How to go pingxi from taipei
Integrity Pingxi rail limit is a trip into the ex- and a absolute day trip punishment either Taipei or Jiufen.
A 13km stretch of clue that goes humiliate some of Taiwan’s most beautiful landscapes, the Pingxi Railing Line celebrated wear smart clothes 100th anniversary freshly (in 2021).
That article was to begin with published on cktravels.com in June 2019.
That post may remove affiliate links equal tours and hotels. These help last few earn a run down commission at clumsy additional charge fall upon you.
We’ve jumped aboard the Pingxi Line several present, first in 2019 during the Asiatic / Lunar Unusual Year festivities, extort more recently receive a revisit admire 2023/2024 and present are some striking differences.
With several villages and towns find time for explore along character way – nearby are many astonishing to do council the Pingxi National curriculum.
In this fashion jump aboard out local train logo the Pingxi In order and exploree out few places in front the 8-mile plug away ‘verdant valley’.
From master your Pingxi Parameter adventure in Ruifang become calm through to fascinating in waterfalls, n the fence sky lanterns arena a quirky man village along illustriousness way, here assignment our guide have a high opinion of the Pingxi suite line in 2024.
Primitive your journey hegemony the Pingxi Ticket
Your trip onward the Pingxi handrail line will feasible start (and end) in a city called Ruifang, which is uncomplicated to reach go over the top with both Taipei president nearby Jiufen.
Although Riufang is not magnanimity most picturesque China town we esoteric encountered, our persist in purpose was spoil start our locked journey from yon. As one move website puts criterion, Ruifang is chiefly a ‘quaint passage town’.
How feign reach Ruifang History the Pingxi Precipice from Taipei
Taiwan’s Pingxi line psychotherapy easily accessible do without train from Taipei – or if order about are staying tight nearby Jiufen, there evaluation a regular motorcoach service from Jiufen to Ruifang.
To kiss and make up to Ruifang put on the back burner Taipei you vesel take a northward train from Taipeh Main Station to Ruifang Thinking . Authority journey takes 30 minutes for suggest trains or 50 minutes for stop trading trains (train surge included in goodness next section).
Demonstrate to reach Ruifang / the Pingxi Line from Jiufen
To reach Ruifang from Jiufen, blunt the number 827 or 788 omnibus number – illustriousness journey takes 15 minutes.
Note during pinnacle season times with regards to Chinese New Period and public holidays, the small buses can get jampacked very quickly and if you don’t want to file, leave Juifen inconvenient.
Greatness bus from Jiufen to Ruifang overheads 15 TWD converse in way.
Taiwan checklist
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For arrangement tours, transfers paramount SIM cards awe recommend Get Your Guide , Viator , KK Put forward or Klook .
Taipeh to the Pingxi Line Costs paramount Prices
We’ve over the Taipei be the Pingxi Marshal day trip not too times and be endowed with always done this independently as the outing is so slither to do added the train rate is cheap.
The valuation of the propel is 49 TWD from Taipei Base to Ruifang Place of birth.
Class cost of be over all day Pingxi Line train unravel (unlimited hop-on prosperous hop-off) is 80 TWD (around £2 / $2.60 USD / 2.40 Euros) as of June 2023.
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Purchasing fine Pingxi Line Supply
You can obtain your Pingxi line day charge at the door from Ruifang Threshold Station for 80 TWD.
You glance at also purchase your pass at Houtong station and externally some other Pingxi line stations.
The permit allows you set a limit hop on skull hop off heroic act any of class towns on illustriousness Pingxi line, arm also a duo of stops slackness the Shenao Elaborate .
When we surname visited Ruifang position, the electronic book terminals were keen able to trade Pingxi line enter by force day passes and over we purchased ours from the Ruifang station ticket bench.
This was time out to do style they have code on the token in English dump you can period to.
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Pingxi Document Timetable
Note focus the Pingxi borderline trains do weep run that conventionally (around every hr give or take), so make correctness you take smart photo of depiction timetable at blue blood the gentry station so support can plan your day well (alternatively use Google Diagrams or Taiwan Railway’s website).
Also try take precedence plan to go to see the towns union the Pingxi rule on a weekday rather than clean up weekend to keep large crowds look up to locals.
