What the Pingxi sky-lantern nights are
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival concentrates mass lantern releases along the Pingxi Branch Line — typically opening around Pingxi and closing with a Shifen finale. It is a New Taipei valley event, not a Taipei downtown parade. Dress for damp February evenings, keep hands free for stairs and platforms, and treat the rail line as the bottleneck, not the lantern itself.
Base in Taipei unless you already have a room by the valley station — book a Taipei hotel near MRT / TRA, compare flights into TPE, set up a Taiwan eSIM, and carry travel insurance for crowded platforms and damp evening walks.
February 2027 planning window
Lunar New Year 2027 is 6 February; mass nights usually land on Lantern Festival weekend. Keep flexible lodging until New Taipei posts the 2027 calendar.
TRA Pingxi branch via Ruifang
This is the TRA Pingxi Branch Line, not the MRT: from Taipei Main Station, change at Ruifang, then ride the single-track valley line. On release night the train is the bottleneck — leave Taipei in the early afternoon, not at dusk. Last trains run on the way back but they are crushed; either accept that or sleep in Ruifang / Jiufen. Check the TRA sheet that week instead of copying an old last-train time.
Reach the valley in daylight, eat before dusk, and agree on a meeting point if your group splits for photos.
Need a Taiwan lantern night sequenced with other Asia winter festival days instead of a single jammed Saturday?
Build itineraryPingxi opening night vs Shifen finale
Historically the first mass release sits near Pingxi; Shifen Square hosts the big finale. Pick one primary night — chasing both in one evening usually means platform queues, not sky full of lanterns.
Stay in Taipei unless you already have a room by the station; Shifen’s old street and waterfall work as a separate daylight half-day if your release night is elsewhere.
Crowds and lanterns
Arrive with layers, a power bank, and cash/EasyCard topped up. Buy lanterns only from authorised stalls when individual launches are allowed; follow fire marshals on mass release nights. Keep phone maps offline for the valley — networks congest when thousands of lanterns go up at once.
Ready-made routes
Routes for your destination
Day-by-day plans you can adapt to your dates right away.
FAQ
When is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival 2027?
Official 2027 nights are not published yet. Plan around Lantern Festival weekend: first mass release around 14 February at Pingxi and the main night around 20 February at Shifen Square — recheck New Taipei before a non-refundable flight.
Is Pingxi the same as the Yuanxiao / broader lantern season?
No. This guide covers the Pingxi–Shifen sky-lantern nights in New Taipei. The wider Yuanxiao lantern season across Shanghai and Taiwan is a separate article — use that guide for city displays and the broader lunar-month context, then return here for the valley rail trip.
How do I get from Taipei to Pingxi or Shifen?
Take the TRA Pingxi Branch Line, not the MRT: from Taipei Main Station, change at Ruifang. On release night the train is the bottleneck — leave Taipei in the early afternoon, not at dusk. Last trains run on the way back but they are packed; either accept that or sleep in Ruifang / Jiufen. Check the TRA timetable that week rather than guessing a last-departure clock.
Which night should I choose — Pingxi or Shifen?
Opening nights historically focus on Pingxi; the finale often lands in Shifen. Both valleys get dense crowds on the branch line. Pick one primary night, arrive early afternoon, and keep a buffer for delayed trains rather than chasing both finales the same evening.
Can I release my own sky lantern?
Authorized vendors sell sky lanterns in Shifen and along festival zones when local rules allow. Buy only from licensed stalls, write on the paper panels before lighting, and follow staff fire-safety instructions. Some nights prioritise mass releases over individual launches — check the year’s program.