The best waterfalls in New Taipei

Take the train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang, then transfer from Ruifang Station to Shifen. Once you arrive, you’ll first reach Shifen Old Street. Walk straight along the old street, then open Google Maps and search for “Shifen Visitor Center.” After arriving at the visitor center, you’ll need to walk another 15 minutes to reach Shifen Waterfall.

Didn’t expect to see such a breathtaking waterfall in Taiwan… The sound of the rushing water, the mist, the whole atmosphere—it honestly feels a bit unreal. Turns out you don’t have to travel far to be deeply amazed by nature.

The usual route most people take is packed with tourists. This time, I took a different path with barely anyone around. It’s much more comfortable and peaceful to walk (fewer stairs and no need to cross a bridge). But it does take about 15–20 minutes of walking starting from Shifen Visitor Center.

If you’re visiting the Xindian area in New Taipei, it’s worth taking a trip to Neidong in Wulai. Park your car at the Xinxian Trail entrance and walk inward until you reach the Neidong Recreation Area entrance, where tickets are sold (New Taipei residents get a discount). Along the way, you’ll be rewarded with plenty of beautiful scenery—and right now, the waterfalls are especially powerful and spectacular.

You can also take the Wulai Scenic Cable Car, which crosses the Nanshi River and offers breathtaking views of the waterfalls and surrounding mountains. Length: approximately 320 metres Vertical drop: about 160 metres Ride time: around 5 minutes

At the top, you can enjoy views of Wulai Waterfall, stroll along scenic walking paths, and visit Yun Hsien Resort. The area is about a 1.5-hour drive from Taipei.