Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei

Your day tour to the north and northeast coast of Taiwan starts with a visit to Yehliu Geopark. Located in Wanli District, New Taipei City, is one of the premier attractions in the northern coast of Taiwan, Yehliu Geopark is home to a number of unique rock formations caused by wind and sea, such as the mushroom rocks, the chessboard rock, the trace fossils and all that.

The most famous rock formation is the iconic “Queen’s Head”, a mushroom rock that resembles the profile of England’s Queen Elizabeth. Every year, the “Yehliu Night Tour” features light shows, water projection, etc, attracting over ten thousands visitors flock to see the Queen’s Head illumined at night.  

Besides the Queen’s Head, other remarkable formations such as the Sea Candles, the Fairy Shoe, the Ginger Rocks, the Elephant Rock, the Ice Cream Rock, the Kissing Rock, and the Princess’ Head, are worth taking a look at.

The next stop on your day tour is Jiufen, is a hillside village in Ruifang District, New Taipei City. The village was flourished in the 1940s due to the gold mining industry, and then fell into disrepair and decrepitude for years. Even though the golden age has long gone, this small village still has a lot of stories to tell.

The awarded movie “A City of Sadness”, directed by the famous film director Hou Hsiao-hsien, was shot there. Its unique historical background, the melancholic and emotional atmosphere attracted enormous global attention. The success of the movie also brought vitality to Jiufen’s tourism, making it the most popular destination in northeastern Taiwan.

Since you are in Jiufen, it’s recommended to have a cup of tea at a teahouse, where you can appreciate the picturesque scenery, and the freshly brewed tea at the same time. Jiufen Old Street that is winding along the hill has so many differences from other old streets. Besides the teahouses, here you can also tastes various local foods and buy souvenirs. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the traditional Jiufen dessert—Taro Ball!

After lunch, your tour continues with a visit to Shifen Waterfall in Pingxi District, New Taipei City. It is one of the most popular attractions in this area, widely-known as the “Little Niagara Falls” of Taiwan, a cascade-type waterfall similar to North America’s Niagara Falls.

There are several viewing platforms near Shifen Waterfall, where the visitors can see the waterfall from different angles, even have a close-up look. On sunny days, if you are lucky, you can capture a beautiful rainbow created by the mist of this 20-meter tall waterfall as it splashes into the lake.

Shifen Station is located down Keelung River from the waterfall area, originally built for transporting coal during Japanese colonization. The station is right alongside Shifen Old Street, today it stands as a reminder of Taiwan’s history.

The street is lined with souvenir shops, sky lantern shops and eateries. You can also see a lot of people set up their sky lanterns on the railway track, getting ready to release them into the sky. Of course, you will not miss out on the opportunity to experience this special tradition. 3 or 4 people will share one lantern, and each of you can write down your wishes on one side of the lantern. Your tour guide will teach you how to release a sky lantern correctly, so you can fully enjoy the tranquil and peaceful moment.

At the end of the tour, you may choose to disembark at Xinyi Shopping District (Taipei 101) or MRT Zhongxiao XInsheng Station.