Our Guide to Pingxi 平溪懶人包

3/13/2025

Pingxi District of New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan. With a total of 7 stations along the Pingxi Railway Line (plus 2 if you count Ruifang and Houtong), there are endless places to explore, eat, hike, and enjoy Taiwan's history, culture, and natural beauty all in one place.

Planning your trip to Taipei?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

Best time to visit: March-May, and October - November when the temperatures are nice and there is not as much rain
How to get there: Taiwan High Speed Railway and Inter-City Bus
Best places to stay: Yuanshan Grand Hotel or Fu Chang Hotel
Book tours and activities in Taipei on Klook
Stay connected with a local SIM
Rent a car to explore distant sights

Background:
Before the Pingxi Railway was built, during the Qing Dynasty a section of the Danlan Old Trail ran through roughly the same area, connecting Yilan to Tamsui. The Japanese completed the Pingxi Railway in 1921 in order to transport coal from the area. Most all of the stations and villages along the line were economically reliant on the coal industry until its downfall in the late 1990s.
The coal industry remained strong after the ROC took over Taiwan after WWII, but slowly waned in the 1980s and 1990s due to the decrease in global coal prices.
In the year 2000, Sanxia’s Lifeng Mine shut down operations, and Taiwan’s mining company closed, and thus all coal mining in Taiwan effectively stopped.
The Pingxi Railway is a single track that is 12.9 KM long with 7 stations.
Recently the government has offered many plans to connect the Pingxi Railway to the Taipei MRT via Jingtong to Jingmei, however due to many factors these plans have never been approved.
The area around Pingxi and Ruifang is made up of sedimentary rock which easily erodes, creating many large waterfalls such as Shifen Falls, and pointy jagged peaks like the Pingxi Crags.
Popular activities along the Pingxi Railway include hiking, river tracing, eating at one of the many old streets, setting off sky lanterns, and exploring the many historical coal mining sites.

Hours:
The first train reaches Sandiaoling daily at 5:25 AM and the last train leaves Jingtong at 8:33 PM.

Price:
80 NT per person for a one day pass. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on Pingxi Railway Line on Klook here or KKday here. You can also book a travel pass on Klook here.

When to go:
Any time of year is great. However, waterfalls are most enjoyable during the hot summer, and you may want to come for the Lantern Festival when hundreds of sky lanterns are set off at once.
To avoid crowds and packed trains, do not go on weekends or holidays.

Tours of Pingxi:
There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Shifen that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you.
Here are some of the most popular tours of Pingxi:

Activities Around Pingxi:
Don't forget that there are many activities available around Pingxi such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, Diving, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, photo shoot, Jingtong Sky Lantern Police Station, Shifen Sky Lantern Experience, Waterfall Zipline, Waterfall Diving, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Hotels on Taiwan's Northern Coast:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
We have stayed at and recommend Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here.
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, buy the Pingxi Railway line one day pass, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at any station!
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on Pingxi Railway Line on Klook here or KKday here. You can also book a travel pass on Klook here.
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial Highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. You can drive right or left to reach all of the stations on the Pingxi Railway line. But please know there is limited car parking around the stations.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD on Klook here.
By Bus: You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook h ere. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.

Map:
Please refer to the map below for places we will cover in this blog:

Vlog:

Check out our vlog of the Pingxi railway above. And don't forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

Virtual Blog Tour :

Take a virtual tour of the entire railway in the blog below. We will cover the following places:

Let's get started!

Ruifang Station 瑞芳車站

Even though Ruifang is technically not part of the Pingxi Railway line, it is the main terminus for the Pingxi Railway line trains, so if you are coming from Taipei, you will likely have to switch trains at Ruifang in order to continue on to the Pingxi Railway...(read more)

Near Ruifang there are many activities available such as canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Check out our full blog to Ruifang Old Street here.

Ruifang Old Street 瑞芳老街

Ruifang Old Street is a long old street extending out of Ruifang Train Station. Ruifang Station sits on the terminus to the Pingxi Railway, and provides direct bus service to Jiufen and Jinguashi, making it a must stop (literally) destination for tourists travelling to nearby tourist destinations.
The food on Ruifang Old Street is plentiful and delicious, and you will not regret a brief pit stop here...(read more)

Near Ruifang there are many activities available such as canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Ruifang Old Street click here.

Houtong Station 猴硐車站

Houtong Station lies between Ruifang and Sandiaoling (the first stop on the Pingxi Railway). If you are travelling to the Pingxi Railway Line you will likely have to stop at Houtong. Is it worth getting off the train? Yes! Why? Because of cats and coal mines...(read more)

You can book a tour of Houtong Cat Village on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Houtong Cat Village click here.

