Even if you only sleep in Taipei on your trip to Taiwan, you can take an almost endless array of excursions from the capital. Many of these, not surprisingly, are of the natural sort—Yangminshan National Park, for example, offers some of the world’s best urban hikes.
Of course, there’s plenty of culture within Taipei’s orbit as well. Some travelers will head north to the port city of Keelung and eat their way through its night market, while others will go south to Wulai and delight in its aboriginal flavor.
In still other instances, the choice is between the “old street” (lao jie) areas of Jiufen vs Shifen, two towns which, on the surface, don’t seem like they’d suit a one-to-one comparison. Continue reading to learn why they do!
Why So Many Travelers Compare Jiufen to Shifen
It might sound superficial or even obvious, but one main reason that so many travelers choose between Jiufen or Shifen is because their names sound similar, at least in English. What’s interesting is that in Chinese, the second character of Jiufen (份, fèn; share or part) is different from that of Shifen (分, fēn; point or branch) in both character, pronunciation and meaning, even if they look and sound similar. But that’s neither here nor here.
They’re also very close to one another, at least as the crow flies; local topography means that a bus or car ride between them can take the better part of an hour. Importantly—perhaps most importantly, for the sake of this particular discussion—they are both within day-trip distance of Taipei. Perhaps paradoxically, then, is the fact that if you plan to visit both, in might be best to stay overnight in one of them.
Ways to Contrast Jiufen with Shifen
Access from Taipei
Both of these “old streets” are pretty close to Taipei, and do have direct transport options, with Jiufen have more services from more origin points in Taipei on account of its property. The main distinction is that in Shifen, you can go entirely by train: First to Ruifang Station (where you can also continue the rest of the way by by to Jiufen, if you prefer), and from there via the Pingxi Line to Shifen Station.
Best time to visit
Both Jiufen and Shifen are 365-day destinations—there’s not a “bad” day to visit. Still, Shifen has one thing Jiufen doesn’t: The closing chapter of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, which occurs every year on the last day of Chinese New Year. Speaking of lanterns, however, the ones that line Jiufen’s streets mean that nighttime is the best time of day to visit.
Things to do
Although Jiufen is more popular (in large part due to the false belief that it inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away), there are fewer “atrractions” there, with the main one within the two being A-Mei Teahouse and the alleys around it. By contrast, once you finish at Shifen Old Street (no matter what you eat there, and whether or not you release a lantern above the train tracks), you can easily walk to Shifen Waterfall.
Day trip vs overnight
This is a situation where I also feel the Shifen vs Jiufen debate is lopsided. Staying overnight in Jiufen makes practical sense in that you might not want to ride the bus an hour or more back to Taipei after staying there until nightfall. On the other hand, while Shifen’s greater variety of attractions means there’s more reason to stay, there simply aren’t that many accommodations here. Oh, the irony!
Onward excursions
Finishing up in Shifen, most people continue to Jiufen if they haven’t gone there yet. From the old street in Jiufen, meanwhile, there are a few options: Hiking at Teapot Mountain; marveling at the Golden Waterfall; learning at the Jiufen Goldore Museum. You could also continue eastward from Jiufen into Yilan county; from Shifen, I often go westward back toward Taipei, stopping at the Pingxi Old Street or in tea-producing Pinglin en route.
Other Day Trip Destinations Accessible from Taipei
Looking for more getaways from the urban core of Taipei? Here are some of my other favorite options, apart from Shifen and Jiufen:
- The aboriginal town of Wulai, which is located to the south of Taipei and is accessible by bus from Xindian Station, is a somewhat unique option.
- Seeking nature? Ride the Maokong Gondola up a mountain that like Wulai is south of Taipei City or instead head north to Qixing Mountain, within Yangmingshan National Park.
- The port city of Keelung is a standout, whether you eat your way through Miaokou Night Market, or visit the colorful Zhengbin Fishing Harbor.
- Prioritize the less populated parts of Taiwan’s north coast; see the Queen’s Head at Yehliu Geopark, or hit the sand at Baishawan Beach to its east.
Other FAQ About Shifen and Jiufen
Is it better to go to Jiufen or Shifen first?
I personally prefer visiting Shifen first, in part because Jiufen is better as a nighttime destination to me; Shifen Waterfall in particular is really a place you have to see during the daytime. To be sure, since Jiufen is much more crowded, going there first might put you off continuing onward to Shifen.
Is Jiufen far from Shifen?
Jiufen’s geographical distance from Shifen is very minimal—only around 20 km via the most direct road route. If you self-drive, you can make this journey in under 40 minutes; going via public transportation, however, can take you well over an hour, depending upon how you go.
How do I get to Jiufen Old Street from Shifen?
If you don’t self-drive or take an Uber, then you will need to first get a bus from Jiufen Old Street to Ruifang Station. From here, depending upon what timetables look like, it may make more sense to ride the Pingxi Line train to Shifen Station, or to transfer to another bus.
The Bottom Line
Comparing Jiufen vs Shifen isn’t obvious, apart from the fact that both are known in Chinese as lao jie. The former, to be sure, is significantly better known than the latter, and as a result is almost always more crowded. The exception to this rule is at the end of the Chinese New Year holiday, when Taiwan’s most spectacular lantern festival comes to Shifen, and brings tens of thousands of visitors with it. Need personalized help fitting one, both or neither of these old streets into your next trip to Taiwan? Consider commissioning a Taiwan itinerary today! I’ll provide recommendations for activities, meals and accommodation totally suited to your travel style, as well as detailed transportation advice throughout.
