WATER FALLS TRIP AND LANTERN FLYING IN SHIFEN OF NEW TAIPEI CITY

Location: Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Shifen tour was the highlight of my day tour. I was completely in commune with nature when we had a delightful and leisurely walk to the water falls. In contrast with the water falls in the Philippines where I am a citizen of, this water falls is quite accessible. How could you expect an exquisite beauty of nature just 10-15 minutes walk along a verdant trail.

The magical Shifen Water Falls

Shifen Water Falls is just 40 minutes drive from Jiufen, our second destination of the day tour. We arrived there at 1:50 P.M. We were only given 50 minutes to enjoy the water falls coming from the bus parking lot. The water falls has a total height of 20 meters and 40 meters in width, making it the broadest waterfall in Taiwan where on the upper reaches of the Keelung River.

Passing thru this bridge of typical Chinese design

It is a trek-worth moment going to the water falls for you will pass through a modern cafe, then the bridge as shown above and a hanging bridge. Everything looks cool since it has varied flora along our way.

The hanging bridge

Cross the hanging bridge reminds me of the hanging bridges I normally cross wayback home in the Philippines. Though, it has a very high elevation, one may not be scared because it is quite secured and stable not to mention that is quite scenic.

A hanging bridge of very high elevation

The hanging bridge may not be PWD-friendly because on its end is a very stiff stairs going down to the water falls park. Those who are using wheelchair are not advisable to try going to the falls.

The park right after descending the hanging bridge

There is so much green as you step at the water falls park. It is quite relaxing to be there. The place was really developed to blend with the natural beauty of the place.

They look real which blends with nature

I was very excited to see the water falls but I can not resist to roam around first and feast on what its green park has to offer. They are worth capturing sights.

A place to offer something in Chinese religion

Still a part of place to worship for Chinese

Still a part of the falls park

The Upper Observatory Deck

From the Upper Observatory Deck, one will be able to capture the aerial view of the water falls. But one may opt to stay below this deck to capture another angle of the water falls.

The angle shot from the Observatory Deck

The trail going to the midpoint and lower point observatory deck

Some tourists are contented to capture photos at the Upper Observatory Deck but there is a better angle to get a better angle of the water falls.

Taken from the Midpoint Observatory Deck

Taken from the Lower Observatory Deck

After taking photos from the midpoint and lower Observatory Decks, I decided to go back. What followed then was treating myself with the countless snacks and refreshments in the park.

What follows next are pictures of are food stalls within the park. You will surely feast on a variety of food, snacks and refreshments that you will see around.

Shifen Lantern Flying

As we boarded the bus coming from Shifen Water Falls, we just drove back for around 3 minutes on a crossing leading to Shifen Old Road where the rail station of Pingxi is located. So, it is really very accessible. From the bus stop, we just walked uphill towards the railroad where we bought lantern.

The crossing where we disembarked the bus

Why is Pingxi (in Shifen) Lantern Festival celebrated?

In 1990 the Tourism Bureau devised a plan to hold an event that would help celebrate local folklore. They decided to hold a major lantern festival to coincide with age-old customs such as the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and the Yanshui Fireworks Festival.

The scene we have seen when we arrived the railroad

We also bought our own lantern. One lantern costs NT$200 or about P408, but five of us had contributed NT$40 for one lantern. Each lantern has four sides with different colors. Each color has its own meaning representing a different new year’s wish for yourself. Each color costs NT$50. The following are the meaning of the color it represents:

*Red: Good fortune
*Pink: Romance
< *Peach-red: Decisions and opportunities
*Orange: Money
*Yellow: Success in school and/or job
*White: Health
*Light Green: Growth
*Light Blue: Hoping something comes true
*Light Purple: Idealism

Writing our wishes in all sides of the lantern

Each of us five wrote our wishes in all four sides of the lantern but we did not following the meaning of colors. We were provided by Chinese ink pens. We did it by side. We put the lantern on the railroad grills while we were writing our wishes on it.

Alternating to write our wishes (Model: Louella Conde)

It took us time to finish writing our wishes on all four sides of the lantern. Each lantern has an assigned staff to assist us if we are done so that he will be the one to take photos and video when we are ready to fly the lantern.

Alternating to write our wishes (Model: Louella Conde)

At long last! We were done writing our wishes on our lantern. However, our assisting staff was busy assisting others. We can not proceed because he will be the one to light the lantern inside it.

The railroad was cleared upon the warning of the train arrival

We were almost ready together with the assisting staff when the warning signal of the train arrival sounded. The crowded railroad was suddenly cleared and the train rushed its way along the railroad.

And the balloon was finally launched!

Lantern flying may not be a part of my culture and tradition, but doing such sent me a sort of fulfillment along with some other nationalities who did the activity.