Houtong Cat Village 猴硐貓村

Houtong train station was completed in 1920 during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan, in order to ship coal from mines nearby.
Once a booming mining town with the most coal production in Taiwan, it has now been converted into a tourist destination for cat lovers.
By 2008 Houtong Started to reinvent itself as a cat paradise, with many cat loving citizens proposing to bring abandoned cats to the village for a better life. Since then, the town has been a hub for cat lovers and enthusiasts.
Visitors can enjoy the town's rich history as well as hundreds of cats and cat related shops around the village...(read more)

You can book a tour of Houtong Cat Village on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Houtong Cat Village click here.

Sandiaoling Station 三貂嶺車站

Sandiaoling is the first station along the Pingxi Railway, near Shuoren Village that was once reliant on coal mining. This small station is popular with hikers for nearby trails to waterfalls. The village also has a few historical sites such as the defunct Sandiao Mine and the abandoned Shuoren Elementary School. There are also quite a few tea and coffee shops here, perfect for resting hikers to relax. Sandiaoling Station is the only train station in Taiwan that is inaccessible by car; it can only be reached by foot...(read more)

For our full blog on Sandiaoling Station click here.

Sandiaoling Three-Tiered Waterfall Trail 三貂嶺三層瀑布群步道

In an area full of majestic waterfalls, Sandiaoling's Three Tiered Waterfall Trail near Sandiaoling Station could be the most spectacular, with three large waterfalls over 30 meters tall in a row next to each other...(read more)

Don't forget that there are many activities available around Pingxi such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, Waterfall Zipline, Waterfall Diving, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on the Sandiaoling Three-Tiered Waterfall Trail click here.

Dahua Station 大華車站

Dahua Station is one of the smallest, most remote, and less visited train stations on the Pingxi Railway. There are almost no commercialized attractions, but that has also made it a pristine nature area popular with hikers. Nearby one can see natural sites such as the Dahua potholes, waterfalls, forests, and wildlife, as well as historical mining sites...(read more)

For our full blog on Dahua Station click here.

Shifen Station 十分車站

The town of Shifen, which was originally named for the ten families that lived there in the Qing Dynasty, who needed ten portions of goods (Shi 十 = ten Fen 分/份 = portion).
Shifen Train Station was completed in 1918 and is the biggest train station on the Pingxi Railway line. During its heyday, it had the largest coal mining operation and the largest population in Pingxi District of New Taipei.
After the coal industry died down in the 1970s, tourism has taken its place as the major industry in the area.

Shifen Old Street 十分老街

Shifen Old Street is the largest and busiest old street on the Pingxi Railway line, famous for setting off lanterns into the sky, and for visiting the famous Shifen Waterfall nearby. Here one can enjoy delicious food, and beautiful scenery, and learn about the mining history of the area. The sky lanterns have become a major environmental issue, but because of the allure to tourists the practice doesn't seem like it will end soon...(read more)

You can book a tour to Shifen on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Shifen Old Street click here.

Shifen Waterfall 十分瀑布

Shifen Waterfall is the widest waterfall in Taiwan and perhaps the most picturesque in all of Taiwan. It is easily accessible by foot from Shifen Train Station and includes restaurants, gardens, and suspension bridges along the way. Its spectacular cascading falls are definitely worth a stop for anyone in Taiwan...(read more)

You can book a tour to Shifen on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Shifen Waterfall click here.

Taiwan Coal Mine Museum 台灣煤礦博物館

The Taiwan Coal Mine Museum (aka New Pingxi Coal Mine Museum) is a former coal mine turned museum near Shifen Station on the Pingxi Railway line. Here you can ride in era coal carts and have an authentic experience of Taiwan coal mining life. The mine is the only one in Taiwan that still holds mining rights, and the only one with operating "one eyed monk" electric locomotives that you can actually ride...(read more)

You can book a tour to the Taiwan Coal Mine Museum on KKday here.

Check out our full guide to the Taiwan Coal Mine Museum here.

Huiyao Waterfall 灰窯瀑布

Huiyao Waterfall is a large waterfall and swimming hole near Wanggu Station on the Pingxi Railway, on a tributary of the Keelung River in Pingxi District of New Taipei. Its large cliffs are popular for jumping and has a large deep pool that is safe to swim in. It's lack of accessibility has made it a quiet location, and normally you will have the place to yourself...(read more)

Don't forget that there are many activities available around Pingxi such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, Waterfall Zipline, Waterfall Diving, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Huiyao Waterfall click here.

