Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City has been hailed by international media as a must-visit event. To allow visitors to deeply explore the railway scenery, old street vibes, and coal mining heritage along the Pingxi Line, the New Taipei City Tourism Bureau and Lion Travel have jointly launched the Pingxi Mini-Tour. This journey takes you through three Pingxi settlements—Shiding, Pingxi, and Jing Tong—while also including a stop at Jing Tong’s new landmark, the Sky Lantern Police Station. You can even exclusively release an adorable “Round Dumpling Sky Lantern.” For just NT$450, you can enjoy an in-depth experience of Pingxi.
The New Taipei City Government has introduced an in-depth Pingxi Mini-Tour, allowing a full day of exploration for just NT$450. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau)
Pingxi is not just about sky lanterns—the area’s railway views, old street culture, and coal mining history are all worth savoring in detail. To offer visitors a deeper experience, the Pingxi Mini-Tour visits three major settlements. At the Shiding Coal Mine Museum, step back in time to learn about the region’s coal mining history and even try out simulated mining work and environments. Stroll along Shiding Old Street to see how modern creative elements blend with traditional sky lantern culture, giving rise to a variety of innovative goods. Then head to the quaint-style Pingxi Old Street, nestled along the sloping hillsides and flanking the railway tracks. Traditional houses line the streets, with Japanese-era-style fabric shops and ice cream stores still preserved. Trains pass through every alleyway, creating the unique sight of “trains flying through the sky.” Participants on this tour can also exclusively release the super cute “Round Dumpling Sky Lantern,” the only officially licensed version in Taiwan. As your wish-carrying Round Dumpling Sky Lantern floats upward, so too do the stresses and worries of daily life drift away. At the final stop on the Pingxi branch line—Jing Tong—you can walk through the intertwined memories of railways and coal mines from days gone by. A new highlight awaits at Jing Tong’s newest landmark: the Sky Lantern Police Station. Watch a 3-minute LED light show at the top of the hour, then witness your own wishes ascend within the nine-meter-high glass sky lantern display, bringing this journey to a perfect close.
The “Pingxi Mini-Tour,” which offers a full experience of the railway, old street settlements, and sky lanterns, has a market price of NT$1,260—but is now available at a 65% discount for just NT$450. The package includes a coal mining museum experience, a miner’s lunch box, and a NT$100 shopping voucher that can be used in the Pingxi, Jing Tong, Shiding, and Shenkeng old streets. Online registration is open all day starting at 9 AM on February 26. The first departure is on March 17, with tours operating only on weekdays (Monday to Friday). Each tour accommodates 40 people, with 1–2 tours per week, totaling 2,000 spots available. For more details, visit the New Taipei City Tourism Bureau website or check the Lion Travel website and designated retail locations.
● Further Reading:
Ogasawara and Mushan Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom—Pure White and Incredibly Romantic
www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=9664