Half Day Private Tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern
Description
Discover scenic Northern Taiwan on a private day tour from Taipei. Explore the beauty of historical Jiufen, which inspired Oscar-winning animations, then make a wish with a sky lantern flying over Pingxi.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your driver-guide will meet you in the hotel lobby or on the 1st floor, holding a sign with your name.
Shifen Old Street is a bustling hub for those eager to get a glimpse of an old railroad town which still retains the charm of yesteryear. Originally built to transport coal, the Shifen Old Street stop has now become one of the most popular on the Pingxi rail-line. It is easy to see why so many are drawn here - local food, souvenir shops and puffing trains add to the charm of this little gem, as well as make it a fantastic place for photography.
Shifen Waterfall is the most renowned cascading waterfall in Taiwan. The watercourse is from Keelung River, height 20 m. (66 ft.) and width 40 m. (131 ft.).
Watch the bay where the sea is a mix of yellow and blue before heading to Jiufen.
The Remains of the 13 Levels is a former smelter plant in Lianxin Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. It is also called the Potala Palace of Mountain Mines.
(If traffic control is in effect during the public holiday, we will not proceed to this location.) Golden Waterfall is located in Jinguashi. Although real gold flowing from these falls would be too good to be true, the water is certainly a beautiful gold color as a result of the combination of regular rainfall in this mining area and the abundance of heavy metal elements deposited in the riverbed.
With an unmatched old town atmosphere and seaside flair, Jiufen is a must see spot when visiting northern Taiwan. Always teeming with tourists, you might notice that Japanese people make up a huge proportion of the crowds gathered. Many are keen to catch a glimpse of the setting of Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award winning “Spirited Away”, especially the iconic red lanterns. This is also a film mecca for lovers of Taiwanese film, especially fans of Hou Hsiao-hsien's “A City of Sadness”, which utilized Jiufen as the backdrop to the events of the 228 Incident. Given Hou’s recent award of Best Director in the 2015 International Cannes Film Festival for his new film “The Assassin”, we expect even more people will make their way here in years to come.
Back to hotels or other spots you preferred in Taipei City at the end of the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your personal driver-guide will wait for you at the hotel lobby / b&b entrance with a sign (YOLO Taiwan + lead traveler name)
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(430)
Put on a nice outfit because Vincent is serious about taking photos for you! He has all the good angles! He is kind, polite and knowledgeable and really wants you to enjoy your visit.
James Chan was an excellent guide! I highly recommend him! He was knowledgeable and led an interesting tour. I would use for other tours in the future!
Nicholas Ying is an excellent tour guide he made how trip enjoyable he is a safe driver and shared his excellent knowledge. My Wife and I had a great tour today with Nicholas
Wonderful private 6 hrs tour. We chose the earliest pick-up time and our driver/guide Mr Hicks Wang was waiting for us at our hotel lobby promptly at the agreed upon time. Hicks drove and guided us to a beautiful waterfall, guided us through the unique lantern release, and introduced us to some of Taiwan’s famous snacks. We especially liked the peanut ice cream roll that Hicks called “ice cream burrito”. Overall a beautiful experience with a knowledgeable tour guide. We would recommend this tour.
Sean is very knowledgeable especially the history of Taiwan. He was very clear in communicating in English; explained thoroughly the importance and significance of all the places we visited. He’s very friendly and gives us other options on what we can do; recommended where we can shop for souvenirs that’s reasonable and offer suggestions. We highly recommend 😉👍🏽😊
Our half-day private tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall, and Pingxi with Nicolas Ying was honestly one of the best parts of our trip to Taiwan. Nicolas was on time, super friendly, and really easy to talk to. He shared a lot of interesting stories about the places we visited, from local history to cultural traditions, which made the whole experience feel much more meaningful. The itinerary was well thought out. We never felt rushed, and still had enough time to really enjoy each stop. Jiufen’s narrow old streets were full of charm, Shifen Waterfall was beautiful, and releasing a sky lantern in Pingxi was such a fun and memorable moment. What really made the tour stand out was Nicolas himself. He was attentive without being overbearing, happy to answer all our questions, and made sure we were comfortable the whole time. His local tips and stories added a lot that we definitely wouldn’t have gotten if we went on our own. If you’re thinking about visiting these places, I’d definitely recommend this tour with Nicolas Ying. It was relaxed, enjoyable, and just a really great experience from start to finish.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely amazing experience with my personal tour guide driver in Taiwan! From the moment we started the journey, the service was professional, friendly and thoughtful. My guide was knowledgeable about the local culture, history, hidden gems and the best places to visit, making the entire trip smooth and memorable. The driving was safe and comfortable, the itinerary was well planned and my guide went above and beyond to make sure I had a wonderful experience. They were patient, helpful and always willing to share great recommendations for food, attractions and local experiences. Thank you to Mr. Wang, out excellent guide, I was able to see Taiwan in a much more meaningful way. I highly recommend this service to anyone looking for a reliable, friendly and knowledgeable private tour guide. Truly a five-star experience!
