From Shifen Sky Lanterns to Jiufen's Red Lantern Night View

Amidst a busy life, I took a short break for a 1-night, 2-day trip to Taipei, Taiwan. I packed my schedule tightly around the most famous "Yehliu, Shifen, Jinguashi, Jiufen" (Yes, Shifen, Jin, Ji) course! --- 📅 Day 1 – Arrival in Taipei & Ximending Tour Arriving in Taipei late in the afternoon, it took just 35 minutes to get to the city center via the airport MRT! I stayed in the heart of Ximending, and the location was perfect. Ximending felt like Hongdae in Seoul. From bubble tea and fried snacks to local food and clothing stores, there was so much to see, and the streets were bustling with people even late at night. For dinner, instead of a night market, I had a bowl of local noodles at "Qingzhu Wushui." --- 🚐 Day 2 – Yes, Shifen, Jin, Ji Day Tour At 8 AM, I was picked up for the tour right in front of my hotel! Yehliu Geopark was filled with unique rock formations, and walking there while feeling the sea breeze was amazing. It felt like nature's own sculpture gallery. In Shifen, I wrote my wishes on colorful sky lanterns and released them. The alleys by the train tracks were perfect for taking Instagram-worthy photos. Jinguashi was a bit quieter, but the miner's lunchbox was surprisingly delicious, and the Gold Museum was quite interesting. The highlight was Jiufen! The narrow alleys, red lanterns, tea houses, and scenery were so enchanting that I lost track of time. It was exactly the vibe of "Spirited Away." --- 🌟 Trip Summary "Did I really do all this in just 24 hours?" It was such a packed trip. Thanks to the local tour, I saved a lot of time, and even though I traveled alone, it was not inconvenient at all. --- 📍Recommendations Visit Jiufen tea houses at sunset for the best experience! When releasing sky lanterns, check the wind direction and write your wishes in large letters! Bring a parasol or sunglasses for Yehliu as the sunlight can be intense.