Shifen and Shifen Waterfall

Shifen is located at the source of the Keelung River, in Pingshi Township in Taipei County. The power of the rushing water has modified layers of rock formations in the area, creating beautiful scenery and several clusters of waterfalls. Special tunnels and bridges have been built to make this scenic area easily accessible to all visitors.

"Shi" means "ten" in Chinese. The name "Shifen" implies that there used to be ten families working together in this town. Like Jiufen, Shifen was once a town for coal mining. The nearby Pingshi Branch Railroad was built in 1918 for coal transportation, but was selected to be a tourist trail railroad in 1992. Shifen Station presents beautiful yet nostagic scenery.

Shifen Waterfall is the greatest screen curtain style waterfall in Taiwan. It looks like a blanket of white silk stain sliding down into a great wide deep pond. The pond is named Rainbow Pond because the waterfall reflects sunlight and creates plenty of tiny rainbows against the blue sky.