Shifen Scenic Area (Shifen Visitor Center) Introduction
The Shifen Scenic Area is located in the Pingxi District of New Taipei City, known for its waterfalls, the Pingxi Line railway, and sky lanterns. The geographical location is situated along the main stream of the Keelung River, and it belongs to the waterfall and gorge type of scenic area in Taiwan. Due to the erosion from its source and the nearby cutting terrain, many faults and unique rock formations have formed, resulting in spectacular waterfalls as the river flows swiftly past these features. The series of waterfalls stretches from Houtong to Sandiaoling, and extends to Shifen and Pingxi, creating a chain of waterfalls. Among them, the most notable is the Shifen Waterfall, which stands 20 meters high and 40 meters wide, making it the widest curtain waterfall in Taiwan, often referred to as the "Niagara of Taiwan." The Pingxi Line is one of the three existing railway branch lines in Taiwan. It was constructed along the winding Keelung River and has a total length of 12.9 kilometers, completed and opened to traffic in 1921. Originally built for coal transportation, the Pingxi Line is now one of the most popular railway tourism routes. Each year, the Pingxi International Sky Lantern Festival attracts thousands of visitors during the Lantern Festival and was once voted by the Discovery Channel as the second largest carnival in the world.
