The “Pingxi Mini Trip” offers fun, food, and the chance to release round-shaped sky lanterns.

▲The 4-meter-tall round-shaped sky lantern is incredibly cute. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

Reporter Chen Rui-zhong / New Taipei Report

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City has been praised by international media as a must-experience event and is a popular attraction for both domestic and international tourists. The railway charm along the Pingxi Line, strolls through the old streets, and the area’s coal mining history are also cultural highlights many visitors enjoy.

To allow travelers to easily explore Pingxi, the New Taipei City Tourism Bureau and Lion Travel have introduced the “Pingxi Mini Trip” tour, visiting the communities of Shiding, Pingxi, and Jingmei. The trip also integrates the key elements of sky lanterns and round-shaped designs, offering a visit to the Sky Lantern Police Station and letting participants release round-shaped sky lanterns.

%Male Lu Bi Xie Ling Mi Zhi Mai Zhen Zhu Zhi (not translated—placeholder name) (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong) stated that he hopes the Pingxi Mini Trip will encourage more people to visit Pingxi.

Chen Kuo-chun, Director of the New Taipei City Tourism Bureauexplained that this initiative is a collaborative effort between New Taipei City and Taipei City to promote off-peak travel to Pingxi. It also combines the region’s coal mining culture and railway heritage, allowing visitors to experience “viewing the round-shaped motifs in Muzha, tasting tofu in Shenkeng, and releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi.”

Wang Rui-yu, Chairman of the Pingxi Township Charm Business Association in New Taipei City, also noted that thanks to international media coverage, Pingxi has now attracted backpackers from all over the world. In addition to visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Japan, an increasing number of Europeans and Americans are coming to explore the old streets and send postcards. Business is estimated to grow by nearly 10% each year.

The New Taipei City Tourism Bureau also mentioned that the Pingxi Mini Trip includes experiences at the Coal Mine Museum, miner’s lunchboxes, and NT$100 shopping vouchers.Online registration officially opened at 09:00 on February 26, with tours departing Monday to Friday, starting on March 17. Each tour accommodates 40 people,and every four participants can release one round-shaped sky lantern.The original value of the activity is NT$1,260, but it is now available for NT$450. For more details, please visit theNew Taipei City Tourism Bureau websiteor inquire at Lion Travel branches.