Wanggu Station 望古車站

Wanggu Station was completed only in 1972 as the coal industry was gradually declining. It is an unmanned station, where you are on your honor to buy a ticket and the station you get off at because there is no one working at the station (or use an Easy Card).
As of 2017, there was an average of 18 people a day arriving or leaving from Wanggu Station...(read more)

For our full blog on Wanggu Waterfall click here.

Wanggu Waterfall 望古瀑布

Wanggu Waterfall is a less known set of four waterfalls near Wanggu Station. The short hike from Wanggu Station will take you to a series of waterfalls, with the second waterfall being the biggest. The trail is a pleasant hike and also a relaxing place to swim...(read more)

Don't forget that there are many activities available around Pingxi such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, Waterfall Zipline, Waterfall Diving, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Wanggu Waterfall click here.

Lingjiao Station 嶺腳車站

The town of Lingjiao was named because it sits at the foot of a mountain (the name meaning literally "foot of the peak"). Lingjiao was a mining town on the Pingxi Railway, and a station there was completed during the Japanese Era in 1929...(read more)

For our full blog on Lingjiao Old Street click here.

Lingjiao Old Street 嶺腳老街

Lingjiao Old Street is a small street next to Lingjiao Station and the famous Lingjiao Waterfall. The old street has not been commercialized like the other popular old streets on the Piongxi Railway. Now that the Taiwan coal mining boom is over, the old street is a relic of the past that has stayed basically unchanged from those times...(read more)

For our full blog on Lingjiao Old Street click here.

Lingjiao Waterfall 嶺腳瀑布

Lingjiao Waterfall (aka "Lingjiao Grotto Great Waterfall" 嶺腳石窟大瀑布) is a large waterfall and swimming hole right next to Lingjiao Station, on the Keelung River. Its large cliffs are popular for jumping and has a large deep pool that is safe to swim in. Its accessibility via the Pingxi Railway has made it a popular spot, but most of the time there will not be any crowds there...(read more)

Don't forget that there are many activities available around Pingxi such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, Waterfall Zipline, Waterfall Diving, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on Lingjiao Waterfall click here.

Pingxi Station 平溪車站

Pingxi Station was completed in 1929 to transport coal out of the area. Currently it has an average of 844 passengers per day.
Pingxi is the third busiest stop on the Pingxi Railway after Shifen and Jingtong...(read more)

You can book a tour of Pingxi on Klook here or KKday here.

For our full blog on Pingxi Old Street click here.

Pingxi Old Street 平溪老街

Pingxi Old Street is the second largest old street in Pingxi District and is full of delicious food, souvenirs, and opportunities to light off sky lanterns. From Pingxi station you can walk down to the historic streets in the small town, and take selfies with the train tracks and bridges that cross the two rivers passing through the town. It is definitely a must-see stop along the Pingxi Railway...(read more)

You can book a tour of Pingxi on Klook here or KKday here.

For our full blog on Pingxi Old Street click here.

Pingxi Crags 平溪六尖

Pingxi Crags are a set of hiking trails that traverse steep mountain peaks and rock cliffs in the mountains south of Pingxi Village. The sedimentary rocks here stick out of the forest at the tops of the mountains, making for great views but also dangerous climbs...(read more)

Don't forget that there are many activities available around Pingxi such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

For our full blog on the Pingxi Crags hike, click here.

Jingtong Station 菁桐車站

Jingtong Train Station was completed in 1929 as the last station on the Pingxi Railway Line.
The surrounding town and Jingtong Old Street were created soon after.
The town relied on local coal mines for its economy, but by the 1980s coal mining in Pingxi District had all but stopped due to safety issues and low worldwide coal prices.
There are a number of historical buildings in the area, including the Coal Life Museum, multiple coal mines, and the station itself, as well as numerous residences.
Currently there is an average of about 1,000 visitors per day to the station (making it the second busiest station on the railway) and the area has become a popular tourist destination...(read more)

You can book a tour to Jingtong on Klook here or KKday here.

For our full blog on Jingtong Old Street click here.

Jingtong Old Street 菁桐老街

Jingtong Old Street is the heart of the historic mining town of Jingtong, in Pingxi District of New Taipei City, which once had the largest mine in Taiwan. It has a long street with delicious food and souvenirs, sky lanterns, and many historical buildings nearby. As the last stop on the Pingxi Railway, you should definitely get off the train and check it out...(read more)

You can book a tour to Jingtong on Klook here or KKday here.

For our full blog on Jingtong Old Street click here.

