Our driver, Mattie is the best tour guide and photographer. The place that we visited on out half day tour were all amazing.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Parking fees and tolls
- Lantern activity (one lantern for a car)
- Bottled water
- Private & air-conditioned vehicle
Excludes
- Food & drinks
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Your driver-guide will meet you in the hotel lobby or on the 1st floor, holding a sign with your name.
Shifen Old Street is a bustling hub for those eager to get a glimpse of an old railroad town which still retains the charm of yesteryear. Originally built to transport coal, the Shifen Old Street stop has now become one of the most popular on the Pingxi rail-line. It is easy to see why so many are drawn here - local food, souvenir shops and puffing trains add to the charm of this little gem, as well as make it a fantastic place for photography.
Shifen Waterfall is the most renowned cascading waterfall in Taiwan. The watercourse is from Keelung River, height 20 m. (66 ft.) and width 40 m. (131 ft.).
Watch the bay where the sea is a mix of yellow and blue before heading to Jiufen.
The Remains of the 13 Levels is a former smelter plant in Lianxin Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. It is also called the Potala Palace of Mountain Mines.
(If traffic control is in effect during the public holiday, we will not proceed to this location.) Golden Waterfall is located in Jinguashi. Although real gold flowing from these falls would be too good to be true, the water is certainly a beautiful gold color as a result of the combination of regular rainfall in this mining area and the abundance of heavy metal elements deposited in the riverbed.
With an unmatched old town atmosphere and seaside flair, Jiufen is a must see spot when visiting northern Taiwan. Always teeming with tourists, you might notice that Japanese people make up a huge proportion of the crowds gathered. Many are keen to catch a glimpse of the setting of Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award winning “Spirited Away”, especially the iconic red lanterns. This is also a film mecca for lovers of Taiwanese film, especially fans of Hou Hsiao-hsien's “A City of Sadness”, which utilized Jiufen as the backdrop to the events of the 228 Incident. Given Hou’s recent award of Best Director in the 2015 International Cannes Film Festival for his new film “The Assassin”, we expect even more people will make their way here in years to come.
Back to hotels or other spots you preferred in Taipei City at the end of the tour.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
3 of us were basically given special tour to fit my mobility need (I was using cane and walker during the tour). Jacky, our guide is very attentive and helpful of my well being. He recommended places to have lunch and snacks at the old town. He also had taken amazing pictures for us. Thanks Jacky.
We had a wonderful time with Roger who was a very friendly and knowledgeable guide. Would recommend to anyone wanting to visit Shifen & Jiufen
Sean was absolutely great. He is very knowledgeable and an excellent guide. We loved this tour and would highly recommend it to others.
Nicolas Ying was my tour guide and he was fantastic. Even before the tour, he messaged me a few days prior to make sure everything was in order. Come the day of the trip, I was his only passenger and it was a pleasure to have him as my tour guide. Very knowledgeable about the areas and a very good conversationalist! Took me around to some good spots. Got me to some good photo spots. If you end up booking, and get Nicolas as your guide, you’ll be in very good hands!
It was very enjoyable as Vincent, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and took us to the scenic sites. He also acted us our director and told us where to take the scenic shots. We totally enjoyed ourselves at the Shiu Fen waterfall and the old Chiu Fen market where we passed by food stalls. I give it 5 stars for a very helpful and entertaining guide.
The was one of the best private tours we have done . It was good value for money. Our tour guide was so helpful. He really looked after us and showed is where to walk and what to see!
I booked the private Jiufen, Shifen and Pingxi tour, and Nicholas was exactly the kind of guide I was hoping for. He’s very knowledgeable about the area’s history and explained the origins of the place names and the stories behind them. That context is what I look for in a guide, because it turns the old streets into a real place rather than just a photo stop. He knew the area well enough to take alternative routes to avoid the crowds, which made a big difference in Jiufen. He was flexible about the order of stops and patient with my slower walking pace on the steep slopes and steps, without ever making me feel rushed. He also knew the best photo spots. He recommended where the locals actually eat and what to try, which I valued far more than online reviews. He was jovial and easy to talk to, his driving was safe and comfortable, and pick-up and drop-off were right on time. If you want to understand the places you’re visiting, not just see them, ask for Nicholas.
