Taiwan’s most famous falls, Shifen Waterfall is an incredible sight, cascading down a 20 metre drop, surrounded by forests and accessed by trails and free to visit viewing platforms.
An easy day trip from Taipei and easily combined with the Pingxi Line, Shifen Waterfall (十分大瀑布) is simply stunning and often referred to as Taiwan’s answer to Niagara Falls.
Whilst no swimming is allowed, you can admire the falls from various vantage and viewpoints plus there are other less natural ‘attractions’ like food-courts and gift-shops (sigh).
Walkable from Shifen Station and Shifen Old Street, here is our guide to visiting Shifen Waterfall in Taiwan with pictures.
You might like – How to spend 1 day in Taipei or our ‘best of Taipei’ 3 day itinerary
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How to get to Shifen Waterfall 十分大瀑布
There are several ways to explore Shifen Waterfall and Shifen Old Town, either by public transport, group tours or private tours.
The nearest train station to Shifen Waterfall is Shifen Station.
To Shifen Waterfall from Taipei Main Station
Easily accessible from Taipei via the Pingxi Line, it is simple to get to Shifen Waterfall from Taipei by train.
Take the train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang station, then change at Ruifang station onto a Pingxi Line train to Shifen. The train from Taipei to Ruifang takes approximately 45 minutes and from Ruifang to Shifen around 25 minutes. The walk from Shifen Station to Shifen waterfall is under 30 minutes.
The cost of the train from Taipei Main Station to Shifen station via Ruifang is NT$69 as of summer 2024 (approx £1.60 or $2.10 USD one way).
Alternatively you can purchase a ticket Pingxi Line day pass ticket for NT$80 when you arrive at Ruifang station which covers all stations along the Pingxi Line (and Shenao Line). Read more about it in our Pingxi Line guide >
To Shifen Waterfall from Taipei on the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus
You can alternatively board a Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus 795 (Muzha – Pingxi route) from Taipei MRT Muzha Station (exit 2) all the way to Shifen Visitor Center for NT$45.
The bus journey takes roughly 90 minutes, and it is then a 15 minute walk to Shifen Waterfall.
You might like – Our guide to Jiufen, an easy trip from Shifen >
To Shifen Station from Keelung Station
You can also get to Shifen station easily from Keelung train station, with the journey taking approximately 90 minutes one way.
Take the train from Keelung Station to Badu station, then change trains at Badu to Shifen station – the train fare costs NT$48 one way.
You might like our things to do in Keelung guide including Keelung Night Market and the new Keelung Tower.
Try this Keelung to Jiufen and Shifen sky lantern private tour >
Taiwanderers Tip
Grab a Taiwan EasyCard as a convenient way to use buses and public transport in Taipei and across Taiwan. They can be easily topped up at stations and convenience stores.
Read more about how to use a Taiwan EasyCard, including how to top up >
Shifen tours from Taipei
There are lots of Taipei tours to Shifen, some of which include other beautiful destinations like Juifen and Yehliu Geopark.
As there are so many tour companies, competition is fierce and prices are quite low (from as low as NT$670). Some of the recommended tours include:
- Taipei: Jiufen night view and Shifen day tour >
- From Taipei: Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, and Pingxi day tour >
- Taipei: Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall and Pingxi sky lantern tour >
Private transfers to Shifen
If you are short on time, you may want to do a private transfer to and from Shifen Waterfall from Taipei with Klook or Viator.
Or try this private Jiufen Village and Shifen town from Taipei pick-up >
Shifen Waterfall admission and opening hours
Shifen Waterfall is free admission and no tickets are required to visit.
The waterfalls are open daily* from 9am to 4.30pm for most of the year and 9am to 6pm in the summer months – last entry is usually half an hour before closing time.
*Except the day after Lunar New Year – hours may vary during Taiwanese public holidays and festivals
How to walk from Shifen Train Station to Shifen Waterfall
The walk from Shifen Train Station to Shifen Waterfall is just under 2km and takes approximately 30 minutes to walk.
Head along Shifen Old Street and then right towards the Keelung River – follow the brown signs towards Shifen Waterfall Park.
Head down the main road in the direction of Shifen Visitor Center which is a 15 minute walk away. Once at Shifen Visitor Center it is a further 15 minute walk from there. Follow the brown signs towards Shifen Waterfall Park.
Alternatively you can board the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus 795 (Muzha – Pingxi route) one stop from Shifen Old Street (bus stop is called Shifenliao) to Shifen Visitor Center for NT$15, and then walk 15 minutes to the waterfall from there. Note the bus only runs once an hour so it might make more sense just to walk it.
There are also multiple taxi companies near Shifen Old Street that can drive you to the waterfall.
Once you reach the Shifen Visitor Centre, take the Siguangtan Suspension Bridge over the river and follow the trail on the left hand side of the Keelung river until you see another bridge ahead- this is the Guanpu Suspension Bridge.
