sheenzoned: October 2017

Shifen Old Street is located at Pingxi district. It was once a railroad town that transports coal. Meanwhile, the sky lantern was used as a signalling system for those who are working in the coal mining industry and their families.

The Sky Lantern

Shifen old street is the only place in Taiwan where you can fly a sky lantern. It is open all year round. Every January 15 is the sky lantern festival.

A sky lantern costs 200 NTD. You can choose a single coloured or multi-coloured lantern. Each colour has a meaning. The famous colour combinations are red for wealth, yellow for money, blue for career, and orange for love. After choosing your lantern, you will write your wishes on it. They believe that God in heaven will read and grant written wishes.

The Foods

After flying a sky lantern, a food trip is a must. We tried Chicken Wings with Fried Rice (70 NTD) and Thai Style Hot and Spicy Chicken (120 NTD). Both are delicious and a must-try.

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I have butterflies in my stomach while planning this activity because first of all, I am not a good biker. I rarely drive a bike and had terrible experiences with it. I once tried in Japan and I bumped into a guardrail. In Bantayan Island, Cebu I bumped into a tree. But good thing, I did not experience any of these in Taiwan.

Taiwan is indeed a bike-friendly country. Their spacious sidewalks are dedicated to pedestrians and bicycles. For a not good biker like me, it is pretty bearable because of their two-way bike lanes.

How to rent a bicycle in Youbike

Secure a local sim and Easycard. You can buy a local sim from Klook. Easycard is a top-up card for public transportation.
Go to the nearest Youbike terminal. You can find this beside any rail station.
For first-timers, register your Easycard and local phone number at the terminal kiosks. One local phone number can register up to 5 Easycards for YouBike usage.
Choose a bike. Make sure it is in good condition: the gear and brake are working, the tire is not flat, etc.

How much does it cost

For a rental under 4 hours, every 30 minutes is charged NT$10.
Between 4-8 hours, every 30 minutes is charged NT$20.
Over 8 hours, every 30 minutes is charged NT$40.

Where to start

I decided to jump-start our bicycle adventure at Xinbeitou station. But before that, we made a side trip to Beitou Thermal Valley. The jade-like pond gives off eerie sulphuric steam that makes a picturesque view.

After some photo ops at Beitou Thermal Valley, we went back to a YouBike terminal near Xinbeitou station.

How did it go

It was not an easy kickoff. We started on narrow roads along the highway. I did not ride my bicycle at first because I'm afraid of bumping into the parked cars. It was after an approximate of 1 km before we arrived on a wider bike lane.

Another 1 km and we arrived at Keelung River Riverside Bicycle Lane. But before continuing our bicycle adventure, we stopped by at a cafe to refuel our hungry and parched bodies.

Keelung River Riverside Bicycle Lane

Last stop: Tamsui Station

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View of Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain

Every country has its own flavor, story, and wonders. Taiwan may not be a top destination for most of the tourists, but this country deserves a spot on your travel bucket list. You can explore Taipei on a bike, fly and make a wish on a sky lantern at Shifen Old Street, hike Elephant mountain and catch the beautiful sunset over Taipei 101, or indulge in a wide array of mouthwatering street foods at Raohe Night Market.