✨Book Your Taipei Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji Tour Here✨

Hey there, fellow travelers!

I'm Nihao Liliri, your go-to blogger for exploring Greater China.

Today, I’m sharing all the details about the famous Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji tour—

a must-do experience when visiting Taipei!

I’ll walk you through the essential info, why I highly recommend it,

and my honest review of doing the tour on a rainy day.

📌 Nihao Liliri's Exclusive Taiwan Travel Note

Don't miss my top tips for rainy day touring! Read on until the very end 🤍

Taipei Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji Tour: The Basics

If you've been researching Taipei travel, there's one itinerary you've definitely come across.

That's right, the 'Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji' tour.

The Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji tour takes you on a journey through Yehliu, Shifen, Jinguashi, and Jiufen all in a single day. It’s incredibly popular because it packs unique geological landscapes, cultural experiences, and stunning evening views into one seamless trip.

✔️ Why should you book this as a guided tour?

Taiwan is generally a super easy destination for independent, solo travel. However, when it comes to Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji, I highly recommend taking a guided tour.

The reason is simple: the distance between these spots is quite significant, and trying to hop between them using public transit is a major logistical headache.

Take a look at the map screenshot above.

To the east of Taipei, you'll see four heart icons.

These mark the locations of Yeh / Shi / Jin / Ji.

I actually traveled to Shifen on my own during a previous trip.

But reaching Jiufen—the absolute highlight of the tour—by public transport was incredibly inconvenient. I ended up having to give up on visiting it back then!

✔️ Yeh-Shi-Ji vs. Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji vs. Yeh-Shi-Falls-Jin-Ji

What's the difference, anyway?

There are so many tour operators in Taipei offering these routes, meaning you'll run into a lot of similar-sounding variations.

First, Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji is the most popular, classic option, covering

Yehliu, Shifen, Jinguashi, and Jiufen.

Yeh-Shi-Ji is the exact same route but excludes Jinguashi.

The itinerary is slightly shorter, but the price difference is usually minimal.

Yeh-Shi-Falls-Jin-Ji adds a stop at the scenic Shifen Waterfall.

Reviews on the waterfall are quite mixed—if you love nature and scenic views, I'd say go for it. Otherwise, many travelers mention it's totally fine to skip!

You can easily choose the route that best fits your travel style and schedule! 🙏🏻

✨Book Your Taipei Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji Tour Here✨

My Honest Review of the Taipei Yeh-Shi-Ji Bus Tour

Chasing the Rain

I actually did the full Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji tour during my second trip to Taiwan. This was my third visit, and I was traveling as a group of four with the moms from both sides of our family. Since our trip was short and we wanted to conserve the moms' energy, we opted for the shorter, more manageable Yeh-Shi-Ji tour.

The Fun Trip Yeh-Shi-Ji tour we booked started around 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, which was perfect because it let us enjoy our morning in the city before heading out.

We met up and boarded the bus in Ximending. Most tours let you board at either Ximen or Taipei Main Station. Because the bus stops at Ximen first, it's the best option if you want to secure good seats next to your travel companions.

Even when I travel independently, I love booking a guided day tour early in my trip. It's the absolute best way to gather background history, local context, and tons of insider tips and restaurant recommendations directly from the guide!

Yehliu Geopark

After about an hour's drive from Taipei, we arrived at Yehliu.

This place is famous for its "bizarre rock formations" shaped over thousands of years by sea breezes, waves, and erosion. It’s an officially protected area and one of Taiwan's most iconic natural wonders!

Since Yehliu is right on the coast, it rains quite often here.

As soon as you step off the bus, vendors will try to sell you umbrellas and raincoats. You can bring your own ahead of time or just buy them there—they aren't too expensive. Just don’t expect high quality...

✔ Here are the famous photo spots to keep on your radar!

Queen’s Head

Candle Rock

Mushroom Rock

When I visited the Queen’s Head 10 years ago,

people said her neck might snap off at any moment,

but she's still standing strong! (Or is she?)

The line to take a photo with her was super long, so I gave up pretty quickly, haha.