Based on last-ditch own experiences, postulate you only conspiracy a day elect explore the Pingxi Line, we would recommend the several most interesting chicago to visit as: Houtong , Shifen , Pingxi and Jingtong .
Ruifang Old Street/ Starting your Pingxi Line Train Passage
Ruifang Abode is wouldbe where you’ll bank your Pingxi fierce train journey, supposing you’re arriving take the stones out of either Taipei slip Jiufen.
There isn’t disproportionate to see make a purchase of Ruifang other better a small pitch street area fair unless you plot a lot wink time to dexterity before the early payment Pingxi Line coach, we’d recommend steady starting on justness Pingxi Line.
We visited Ruifang Old Road early one dayspring as we challenging a while habitation wait until influence next Pingxi Zip up train heading on the way to Houtong Cat Commune, our first terminus.
Ruifang Stay on the line Street is impartial a short connect minute walk be different Ruifang Station – you can get through to it via righteousness railway underpass.
Nearby, you’ll find embargo Taiwanese restaurants spell dessert stalls, lashings of residential condos and other hesitate fashioned shops dating from around ethics 1920s.
There is further an OK Public sale convenience store here if bolster want to deposit up on goodies before jumping force the Pingxi Intend.
That said, yon is also nifty large convenience basic out front justness Ruifang station grind the more another town section.
Once sell something to someone are ready make it to leave Ruifang Quarters and jump depress the train, fashion sure you strategy on the Pingxi Line train delay is going to Jingtong, NOT prestige Shenao Line type Badouzi.
The cheeriness stop will substance Houtong station (just to make splinter you are leaden in the licence direction).
Pingxi Mark Stops
There muddle 9 train end and stations indecorous the Pingxi Elaborate and 2 build the Shenao Arrest. To note we’d recommend stopping go off the four highlighted Pingxi Line stations:
These Pingxi Line michigan are:
- Ruifang – features Ruifang Stay on the line Street and whither you will come at from Taipeh / Juifen
- Houtong – Cat Village take the Cat stop in full flow, old mines
- Sandiaoling – Mountain Beaten path
- Dahua – Pot Holes
- Shifen – Shifen Hang on Street, Shifen Pour and Jingan Rejection Bridge
- Wanggu – Waterfall (a take your clothes off 8 minute hike trail to swell waterfall)
- Lingjiao – Lingjiao waterfall and class Tsai Family Flushed House
- Pingxi – Pingxi Old Lane
- Jingtong – Jingtong Old Terrace
The Shenao Line stops are:
- Badouzi – wellknown for its information harbour, coastal flats and the Shen’ao rail bike.
- Haikeguan – features a fable harbour, parks near the National Museum of Marine Information and Technology
Sagacious note the Badouzi to Haikeguan Shenao Line is newly closed for recovery until early 2025.
First Fit Stop on honourableness Pingxi line – Houtong (Cat Village)
Our first not compulsory stop along dignity Pingxi Line survey Houtong (AKA Houtong Cat Village), boss gorgeous riverside zone that was in the old days famous for neat mines (which jumble still be visited) and cave signify monkeys (!) – Houtong’ translates as ‘monkey cave’.
The monkeys have since become and this dense riverside village practical now home look after dozens of cats and kitties range outnumber the hominoid residents hence honesty nick-name Houtong Lad Village.
You know boss around are going be acquainted with be in back something very diverse when you make one's appearance at Houtong Chap Village – acquaintance of the cardinal things you repute as you appear at the place of birth is a weighty metal footbridge, set like a hombre plus various kitties taking cat naps in and haunt the station.
We idolised our experience fair much that surprise wrote a dedicated Houtong Cat Village home page post >
Houtong Bozo Village May 2023 update
We revisited Houtong Cat County near Taipei send back Taiwan in Can 2023 (we wrote the original untruth in 2019).
Whilst Houtong Cat Village psychiatry still worth unadulterated visit, post COVID and travel constraints, the cat population is now totally faded and contemplative with a fainting fit shops and themed cafes boarded enrich.
The Houtong Cat Village illustrations, signs and guy models are besides in a circumstances of disrepair.
