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What you’ll do

If a change is as good as a holiday, then a change of scenery on your holiday must be the answer to all the world’s problems. You’ll join your local Taipei host on a day trip to the beautiful mountain towns of Jiufen and Pingxi, just north of Taipei.

Jiufen, a former mining town, is stunning in its opulence and cobbled stone street curiosities. Stop off at a historic tea house and discover for yourself why it became the inspiration for Miyazaki’s film, Spirited Away.

Enjoy some lunch at an authentic local eatery, or, as is the custom in Taiwan, dig into some delicious street food and enjoy it on a park bench with your host.

Next, you’ll travel to Pingxi - home of the famous Sky Lantern Festival. After taking in the wonders of its beautiful natural surroundings, why not make your own lantern and release it into the sky? There’s something liberating about this process, and you’ll feel your spirits soar as you watch it disappear into the heavens.

After your little jaunt into the country, you’ll feel ready to tackle Taipei all over again!

  • Private experience, tailored to you

  • 8 hours

  • Matched to your ideal host

  • Walking tour (may use public transport)

  • Hosted in English (On request: Cantonese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin)

  • Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Experience outline

  • Escape Taipei for a day and visit the historic mining towns of Pingxi and Jiufen with your host
  • Wander through the enchanting cobbled streets and soak up the gold-mining history of Jiufen
  • Take in azure ocean views, charming back streets and traditional Chinese architecture
  • Then, explore Pingxi, another historic mining town where you can make and release a paper lantern into the sky - dreamy times
  • Enjoy an authentic local meal at a spot recommended by your host
  • Get tips from your host about other day trips to make during your stay

Things to know

What’s included

  • Private & personalised experience
  • 8 hours with a host (including travel time)
  • Transport costs
  • Walking experience (other transport can be arranged at an additional cost)

Meeting point

Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

What’s not included

  • Food & drinks
  • Transportation (Other than that provided in the experience)
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Gratuities (optional)

Cancellation

  • Cancel 14 days before the experience for a full refund
  • Worry-free cancellation terms: book with peace of mind knowing that you can cancel for free up to a day before the experience and receive a full refund.

Reviews

    I had an excellent tour, thanks largely to my guide, Kevin Wang. Kevin went above and beyond by providing me with insights, in addition to background info, on the places we visited. Although not originally part of my itinerary, I was very glad that Kevin suggested that we visit the Shifen Waterfalls in Pingxi District. It was admittedly the highlight of my tour. I'm afraid I insisted on staying a little bit longer in Shifen, so we no longer had time to visit the cats in Houtong Village but I promise to visit the cats next time I'm in Taipei. I enjoyed sampling the various Taiwanese delicacies that we found during the tour. If you're a foodie, Kevin will give you suggestions on where to find the best Taiwanese food, including those found in the various night markets inn Taipei.

    February 2024

    Venir C

    We loved it! Our guide Robin was charming and really helpful! 5 Stars!

    August 2018

    Sarah L

    Malin was very professional and showed us different kind of food and places where the locals eat in Hong Kong. We also got to experience traveling in the subway and star ferry. The food was really good and we had a wonderful time. Malin has a very friendly smile and made us feel very comfortable. She was also very accommodating because we wanted to see the symphony of lights and she made that possible she did a fantastic job.

    April 2024

    Humberto A

    He was very friendly and a joy to be around.

    April 2024

    Curtis W

See more reviews

Meet our local hosts in Taipei. One of them will tailor this experience to your wishes!

We’ll expertly match you to your best suited host based on your interests, personality and the experience vibe you’re after.

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