Another historic town of Taiwan that is well worth a visit is the town of Shifen, east of Taipei. Even standing in the Shifen Railways Station, you get a sense of the humble history of this town which began as a hub for transporting coal. From there you’ll find the local marketplace, with street food and souvenirs for sale. It’s then time to explore the Old Streets of Shifen, a series of alleyways and lanes which make up this old-fashioned town. The other big draw of Shifen, besides the annual Sky Lantern Festival, is Shifen Waterfall which is just northeast of town. With a 40 meter drop and beautiful scenery, it’s considered one of Taiwan’s best waterfalls.
