Jiufen and Shifen fit in one day; a shared tour is the least tiring option.
- Shifen: release sky lanterns by the railway and see Shifen Waterfall; take the Pingxi line.
- Jiufen: a hillside old town with teahouses, best in the early evening when lanterns light up.
- On your own: buses from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station take about 1 hour to Jiufen.
- You can add Yehliu with its strange coastal rock formations.
Note: Jiufen is packed at weekends and its lanes are narrow; go on a weekday.