Hi, Thank you for choosing YOLO Taiwan and for taking the time to share your review of our Half Day Private Tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern! We are very glad to hear that you had such a great experience with Mr. Wang. It is wonderful to know that the tour felt professional, friendly, and well planned, and that his knowledge of local culture, history, food, and hidden gems helped make your day more meaningful. Thank you again for your recommendation and five-star review. We truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back to Taiwan in the future! —Lawson @ YOLO Taiwan
Great experience. Vincent was very knowledgeable and knew all the local spots. He took me through shortcuts and paths of the cities that would present the most beautiful views. He helped take photos like a professional photographer. I highly recommend the tour. Best way to see many great spots in Taiwan if you only have a half day to explore of the city.
Hi Adam, Thank you for choosing YOLO Taiwan and for taking the time to share your review of our Half Day Private Tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern! We are very glad to hear that you had a great experience with Vincent. It is great to know that his local knowledge helped you find the best spots, shortcuts, and viewpoints during your half-day tour. We are also happy to hear that Vincent helped take photos for you along the way. It is always nice to have good memories captured while exploring Taiwan. Thank you again for your recommendation. We truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back to Taiwan in the future! —Lawson @ YOLO Taiwan
We just finished our tour with Nicolas Ying. It was one of our best tour experiences we’ve ever done because of our awesome and kind tour guide. We have a great impression of Taiwan because of him. We really enjoyed this tour with Nicolas. He knew all the good photo spots and shortcuts to make the tour enjoyable to avoid crowds and too much walking. Huge plus++ We learned the history of Taiwan and interesting facts about Taiwan. We didn’t have to worry about anything as he took care of everything. It feel like a true local tour instead of too touristy. Definitely recommend this type of tour instead of a big group tour. Thank you Nicolas!
Hi, Thank you for choosing YOLO Taiwan and for taking the time to share your review of our Half Day Private Tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern! We are very glad to hear that you had one of your best tour experiences with Nicolas Ying. It is wonderful to know that his kindness, local knowledge, and careful planning helped you enjoy the tour comfortably. We are also happy to hear that Nicolas showed you good photo spots, used shortcuts to avoid crowds and too much walking, and shared Taiwan’s history and interesting local facts along the way. That kind of local experience is exactly what we hope our private tours can provide. Thank you again for your kind recommendation. We truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back to Taiwan in the future! —Lawson @ YOLO Taiwan
Cody was wonderful. I enjoyed every minute. I was traveling alone and he took many photos of me. I appreciate all the requests he accommodated including my lunch request. I would absolutely recommend him to a friend. He took time to find the answer to my unusual question. I have many great memories of the trip.
Hi Jennifer, Thank you for choosing YOLO Taiwan and for taking the time to share your review of our Half Day Private Tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall & Pingxi Sky Lantern! We are very glad to hear that you had a wonderful tour with Cody. It is great to know that he helped make your solo trip comfortable, took photos for you, and accommodated your requests, including lunch. We also appreciate you mentioning that he took the time to find the answer to your unusual question. That kind of care is an important part of a good private tour experience. Thank you again for your kind feedback and recommendation. We truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back to Taiwan in the future! —Lawson @ YOLO Taiwan
