Sky Lanterns in Shifen in Jiufen and Pingxi
Part of the Jiufen and Pingxi travel guide — see every topic in All Jiufen and Pingxi Guides.
Shifen is the place most people picture when they think of sky lanterns in Taiwan. On the old street, shops line both sides of the Pingxi Line track. You buy a paper lantern, write wishes on its sides with a brush, and then a shop worker helps you light it and let it go from the rails. It rises over the valley and drifts away. The custom is linked to the Pingxi area, and it is now one of the most popular experiences on a day trip from Taipei.
How it works
Pick a shop on Shifen Old Street. Most look the same and offer a similar service. You choose a lantern, and staff hang it on a frame so you can write on all four sides with ink and a brush. Many people write wishes for health, family, work or travel, in any language. When you are ready, staff carry the lantern onto the track, light the fuel pad at the base, and wait until the hot air fills it. Then you let go together. Staff will also take photos with your phone if you ask. The whole process takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. Trains still pass, so always follow the staff when they clear the track.
Colours and wishes
Lanterns come in one colour or in several colours, with one colour on each side. Shops usually show a chart that gives each colour a meaning, such as health, love, money or study. The meanings vary a little from shop to shop, so just choose what you like. Multi-colour lanterns cost more than single-colour ones. Prices are posted on boards outside the shops. Expect to pay a few hundred New Taiwan dollars for a basic lantern. Some shops also sell small lantern-shaped souvenirs, and lantern-shaped ice cream and snacks are common on the street. You do not need to book. On busy weekends you may wait a short time.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
The biggest lantern event takes place around the Lantern Festival, on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. This falls in February or early March. On festival nights, large groups release hundreds of lanterns at the same time, and the sky fills with light. It is a beautiful sight, but the area becomes extremely crowded. Special transport plans, extra buses and road controls are usually in place. Check the New Taipei City tourism website for the dates and transport details each year. If you dislike crowds, visit on an ordinary weekday instead and release your own lantern in peace.
Safety and the environment
A sky lantern is a small fire balloon, and every lantern comes down somewhere. Many land in the forest, on farmland or in the river. Local authorities and community groups run collection schemes to clear fallen lanterns, but not every one is found. Fire risk is low in this wet valley, yet it is not zero. If you want to take part, release one lantern rather than many. Only release lanterns in the official areas, with shop staff, and never on a windy day. Do not try to release lanterns elsewhere in Taiwan, where it may be banned. Watching other people's lanterns rise is also a good experience.
Shifen or Pingxi?
Shifen has the most shops and the famous track scene, so it is busy most of the day. Pingxi Old Street, two stops further up the line, also has lantern shops and is usually quieter. The track at Pingxi runs on a bridge above the street, so the setting is different but still pretty. If you plan to hike the rock peaks near Pingxi, it makes sense to release your lantern there and save time. For photos, late afternoon and dusk are best. A lit lantern stands out clearly against a darker sky, and the shop lights come on along the street.
Sky Lanterns in Shifen at a glance
| Getting there | Shifen or Pingxi station on the Pingxi Line |
|---|---|
| Hours | Most shops open from morning until early evening |
| Cost | A few hundred NT dollars; multi-colour lanterns cost more |
| Festival | Around the Lantern Festival, February or early March |
| Best time | Weekday afternoons; dusk for photos |