Shifen Waterfall

Shifen is the largest curtain-type waterfall in Taiwan, wider than it is tall, with the Keelung river dropping over a straight ledge of sandstone into a deep green plunge pool that throws up spray and, in the right light, a rainbow. The rock here lies in flat tilted beds, so the river above the falls runs over stepped shelves and pot-holes, and the whole reach is worth walking. A footpath and suspension bridges lead from Shifen village through the park to a series of platforms at different heights, the lowest of them close enough to feel the spray. The site was privately run for years and is now a public park with free entry and paid parking.

What you actually see

• The main curtain - a wide straight-edged fall into a deep green pool, with spray and frequent rainbows.
• The viewing platforms - three levels of decking giving the fall from above, level and below.
• The suspension bridges - footbridges over the gorge on the walk in from the village.
• Eyeglass Cave falls - the smaller stepped drop upstream where the river cuts through tilted sandstone.

When to go

Volume is highest after summer rain, but the site closes in typhoons and heavy weather. Autumn and spring give reliable flow with better light and less heat. Morning is calmer; from mid-morning the day-trip coaches from Taipei arrive and the platforms fill. The park has fixed opening hours and closes well before dusk.

Honest expectations

It is a short walk to a single view, and the platforms are narrow enough that a coach party fills them completely. The path in is lined with stalls. In dry spells the curtain thins noticeably. Spray coats the decking and the camera lens, the walk back to the station is uphill in the heat, and weekend parking is a slow business.

Nearby

Shifen village and the Pingxi railway line are a short walk away, and Jiufen is on the same day circuit.