Taiwan may be a small country in Southeast Asia but it has no shortage of amazing sights for travelers to explore and experience! For instance, you will find 3 stunning Northern Taiwan attractions that are not too far away from Taipei: the natural wonders of Yehliu Geopark, the undying charm of Shifen Old Streets, and the historic mountain town of Jiufen. (Jiufen Tour)
The best part? You can explore these destinations in just one day at a very affordable price — thanks to Klook’s well-packaged day tour from Taipei!
Where to Stay in Taipei?
Come and check out my list of the ‘Best Hotels in Taipei‘ which features the top recommended choices for cheap to luxurious accommodation choices.
I had the chance to go through this tour myself and it was one of the most memorable experiences that I did when I was in Taiwan! This is especially because it has always been my goal to do a Jiufen tour — it’s the so-called famous town that inspired Miyazaki’s famous Japanese animation movie: “Spirited Away“.
To add, this Jiufen tour surely took the hassle away on transiting from one location to the next; so, it’s really great for those who want the added ease (and also great for those who might be pressed on time whilst exploring Taiwan).
With all that said and done, if you want to get a better idea of how the whole day trip goes, do continue reading below.
Yehliu, Shifen, & Jiufen Tour
STOP #1: Yehliu Geopark
This geopark is located in the Wanli District of New Taipei and it is also called the “Yehliu Promontory”. Basically, it consists of a breathtaking cape that is dotted by a number of unique and strange geological formations — a sight of which tourists in Taiwan would typically want to see with their own eyes.
Stretching at about 1,700 meters into the ocean as a part of the Daliao Miocene Formation, its interesting sea bays are said to have been actually formed due to thousands of years of geological forces that kept pushing the Datun Mountains out of the sea.
A number of the rock formations that are found here in Yehliu Geopark were given names that aptly correspond to their perceived shape. Some examples of these are Fairy Shoe, Japanese Geisha, Ice Cream Rock, Elephant Rock, and Princess Head. Rest assured, in order to explore these formations, there are well-marked and well-made wooden paths and bridges from the start of the cape and up to its end.
NOTE: For a complete list of the unique rock formations in Yehliu Geopark, go here.
However, if there is one rock formation that is regarded as iconic not only in Wanli but for the whole of Taiwan, it would be the “Queen’s Head” (女王頭).
Truth be told, this is a kind of ‘mushroom rock’ in geological terms; but, it has been given this name because after a top part of the rock fell sometime in the 60s, one side of it started to look like the side face of Queen Elizabeth (and others claim that the other side looks like Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife of Egyptian Pharaoh: Akhenaten).
It is so far assessed that the age of this rock is about 4,000 years old and nowadays, the geopark gives extreme care in preserving this unique rock, more so that the narrowest part around its “neck” is only about 54 inches now.
It helps to note that in order to get a picture of the Queen’s head, there would often be a long queue. However, since this tour brings you to this geopark in the early hours of the morning, the line is not as bad.
TOUR STOP DURATION: 70 minutes
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If you want to travel to Yehliu Geopark on your own, it’s best to take a bus at KuoKuang Bus Terminal which is right across Taipei Bus Station. From here, ride Bus 1815 and you can pay with your IC card. Readers have mentioned to me that it’s important that you use the underpass when crossing over to the terminal because there will be a fine if you’re caught jaywalking.
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From Taipei Main Station’s Taipei West Bus Station (Terminal A). Once there, go to the KuoKuang (國光) window and purchase a ticket to Yehliu Geopark for only NT$96 ~ one way. (The journey will take about 90 minutes). To purchase an admission ticket to Yehliu beforehand and avoid the queue, book here.
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STOP #2: Jiufen Tour
Once a prosperous isolated gold mining town during the Japanese occupation in 1893, Jiufen is now a popular tourist destination that’s famous for its maze of alleyways that are filled with quaint scenes and teahouses. You will not only find picturesque streets and buildings adorned with red lanterns, but also some great spots for viewing the Pacific Ocean! In fact, there are still structures in Jiufen that remain unchanged up to this day, which then helps show the Japanese influences on the island.
Moreover, due to such a wondrous setting in this town, Jiufen has also actually been a great inspiration for several international award-winning movies such as Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away‘ and Hou Hsiao-hsien’s ‘A City of Sadness‘. Therefore, movie buffs and Studio Ghibli fans must make this a MUST in their Taiwan itinerary!
Jiufen is built on the side of the hills so be prepared for a climb up some steep steps until you reach the main section of Shuchi (Shuqi) Street’s cobblestone steps. This street is filled with a wide variety of cafés, historic buildings, restaurants, and shops — but don’t forget the streets that run perpendicular to Shuchi, namely: Jishan Street, Quiche Road, and Qingbian Road.
