Explore Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen

• Admire rock formations at Yehliu Geopark
• Wander lantern-lit alleys in Jiufen
• Savor local snacks in Jiufen
• Visit Shifen Waterfall
• Experience sky lantern tradition on Shifen Old Street

The experience

The day starts at MRT Ximen Station, where you meet the guide holding a red flag labeled "R Day Tour" at 8:15 AM, with departure at 8:30 AM. This setup means no separate hotel pickup logistics. You arrive at a central station and the group moves together in an air-conditioned vehicle. The route covers roughly 50 kilometers of Taiwan's north coast and inland valleys, passing through areas most first-time visitors to Taipei don't reach on their own.

Yehliu Geopark comes first, where you walk among rock formations shaped by erosion over millions of years. The "Queen's Head" (a mushroom-shaped outcrop that resembles a profile) is the signature sight, though tide levels affect which formations are fully visible and accessible. From there, the tour moves to Jiufen, a hillside village built on gold mining wealth in the early 1900s. The narrow alleys stay crowded with visitors and lined with stalls selling taro balls, fish cakes, and tea, so the lantern-lit atmosphere the description mentions is real but shared. You wander and eat at your own pace, then regroup for the drive to Shifen.

Shifen Waterfall is a 25-meter drop into a narrow gorge, and the Pingxi Branch Rail Line runs directly past it: an old mining railway now used by tourists and locals. Shifen Old Street, where the tracks run through the village itself, is where the sky lantern tradition happens. If you choose to release a lantern (optional, paid separately in cash on the day), you write a wish on it and watch it drift upward. The whole tour runs about nine hours from pickup to return, though traffic and weather can shift the schedule. The guide manages timing and transitions. You follow the group through each stop.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Mandarin.
• air-conditioned transport.
• liability insurance.
• pickup and drop-off at MRT Ximen Station.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sanpu Travel Service

Is this one for you?The tour departs from MRT Ximen Station in central Taipei, so you don't need a car or a separate hotel pickup arrangement. Just arrive at the station 15 minutes early. This works well if you're staying anywhere on the Taipei metro line and want to see the north coast and mountain villages in a single day without navigating public buses or renting a vehicle yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): 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 is the Queen's Head at Yehliu Geopark?

The Queen's Head is a mushroom-shaped rock formation at Yehliu Geopark that resembles a profile when viewed from certain angles. It's the most famous landmark at the park, though tide levels affect how much of it is visible and accessible during your visit.

Can I release a sky lantern on Shifen Old Street?

Yes, you can experience the sky lantern tradition on Shifen Old Street, but it's optional and not included in the tour price. Lanterns are paid separately in cash on the day, and prices vary depending on the color and size you choose.

Where does the tour pick me up, and what time?

The tour picks up outside Exit 5 of MRT Ximen Station at 8:15 AM, with departure at 8:30 AM. You'll meet the guide holding a red flag labeled "R Day Tour." Arrive 15 minutes early. Late arrivals forfeit the tour with no refund.

Is Yehliu Geopark admission included in the tour price?

Yehliu Geopark admission is not included and is paid on-site in cash (NT$120 per person). The guide will direct you through the park and explain the formations, but the entry fee is separate.

How long is the full tour, and what's included in the price?

The tour runs approximately nine hours from pickup to return. The price covers a professional guide (in English or Mandarin), air-conditioned transport, and liability insurance. Yehliu Geopark admission and sky lanterns are paid separately on-site.

What should I bring, and are there luggage limits?

You can bring one piece of luggage up to 26 inches and one small carry-on item that fits on your lap. Large items like wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. The company reserves the right to refuse service if luggage exceeds vehicle capacity.