There is also another small set of waterfalls by Guanpu Suspension Bridge – the Yangjingdong Falls. Don’t get these confused with the much bigger Shifen Falls – but you are getting close!
Head over the Guanpu Suspension Bridge and the Shifen Waterfall Park is just in front of you, down some steps after the bridge.
You might like – Our guide to Houtong Cat Village, located on the Pingxi Line three stops before Shifen >
How high is Shifen Waterfall? / vital statistics
Like the calm before the storm, as you walk along the river to the waterfall, all you see is flat waters with barely a ripple – however, as you get close to the Shifen Waterfalls, you realise how powerful they are.
A ledge waterfall that drops off sharply and steeply in pools below, Shifen Waterfall is 20 meters high and over 40 meters wide, falling below into the so-called ‘Rainbow Pool’ (because the sunlight reflecting in falling water creates so many rainbows).
Shifen Waterfall is the widest waterfall in Taiwan but not the tallest – this honor falls to Jiao Lung Waterfall in Alishan in Chiayi County.
Incidentally, the name Shifen means “ten parts” in Mandarin, which many believe relates to the original 10 families who lived around the area.
You might like – Our guide to Keelung’s natural wonder, the Heping Island Geopark >
Visiting Shifen Waterfall Park
Enclosed below is the Shifen Waterfall Park Guide Map:
When you first arrive at Shifen Waterfall Park, it isn’t the falls that first greet you – there is a small shrine with lots of animal statues including many horses.
On our visits, they were adorned with red ribbons, common in Buddhist temples as they are said to make the wishes come true of those who leave them behind.
Before getting to Shifen Waterfall, you then have to go past a food court and some gift shops.
Whilst handy and ideal if you are hungry, it does seem a little weird (to us anyway) to have a monstrous man-made food court right next to such a natural spectacle (in that regard, yes, Shifen Waterfall is quite similar Niagara Falls)!
Shifen Waterfall has several observation decks and viewing platforms – on the map above, observation deck 4 is the best for the aerial panoramic views of the falls as they go down.
Observation platform no 3 is a small walk down the hill, offering the best views from the foot of the falls – if you are using a proper camera, just be aware there is plenty of water vapor in the air from the falls so you may need a lens cloth.
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Trails and hikes
The busiest section of Shifen Waterfall is the main viewing platform at the top – for quieter and more peaceful views, take the ‘Waterfall Observation Trail’ down the stairs.
Whilst you will see the occasional tour-group, there are lots of tranquil areas and many perfect photo spots.
Most of the hikes and trails at Shifen Waterfall are quite easy for those with a standard level of fitness but there are some section with steps and steep ramps.
Try this – Taipei’s top 10 food tours with Viator including the award-winning 10 Tastings Tour of Taipei
Other things to do in Shifen and Nearby
Shifen Lantern Release
Shifen is one of the most popular places to visit on the Pingxi line as it is famous for people releasing their own decorated, brightly-coloured lanterns on the railway tracks.
It is busiest during Lunar New Year as people release lanterns covered in handwritten good luck messages and wishes of prosperity.
You can release lanterns in Shifen via the stalls along the railway any time of year but there is also an annual mass release of lanterns (usually over two weekends) – it takes place at the Shifen Sky Lantern Squarestage near Shifen Visitor Center; expect huge queues!
Book your Shifen Sky Lantern release in advance here (redeem via QR code) >
You might like – Our guide to Din Tai Fung, Taiwan’s tasty dumpling chain >
Shifen Old Street
The main place in town to get gifts and delicious street food, Shifen Old Street stalls and shops line the railway track – here you can try everything from Taiwanese peanut ice-cream roll to stinky tofu and grilled squid.
If you need a snack between getting off at Shifen Station and walking the 2km to Shifen Waterfall, this is the place.
You might like – Our guides to Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Songshan Cultural Park or Rongjin Gorgeous Time
Houtong Cat Village
‘Feline’ like another place to visit near Shifen? Houtong (AKA Houtong Cat Village) is a gorgeous riverside town also on the Pingxi Line that was once famous for its mines (which can still be visited) and cave of monkeys (!) – Houtong’ translates as ‘monkey cave’.
It is now home to cat cafes, cat gift shops and hundreds of cats who are looked after by the local community – even Houtong Station has a foot-bridge shaped like a kitty plus resident station cats.
Check out our guide to Houtong Cat Village>
Other things to know about Shifen Waterfall in Taiwan
- No drones are permitted at Shifen Waterfalls
- Also no swimming, fishing, smoking or lantern releases are permitted at the falls
- Public telephones, toilets (and accessible toilets) and a breastfeeding room are all available onsite, plus at Shifen Visitor Center
- Due to the water vapor from the falls, some of the lower path sections can be a tad slippery so wear sensible footwear.
Address
Shifen Waterfall 十分大瀑布, 226, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Pingxi District, 乾坑10號
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