Wonderful trip with my wife. The driver / guide was excellent . An easy relaxed pace and very enjoyable.
Alex was an amazing tour guide, who speaks excellent English. He took us to many great and beautiful places like the Shifen waterfall, as well as nearby Pingxi for the personalized sky lantern experience. We finished off the trip in Jiufen, where he showed as a wonderful local restaurant overlooking the East China Sea (for a late lunch) before exploring the town and its markets. Alex was very knowledgeable about the places we visited and also provided ample time at each stop for us to explore the surroundings on our own. Overall it was an unforgettable day that was very well planned out.
Great value trip. Our driver Vincent was very informative and did a great job moving us around the sites. Lots of good photos- Vincent was a master photographer!!!
Nicolas Ying was the best! He was very informative and we thoroughly enjoyed our day. Highly recommend!
This was a 6 hour private driver tour of the area. Carl the driver was very knowledgeable and gave great instructions during drop off and pick up on the visits to Jiufen and Shifen. Overall great value for money.
James was a great tour guide, told me about the history of taiwan and the meaning behind all the small details pertaining to the temples. I was able to take amazing pictures thanks to him, I would definitely recommend
I enjoyed my day with James. He has a rich knowledge of Taiwan and Chinese history that made the tour more enjoyable. We got the 6 hour tour as we we didn’t know if we would last longer but we ended up going over an hour over time because we wanted to spend more time at the stops. Knowing this I would definitely recommend the full day tour.
Vincent was a great guide and was incredibly flexible during the day. He was very knowledgeable and took photos along the way, which was extremely helpful for a solo traveller. Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn more about Taiwan’s culture.
James was an excellent guide. He kept apologizing for his English, but he did a great job. Well worth getting a personal driver for this type of venture outside of Taipei.
The tour guide picked us up from the airport, but unfortunately, it was raining heavily. He showed us Taipei 101 and even helped us take some pictures outside before we headed toward the highway to start the tour. However, the rain got worse, and the freeway looked unsafe to drive on, so we decided not to continue with the tour. Since my mom and I were already really hungry, I suggested that he take us somewhere to buy some Taiwanese foods. We ended up eating street pork bun and drink milk tea. After that, he dropped us off at the Taiwan shopping mall, picked us up later, and took us back to the airport. I still paid for the entire tour and gave him a good tip because I appreciated his effort and kindness. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this experience. I had been looking forward to this trip so much, but unfortunately, the weather ruined our plans. I’m not sure when I’ll have another chance to visit Taipei or have a long layover there again. I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed—not necessarily with the tour guide himself, because he was nice, but with the lack of alternative suggestions when the weather turned bad. I was really hoping we could at least enjoy a nice Taiwanese meal at Din Tai Fung or visit one of Taipei’s famous local spots. It was definitely not the experience I had imagined, but I guess sometimes traveling comes with unexpected disappointments. ❤️
Roger was very friendly and helpful, he knew the sights well and took us to all of them without rushing us. We had a wonderful day, a nice way to finish our short visit to Taiwan. Highly recommended….
Beautiful day tour of Taiwan's classic sites. Our guide waa amazing and attractive, so thoughtful and kind. Loved the included activities
Our tour guide, Jennifer Yang was excellent! As soon as we got into her car, Jennifer told us how long it would take us to each destination and how long we will spend at each site!! She also told us the very interesting history of Shifen, Juifen and Pingxi Sky Lantern! Jennifer is also a photographer and took amazing pictures of us during the tour! We didn’t have to take selfies of each other! We are a senior couple and Jennifer took excellent care of us on our journey to see the natural beauty and wonder on the north side if Taipei I would recommend this tour and especially Jennifer to be your tour guide! She also gave us recommendations for restaurant near our hotel after the tour!! We made a friend in Taiwan!! Love the cartoon drawing of us!! Rate 10 plus! ❤️
This was amazing. Junior was an amazing guide. Saw a bunch of beautiful places. Lantern was huge. Junior has a ton of knowledge i didnt stump him once with all my random questions. It was such a good value . The van was new and clean . 10 out 10.
