Shifen Sky Lantern Experience: My Honest Review [2026]

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I wanted to dedicate a full article to the Shifen Sky Lantern Experience, as it’s a much-debated topic among travellers weighing whether it’s truly worth it or just an overhyped tourist trap.

The experience involves purchasing a large paper-and-bamboo lantern, writing your personal wishes on all sides, and releasing it into the sky. It’s a symbolic act with deep roots in local tradition.

Originally this was used as communication signals in the mountainous Pingxi Valley centuries ago before evolving into a ritual of hope and good fortune.

However, like many polarizing tourist activities, there are clear pros and cons to weigh before deciding if it belongs on your itinerary. Let’s get into it!

👉 Check out our detailed Shifen guide for tips and all things to do there.

Couple embracing on the active railway tracks at Shifen Old Street, Taiwan, as featured in our Shifen sky lantern experience guide.

Table of Contents

Shifen Sky Lantern Experience – All You Need to Know

How to Get to Shifen Old Street

There are several ways to get to Shifen including by bus, train, car, organised tour, or even bicycle. I’ve covered all the logistical details extensively in this dedicated guide.

How we did it: Took a train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang where we stayed for 2 nights to visit both Jiufen and Shifen before heading to Jiaoxi hot springs.

A narrow, historic alleyway lined with glowing red lanterns and bustling crowds in the mountain village of Jiufen, Taiwan. — Beautiful Jiufen

People relaxing and soaking their feet in a public hot spring foot bath under a wooden pavilion surrounded by trees in Jiaoxi, Taiwan. — Relaxing Jiaoxi hot springs park

When we checked into our hotel, we were informed that the train tracks to Shifen were closed for maintenance, so our hotel called a taxi for us. We paid NT$ 560 (€15.50 / $17.63) for two people for the 17 km (10.6 mi) ride and a bus replacement service handled our return.

Normally, the local Pingxi train connects Ruifang and Shifen in 30 minutes for just ~NT$20 (€0.60).

👉 Short on time? Check out day trips from Taipei to Shifen on Klook or Viator.

What is The Shifen Sky Lantern Experience?

There are several vendors on Shifen’s Old Street selling paper lanterns with either 4 or 8 colours. Each colour represents a specific theme such as health, wealth, a bright future, career promotion, or marriage. There are multiple combinations available so you can choose the one that fits your intentions best.

Sign detailing sky lantern color combinations and prices in Shifen, Taiwan, as featured in our Shifen Sky Lantern Experience guide.

When we visited, a 4-colour lantern cost NT$250 (€6.90 / $7.90), while an 8-colour lantern cost NT$350 (€9.70 / $11). Best of all, they all include a free photo and video service, where the staff actively take photos and videos of you releasing your lantern into the sky.

Choosing Your Colours

Red: Health and Peace	White: Future and Brightness
Yellow: Money and Wealth	Orange: Love and Marriage
Blue: Career and Promotion	Green: Vigour and Success
Purple: Studies	Pink: Bliss and Joy

Traveler writing handwritten wishes on an orange sky lantern inside a shop in Shifen, Taiwan.

We chose the 4-colour lantern featuring white, red, orange, and yellow representing the future, health, love/marriage, and money/wealth (because how could we continue travelling the world without financial stability?).

PS: I wrote an article about how to save money for travel and how we did it.

Writing Your Wish On The Lantern

Choosing the colours that represent your wishes is already the first step into reflecting on your life, what you truly want, and what matters most to you.

The shop assistant will hang the paper lantern onto a rail, hand you a brush and paint, and give you space to think and write your wishes. Most people take 5–10 minutes, but somehow we took our sweet time with it. I guess it’s because we had been travelling full-time for over 6 months by that point and had a lot to reflect on.

Traveler writing personal wishes with a brush on a paper sky lantern inside a shop in Shifen, Taiwan.

Close-up of a multi-color paper sky lantern hanging up with handwritten personal wishes and names in Shifen, Taiwan.

