Transportation to Shifen

I have purposely scheduled this trip to coincide with Taiwan's Sky Lantern Festival.  Having learned my lesson from the last time I went here (Feb of 2010), I've planned to get to Shifen early and just to explore some sights at Pingxi District.

I believe every year, they have 3 schedules for the sky lantern festival.  These would be between Chinese New Year and the last day which is the 15th day of the lunar year.  This year the schedules are: Feb 14 (Jingtong Elementary School), Feb 17 (Pingxi Junior High School) and Feb 24 (Shifen Sky Lantern Square).  

On the said dates, the government has commissioned buses to ply the route Taipei Zoo - Pingxi District - Taipei Zoo non-stop.  Going to the festival area, there's a NTD50 fare, coming back is free.  More information on transportation options can be found here.

Bus line in front of Taipei Zoo

There's even flashlights as giveaway

It's only 10:30AM and a lot of people are already going to the festival area.  Just imagine how long this line would be in the afternoon.

Line to the buses

The buses are numbered and I think there are more than a hundred buses (I saw some buses with numbers at 100+) so that there will be buses non-stop at the stations.

Bus to Shifen

Free drinks at the bus line

The direct bus ride took almost an hour to get to Shifen, passing by the towns of Jingtong and Pingxi.

On regular days, one could either take the bus or train to get to Pingxi District.

By MRT/bus:
- MRT to Muzha
- Cross the street from the station and ride Bus 795 to Pingxi
- Pingxi branch line train to go to the towns in Pingxi District

Bus route (http://www.tpebus.com.tw/image/5163.gif)

By train:
- Train (TRA) to Ruifang station
- Transfer to Pingxi branch line on the same platform in Ruifang

If my memory serves me right, the all-day train pass on the Pingxi line costs NTD55.