No need to pay NT$100 anymore — Pingxi’s “Shifen Waterfall” may become free as early as next year

▲ With a drop of about 20 meters and a width of around 40 meters, Shifen Waterfall in Pingxi is the largest curtain-style waterfall in Taiwan and one of the must-visit attractions when traveling to the area. (Photo / Taken from Wikimedia Commons)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Shifen Waterfall in Pingxi will soon be free to visit. New Taipei City Government said it has started acquiring land from local businesses this year and plans to hand over management to the New Taipei Department of Tourism at the end of the year. Once safety inspections are completed, the site will open to the public, and visitors could enjoy this “Niagara of Taiwan” without paying the NT$100 entrance fee as early as next year.

Known as the “Niagara of Taiwan,” Shifen Waterfall is one of the must-see natural wonders in Pingxi, alongside the sky lanterns. The deep pool beneath the waterfall is often shrouded in mist, and when sunlight hits, a rainbow can often be seen arching across it—earning it the nickname “Rainbow Pool.” It attracts thousands of visitors every month. However, since the waterfall is located within a privately operated amusement park, an NT$100 admission fee has always been required, sparking ongoing debate over whether “you should have to pay to see a waterfall.”

According to the United Daily News, the Shifen Shanshui Amusement Park, which currently manages the site, originally purchased the land from the National Property Administration and charged between NT$100 and NT$200 for entry and waterfall viewing. The park was briefly closed in 2009 but reopened the following year, continuing to charge NT$100 per visitor to this day.

Lin Chongzhi, deputy secretary-general of New Taipei City’s Department of Tourism, stated that the reason why the National Property Administration sold the land back then is unclear. What is known is that the administration was reprimanded by the Control Yuan, and it has been confirmed that Shifen Waterfall is a “public asset” that shouldn’t be monopolized by private interests. Therefore, four years ago, New Taipei City designated the area as a “County-designated Waterfall Park” and began acquiring over one hectare of land from the owners. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and after safety checks, the site could reopen as early as next year.