Shihfen Waterfall Park becomes public property; free admission after year-end

Reporter You T-Ru / Taipei reporting

Shihfen Waterfall is Taiwan’s largest curtain-style waterfall and one of the must-visit attractions for many travelers. However, the land around the waterfall was previously acquired by a private company, which erected tall fences to block access, forcing visitors to pay an “admission fee” to view the full waterfall. The New Taipei City Government announced that it will complete the land expropriation process on August 6, allowing free public entry by the end of the year.


▲ Shihfen Waterfall. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

The New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau stated that Shihfen Waterfall is a nationally significant natural landscape and an important natural asset that should belong to and be shared by all citizens, rather than being used as a profit-making tool by certain private companies. To open up Shihfen Waterfall and protect the visiting rights of the public, planning for the establishment of “Shihfen Waterfall Park” began in 2008. In June 2010, the urban plan was amended and officially announced. After the expropriation plan was approved by the Ministry of the Interior in March, the expropriation process will be completed on August 6.

Moving forward, the New Taipei City Government will continue with the handover process. Starting August 6, Shihfen Waterfall will be temporarily closed to the public for facility safety inspections and repairs. The renovations are expected to be completed by the end of this year (2014), after which the park will reopen to all visitors with “free” admission.