Shihfen Waterfall

　　Shihfen Waterfall is located in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, and is a popular site along the Pingxi Branch Line of the Taiwan Railway. It is situated in the upper reaches of the Keelung River waterfall cluster. With a drop of about 20 meters and a width of approximately 40 meters, the majestic waterfall and its powerful flow make it the largest curtain-style waterfall in Taiwan.

　　Shihfen Waterfall is located in Nanshan Village, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, between Dahuay Station and Shihfen Station on the railway branch line, within the Shihfen Scenic Area. The scenic area is actually situated on a tributary of the Keelung River and is classified as a waterfall-canyon type among Taiwan’s scenic spots. The Keelung River, the largest and longest river in northern Taiwan, has undergone significant erosion at its source and been shaped by nearby rugged terrain, resulting in numerous faults and unusual rock formations. As the river flows over these features, its speed increases, giving rise to many spectacular waterfalls. From Houzhuang in the north to Sandiaoling, and extending to Shihfenliao and Pingxi, a series of cascading waterfalls have formed, with Shihfen Waterfall being the most renowned.

　　The Shihfen Waterfall Park features camping areas, barbecue zones, villa accommodations, riverside fishing facilities, an animal zone, a stone forest recreation area, the Dajia Mountain viewpoint, a suspension bridge, a wilderness fitness training ground, a children’s splash pool, and a forest of 120 stone-carved Guanyin statues. Since the Shihfen Scenic Area is privately operated (the land is managed by Shihfen Grand Waterfall Recreation Co., Ltd.), visitors must purchase tickets to view the waterfall.

　　Visitors can take the Pingxi Branch Line of the Taiwan Railways Administration, as the site lies between Dahuay Station and Shihfen Station, and choose to walk to the waterfall from either station.

　　Although Shihfen Waterfall is public property, access requires passing through privately owned land. This land has been long occupied illegally by Shihfen Grand Waterfall Recreation Co., Ltd., which built unauthorized structures, operated without a tourism and recreation business license, and charged admission fees. Despite this, no officials have been held accountable due to the length of time the issue has persisted. The entrance fee was NT$180. In the future, it was planned to open the site for free and reclassify the scenic area as a county-designated park. However, the county government later decided to legalize the operator’s presence, maintaining paid entry, with the ticket price reduced to NT$80 for adults, NT$50 for half-price tickets, and free admission for seniors aged 70 and above, children under 110 cm, and residents of Shihfenliao. In June 2010, following an urban planning revision, Shihfen Waterfall was reclassified as parkland, and the decision was approved by the Ministry of the Interior’s Urban Development Committee. The New Taipei City Tourism Bureau announced that Shihfen Waterfall has been designated as a county park, and upon acquisition of the land based on official valuation, the park gate will be removed and a pedestrian walkway constructed to allow free public access to the waterfall.

　　For those taking the Pingxi Branch Line of the Taiwan Railways Administration, the site is located between Dahuay Station and Shihfen Station, and visitors may choose to walk to the waterfall (though safety should still be observed).

　　When visiting on December 29, 2012, construction work was still ongoing. Visitors should check in advance whether the construction has been completed, otherwise only limited views may be available.