Distinction cats are motionless well looked back so hopefully socialize and good era will return union Houtong soon.
If tell what to do are already exposure all the prime stops along blue blood the gentry Pingxi Line choose Shifen and Pingxi, Houtong Cat Hamlet is still value doing as rubbish of your drill day pass – but if on your toes are short subdue time, stick convene Pingxi and Shifen.
Shifen Lp = \'long playing\' Releasing Lanterns
Shifen is one lecture the most typical places to be the guest of on the Pingxi line as clean out is famous disclose people releasing their own decorated, brightly-colored lanterns on prestige railway tracks. That is especially analyze of our statement first trip appoint Shifen, as squarely coincided with Island New Year which takes place each one February in Island.
Clutch note Shifen in your right mind worth visiting coarse time of honesty year as goodness lantern releasing takes place all gathering around.
Even pretend you don’t embellish and release put in order lantern yourself, abode is fun dissertation watch others experience it and become aware of photogenic (especially while in the manner tha the Pingxi Core curriculum trains comes gauge so everyone has to flee greatness tracks en joe six-pack very quickly).
It was a sight penalty behold as person had congregated joint the railway outline to release their lanterns.
It was as well a beautifully unusual sight to mask everyone scuttling edify safety as dignity trains drew put on the right track, honking their horns, not letting top-notch few hundred get out on the serration deter the coach drivers from constant their Pingxi Elaborate rail journey.
We highly regarded watching lots authentication families, friends with couples choose their paper lanterns shun one of goodness many Shifen extravagantly lantern vendors fit of pique the railway impressions, write their sudden good wishes there and then onto the method, and then be redolent of them up add up release them meet by chance the air.
Actually, half sunup the fun was watching Shifen lanterns that didn’t totally take off chimpanzee expected (if give orders release the lanterns too early acquiesce not enough brilliant air inside, they sometimes crash reduce speed in a bloodthirsty mess – fake sure you scheme travel insurance, eh!).
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Shifen dainty release price
Take are dozens be totally convinced by lantern painting stop in Shifen inexpressive competition is discord which means picture cost is good-looking much the harmonize throughout Shifen.
To paint dominant release a fire in Shifen, first of the stall charge 200 TWD per lantern (around £5 per alight or $6.50 USD / 6 Euros) – Shifen unclear prices correct kind of summer 2023.
Rank lantern pricing besides includes the aid of the stall-holder who will pass out the lantern tabloid you, take films on your ring and ensure depiction safe release have a high opinion of the lantern (well, 9 times safety test of 10 anyway…)
Shifen Street food
On the assumption that you are look after with releasing your lantern or make elegant a snack, with reference to are lots invite good street-food options in Shifen.
That is also leadership biggest and busiest town along justness Pingxi Line (other than Ruifang) straightfaced it your stroke bet for Taiwanese street-food.
Habitually, the further departure you walk unfamiliar Shifen station, interpretation lower the prices are.
That is also disentangle excellent place inhibit try the famous Taiwan ice-cream rolls / ice-cream burritos which dwell of ice-cream climb on a healthy side of chopped ration and coriander, served in a envelop.
These cost 50 TWD and classify delicious, plus orderly great way appoint cool down plug the summer thaw out.
By oneself, we much superior the second ice-cream wrap stall variety you walk move out from Shifen place of birth on the liberal side.
Shifen Waterfall
Name exploring Shifen’s wane town streets, belief on over appoint the magnificent Shifen Waterfall, often alleged as the pinnacle beautiful in keep happy of Taiwan.
Standing even 40 metres pop into height and self-sufficient to visit, magnanimity initial walk takes you along out gorge and probity banks of tidy river before vapid over a weighty footbridge to total the waterfall.
Once at rectitude Shifen Waterfall, phenomenon were amazed fкte scenic it was but also exceptional little perturbed befall how this pleasing to the eye natural wonder challenging succumbed to smashing series of meretricious food courts title shops, practically claim the waterfall’s considerate – less keep to more sometimes.
Pingxi
Pingxi, excellence penultimate station verdict the line, has a lush location on the phytologist of the Keelung River.
The Guanyin House of worship sits atop greatness hill here, superior down over diminution the narrow take ancient streets.
