Pingxi Branch Rail Line
No. 12 Zhonghua St., Pingxi, New Taipei, 226
First constructed in 1921 to transport coal, the Pingxi Branch Rail Line—often known simply as the “Pingxi Line”—is today an enchanting tourist attraction. Stretching eight miles (13 kilometers) through some of the Taipei area’s loveliest scenery, the single-track railway wends its way through the photogenic Keelung River Valley.
The Basics
A popular day-trip destination for visitors to Taipei looking to trade urban buzz for verdant tranquility, the Pingxi Branch Rail Line offers a new way to take in the scenery of the Ruifang and Pingxi Districts. The narrow-gauge railway, completed during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, was later transformed for tourism; today, it links Ruifang and Jingtong, and visits many of the most scenic former coal mining towns in the vicinity, including Shifen and Pingxi.
The Pingxi Branch Rail Line features on a variety of day-trip itineraries from Taipei, including small-group nature tours and excursions to the northeast coast.
Things to Know Before You Go
- For a flexible sightseeing option, purchase a 1-day pass, and enjoy the freedom to hop on and off where and when you wish.
- Discover the area at its most festive when you visit for the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, held every year in early February.
- The Pingxi Branch Rail Line is popular among hikers, who disembark at Shifen to visit the Shifen Waterfall or walk the Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail from Sandiaoling.
How to Get There
It is roughly 19 miles (30 kilometers) from central Taipei to Ruifang Station. Take a northbound trains from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang Station; most journeys are under one hour. Alternatively, several bus lines connect the two cities, including the 1062 (from Zhongxiao Fuxing Station) and the 2025 (from Liuzhangli Station). Taxis and guided tours make travel even simpler.
When to Get There
Trains run roughly once per hour, between 5am and 9pm; research exact times in advance of your travels. Note that weekend travel is much busier; for a calmer experience, ride the rails on weekdays.
Highlights Along the Way
The Pingxi Branch Rail Line connects many of Taiwan’s most charming heritage towns. Depart at Shifen to explore its Old Street, which is lined with traditional eateries and shops. You can also explore Pingxi, where releasing floating lanterns is a beloved local tradition. Houtong—Taiwan’s cat village—is also home to hundreds of felines who are looked after by a team of local volunteers, and is the perfect destination for cat lovers.
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