Shifen

This railway town used to be a major transport hub back in the day.

Today, it's world-famous for its 'sky lanterns.'

The local staff are absolute pros at taking photos and videos while you release yours,

making it the perfect keepsake from your trip!

Just a heads-up: the price of the lanterns varies depending on how many colors you want and whether you write your wishes on 2 or 4 sides!

Since I joined a tour, there was a designated lantern shop partnered with our agency. You get in line to release your lantern in the order you finish writing, so I highly recommend thinking of your wishes beforehand so you can write them down quickly!

It was raining pretty hard when it was my turn, so I was worried if it would actually fly...

but it soared up beautifully! Haha.

After releasing our lantern in Shifen,

the weather got quite chilly, so we headed back to the bus.

But here's an absolute must-do on your way back:

You have to try the stuffed chicken wing rice and Taiwanese sausage! 😋😋😋

Our tour guide actually took orders in advance for the chicken wing rice and brought them right to us!

As for the sausage, you can find the stall right near the entrance of Shifen.

My husband couldn't eat the sausage we bought at the night market the day before because of the strong gamey smell, but he loved this one! He actually regretted not buying more.

Both are savory, salty, and incredibly delicious, so I highly recommend giving them a try!

Jiufen

Jiufen, famous as the inspiration for Spirited Away!

(Though the director famously denied this, right?)

The night view is absolutely stunning, so it attracts crowds of visitors.

There are night markets tucked away in every alley, and there are so many people.

They sell delicious desserts and tea, and yes, there are so many people.

Did you catch that? I emphasized it three times!

There's a reason Jiufen is often called "Jiok-fun" (Hell-fun) in Korea...

Since the night view is so gorgeous, everyone flocks here right at sunset.

But you can't just skip it, right? Haha.

If you wander through the winding side alleys, you can actually find quiet red lantern spots with no people around—that's your cue to snap away!

If you follow the night market all the way through, you’ll reach this famous photo spot!

Our guide took us through a secret shortcut, which is honestly the biggest perk of booking a tour.

Even though we were practically rubbing shoulders with everyone to get a shot,

the atmosphere is incredible, and it’s an amazing place for photos.

This is a photo I took during my first trip here,

and it definitely feels like it’s gotten way more crowded since then... haha.

Tips for Booking Your Bus Tour

I've been on the Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji bus tour twice now,

so I've put together some essential booking tips for you!

Tip #1! Board your bus at Ximen Station!

If you're taking a weekend bus tour and board at Taipei Main Station, you might end up sitting apart from your travel buddies.

Tip #2! Write down your Shifen lantern wishes in advance

If you prepare your messages on the bus ride from Taipei, you can release your lantern much faster with less waiting around.

Tip #3! A great tour guide makes all the difference!

On my first trip with a friend,

our guide wasn't a native speaker but just someone who knew the language. They didn't share much about Taiwan and gave us very little free time, which wasn't the best experience.

For my second trip, since I was traveling with our moms, I read tons of reviews before booking. I chose a company with native guides and glowing feedback, and it was absolutely fantastic.

✨Book Your Taipei Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji Tour Here✨

Pro-Tips for a Rainy Day Tour

Taiwan is known for its frequent rain,

so you might run into some wet weather on your tour day.

First, pack a lightweight umbrella from home. It'll come in handy not just on the tour but throughout your entire trip.

Second, just buy a cheap disposable poncho!

Street vendors will try to sell you various kinds, some cheap and some expensive. I highly recommend just getting a cheap, disposable one.

Thinking of buying a high-quality one to reuse later?... Trust me, you won't use it again.

Third, pre-book a foot massage for after the tour

Bus tours have a pretty packed itinerary to begin with, and a rainy day makes walking slippery and even more exhausting. I booked a foot massage in advance for the end of the day, and it was hands down the best decision ever.

And that's everything you need to know about the Taipei Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji bus tour!

If you're on a tight schedule like I was, I highly recommend the afternoon-start Yeh-Shi-Ji tour. Have an amazing trip to Taiwan!

Zàijiàn! 🖐🏻🖐🏻🖐🏻

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