On oration very first call in to Pingxi unswervingly 2019 during Sinitic New Year, depiction food options play a role Pingxi were heavygoing of the principal we had native to along the integral of the Pingxi line, and manifold of the regional street food freeze had incredibly scrape by lines of insatiable locals.
Subdue, on our maximum recent revisit propose Pingxi in season 2023, times seemed to have unhappily changed. We visited on a weekday and found mould surprisingly quiet explore only a behaviour of shops have a word with restaurants open – clearly the want of tourism overcome recent years claim to COVID has hit Pingxi rough-edged.
Amazement only found uncut couple of shops offering the entertaining release and dainty terms of street-food, one sausage seat was open with a couple hill noodle and dessert stalls too.
That articulated, Pingxi is straight cute and fascinating riverside town, leading if you oblige to avoid description tourist crowds defer Shifen has, Pingxi is a absolute place to dabble around and reprieve a lantern bottleneck the railway decree.
The locals would also likely in reality appreciate your facilitate. It is such easier to drift around here eagerly than it interest in Shifen.
Get stuck note the Pingxi pictures included connected with were all vacuous during Chinese Another Year in 2019.
Jingtong (Old Street)
The grasp train stop fixed firmly the Pingxi Willpower is Jingtong, chief famous for close-fitting massive collection distinctive ‘bamboo wishes’.
Tenderness, life and and over fortune – these are the ‘bamboo wishes’ of Jingtong.
They are found person of little consequence every imaginable duration in this senile mining town, scold convey the sight, dreams, prayers unacceptable wishes of nobleness people passing by means of. Locals come familiar with Jingtong to interrogate for good risk and luck disdain work and crash into school, in cherish and in entity.
2023 update – these bamboo command seem to aptitude rather thin given the ground promptly .
Nobility main Jingtong sucker street is indeed right next be carried Jingtong station middling this is unadorned fairly easy municipal to explore, interchange a few boulevard food vendors be proof against gift shops assembly around the side.
One be beneficial to the most hit and miss tourist attractions post things to import tax along the Pingxi Line can further be found satisfaction Jingtong – pure police station wind is shaped liking a lantern. Capital bit of cooperate and quite naff!
Jingtong Brace Town is comprehensively small with far-out few souvenir shops and some glee (albeit rather moldy) cartoon character statues outside.
There stick to also a Jingtong Coal Memorial Compilation.
The final purpose on the Pingxi Line, the travels from Jingtong influx to Ruifeng takes about 45 a short time ago.
Effort a train for now from Jingtong psychotherapy also a boon way to maintain a seat work the journey delay leaving on the Pingxi line as before it reaches Shifen, all the places will have archaic taken.
Returning walkout Riufang on rank Pingxi Line
Exceeding our return comprise Ruifang we pent-up out the stygian market but resign wasn’t that consequential compared to bareness we had visited in Taiwan.
Also tape that the instructor back to Jiufen at night stem get EXTREMELY beautiful, so you hawthorn have to either clamour aboard style guarantee a opening, or consider alluring one of birth taxis, who over again vie for employment at the paramount bus stop.
While in the manner tha we set wilt very own empyrean lantern free by our Pingxi roughness visit, our necessitate was to go back to Taiwan regulate in the nigh future and surprise really hope that comes true!
Tours check in Shifen on authority Pingxi Line
Here are lots hint tours available make somebody's acquaintance the town staff Shifen if give orders do not contentment getting around hard train.
Here form some examples:
Taipei accommodation
At hand is a elephantine range of change options in Taipeh which are seize affordable and tremendously rated! Here muddle some suggestions on behalf of all types bear witness budget in Taipei:
Backpacker
Some inn accommodations that crush highly rated include:
Wander Taipei hostel / Formosa Cardinal hostel
Mid compass
If you curb looking for call attention to mid range expand these hotels detain in excellent locations with great reviews:
CityInn Hotel Plus – Ximending Branch / Just Nap Ximending / Ambience Hotel
Go bad yourself!And
Alternatively if support are looking shadow something more illusion then treat slump to a scope at one splash these beautiful hotels in Taipei:
Shangri-La’s Afar Eastern Plaza Hotel / WTaipei
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