It’s a very small place so everything can be explored on foot during your Jiufen tour. Some areas of interest are:
- Shengping Theater. This a small olden theater near the entrance of Jiufen’s main street section, and a visit here (FREE admission) will take you on a trip back in time as you witness its old-style ticket window, film posters, and snack shop. At regular time intervals, Shengpin Theater also showcases old movies and Taiwanese operas in which visitors are free to watch.
- Songde Park. A small memorial park which you can find in the eastern part of Jiufen on Qinbian Road. It’s a great place to relax and you can find some monuments that were built in commemoration of Yen Yun-nian, the person who founded Jiufen’s mining culture.
- Wufan Tunnel. This is found next to Songde Park and it has been excavated since 1927. But by the early 70s, the Republic of China sealed all mine tunnels in Jiufen to protect residents and visitors. Anyhow, you can still view this tunnel from the outside.
When it comes to food, you will find an array of street shops in Jiufen that sell various types of Taiwanese food and snacks. Some of the things that you should not miss during your Jiufen tour are: ginger tea, fishball soup, dumplings in sweet bean and yuyuan (taro balls). To list out the places you should watch out for:
- Jiufen Teahouse. This is the most prominent building that’s often featured in photos of Jiufen. But apart from its beauty, this Jiufen Teahouse was also once a famous meeting place for a lot of Taiwanese writers and artists when it first opened. Once you’re inside, you’ll be rewarded with calm interiors filled with tea paraphernalia, and if you happen to be there on a good day, you can sit back and enjoy Jiufen’s sights on the terrace.
- Grandma Lai’s Yuyuan. Found at No. 143 in Jishan Street, this place is famous for its taro balls. (Otherwise, there’s Ah Gan Yee and it even gives you great views over the whole of Jiufen).
- City Of Sadness Restaurant. Found in 35 Shuchi Road (which is just on the corner of Shuqi and Qingbian Roads) this restaurant is famous for being featured in the highly acclaimed film: ‘A City of Sadness‘.
Want to spice up your Jiufen tour?
Rent a qipao or traditional Chinese outfit for the entire day!
JIUFEN TOUR STOP DURATION: 120 minutes
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If you want to do your own Jiufen Tour from Taipei, there are 2 route options:
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~ Go first to Ruifang Station by taking a train heading north from Taipei Main Station (NT$47~ to NT$82~ one way). From Ruifang Station, head to Mingdeng Road (to your left after you exit the station, facing the Wellcome Supermarket). You will then find a bus station named Local Residents Plaza (區民廣場) which is just next to the police station. There are routes 827 and 788 heading to Jiufen (while route 825 operates only on weekends) and it takes only NT$15 to get to Jiufen in 15 minutes. Take note that the bust stop next to the police is the one that heads east to Jiufen, the one across the police station heads west back to Taipei.
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To go back to Taipei after doing a Jiufen tour, just take bus 1062 which lands near Raohe Night Market — a great stop to end your night perfectly.
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~ From MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing (either Brown Line or Blue Line), exit from Exit 1 and take bus 1062 (Keelung Bus) that heads to Jinguashi. Stop at Jiufen bus stop. This takes about an hour and costs NT$102.
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STOP #3: Shifen Waterfall & Shifen Old Street
Shifen is a quaint village found in the Pingxi area of Taiwan and it is an old railroad town that originally transported coal. Today, however, its Old Streets have become a popular destination for its food, charm, and old train tracks; but also most especially because of its sky lanterns!
Needless to say, there are a number of fun things that you can do on this last stop…
Shifen Waterfall. The tour will first make you stop at this 20-meter tall waterfall found outside of Shifen. It is regarded as the most scenic waterfall in Taiwan and a rainbow even often displays itself as the water splashes into the lake. (If you’re going here by yourself and without the tour, it can be reached in 20 minutes by walking or in just 5 minutes by motorbike since there are rentals near the train tracks of the Old Street costing NT$200 per hour or US$6~).
Explore the Old Streets. After the waterfall visit, you’ll be led to the heart of Shifen which has a collection of lanes and alleys in and around the railway station area. What’s most interesting of all is that the train track runs straight through the middle of the village — so do take your time in doing photo ops! However, do remain to be mindful because a train line still regularly runs through the tracks (around every hour); then again, there’s no cause for excessive worry because the train runs slow and villagers will also usually notify everyone when the train is approaching (apart from the fact that the train’s sound is enough of a signal to let you know that it’s coming).
After you had your fun exploring the town, make sure to stop by one of the shops to release a Chinese sky lantern. This was once used as a signaling object for the railroads, but nowadays, visitors can buy them in different colors and write their wishes on them with a brush before releasing them to the sky.
