Loading...
Discover the magic of Taipei's outskirts with the popular Yessji Bus Tour! Explore Yehliu's unique geology, release lanterns in Shifen, and witness Jiufen's enchanting nightscape. An unforgettable day trip for just ~$6!
Taipei, Taiwan Travel
Yeh-Shi-Ji Bus Tour: My Honest FunTrip Review
Words & Photos © Hi-Bubu
Most travelers heading to Taipei, Taiwan
opt for the famous 'Yeh-Shi-Ji Tour' to explore
various stunning suburban attractions for just ~$6.
But with so many local tour companies out there,
you might be wondering which one is the best choice.
Today, I’m excited to share all the details and my honest review
of the FunTrip Yeh-Shi-Ji Bus Tour
that I used during my recent Taipei trip!
The absolute must-do 'Yeh-Shi-Ji' tour in Taipei
is an acronym named after the first Korean characters
of these three beautiful suburban spots:
Yeh : Yehliu Geopark
Shi : Shifen Old Street
Ji : Jiufen Night View
While there are many variations like Yeh-Shi-Jin-Ji or Yeh-Shi-Waterfall-Jin-Ji,
I personally highly recommend the classic Yeh-Shi-Ji tour.
The main reason is that you get to see only the most iconic highlights,
▶️ and since the tour departs at 1:30 PM,
you can easily enjoy your morning exploring the city first.
Plus, covering just these three main spots keeps the tour incredibly budget-friendly
at only ~$6, making it super easy on your wallet
with absolutely no travel budget strain.
You can book the exact tour I used through the link below,
so feel free to check it out if you're planning your trip!
> Book the Taipei Yeh-Shi-Ji Bus Tour Here <
Next up, let me share my full tour experience
and the best things to do at each destination!
📍 You can board the tour bus at either Ximen Station or Taipei Main Station,
choosing the one most convenient for you.
We joined the meetup at Ximen Station, Exit 5, at 1:30 PM.
After confirming our booking with our guide,
we snapped a quick photo of the board showing the bus plate number
and the guide's contact info before boarding.
It was a large tour bus carrying nearly 50 passengers,
but the seats offered decent legroom and space,
making it surprisingly comfortable despite the size.
Our tour guide for the day was Yulim.
From the moment we departed, she shared fascinating facts
and history about Taiwan, keeping us fully engaged
and making the travel time fly by!
📍 After about an hour's drive, we reached our first stop:
Yehliu Geopark.
Yehliu is a stunning coastal geopark where you can witness
incredibly unique, otherworldly rock formations carved by nature.
However, since it was raining cats and dogs that day,
I was a bit worried about whether we'd get a good view.
Amusingly, because of the sudden rain, a crowd of local vendors
had gathered in the parking lot selling raincoats.
They were a bit pricey at 100 TWD each,
but we bought one anyway to keep our clothes from getting completely soaked.
Once we entered Yehliu, we listened to the guide's introduction
to the geopark and the stories behind its most famous rocks...
As soon as we arrived, we were given some free time!
We spent about 70 minutes exploring this spot.
It was raining a bit, and being by the ocean, the wind was incredibly strong,
so Yehliu wasn't as crowded as I expected.
And perhaps because of the powerful waves crashing in,
some zones were closed off to the public.
So, we decided to focus on capturing
the top three must-see rocks here.
First up is the iconic symbol of Yehliu, the Queen's Head Rock.
The "neck" of the rock is continuously being eroded by the wind,
and they say it might actually break within the next few years.
So if you visit, taking a photo here is an absolute must!
The line to get a shot from the front can be incredibly long,
so I highly recommend grabbing a quick photo from the back instead!
Next up are some lesser-known but
super fun rocks where you can get creative photos.
On the left is the Heart Rock. One look at its shape,
and you'll immediately see why!
The rock on the right is the Princess Rock,
and doesn't it look like she's doing a one-handed cheek-heart pose?
If you pose with your other hand next to it,
you can complete the heart and snap an adorable picture together!
Since both are lovely heart-themed spots,
I highly recommend checking them out and taking some cute photos!
📍 After another hour's drive from Yehliu,
we arrived at our next destination: the Shifen Old Street Railway.
Since we arrived around 5 PM,
the sun was already starting to set (considering it was winter).
Even so, the area was still buzzing with plenty of tourists!
The two ultimate highlights of Shifen are
releasing sky lanterns and indulging in Taiwanese street food!
First, each tour company is partnered with a specific lantern shop.
So, if you just follow your guide,
you'll be able to launch your sky lantern right away.
You can write your wishes—like health, wealth, or love—
on each of the four colored sides of the lantern,
then light it up and watch it soar!
While you're releasing it, the staff at the lantern shop
will help you take photos and videos in all kinds of fun poses,
making it an absolutely unforgettable memory.
Some of you might be looking forward to
releasing the lanterns right on the train tracks.
However, I heard there was recently an accident
where a tourist was struck by a train on the tracks.
Because of this, all sky lantern shops now
have you release them from the sidewalk, so keep that in mind!
Next up is the amazing food you can enjoy in Shifen!
The most famous items are the peanut ice cream roll
and the rice-stuffed chicken wings.
Just like the sky lanterns, each tour company has
its own partnered food stalls.
So, our guide took our orders ahead of time on the bus,
and we got to grab our food right before releasing the lanterns!
Personally, the rice-stuffed chicken wings from the spot
partnered with Fun Trip were absolutely delicious!
