Releasing a Sky Lantern on the Shifen Tracks: Write a Wish, Let It Fly
Releasing a sky lantern is the signature experience of the Pingxi area, and Shifen Station is the favorite spot for international travelers. The railway runs straight through the old street, and you stand right on the tracks the train uses, writing wishes with a brush on all four sides of the lantern before lighting it and watching it drift upward. Colors carry meanings: red for health, yellow for wealth, pink for love, while a four-color lantern lets you make several wishes at once. Prices depend on the design — as a reference, roughly NT$200 for single-color and NT$250 for four-color (confirm on-site with the shop). Release is available year-round on regular days at Pingxi, Shifen and Jingtong, so there is no need to wait for the festival. Let it fly at dusk, when the warm glow against the tracks is at its most romantic and photogenic. Because an open flame is involved, follow the shop's instructions, mind the crowds, and keep a safe distance.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival: Hundreds of Lanterns Rising Together
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, held around the Lantern Festival each year, is one of Taiwan's most internationally renowned celebrations — the sight of hundreds of lanterns rising at once has featured repeatedly in global media and lands on many "see it once in your life" lists. The 2026 sessions are expected on February 27 and March 3 at Pingxi Junior High School and Shifen Plaza (confirm the final dates and venues via official announcements). Key things to know:
- A release voucher must be obtained in advance; numbers are limited and go fast
- Crowds are enormous, with traffic controls and difficult parking nearby
- Mountain evenings turn cool — dress in layers and bring rain gear
Plan your transport and timing well ahead, and use a shuttle or a door-to-door charter to skip the gridlock and parking hunt, so you can take in the mass release at ease.
Shifen Waterfall: Taiwan's Niagara and Its Misty Rainbow
Beyond the lanterns, Shifen Waterfall is the natural highlight you should not skip on the Pingxi Line. Sitting on the main stream of the Keelung River, it is a broad curtain-type falls — roughly 40 meters wide with a drop of about 20 meters — powerful and full-flowing, and its shape has earned it the nickname "Taiwan's Niagara." When sunlight catches the spray, a rainbow often appears, giving it the second name "Rainbow Pool." You reach it on foot from the Shifen visitor area along gentle paths with suspension bridges and viewing decks, easy enough for families and older travelers. A safety note: the gorge is slippery and the current runs harder after rain, so stay inside the railings and viewing platforms, and do not climb over barriers to wade or approach the bank. Opening hours can shift with season and weather, so reconfirm official information before you set out.
Pingxi Line Old Streets and the Jingtong Railway Nostalgia
The Pingxi Line is a former coal-hauling railway that has become one of Taiwan's most charming nostalgic branch lines. Trains ease through Shifen Old Street with shops just an arm's length from the tracks — a classic slice of railway life — while the terminus, Jingtong Station, keeps its rustic wooden station house, its wishing bamboo tubes and old mine relics full of stories that draw railway fans and photographers. Along Pingxi Old Street you can try taro balls, chicken rolls and other old-fashioned snacks, best enjoyed slowly. With enough time, many travelers pair Pingxi and Shifen with nearby Jiufen — release the lanterns, see the waterfall, then head uphill at dusk as the red lanterns light up. To plan this classic route, see our Taipei–Jiufen charter day tour and Yehliu Geopark day tour and pack New Taipei's lanterns, old streets and coastal wonders into one trip.
A Suggested One-Day Pingxi & Shifen Itinerary (with Jiufen)
Chain the stops into one smooth loop and a single day feels unhurried. Here is a popular dusk-lantern version; times are a guide only and shift with the season's daylight and on-site conditions:
1. Morning — depart central Taipei or your hotel, about a 1-hour drive to Shifen
2. Midday — lunch on Shifen Old Street, then Shifen Waterfall and the suspension bridge
3. Afternoon — stroll Jingtong Station for its wooden depot and mining relics
4. Dusk — return to the Shifen tracks to release your lantern as the warm light rises
5. Evening — head up to Jiufen for red lanterns and hillside night views, then back to Taipei after dinner
Traveling with kids or elders? Door-to-door transfers make this route far easier — and the next section compares train versus charter in detail.
Before You Go: Practical Tips and Safety Notes
To enjoy the day fully and safely, get a few things straight before you set out:
- Clothing — mountain mornings and evenings are cool and the weather changes fast, so dress in layers and carry light rain gear; there is a lot of walking on old streets and waterfall paths, so wear comfortable shoes
- Track safety — Shifen is a live, operating railway; step aside immediately when you hear the horn and never linger on the tracks for photos
- Open-flame safety — lanterns involve fire, so follow the shop's guidance, keep clear of wires and flammables, and avoid releasing in strong wind
- Be eco-friendly — choose shops that recover lantern frames and take your litter with you to protect the local environment
- Crowds and cash — weekends and the festival are busy, and some small stalls take cash only, so carry small notes
Opening hours and prices may change by season, so rely on official or on-site notices. If your group includes elders, toddlers or anyone with limited mobility, door-to-door transfers cut down a lot of walking and waiting.
Train or Charter? How to Get to Pingxi and Shifen
Pingxi and Shifen sit in New Taipei's hills. You can take the Pingxi Line train (usually transferring at Ruifang) or the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 — budget-friendly and full of railway atmosphere; the downside is limited mountain schedules and hard-to-get seats on weekends, so waiting and transferring eats up the day when you try to link lanterns, the waterfall and Jiufen. A Rayway GO charter sets off straight from central Taipei or your hotel, and a local driver strings Shifen's lantern release, Shifen Waterfall, Jingtong and Jiufen into a smooth route, deliberately timing the lantern release for dusk. Luggage stays in the car and pickups are door-to-door, which suits families, elders and anyone wanting a relaxed pace. Pricing depends on group size, route and hours, and we quote to your needs — usually replying within two hours. To compare options further, see Taiwan transport guide: charter vs HSR and rail.
In Closing: Your Wishes to the Sky, Your Route to Us
Writing your wishes on the Shifen tracks and watching the lantern carry them slowly skyward is a Taiwan memory many people never forget. Pair it with the misty rainbow of Shifen Waterfall, the nostalgic Pingxi railway, and a side trip up to the Jiufen hillside town, and a single day captures all the romance of New Taipei's mountains. You will not have to fret over timetables, transfers or parking — leave the order of stops, the dusk timing for the lantern release and the door-to-door pickups to a local driver, and just focus on making a wish and taking photos. The fastest way to plan your Pingxi & Shifen day is a quick online inquiry on our site: tell us your group size, date, starting point and the spots you want, and we will quote to your route, usually replying within two hours. Send your wishes to the sky and leave the logistics to us.