It’s a humbling moment for sure. And although deep down you know it won’t magically make your wishes come true, it’s a powerful moment of hope and intention – at least, that’s how it felt for us. Let me know in the comments how your experience felt!

Shifen Old Street is undeniably touristy, and depending on when you visit, the crowds can be overwhelming. But if you block out the noise, focus entirely on the moment, and lean into the ritual, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it just as much as we did!

Pros of Shifen Sky Lantern Experience

A deeply personal and memorable ritual: Writing down your innermost thoughts, goals, and what you’re grateful for turns a simple tourist activity into a meaningful, grounding experience.

Incredible value for media: The included photo and video service is surprisingly good. The shop assistants seem to know exactly how to frame the shot and capture smooth video while you release your lantern into the sky.

The bloggers of this travel blog releasing a red sky lantern into the sky from the active railway tracks at Shifen Old Street, Taiwan.

Affordable fun: At roughly €7 to €11 depending on the color package, it’s an accessible experience that doesn’t break the bank.

Supporting local culture: One of the pros of Shifen sky lantern experience is that you’re engaging with a tradition that has historic roots in the Pingxi valley. It brings a cultural dimension to your Taiwan itinerary and you support local businesses and families. Even if you decide not to do the Shifen sky lantern experience, you can still go there to visit the waterfalls, suspension bridges and try the local foods.

Cons of Shifen Sky Lantern Experience

Environmental impact concerns: While traditional lanterns are primarily built from natural paper and bamboo, they aren’t entirely low-impact. The paper is usually treated to handle heat and moisture, the fuel cells at the bottom are synthetic, and bamboo can take quite a while to decompose in damp forests and riverbeds.

Red and white sky lantern floating up into the cloudy sky above Shifen Old Street, Taiwan.

Multiple sky lanterns floating high up into a cloudy, overcast grey sky after being released in Shifen, Taiwan.

Local vendors and organized clean-up initiatives work hard to retrieve the leftover debris, however, it remains a very valid eco-factor to weigh if you are mindful of your travel footprint.

Intense crowds and commercialization: Shifen Old Street gets packed quickly. If you prefer quiet, solitary reflection, the bustling crowds and rush of people around the tracks might feel overwhelming. We visited at the end of October and it happened to be very rainy so it wasn’t as crowded as what we had seen online during our research.
Weather-dependent: Because the release happens entirely outdoors on open-air railway tracks, heavy rain or strong winds can make lighting the fuel cell tricky and dampen the overall experience. It was like this when we visited.

Couple in rain gear smiling in front of the rushing Shifen Waterfall in Taiwan.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, is the Shifen Sky Lantern Experience worth it?

If you go in expecting a quiet, meditative escape, the crowds might frustrate you. But if you embrace the energy of the old street, take your time writing your intentions, and focus purely on the moment, it becomes one of those quintessential Taiwan memories that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.

If you don’t have much time and you want to target multiple things in one day, then opting for an organised day trip to Yehliu, Jiufen and Shifen is the best choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it safe to release sky lanterns on active railway tracks?

Yes. Shop owners and local vendors monitor train schedules throughout the day.

When a train is approaching, they loudly signal everyone to step off the tracks and clear the area. Once the train passes safely, the tracks open right back up for visitors and lantern releases.

What are the top things to do in Shifen?

Besides the sky lantern experience, you can visit the waterfalls, walk on suspension bridges and in the incredible nature surrounding them, and try the local street food delicacies and teas.

→ Check out our detailed Shifen guide for more inspiration.

Are Shifen sky lanterns bad for the environment?

It is a valid concern, as traditional lanterns use paper, and bamboo frames that eventually land in surrounding forests and riverbeds.

However, local communities and government-backed incentive programs actively organize clean-up crews to retrieve leftover debris from the mountains.

Is the Shifen sky lantern experience worth it?

Yes, especially if you approach it as a mindful ritual rather than a standard tourist checklist item.

While the old street can get crowded, taking the moment to reflect, write down your intentions, and watch your lantern float up into the clouds makes it an unforgettable part of any Taiwan journey.

⏰ Planning the rest of your trip? Don’t miss our other guides!

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