Pingxi Sky Lantern Day Trip: How to Do Shifen, Pingxi & Jingtong (2026 Guide)

Short answer: the smoothest Pingxi sky lantern day trip goes like this — take a train from Taipei to Ruifang, change at Ruifang onto the little “Pingxi line” branch train, buy a Pingxi one-day pass so you can hop on and off all day, and pick a few stops to explore: Shifen (release a sky lantern + Shifen Waterfall), Pingxi (a hillside old street), and Jingtong (a wooden Japanese-era station). Cat lovers can add Houtong cat village.

The Pingxi valley runs on a single-track branch line, and the old streets sit right beside the rails — it gets busy and tight. So travel light: store big bags back in Taipei before you go (there’s no luggage storage out in the valley — more on that below).

Getting there: Taipei → Ruifang → Pingxi line

The Pingxi line is a 12.9 km branch running from Sandiaoling to Jingtong, calling at Dahua, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi and Jingtong (source: New Taipei City Tourism). In practice the trains run “Haikeguan/Badouzi → via Ruifang → to Jingtong” (source: TRA official Pingxi/Shen’ao line timetable), so from Taipei the standard route is:

1. From Taipei Main Station, take a Local (區間) or Express train toward Yilan to Ruifang Station.
2. At Ruifang, change to the Pingxi branch-line train (same station — just follow the “Pingxi line / 平溪線” signs).

Frequencies and the last train shift with the season and public holidays, so I’m not quoting fixed times here — check the latest on the official TRA site before you set out: TRA timetable search. Start in the morning so you have time to work down the line and still catch a train back.

Tickets: a one-day pass keeps it simple

Because you’ll get on and off at lots of small stops, the easiest ticket is the TRA “Pingxi / Shen’ao branch line one-day pass” (full-fare and concession versions), which lets you ride unlimited times within its validity instead of buying a ticket at every station (source: TRA travel passes).

Prices change, so I’m not stating an amount here — check the official source. For the one-day pass price, where to buy it, and single-trip fares, see the TRA travel-pass page or the TRA timetable/fare search. If you’d rather not buy the pass, you can just tap an EasyCard in and out for each leg (fares per the official site).

Stop by stop

You don’t need to get off everywhere — these few stops make a full day:

Houtong (cat village, easy add-on)

Houtong sits between Ruifang and Sandiaoling on the same line and is known for its cat village and old coal-mining settlement — a nice first stop if you like cats. More on New Taipei City Tourism.

Shifen (sky lanterns + waterfall — don’t skip this one)

Shifen Old Street is the highlight: the train rolls past right in front of the shops, and the shops along the tracks help you release a sky lantern — you write your wishes on it and they help you send it up (source: New Taipei City Tourism).

• Lantern prices vary by colour and by shop (each sets its own), so ask on the spot — I’m not quoting a fixed price.
• Follow the shops’ guidance and watch for trains on the live tracks.

A short walk away is Shifen Waterfall — the largest curtain-type waterfall in Taiwan (source: New Taipei City Tourism). It’s worth the detour.

Pingxi (hillside old street)

Pingxi Old Street climbs the slope along the railway, with the classic shot of a train passing above the town — a good place to slow down and grab a snack.

Jingtong (wooden Japanese-era station)

Jingtong is one of the line’s terminus stops, with a wooden old station that feels like stepping back into the Japanese colonial era, plus the Jingtong Sky Lantern Hall (source: New Taipei City Tourism).

Want to see “hundreds of lanterns at once”? That’s the festival

You can release a single lantern in Shifen any day. But the spectacle of hundreds of lanterns rising together is the New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, held each year around the Lantern Festival (元宵, late winter/early spring) at venues including Pingxi and Shifen. Dates change every year — check the official site: Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. During the festival crowds and transport controls are intense, so travel even lighter and start early.

Luggage: leave big bags in Taipei, don’t haul them up

Honest heads-up: the Pingxi valley (Shifen / Pingxi / Jingtong) has no lalalocker storage points — and neither does the Ruifang area. We checked lalalocker’s Ruifang / New Taipei listings and the nearest points cluster far away around Banqiao, nowhere near Pingxi. So don’t count on finding our lockers in Shifen.

The practical move is to store your big bags in Taipei before you head out, then ride up light. lalalocker has several verified partner points around Taipei (Xinyi, Da’an, Zhongxiao-Dunhua, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei 101) where you can check locations, hours and live prices online:

→ Taipei luggage storage points (lalalocker) (large bags TWD 150/day, small bags TWD 70/day, NT$10,000 insurance per item, as of 2026-06; varies by point).

The branch-line carriages are small and the old streets are packed — one fewer big bag makes the whole trip easier.

FAQ

Q: How long does a Pingxi sky lantern day trip take? A: A round trip from Taipei plus Shifen, Pingxi and Jingtong at an easy pace is best done as a full day. Leave in the morning, head back in the evening; check the official TRA timetable for departures and the last train.

Q: Do I have to buy the one-day pass? A: Not necessarily, but since you’ll hop on and off repeatedly, the unlimited-ride one-day pass is the simplest option (TRA pass page). Otherwise just tap an EasyCard for each leg; fares are on the official site.

Q: Where do I release a sky lantern, and how much is it? A: At the shops along the tracks on Shifen Old Street (New Taipei City Tourism). Prices vary by colour and shop, so ask on the spot — no fixed amount here.

Q: When can I see lots of lanterns released together? A: That’s the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, held around the Lantern Festival each year; dates change annually — see the official site.

Q: Can I store luggage in Shifen or Pingxi? A: There are no lalalocker points in the Pingxi valley. Store big bags in Taipei before you go and travel light.

Q: How do I get from Taipei to the Pingxi line? A: From Taipei Main Station, take a train toward Yilan to Ruifang, then change to the Pingxi branch line (TRA timetable search).