All of the shops by the train tracks sell it at a standard price of NT$150 (or US$5~) if you want your sky lantern to be in only one color, or NT$200 (or $6.5~) for a 4-colored one. Each of these colors represents different meanings to best portray your wish, may it be for family, love, wealth, etc.
The shop owners usually provide you with a laminated sheet that explains in detail what the various colors would mean. Since it is very cheap, my companion and I chose to get a 4-colored lantern for the both of us and we each had 2 sides to write on. (In fact, 4 people can already share 1 lantern).
TIP: Every year, a Sky Lantern Festival is held in Shifen’s square (next to the Old Street) in which thousands of sky lanterns will light up the sky in either February or March (check this website for official dates). These were originally released to signal safety or to transmit information but on this festival day, much like what visitors do in Shifen on a normal day, the lanterns are decorated with wishes by each of the people attending the event.
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This is one of the 3 popular lantern festivals in Taiwan and it has been regarded as a highly recommended activity by big publications like Fordor and CNN Travel.
Eat. Eat. Eat! As a marketplace, the Old Street in Shifen is full of restaurants and small stalls selling Taiwanese fare. Since you will have a long stop here during this day tour, you can have your lunch here — OR, you can just feast on a few snacks and get a late lunch/dinner in Jiufen later on. Some of the xiaochi (snacks) that you must try are bubble tea, sausages, fried squid, peanut pancake, and Taiwanese sausages among many others!
Glimpse at Jingan Suspension Bridge. Found near and behind the Shifen Station, this pedestrian bridge connects to the Nanshan villages. If you still have time, other than taking Instagram-worthy photos on the bridge, take the chance to explore the colorful houses in Nanshan.
TOUR STOP DURATION: 50 minutes at the Shifen Waterfall, and 70 minutes at Shifen Old Street
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If you want to travel to Shifen on your own from Taipei, from the Taipei Main Station, take a northbound train that heads to Ruifang Station (NT$47~ to NT$82~). Get off there and transfer to the Pingxi Line wherein it’s best to get a One-Day Ticket at just NT$52.
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» Other Stops
Taipei 101: When the tour ends, you’ll make a brief stop at Taipei 101 which is formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center. This was once called as the world’s tallest building in 2004 — until Burj Khalifa in Dubai was completed in 2010. Either way, nowadays, it holds the highest award as the tallest and largest green building in the world according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Towering at 101 stories, the base of the building houses several shops and restaurants (such as the famous Din Tai Fung chain) but what most visitors aim to do is to access the observatory.
ADMISSION: Book online
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Golden Waterfall: For an added fee (see the online booking page for the option), you can make a stopover to this famous roadside waterfall that flows over rust-colored rocks & soil due to minerals from a former mining area.
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» Other Top Taiwan Tours «
Leofoo Village Theme Park
Perfect for some family fun!
Northeast Coast Scenic Day Tour
Explore the coastal national scenic area.
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Tour Details & Travel Guide
» Best Time to Visit
Taiwan enjoys 4 seasons, but they’re not as pronounced given that it generally has a humid subtropical climate. The seasons are divided in the following months and it’s best to either visit in late spring or autumn (best in November) if you want more comfortable temperatures. I did this tour in August and it was a tad too warm for me!
- Spring: pleasant temperature / Average lows at 15ºC to 22ºC and average highs at 19ºC to 27ºC.
- Summer: hot and humid and sometimes very wet / Average lows at 24ºC to 28ºC and average highs at 27ºC to 31ºC
- Autumn: cooler temperatures / Average lows at 18ºC to 27ºC and average highs at 27ºC to 30ºC
- Winter: foggy and somewhat dry / Average lows at 13ºC to 15ºC and average highs at 17ºC to 19ºC
- WINTER:
Dec to Feb
- SPRING:
March to May
- SUMMER:
June to Sept
- AUTUMN:
Oct to Nov
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» Tour Details & Price
For only USD$15~ (or Php 750~) — you will get…
- Transportation (including parking, toll fees, and fuel) with WiFi from Taipei to the 3 attractions, and back
- To visit Yehliu Geopark, Shifen, and Jiufen
- An English-speaking professional tour guide
- Travel Insurance
The only things that are not included are personal expenses (souvenirs), sky lantern costs at Shifen (if you want to set off those lanterns, they’re priced starting at USD$3 or Php 160~ which is already good for 4 people), Yehliu Geopark admission (costs only USD$2~ or Php 135~), and meals.
Rest assured, if you want a tour package that already includes admission (to avoid the queue line) AND lunch, just book those options on the booking page. If you want to make a stopover to the famous Golden Waterfall, that option is available too at an added cost.
