Yehliu, Jiufen & Shifen Private Tour from Taipei: Sky Lanterns

Rock formations, old streets, a waterfall, and lanterns you release into the sky.

A private day tour from Taipei through northern Taiwan's three signature stops: Yehliu Geopark with its sculpted rock formations, Jiufen Old Street with tea houses and taro ball desserts, and Shifen Waterfall. The tour ends at Pingxi Branch Rail Line where you release a sky lantern. Hotel pickup and drop-off within Taipei City included. A Chinese or English-speaking driver guide leads the route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Yehliu Geopark1h · entry included
2. Shifen Waterfall40m
3. Pingxi Branch Rail Line1h 30m · entry included

Explore Yehliu, Jiufen, and Pingxi

• Visit Yehliu Geopark rock formations
• See Golden Waterfall's shimmering hues
• View Yin Yang Sea's contrasting waters
• Walk Jiufen Old Street and try snacks
• Explore Shifen Waterfall natural wonder
• Stroll Shifen Old Street and release lantern

The experience

The tour starts with Yehliu Geopark, where wind and water have carved limestone into shapes with names like Queen's Head and Sea Candles. You walk through the formations at your own pace, reading the landscape as you go. From there the route moves to Jiufen Old Street, a steep warren of tea houses and snack stalls built into a hillside overlooking the coast. The real draw here is the taro balls with red beans dessert: a local specialty you eat while standing in the crowd and taking in the view. A moderate amount of walking is involved, and the stairs are steep enough that the operator flags them as a consideration.

Shifen Waterfall comes next, a cascade in the forested hills where you can stand close enough to feel the mist. The final stop is Pingxi Branch Rail Line, the old narrow-gauge railway that still runs through Shifen Old Street. This is where you write a wish on a sky lantern and release it into the night. The whole day runs eight hours from pickup to drop-off. The operator provides travel insurance for every guest and asks for your full name, birthday, passport number and nationality when you book. Bring cash for food and snacks, comfortable walking shoes, and a light jacket. An umbrella or raincoat is wise because the weather in northern Taiwan can shift quickly.

Starting January 1, 2025, Jiufen enforces holiday traffic controls from 8 AM to 8 PM, which means tour buses and private cars park in designated lots and visitors take shuttle buses to the old street. The itinerary may shift due to weather or traffic, but the operator prioritizes safety and your ability to enjoy each stop. One piece of luggage per traveler is the limit. Oversized bags won't fit.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Taipei City.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the group.
• Chinese or English-speaking driver guide.
• admission to Yehliu Geopark.
• sky lantern experience at Pingxi Branch Rail Line.
• travel insurance provided for all participants.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Justaiwantour

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you want a guide who can pause longer at Yehliu's rock formations or Shifen's lantern release without waiting for other groups, and if you prefer one vehicle for all three sites rather than coordinating your own transport between them.

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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: Child (3 to 8 years); 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 are the rock formations at Yehliu Geopark actually like?

Yehliu Geopark is a coastal landscape carved by wind and water into limestone shapes with distinctive names: Queen's Head and Sea Candles among them. You walk through the formations and see them up close. The operator includes admission to the park.

Is Jiufen Old Street really as crowded as people say?

Jiufen Old Street is a steep, narrow maze of tea houses and snack stalls packed with visitors, especially in the afternoon and evening. It's a working neighborhood, not a museum, so crowds are part of the experience. The stairs are the main physical demand of the day.

What do you actually do when you release a sky lantern at Shifen?

At Pingxi Branch Rail Line in Shifen Old Street, you write a wish on a paper lantern, light it, and release it into the sky. The experience is included in the tour. You don't arrange it separately.

How much walking is involved across the whole day?

A moderate amount of walking is involved overall. Yehliu Geopark requires you to move through the rock formations at your own pace. Jiufen Old Street is steep with many stairs. Shifen Waterfall involves a walk to the cascade. Comfortable walking shoes are essential.

Does the tour include meals or drinks?

Food and drinks are not included. You'll have time and opportunity to buy snacks and tea on Jiufen Old Street and elsewhere, but you pay for them separately. Bring cash, as not all vendors take cards.