Some places serve rice that tastes a bit bland inside,
but this one was perfectly seasoned and so flavorful!
Also, the Taiwanese sausage in Shifen
is a must-try treat you can't miss.
It's incredibly juicy, bursting with flavor with every bite,
and grilled over charcoal for that perfect smoky finish.
The rich, savory meatiness is absolutely top-tier.
Most stalls serve up a similar quality,
so just pick the one that looks the most appetizing to you and go for it!
📍 Moving on from Shifen,
we arrived at our final stop, Jiufen.
Right from the entrance, Jiufen was lit up with glowing red lanterns,
giving off its signature magical, nostalgic vibe.
The rain actually made it feel even more atmospheric and romantic.
First, we walked along with our guide
to check out Jiufen's famous souvenir shops.
They were selling iconic Taiwanese treats like nougat crackers, Shu Shin Bou pineapple cakes, and mango jelly
at surprisingly affordable prices.
They say it's because rent here is cheaper than in the city center,
which makes these budget-friendly prices possible—a pretty interesting fun fact!
After showing us around the entrance area,
our guide led us straight to the most iconic landmark,
the A-Mei Tea House photo spot.
Since the upper paths are always packed with crowds,
we took a slightly quieter side path below to get there.
The photo above is the legendary A-Mei Tea House night view,
which is the main reason people flock to Jiufen!
It's world-famous for resembling the bathhouse in *Spirited Away*,
and looking at the photo, you can totally see why, right?
Jiufen is so incredibly crowded
that it's often nicknamed 'Jiok-fen' (Hell-fen).
As you can see in the photos, hundreds of people crowd onto these narrow stairs,
making it packed to the brim.
We previously visited during Taiwan's National Day in 2024,
and the overwhelming crowd completely drained our energy.
But when we visited on the Friday right after Christmas in 2025,
it was busy but still totally manageable
if you just waited a tiny bit.
So, I highly recommend avoiding Taiwanese public holidays at all costs!
After capturing your shots of the A-Mei Tea House,
you can spend your remaining time shopping for souvenirs
and snacking on local street food.
They say magnets and traditional teas are quite affordable here,
so it's definitely worth browsing around.
We skipped the shopping and went straight for the famous eats:
milk sticks and deep-fried shrimp balls.
The milk stick tasted like a freshly fried donut—absolutely delicious—
while the shrimp balls had a hint of local spices,
so they might be a hit or miss depending on your palate.
📍 Although the official tour ends in Jiufen,
On the way back to the city center,
you can also get off at the Raohe Street Night Market.
Raohe Street is incredibly vibrant right from the entrance,
giving you that authentic, lively Chinese night market atmosphere.
You can try famous Taiwanese night market delicacies like pepper buns,
grilled king oyster mushrooms, and chicken sausages,
so I highly recommend getting off here to grab dinner!
This is actually my second time doing the Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen (YSJ) tour in Taipei,
and every single time, I'm reminded there is absolutely no reason not to do it.
You get to explore three incredible suburban spots
that offer a completely different charm than downtown Taipei,
✅ and since the tour costs less than ~$6,
it's an absolute steal and incredibly budget-friendly.
No matter which tour operator you choose, a little luck with the guide is key,
but Yulim, our guide from Fun Trip, was so fantastic—
her explanations were engaging, and her fun, outgoing personality
made our entire day even more enjoyable!
If you're planning a trip to Taipei,
definitely save today's tour details and review,
and make sure to give the YSJ tour a try.
You can book your tour through the link below!
> Book the Taipei Yehliu, Shifen & Jiufen Bus Tour Here <
▼ Traveling to Taipei? You Must Visit Here Too! ▼
A Must-Visit Suburb Near Taipei, Taiwan: Yilan Bus Tour Review
You can board the tour bus at either Ximen Station or Taipei Main Station. In the article, the group met up and departed from Ximen Station Exit 5 at 13:30.
You will stay at Yehliu Geopark for about 70 minutes, which includes free time. You can see unique and bizarre rock formations, including the iconic Queen's Head, as well as the Heart Rock and Princess Rock.
No. Following past railway accidents, all sky lantern shops now conduct the activity on the sidewalk for safety reasons. Staff from a shop partnered with the tour company will help you with the experience and take photos and videos for you on the sidewalk.
After the official tour ends in Jiufen, you can choose to get off at Raohe Street Night Market on the way back to the city. Here, you can enjoy famous Taiwanese night market foods, such as pepper buns and chicken sausages, for dinner.
The cost of the Funtrip Yehliu-Shifen-Jiufen tour is ~$6. For this low price of ~$6, you can visit all three of the most famous suburban attractions: Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen.
Planning a trip to Taiwan? Here is how to book Taipei 101 Observatory tickets online for the best discount, plus our honest review of the views.
Discover the historic charm of Tamsui, Taipei. From the red brick walls of Fort San Domingo to the iconic filming locations of 'Secret' at Aletheia University.
I used to skip bubble tea, but Yi Mu Ri in Taipei changed everything. Here is why this Yongkang boba shop is an absolute must-visit on your next trip.
Planning a trip to Taipei? Don't miss the iconic Taipei 101 Observatory! We'll guide you through everything from booking tickets to navigating your visit to the 89th floor.
Explore Lanyang Wildlife Kingdom in I-Lan, Taiwan! Perfect for families, this bus tour offers an unforgettable animal encounter. Get ready for fun in 2026!
대만 타이베이 샤오롱바오 딤섬 동파육 맛집 까오지 Kao chi
