Shifen Sky Lanterns & Chicken Wings: A Taipei Day Trip Guide 2026

In a charming village nestled along active train tracks,

experience the magic of writing wishes on sky lanterns

and watching them soar into the heavens.

Welcome to Shifen!

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Hello, fellow travelers! It's Ciel, your travel influencer, ready to share an unforgettable experience with you.

Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Shifen, a truly unique and famous spot near Taipei where you can release sky lanterns right from the railway tracks – an absolute must-do on any Taiwan itinerary!

🇹🇼A day trip to Shifen from Taipei is perfect for those who:

✔️ Are wondering where to go for an exciting day trip outside Taipei.

✔️ Want to explore a unique village formed around historic railway lines.

✔️ Dream of releasing a sky lantern with their wishes on active train tracks.

✔️ Are eager to try Taiwan's distinctive Chicken Wing Fried Rice snack.

✔️ Wish to create truly unique and memorable cultural experiences in Taiwan.

What is Shifen?

Shifen is an old coal mining town that has transformed into a lively village built right along the railway tracks. It's a popular stop on the 'Yehliu, Shifen, Jiufen' (often called 'Yes-Ji' or 'Yen-Shi-Jiu') tour, offering the incredible experience of writing your hopes and dreams on a sky lantern and releasing it into the sky from the train tracks.

You'll actually see trains rumble through here, adding to the excitement! The tracks are lined with charming shops, making it a fantastic spot for souvenir hunting. Plus, if you have extra time, the stunning Shifen Waterfall is just a short trip away. And, of course, you absolutely cannot leave without trying the famous Chicken Wing Fried Rice – it’s a culinary adventure you won’t forget!

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As I briefly mentioned, Shifen is a village uniquely formed along active train tracks.

It's famous for the tradition of releasing sky lanterns here, right from the tracks!

As you can see in the photo, people write their wishes on sky lanterns and release them into the heavens. It’s an incredibly unique and memorable experience that I highly recommend. ❤️

Sky Lantern Experience

Given the popularity of sky lantern releases, you'll find numerous shops selling them along both sides of the railway tracks. You can choose between single-color lanterns or multi-colored (four-color) ones. While prices might vary slightly from shop to shop, the difference isn't significant, so you don't need to stress too much about finding the absolute cheapest.

When I visited with a friend previously, we opted for a four-color lantern, but this time I chose a single red one.

Brushes are provided near the lanterns,

so you can write your heartfelt wishes on them!

Once your wishes are written, a staff member will guide you to the tracks to release the lantern high into the sky. What's even better is that they'll help you capture fantastic photos and videos of this special moment, making it an even more treasured memory. This personalized touch is why I highly recommend the experience! ❤️

Sky Lantern Souvenirs

After releasing your lantern, if you have some time, it’s worth browsing the souvenirs sold at the lantern shops. I considered buying a souvenir this time, but the prices seemed to have increased quite a bit since my last visit, so I decided to pass.

Sights and Bites

Beyond the sky lantern vendors, both sides of the railway tracks are bustling with food stalls and souvenir shops. The bubble tea shop pictured here is rumored to be one of Shifen's best!

Beyond the lantern shops, there are dedicated souvenir stores filled with adorable trinkets that are a joy to browse.

Even just checking out the street stalls is a fun experience.

If you venture slightly off the main street, you'll discover even more hidden food vendors.

And you might even spot an adorable local cat!

The Must-Try Shifen Chicken Wing Fried Rice

Shifen is practically synonymous with its famous Chicken Wing Fried Rice! There's a bit of a debate among travelers about whether you *must* eat it at the original branch or if it tastes great everywhere. Having tried both, I can tell you:

It's delicious no matter where you get it, but the original branch just had that extra something that I personally preferred.

The presentation is fantastic, and the taste is even better! What makes it even more satisfying is the price: 75 TWD, which is about ~$2. You really can't beat that value for such a unique and delicious snack!

After enjoying the Chicken Wing Fried Rice, as you walk back the way you came,

you'll come across a bridge that I hadn't had the chance to properly explore on previous bus tours due to time constraints.

You can see how the bridge was historically used, which is quite interesting.

As you cross the bridge,

you'll get a lovely view of the village. It's already a pretty town, but with the added sight of sky lanterns floating upwards, it becomes even more picturesque. So, while I wouldn't say it's a