Pingxi Mini Trip Essay / A Spontaneous, Unplanned Trip to Pingxi – Relaxing and Pleasant

Text and photos by Av

Spring, perhaps? A little trip to Pingxi with family. With no elaborate plans, we visited this longed-for serene countryside in a casual and carefree manner.

First stop, Jing Tong Station. The wooden station exudes an old-world charm, and the surrounding railway tracks and vintage buildings create a time-travel vibe. As the terminal station of the Pingxi Line, it offers a glimpse into the prosperity of the coal transport era. Though it has declined, this quaint little place now attracts streams of visitors. The large crowds form a striking contrast.

Naturally, we had to take a train ride to experience the charm of the Pingxi Line. So we bought a pass—recall it was 52 NT dollars—which allows unlimited rides all day along the entire Pingxi–Ruifang line (I think that’s how it worked). Whooosh, here comes the train—a diesel one. The seats and space are quite simple, and the rounded arch doors between carriages give it character. Being the terminal station, the train departs in reverse.

Finally on the train, which was also pretty crowded. It moved slowly at first, then picked up speed. Following the winding railway path, the scenery along the way is beautiful—lush forests, streams, and quite a few tunnels too.

After passing several small stations, we got off at Shifen Station and took a moment to appreciate the scenery. We were planning to visit Shifen Waterfall, so we walked along the railway tracks near the station and asked an elderly lady for directions. She smiled and said, “Just keep walking, about 400 meters, it’s very close!” So we kept going, but after a while we still hadn’t reached it. 400 meters, you say? Well, we pressed on. Along the way there were some signs and other people, so we just followed them. We passed some stream pothole formations and crossed a few suspension bridges. After about half an hour, we finally arrived at the waterfall via the railway tracks—our feet were a bit sore. Shifen Waterfall. Since it's located on private land and requires an entrance fee, whether or not to see this spectacular sight is really a matter of personal choice. But it’s quite majestic—the roaring waterfall and the diagonal rainbow across it create a rather poetic scene.

Then came the return trip, another test of our leg strength, but our mood was much lighter. We took the train back toward Pingxi Station. Riding through the streets of the small town was quite unique—it felt like experiencing the wonder of a “train traveling through the sky.”

Along the way, at stops like Shifen and Pingxi, we saw some sky lanterns being released. The lanterns floating upward carried wishes to the sky.

This spontaneous, unplanned Pingxi railway mini trip was relaxing and pleasant—both intellectually stimulating and emotionally enriching—with plenty of rewarding moments.

Think back on each of your Pingxi trips—did they leave different ripples in your heart? Do you still remember the wishes written on those sky lanterns?
Turn your thoughts into words. Write your own story.

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