Sean our guide was wonderful made sure we had a great day
Allen was a safe driver. It would have been great to get a little about the history of the locations.
Jeffrey was an excellent guide! Very attentive to our needs. Lots of extras, from food tasting to strategic parking, he really looked after us.
We had a wonderful day exploring Shifen and Jiufen with Nicolas Ying! He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive throughout the day. He made everything easy and relaxed, and shared lots of interesting local insights along the way. He was also an excellent photographer and took great photos of us—we really appreciated that! We had a fun and memorable day and would definitely recommend Nicolas to anyone visiting Taiwan.
Aaron, our tour guide was amazing! He was so mindful that our family are able to kept up with the pace of the tour. And is so also so patient to explain the background of all the places we visited. The tour was definitely a highlight of our trip in Taipei. Highly recommended.
We had a great tour with Roger. He was in contact in the days leading up to the tour and kept us updated. He arrived promptly and his car was clean and comfortable. He also had great music! It was great to get out of Taipei and visit some villages. We loved walking around the alleys of Jiufen and the lantern activity was a lot of fun. Sadly because of an injury I was unable to walk up the waterfall but Roger found us another waterfall to visit. After the tour Roger even sent us some recommendations for dinner locations. He was very kind, knowledgable and helpful. We really enjoyed this tour.. definetly recommended.
Henry gave us a tour starting from our hotel and it was absolutely worth it! He was knowledgeable about so many places everywhere we went. He was kind and considerate each and every time we stopped. He got us to our locations without any issue and connected us with the local community. And he helped us with plans for the rest of our trip! The locations we went to are beautiful and are a must see on your Taiwan trip! Overall fantastic experience, amazing guide, and a site to keep on your list!
We had the pleasure to experience Taiwan on a half day tour with Paul, who drove us during the heavy rain during the day. While the weather impacted our original tour, Paul was very adaptive and we were able to experience Jiufen, Chiang-Kai Shek memorial hall, and amazing food at a Michelin star beef noodle soup restaurant! Thank you for the unique experience and sharing the history of Taiwan with myself and Zac, we hope to visit again during better weather!
Had an amazing time with Bubble… he went out of his way to make sure our family saw all of the amazing sights! Had a great time! Thank you!
She is a very friendly and very polite.
Absolute best experience showcasing beautiful sights of Taipei if you’re short on time. Our family of 4 (incl. 2 teenagers) thoroughly enjoyed every stop of the half-day tour and learn about the history. The Sky Lantern was the best! Our tour guide + driver, Mr. Ken, was the epitome of professionalism mixed with kindness, fun and knowledge. He expertly navigated the traffic and managed our tour so that we would maximize our time at every stop. Deepest gratitude to him since our tour extended beyond the 6-hour period but he accommodated with a smile. Would definitely recommend the company and Ken to anyone wanting to do this tour.
Mr. Hicky Wong, our driver and tour guide is great. We have a joyfull moment with him.
Put on a nice outfit because Vincent is serious about taking photos for you! He has all the good angles! He is kind, polite and knowledgeable and really wants you to enjoy your visit.
James Chan was an excellent guide! I highly recommend him! He was knowledgeable and led an interesting tour. I would use for other tours in the future!
Nicholas Ying is an excellent tour guide he made how trip enjoyable he is a safe driver and shared his excellent knowledge. My Wife and I had a great tour today with Nicholas
Wonderful private 6 hrs tour. We chose the earliest pick-up time and our driver/guide Mr Hicks Wang was waiting for us at our hotel lobby promptly at the agreed upon time. Hicks drove and guided us to a beautiful waterfall, guided us through the unique lantern release, and introduced us to some of Taiwan’s famous snacks. We especially liked the peanut ice cream roll that Hicks called “ice cream burrito”. Overall a beautiful experience with a knowledgeable tour guide. We would recommend this tour.