The last thing I did was to have this shot on the railroad

My expenses for this specific destination are as follows:

SN	Particulars	Amount
1.	Portion of the P1,060 Klook tour package as there are four destinations of this day tour	P530.00
2.	Snacks and refreshments	448.98
3.	Share in lantern flying	81.63
	TOTAL	P1,060.61

My expenses as summarized for the second day are as follows:

SN	Particulars	Amount
1.	Klook day tour booked package	P1,060.00
2.	Meals, Snacks and refreshments during the day tour	959.19
3.	Breakfast in 7-Eleven	181.63
4.	Share in 3-day accommodation for the second day	761.67
5.	Entrance fee at Yeuliu Geopark	163.27
6.	Share in lantern flying	81.63
7.	Dinner while at Ximending	448.98
8.	Bread for day tour	P102.04
9.	Bottled drinking water for dinner	57.14
10.	Share in Wi-Fi connection for the second day	22.40
	TOTAL	P3,837.95

NOTE: All amounts has been converted to peso currency.

HOW TO GET THERE

For Klook online booking for this day tour, use this link Klook Day Tour Booking for four destinations.

For those who wanted it to be a DIY trip to Jiufen, You can board from Taipei Main Station any northbound train except a Keelung-bound train to Ruifang (the express trains are called Tzechiang) where the single journey ticket costs NT$82 or about P167. Thus, the round trip train fare is NT$164 or P334. At Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi line and ride that all the way to the end. Best is to buy a day pass for the separate Pingxi line, which costs NT$52 single journey or about P106.00. The Pingxi line can be quite crowded and you may have to stand – but try to look out the window as you go because you’ll cross some really beautiful scenery!

THE BUSTLING VILLAGE OF JIUFEN IN NEW TAIPEI CITY

Location: Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

The 100-year Old A-Mei Tea House

Jiufen, an old gold mining town of Ruifang District in the Northeast mountains of the New Taipei City, which has turned as a must-visit destination in Taiwan. Though it has ascending narrow streets, its charm lies on its sweeping views, food stalls, artist shops, souvenir shops, saloons and authentic tea houses and one of these is the famous 100-year old A-Mei Tea House.

The breathtaking scenery overlooking from Taiyang Parking Lot

Driving near Jiufen showcases rugged mountains and cliffs with the ocean view on the other side. As we park at Taiyang Bus Parking Lot, the complete ocean scenery from afar revealed.

Another dramatic scenery captured

From the parking lot, we need to walk with our tour guide for around 5 minutes in an ascending elevation to the jump off point. Since it is an uphill walk, aged people were advised to take taxi cab which cost NT$300 for going up and NT$200 for going down. Well, as I am physically fit, I opted to take it by foot. From the jump-off point back to the bus parking lot, we were given two hours by our tour guide which is from 11:10 A.M. to 1:10 P.M.

Just one of the eye-catching building structures on my way to the jump-off point

I really did not have a research about Jiufen, so I do not have any idea of the place. If you are standing at the jump-off point, you will just see a sleepy and laid-back town. I was just intrigued why it was a part of the itinerary then.

The first shop I have seen

Walking on the narrow street equipped with concrete stairs uphill was really a surprise to me. Tourists were flooding from all directions and corners. Shops as well were crowded.

Flavored ice cream Taiwan style

Indeed, the place is so vibrant! It has changed my own perception of what Taiwan is. Aside from the fact that they have their own unique culture, looking at the food stalls around were quite inviting to taste them all.

The open plaza where taxi cabs stopped

This is the point where those who took taxi cab uphill disembarked. It is like an open space where people merge coming from their shopping spree from the different stores they bought their desired items.

The concrete stairs of the old narrow street

As we go up, shops and stores were increasing in number. Thus, you expect more tourists to crowd most particularly that the stores and food stalls would give food tasting. Most of those I have seen were delicious delicacies.

Climbing farther the old busy street

I was even amazed that some of the tourists there were speaking Tagalog or Filipino where some of them travel as a family. Like me, they also enjoyed the delicacies. I had made countless of food tasting then.

And yes, I am infront of the 100-year old A-Mei Tea House

This 100-year old A-Mei Tea House in Jiufen inspired the Japanese anime Spirited Away, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards in 2003, and is regarded as one of the greatest animated films of all time.

The entrance to A-Mei Tea House (Model: Thelma Bautista)

Due to limited time, our group did not make it to enter A-Mei Tea House. It took us time to get a solo picture at the entrance of the the tea house. Luckily, I did it for my companions but they did not make it for my photo shot.

Another eye-catching shop

There is no other way to describe the place but to show it thru captured shots were you can see their most famous country snack called glutinous rice cake, taro glutinous rice cake, Hongzao (Oxo Cubes) meatballs, and cold or hot taro balls, and many more delicacies. The street is filled with delicious snacks. The following pictures will tell you better of what is in store in Jiufen.





























My expenses for this specific destination are as follows:

SN	Particulars	Amount
1.	Portion of the P1,060 Klook tour package as there are four destinations of this day tour	P265.00
2.	Lunch	163.27
3.	Ice cream	244.90
	TOTAL	P673.17

NOTE: All amounts has been converted to peso currency.

HOW TO GET THERE

For Klook online booking for this day tour, use this link Klook Day Tour Booking for four destinations.

For those who wanted it to be a DIY trip to Jiufen, You can board from Taipei Main Station any northbound train except a Keelung-bound train to Ruifang (the express trains are called Tzechiang) where the single journey ticket costs NT$82 or about P167. Thus, the round trip train fare is NT$164 or P334.