Is going on a day trip from Taipei to Yehliu, Shifen and Jiufen worth it? In this article we review our experience joining the most-popular group tour from Taipei.
We love visiting Taipei and it’s one of our favorite cities as there’s always something new to do or eat. Outside the city center there’s more waiting for you though. Northern Taiwan is home to beautiful coastlines, waterfalls, and old gold-mining towns with lantern-filled streets.
Because we only had a little extra time we decided to book a popular group tour to Yehliu, Shifen and Jiufen. This way we could visit the most famous spots in one day and see if a join-in group tour is worth it.
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Bonus Tip: Don’t know what to do in Taipei? We made a list of top 10 things to do in Taipei.
Guided Tour from Taipei
We started our day at 11.00 in the morning at Taipei’s main station. As per email instructions we looked out for our guide in a yellow shirt. This sounds easier said than done, because we did found many guides waiting for their tour group. All wearing yellow t-shirts of course. Luckily after asking around we did quickly find our guide. We then checked-in and were given a lanyard with our tour group number.
With everyone complete we headed to the bus. Our bus was absolutely PACKED and we found out that this day-trip is in fact really popular. So if you want to be seated together make sure that you’re not the last ones to get on the bus.
First stop: Yehliu Geopark
Right on schedule we headed to our first stop: Yehliu Geopark and we arrived there after an hour on the bus. This park is famous for its natural rock formations that were caused by centuries of erosion. The rock formations have taken all sorts of shapes and the most famous one is the ‘Queens Head’ that has an ever shrinking neck until it will eventually collapse.
The park is pretty spread out, but most people will only go-up to the rock-formations in the first part. If you walk along a little further, there are beautiful viewpoints that are much quieter and if you visit on a sunny day the color contrast between the ocean and the rocky landscape is really stunning.
Second Stop: Shifen Old Street & Waterfall
After another 45 minutes on the bus we made it to the town of: Shifen. Shifen is an old coal mining town that is mostly famous for its waterfall, the rail track that runs through the town and their lanterns.
Shifen Town
We started our visit with a very quick lunch in Shifen town and we got to try a Chicken Wing Rice Roll, a classic Taiwanese dish. It’s also exactly what it sounds like: a chicken wing filled with rice (and yes it was delicious).
As Shifen is famous for its lanterns you’ll get the opportunity to decorate and light one yourself here for an additional cost. Now if you’re like us and think it’s one of those small cute lanterns that you can take home as a souvenir, think again.
It turns out that if they offer you a lantern they mean one of those that they light up and drift off into the sky until they come crashing down in nature or someone’s house. According to our guide the town’s people have made a good business out of it and also pick-up the lanterns that came down, but we can’t help but wonder if some of these lanterns stay out there forever.
The town of Shifen is compact and easy to explore though and it’s nice to walk around for a bit. If you time it right you’ll even see a train crossing right through the town on the narrow rail track
Shifen Waterfall
After our visit to Shifen’s town center we moved on the town’s main highlight: the Shifen Waterfall. This waterfall has a width of 40 meters and is the broadest and most famous waterfall of Taiwan.
To reach the waterfall you have to descend some steps and cross a long suspension bridge. So this activity is not recommend if you have mobility issues. Once you reach the falls you can admire them from various platforms that all offer a different view of the falls.
Final Stop: Jiufen Old Street
From Shifen it takes about 45 minutes to reach Jiufen and we arrived there during the last minutes of sunset.
Jiufen is a former gold-mining town that has turned to another gold-mine: tourism. Yes indeed this town gets busy, but if you ask us it’s not without reason. The small streets of this hillside town are lit up by numerous lanterns and when you reach the A-Mei Tea-House it feels as if you’re in an animated series.
Fun fact: Jiufen is often quoted to be the inspiration for the Studio Ghibli movie ‘Spirited Away’, but its creator has denied this to be the case.
Nevertheless it’s a beautiful town with many tea-houses and other restaurants. Most of them have an outdoor terrace where you can have a bite to eat. It’s also a great viewing spot to admire the bay and the surrounding hills. In the small streets you’ll also find lots of local snacks to try and souvenirs.
End: Taipei Main Station
The tour ends at around 20:30 back at Taipei’s Main train station. We picked a hotel close to the train station so within a ten minute walk we were back in our room.
We stayed at the Citizen M Taipei North Gate, a comfortable mid-range hotel with compact rooms in a very central location!
Tour Costs
For this day trip expect to pay around NT$ 1000 (€27 / US$ 32) per person, excluding food and optional activities.
Conclusion: Yehliu, Shifen & Jiufen Day Trip Worth It?
Now comes the questions: is a daytrip from Taipei to Yehliu, Shifen and Jiufen worth it? Honestly, it depends. If you’re like us and your short on time but do really want to get out of the city and explore a bit of Taiwan’s coastline then yes. While being bussed around in a tour group is generally not our style, we did see a lot and especially Yehliu Geopark and Jiufen by night was a highlight for us. It’s also nice to be driven around so you can really take in the views.
What we did not enjoy too much was the incredible fast pace, with limits on how long you can spend everywhere although that is of course inherent to being in a tour group. So if you enjoy a slower pace of travel we’d recommend to DIY this trip and travel by train or by bus and stay overnight.
All in all we did have a good time on our trip and it was nice to see a few of Northern Taiwan’s highlights. If you want to see what it was like check-out the video below:
Enjoy your travels!
– Laurens & Laura
FAQs
Should you book a tour or visit Yehliu, Shifen and Jiufen independently?
If you want the easiest option, we would recommend booking a tour. Transport between all three places can take time and involve trains, buses and transfers. A tour makes it much easier and allows you to relax and enjoy the experience.
How much does joining a day trip to Yehliu, Shifen & Jiufen cost?
For this day trip expect to pay around NT$ 1000 (€27 / US$ 32) per person, excluding food and optional activities.
What is the best season to visit Yehliu, Shifen & Jiufen?
The best season is during the autumn months, so from October to December. You’ll most likely have dry weather and the best views. March until May is considered to be pleasant too, although the weather may be more unpredictable.
What to wear on a day trip to Yehliu, Shifen & Jiufen?
Comfortable shoes are an absolute must to wear on your trip as you’ll be walking a lot. As for the weather: usually Northern Taiwan has high temperatures, but it since it’s a tropical island it’ll be humid and depending on the season it can rain too.
So make sure to bring an umbrella and wear comfortable loose clothing as moving in tight clothes is not recommend with high-humidity.
Is entrance to Yehliu Geopark entrance included in day trips from Taipei?
With many day trips leaving from Taipei the stop at Yehliu Geopark is included, but not the entrance to the park itself. Luckily ticket prices are low and a ticket for 1 person costs about NT$120 (about US$ 4 )
What should you eat in Jiufen?
Jiufen is known for street food and local snacks. Some of the most popular things to try are taro balls, peanut ice cream rolls, fish balls and bubble tea. There are many options to chose from, even if you’re not an adventurous eater.
Laura is the co-founder of Yes and Explore and a travel professional with over 10 years of experience in the tourism industry. She loves sharing her insider knowledge and practical tips to help you make the most of every trip.