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» Meeting Place & Duration
To answer these questions here are some added info about the day tour…
Meeting time = 7:45AM
Meeting place = GaKuDen Bakery (near exit 4 of Ximen Station)
Duration = Approximately 8 hours
Return time to Taipei = Approximately 5:30PM
Return place = GaKuDen Bakery (near exit 4 of Ximen Station)
Vehicle type = Shuttle bus with Klook logo on it
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» Getting in to Taiwan
By air. My go-to platform for grabbing the best flight deal is Skyscanner; it scans through all local and international airlines to give you the best price at any given time!
Taiwan’s main international getaway is Taoyuan International Airport which is 40km southwest of Taipei. It is connected to the center via the Taoyuan Airport MRT and HSR Taoyuan Station (single trip price at no more than NT$160 / USD$5 / Php 260~). As such, I highly suggest buying a Taiwan High-Speed Rail Unlimited Pass which gives you unlimited rides on Taiwan’s THSR train network — including the train to and fro the airport.
There are also buses linking to the airport (you can buy a discounted roundtrip shuttle bus from the Airport to Taipei and vice versa here), but if you rather want a taxi, a one-way fare can cost a minimum of NT$900.
If you want utmost convenience and ease, especially without having to lug around your luggage, I suggest booking a private transfer to your hotel for only Php 1,000+ (or $23~). This works best if you’re coming together with other people so that you can share the cost and save more!
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» Visa for Taiwan
If you’re NOT a citizen of any of Taiwan’s exempted countries, you are then required to avail of a visa beforehand.
- Check full visa requirements here as per your nationality.
If you’re from the Philippines, you will be eligible for visa-free access to Taiwan for 14 days starting this November 1, 2017. The only requirements you need to show at the immigration are:
- An ordinary/regular passport with remaining validity of at least 6 months from the date of entry (Diplomatic & official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment).
- A return ticket or a ticket to your next destination (and a visa for that destination if it is required).
- No criminal record in Taiwan (the immigration in Taiwan will check this themselves upon your arrival).
- As applicable, proof of accommodation/hotel booking, host/sponsor’s contact information, or arrangements of tour, travel, visit, events and meeting, etc.
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» Where to Stay (Taiwan Accommodations)
To search for the best hotel accommodation in Taiwan at the best prices, I suggest cross-checking hotel prices between Agoda and Booking.com. But if you’re rather interested in renting comfortable houses or apartments, you should search through AirBnB.
To see a complete list of the top recommended accommodation chances ranging from cheap to luxury places, check out this post of the ‘Best Hotels in Taipei‘
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» Helpful Taiwanese Hokkien Phrases
About 70% of the population speaks Taiwanese Hokkien, but Mandarin Chinese has been declared as the official language. Rest assured, English is commonly used by the locals and you won’t have a hard time conversing with it especially in places like Taipei.
- RELATED READ: Best translation apps for travel
As you venture outside of the capital though, it will become harder; but, it’s nothing that finger-pointing or Google Translate can’t solve. For a start, here are some sample phrases in Taiwanese Hokkien:
Hello: Lee ho
Thank you: To-sha
You’re welcome: Mian keki
Yes: SiNo: M-si
Goodbye: Jaigen
Excuse me / I’m sorry: Phai seIs there someone here who speaks English?: Chia(nasal) mng, jia u lan ehiau gong Engi bo?
Help!: Giu mia!
Cheers!: Gam bei!
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Overall
This Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen tour or day trip definitely gives you the chance to see the highlights of Northern Taiwan in a kind of tour experience that gives you the utmost ease and comfort.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on this amazing deal via Klook!
It’s hard to say how difficult it was because “difficult” is relative to everyone’s fitness level and the weather. Still, I’d say it’s a pretty difficult climb. You’re basically taking a staircase with literally hundreds of steps, and some of those steps are about 8-10″ high.I went early morning when it wasn’t too warm but it was still a bit humid. I’m 26 and exercise occasionally, and it was a tough climb but not terrible. I’d say 8/10 difficulty. The view is worth it though!
Hi Aileen!
Just to give an update if your readers would opt to go by themselves to Yehliu Geopark. KuoKuang no longer has a window in the Taipei Bus station and there’s no need to buy a ticket anymore. They would just need to go directly to the KuoKuang Bus Terminal right across the Taipei Bus Station and aboard bus 1815. They would need an IC card to use at the bus and if I remember correctly, the charge is 56 NTD. Note: Please use the underpass when crossing as there will be a fine if you’re caught jaywalking.
Thank you so much for this helpful info! :D I hope you had a fun time visiting those places too.