Nestled amid the beautiful natural scenery of meandering rivers and verdant hillsides are the quaint towns of the Pingxi District. The Pingxi District was a significant coal mining area in the 1900s and today museums celebrate its mining history. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of rural Taiwan at street markets. Visit Pingxi District to hike trails to scenic spots and delight in the magical ambiance of a lantern festival.
A train line follows the course of the Keelung River and connects the towns. Start in Pingxi, where shops on Pingxi Old Street sell souvenirs and paper lanterns and serve up delicious xiaochi (snacks). Arrive during the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, when crowds gather to launch thousands of lanterns into the sky for the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. Cross the river and hike the Xiaozishan Trail to a viewpoint on Mount Xiaozi.
Just a short train ride west along the river is Jingtong, which was once the most prosperous mining town. Reminders of this era are visible at Jingtong Coal Memorial Park and the Jingtong Mining Industry Museum. Schedule a stop in Lingjiao to admire the Lingjiao Waterfall.
East of the town of Pingxi, Shifen sits at the foot of a landscape of striking ravines and rock formations. Railway tracks run through the middle of Shifen Old Street, whose shops and restaurants exude an old-world charm. Walk along the riverbanks and across bridges to see the vivid green waters of Shifen Waterfall. It’s part of the Shifen Scenic Area, where walking paths bring you up close with nature.
Don’t miss a visit to the Taiwan Coal Mine Museum for an overview of regional mining traditions. It occupies the buildings of a coal mine that operated between 1967 and 1997. See old machinery, vintage photographs and decommissioned railroad vehicles. Walk through a mining tunnel and ride a mine train.
Reach the Pingxi District by driving for about an hour from central New Taipei City. The Pingxi Line connects the towns and villages by train, starting from Ruifang and finishing at Jingtong.