Sean is very knowledgeable especially the history of Taiwan. He was very clear in communicating in English; explained thoroughly the importance and significance of all the places we visited. He’s very friendly and gives us other options on what we can do; recommended where we can shop for souvenirs that’s reasonable and offer suggestions. We highly recommend 😉👍🏽😊
Our half-day private tour to Jiufen, Shifen Waterfall, and Pingxi with Nicolas Ying was honestly one of the best parts of our trip to Taiwan. Nicolas was on time, super friendly, and really easy to talk to. He shared a lot of interesting stories about the places we visited, from local history to cultural traditions, which made the whole experience feel much more meaningful. The itinerary was well thought out. We never felt rushed, and still had enough time to really enjoy each stop. Jiufen’s narrow old streets were full of charm, Shifen Waterfall was beautiful, and releasing a sky lantern in Pingxi was such a fun and memorable moment. What really made the tour stand out was Nicolas himself. He was attentive without being overbearing, happy to answer all our questions, and made sure we were comfortable the whole time. His local tips and stories added a lot that we definitely wouldn’t have gotten if we went on our own. If you’re thinking about visiting these places, I’d definitely recommend this tour with Nicolas Ying. It was relaxed, enjoyable, and just a really great experience from start to finish.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely amazing experience with my personal tour guide driver in Taiwan! From the moment we started the journey, the service was professional, friendly and thoughtful. My guide was knowledgeable about the local culture, history, hidden gems and the best places to visit, making the entire trip smooth and memorable. The driving was safe and comfortable, the itinerary was well planned and my guide went above and beyond to make sure I had a wonderful experience. They were patient, helpful and always willing to share great recommendations for food, attractions and local experiences. Thank you to Mr. Wang, out excellent guide, I was able to see Taiwan in a much more meaningful way. I highly recommend this service to anyone looking for a reliable, friendly and knowledgeable private tour guide. Truly a five-star experience!
Great experience. Vincent was very knowledgeable and knew all the local spots. He took me through shortcuts and paths of the cities that would present the most beautiful views. He helped take photos like a professional photographer. I highly recommend the tour. Best way to see many great spots in Taiwan if you only have a half day to explore of the city.
We just finished our tour with Nicolas Ying. It was one of our best tour experiences we’ve ever done because of our awesome and kind tour guide. We have a great impression of Taiwan because of him. We really enjoyed this tour with Nicolas. He knew all the good photo spots and shortcuts to make the tour enjoyable to avoid crowds and too much walking. Huge plus++ We learned the history of Taiwan and interesting facts about Taiwan. We didn’t have to worry about anything as he took care of everything. It feel like a true local tour instead of too touristy. Definitely recommend this type of tour instead of a big group tour. Thank you Nicolas!
Cody was wonderful. I enjoyed every minute. I was traveling alone and he took many photos of me. I appreciate all the requests he accommodated including my lunch request. I would absolutely recommend him to a friend. He took time to find the answer to my unusual question. I have many great memories of the trip.
Cody was fantastic. He made my day very enjoyable and we had some great conversations. I would definitely recommend him to English speakers. I had a very specific lunch request and he found exactly what I wanted. I am so grateful.
Tour was great. Honestly lots of fun. Guide made sure there was enough time for everything and pointed out great food options at every stop. Great for kids. Would highly recommend.
From start to finish, James Chan was an amazing tour guide and went beyond the call of duty to share his vast knowledge of Taiwanese history. The sights were absolutely breathtaking and I feel as though I received authentic insights and recommendations from a Taiwanese local who takes pride in his job and his culture. Thank you, James!
Tony Kuo is very good tour guide and very knowledgeable and polite. He explained all Taiwan history.
First visited Juifen, a really traditional and interesting place. The onto a waterfall and lantern activity in shifen. Allen was a wonderful and professional host.
This trip was the highlight of our stay in Taiwan. Our guide was knowledgeable and gave us an excellent tour of Shifen Waterfall, Pingxi Skylantern launching, and Jiufen.
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