Pingxi Lantern Festival 平溪天燈節

The Pingxi Lantern Festival in New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan, and is known as one of the best festivals in the world. Thousands of lanterns are set off during the festival, to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Lantern Festival Holiday. It is definitely worth experience if you are in Taiwan during Lantern Festival...(read more)

Don't forget that there are activities available such as Jingtong Sky Lantern Police Station, Shifen Sky Lantern Experience and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Check out our full guide to the Pingxi Lantern Festival here.

Don't Set Off Sky Lanterns 不要放天燈

Sky Lanterns might look fun, and you will see many people lighting them off into the sky on your trip to the Pingxi Railway. But the lanterns have a dark side: after they burn out they fall into the nearby forests, rivers, houses, and roads. I have been driving on the roads many times and seen them fall right in front of me, creating a safety hazard. Countless fires have been cause by them. Also, there are hundreds of them stuck in trees throughout Pingxi. This is obviously harming nature but due to the money it provides to the locals, it likely won't be banned anytime soon. If you love the earth, do not set off Sky Lanterns, and if you have time go and help clean up the lantern mess.

If you are wondering what happens to sky lanterns after you set them off, check out our drone footage above showing where they end up.

That’s it for our blog on the Pingxi Railway. The train also goes to Badouzi (八斗子), Shen Ao Railbike, and the science center in Keelung, which you can find more about in our blog here.

Other places near Pingxi that you should visit:

Chaojing Park and Badouzi 潮境公園及八斗子

Badouzi is a rocky area along Taiwan's north coast in Keelung. It includes a seafood market, marine science museum, and a wide grassy area (Chaojing Park). There are also many interesting rock formations in the area. It is a popular location for its seafood, flying kites, hiking, and enjoying the ocean scenery..(read more)

You can book tickets to Chaojing Smart Aquarium on KKday here.

Check out our full blog on Chaoking Park and Badouzi here.

Capybura Rock (formerly Elephant Trunk Rock 象鼻岩)

Capybura Rock is a rock shaped like its name in the Shenao area of Ruifang District, New Taipei City, but it is right on the border of Keelung so I am adding it in. There are also many interesting rock formations in the area. It is one of the most recognizable rock formations on the north coast and a popular location for, kayakers, snorkelers, and Instagrammers…(read more).

Here you can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, and more activities which you can book on Klook here or KKday here.

You can check out our full guide to Elephant Trunk Rock here.

Jinguashi Gold Mine Museum 黃金博物館

Jinguashi is a small village in Ruifang District in New Taipei, famous for its now defunct mines. Here you can explore the Gold Mine Museum, touch a multi-million dollar gold ingot, see golden waterfalls, go on some of the best hikes in Taiwan, check out the old mining town, see Japanese era historic sites, and explore abandoned mining sites...(read more)

Gold Mine Museum Price:
80 NT per person (Free for New Taipei Residents)
You can book discount tickets to the New Taipei Gold Mine Museum on Klook here or KKday here.
You can book a tour to Jinguashi on TripAdvisor here, Klook here or KKday here.

Check out our full guide to Jinguashi here.

Jiufen Old Street 九份老街

Jiufen is an old mountain village in Ruifang District of New Taipei City, and has perhaps the best old street in all of Taiwan, with authentic Taiwanese food, sloping steps, traditional Chinese architecture, and great views of Su Ao and Keelung Harbors. There are also multiple historical sights within the town. The entire village is built on a mountain slope so that you can enjoy views of Taiwan's north coast from basically anywhere in the city...(read more)

You can book a tour of Jiufen Old Street with TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Check out our full blog to Jiufen here.

Shen’Ao Rail Bike 深奧鐵道自行車

Shen Ao Railbike is a short bicycle ride on an old Railway line on the coast of Ruifang, New Taipei. Visitors are seated two people per bicycle car, which has a roof and great views of the ocean scenery nearby. Overall it is a fun adventure for the whole family.
Price:
150 NT per one-way trip per person
300 NT per round trip per person
You can book tickets for a discount on KKday here.
Check out our full guide to Shen Ao Railbike here.

Shiding 石碇

Shiding District is a secret mountain paradise in New Taipei City, in northern Taiwan (新北市石碇區). Lots of people simply pass through here without knowing much about what there is to see. In this guide, I will show you some of the secret historical and nature destinations in this amazing place.
Check out our full guide to Shiding here.

Don't forget that there are many activities available around Pingxi such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, Diving, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, photo shoot, Jingtong Sky Lantern Police Station, Shifen Sky Lantern Experience, Waterfall Zipline, Waterfall Diving, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Check out our guide to the best day trips from Taipei here.

Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.

Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here.

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.