Shifen Old Street

Shifen in New Taipei City’s Pingxi District is actually the area's earliest and biggest settlement. The Pingxi Line—a branch railway built back in the coal mining days—winds right along the Keelung River Valley. Long after the mining era faded away, it ended up connecting several charming old streets, including Shifen, Pingxi, and Jingtong. What makes this place super cool is how the old street literally runs right alongside the train tracks. You get to experience the thrill of trains passing right by shop fronts and the fun of strolling right next to the tracks—which is why it’s a super popular spot for movies and TV shows!

The Home of Sky Lanterns Even though people usually call it the "Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival," Shifen Old Street is actually the spot where most of the lanterns are set off. The tracks and the street are on the exact same level here, plus the straight stretch of track is longer and gives people more room. Whenever a train isn't coming through, the tracks fill right up with visitors writing their wishes on lanterns, getting ready to send them up into the sky for good luck.