Pingxi Line by Rail in Jiufen and Pingxi
Part of the Jiufen and Pingxi travel guide — see every topic in All Jiufen and Pingxi Guides.
The Pingxi Line is a short branch railway in the hills east of Taipei. It was built in the 1920s to carry coal, and it still runs on a single track up the Keelung River valley. Today it carries visitors to a string of small stations: Shifen for sky lanterns and a big waterfall, Pingxi for steep rock peaks, and Jingtong at the end of the line. The ride is slow and green, and the train itself is part of the trip. It pairs well with Jiufen, which is a short bus or taxi ride from Ruifang station.
The route
Most Pingxi Line trains start at Ruifang, a main-line station on the coast route from Taipei. They pass Houtong and Sandiaoling, then the branch turns inland and follows the Keelung River upstream. The stations after that are Dahua, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi and finally Jingtong. The full ride from Ruifang to Jingtong takes under an hour. The track runs through forest, over small bridges and past rocky river gorges. In a few places it runs right through the middle of a village. At Shifen, shops line both sides of the rails, and people stand on the track between trains to release lanterns. When a train comes, staff clear the track.
Tickets and passes
You can pay with an EasyCard or another Taiwanese transit card. Tap in and tap out at each station, the same as on the Taipei metro. A Pingxi Line one-day pass is also sold. It lets you get on and off as many times as you like in one day, so it is useful if you plan three or more stops. Trains run about once an hour, and some gaps are longer. Check the current timetable on the Taiwan Railway website before you go, and plan each stop around the next train. Trains get very full on weekends and holidays, and you may have to stand for the whole ride.
Where to stop
Shifen is the busiest stop. It has the lantern street on the tracks and a short walk to Shifen Waterfall. Pingxi is the next big village. Its small old street sits under the railway bridge, and several steep rock peaks rise right behind it. Jingtong is the end of the line. It is small and quiet, with a wooden station building and a short street of cafes and shops. Sandiaoling, before the branch turns inland, is the start of a waterfall trail. Houtong, also before the branch, is known for the many cats that live on its hillside. Choose two or three stops; trying to see all of them in one day feels rushed.
A simple plan
Start early from Taipei and take a train to Ruifang. Change to the Pingxi Line and ride to the end at Jingtong, while the trains are still quiet. Walk around Jingtong, then take the train back one stop to Pingxi for lunch or a short hike. In the afternoon, go to Shifen for the lanterns and the waterfall. From Shifen, ride back to Ruifang and take a bus or taxi up the hill to Jiufen in time for sunset. The red lanterns in Jiufen come on at dusk. This plan works best on a weekday, when the trains and streets are much less crowded.
Weather and crowds
The hills around the Pingxi valley are among the wettest parts of northern Taiwan. Rain is common in every season, and the winter monsoon brings long grey, wet spells from about October to March. Bring a rain jacket and shoes with good grip, because station platforms, steps and rocks get slippery. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon storms. On weekends and public holidays the line is very busy, and the queue for the train back from Shifen can be long in the late afternoon. Weekday mornings are the calmest time. Around the Lantern Festival in February or March, the whole valley fills with visitors.
Pingxi Line by Rail at a glance
| Getting there | Train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang, then change to the Pingxi Line |
|---|---|
| Trains | About once an hour; check the Taiwan Railway timetable |
| Cost | Low fares by EasyCard; a one-day pass is sold |
| Ride time | Ruifang to Jingtong takes under an hour |
| Best time | Weekday mornings; less rain in summer than in winter |