Wandering Fel

Showing posts with label Shifen. Show all posts

Taiwan Travel: Shifen Coal Mine Museum, Shifen

During our last trip to Shifen (see post), we noted that there are actually so many things that you can do in Shifen. For instance, the directory kinda lays down the choices for you.

Shifen Tourist Attractions Directory Taiwan

We wanted to walk to the waterfall, but along the way, we spotted a kinda run-down building. Curiously, we wandered around for a while.

Taiwan Abandoned Coal Mine Museum Shifen

Turns out there is a small museum nearby. It is called the Coal Mine Museum. If you are wondering if it's worth your time to visit this somewhat dubious museum....

The next signboard that we saw mentioned that Super Junior visited this museum in 2011 to film some TV show. Oh my gawd, this is so random. Hahaha.

Super Junior Visited Taiwan Shifen Coal Mine Museum

At the end, I just popped by for a while inside the building while cooled myself down (the weather is burning hot). What's inside the museum? Not much but you can ride the train like what Suju did for a fee of NTD200 to visit the coal mine.

The museum is closed on Mondays and last admission is at 16:00.

Things to do in Jiufen and Shifen Guide, Taiwan

Jiufen

1. How to go to Jiufen?

2. Jiufen Old Street [eat eat eat]

- Taro rice ball [famous local delicacy][link]
- Mochi [link]
- Grilled sausages [link]
- Green glutinous rice cake [another famous local delicacy] [link]
- Peanut and ice cream wrap [link]
3. Relaxing at tea house
4. Visit the tea house that inspired Spirited Away's creator [Jiufen A Mei Tea House]
5. Look at the Nine-Turns-Road which lead to Jiufen [Shooting place for Initial D movie]
6. Buy ocarinas
7. Watch sunset

Shifen

1. How to go to Shifen?
2. Shifen Train Station
3. Eat fried ice cream [link]
4. Releasing sky lantern
5. Shifen Bridge
6. Shifen Waterfall [spring, summer]
7. Shifen Coal Mine Museum

Planning a trip anytime soon to Jiufen and Shifen? You may want to try search for smart deals at Tripadvisor here. Have fun!

Places to visit in Taipei for First Time Visitors

Hey-ho! Here is a summary of places that you may want to visit in Taipei (including its outskirt attractions). Hope this helps!

Taipei / New Taipei City

1. Taipei 101
2. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
3. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall
4. Taipei Main Station
5. Xinbeitou (part 1, part 2)
6. Tamsui
7. National Palace Museum
4. Yongkang Street
5. Ximending

6. Night markets
- Shilin Night Market
- Raohe Night Market
- Shida Night Market

7. Wufenpu
8. Maokong Gondola
9. Longshan Temple
10. Bopiliao Historical Site
11. Taipei Zoo
12. Wulai
13. Martyr Shrine
14. 228 Peace Memorial Park
15. 1914 Huashan Creative Park

Taipei's Outskirt

1. Shifen (part 1, part 2, part 3)
2. Jiufen
3. Yehliu Geopark (spring, summer)

Taiwan Travel: A summer day at Shifen

We are back to Shifen! Simply because it's such a waste to spend a summer day doing nothing at home (although I am a huge fan of taking a nap). =P

So yeah, Shifen, 我回来了! (Wǒ huíláile/ I am back!)

We are going to see the waterfall because my friend has not seen it before. Along the way we saw the railway and a lot of people are taking picture with it (including my friend). Hehe.

If you are wondering if you are able to see the waterfall from on board the train, well no, you can't. So the only way to see the waterfall is by purchasing the entry ticket for access to the waterfall. The waterfall in summer...is kinda dry though.

How do I know? Well, it kinda looks different from the picture on the ticket for a start.

It's still pretty though albeit hot. Very hot. The sun is burning.

On the way back, we bought a pouch where we can hang our keys inside. Ironically, we have not used it until today. Hahaha. They look so cute though. The seller claimed that she has sewn them by her own hands. Handmade. MIT (made in Taiwan). =P

For my previous posts on Shifen, you can go to this shifen1, shifen2 and shifen3. Shifen is really a fun place. You should go! =)

Releasing Sky Lanterns at Shifen

After we had enough food to stuff ourselves with along the rail track in Shifen, we took note of our surrounding and we saw an interesting stuff hanged just beside the track.

Chopper!!!???

If you have not realised it yet, Shifen is also famous for its releasing-sky-lantern activity. You will see the lantern stall at the right and left side of the rail track.

One color lantern will cost you 100NTD but since each color represents different meaning of the wishes (e.g. pink is for love-related wishes while yellow is for money/career-related-wishes), visitors usually choose 4-different-colors for their sky lanterns.

Once you have done picking the color and settle the payment, you are ready to write. The ink and the brush are provided by the shop.

We totally write random stuff on our lantern. Since we cannot remember all the Chinese characters, we mixed our wishes with English. Hahaha.

Once you are done writing wishes, you can let the shop staff know and he/she will help you release the sky lantern. To be honest, all you have to do is holding the lantern while they are preparing the stuff and pose! pose! pose! The staff will help you take picture. Hehehe.

Hope our wishes do come true!!! =)

Taiwan Travel: Shifen Train Station, Pingxi District

The train has arrived at Shifen. If you are not sure where the train is stopping, makes sure to go out from the train once you see the Chinese characters of Shifen (十分).

Shifen is administratively part of Pingxi District, New Taipei City. The train that we rode is part of the Pinxi Branch Rail Line which extends from Sandiaoling to Jingtong stations. The view from the train can be pretty scenic at some sections.

The main attraction in Shifen is Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布/ Shífēn pùbù), which is also known as Taiwan's Niagara Falls. If you do not know where the waterfall is, there is a guide map alongside the rail track. Else, you can just follow other tourists because most of them will definitely go there. =P

There are so many interesting things to see at the stalls located at the right and left side of the rail track. Like the bamboo rolls. Wishes and hopes are written on these bamboo rolls. Apparently these are written by visitors and visitors can just hang these in various places of the town.

The fried ice cream stall immediately attracts our attention. Hahaha. What a hungry monster, we are.

There are three flavors to choose: vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. Yum!

The fried ice cream looks like a Japanese croquette in a way.

Mine is filled with strawberry ice cream. Yum, I love this snack. Hehe.

Shifen Strawberry Fried Ice Cream Taiwan

We managed to bargain 4 pieces at the price of NTD120. The seller was so nice. =)

The Beginning of Shifen Trip

It's time for another trip again. I really love traveling but...it does create hole to my wallet. Thanks goodness the price of traveling inside Taiwan is not that cruel compared to other country. =)

As the place we are going today is located outside Taipei, we are back to Taipei Main Station to purchase our train ticket.

Can you read where are we going? Yep, we are going to Shifen (十分).

As you can see above, the one way ticket from Taipei to Shifen costs us 69NTD.

We still have time before the train come, so we go to the nearest breakfast place we see in our surrounding...

I like McD's breakfast in Singapore but in Taiwan, I LOVE IT. Their milk tea is amazingly good (I guess it's because they are using Dilmah instead of Lipton?).

The Chicken McMuffin is nice too but it can use a little bit of chili sauce. Haha. Too bad, the Taiwanese don't really eat this with chili sauce. =P

We board our train shortly after we finish our meal. There's no direct train to Shifen. You need to go via Ruifang Station and change the train there. The total trip takes around one hour plus.

See you soon in Shifen!

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