Half day can be a little short of time considering the travel time to and from that can last almost an hour each way not to mention a traffic. I would recommend to check from "Klook" specially if you're travelling with kids, less hassle rather taking your own way to go Shifen by bus which I'm not sure if there is direct bus from Taipei Main Station.

It is a must or will always be recommended in every tourist itinerary to at least experience this activities whenever your in Taiwan so it is expected to have a handful tourist anytime of the day, everyday.

バスかタクシーで九份から瑞芳（ルイファン、Ruifang）駅まで行き、平渓線に乗って十分へどうぞ。瑞芳駅から十分駅まで30-40分で到着です。一時間に一本くらいしかありませんのでご注意ください。

Is it alright, if you are OK to view how such a village looked in the past near a currently serviced train service. If you are a little more adventurous, you can hire electric scooter to reach the shifen waterfall within 5 minutes.

ミニランタンを販売している土産物屋さんの店頭でおじいちゃんが筆ペンで文字を書いていたのは見ましたが、書道家かどうかは分かりません。 店の名前までは憶えていませんが、十分にある観光向けのお店は線路の両側に100mくらいまでしかありませんので現地に行ってからでも十分探せると思います。

Yes, you can use Taipei as your base. I would recommend you to charter a mini van or vehicle for 5 of you for this 1.5 days. Jiufen, shifen and yeliu would need nearly whole day. You would most likely be only able to go to one of the night markets. Depending on how many hours is your 0.5 days, you may be able to visit Danshui. Sun Moon Lake is very unlikely in 1.5 days. As you have seniors and you have to walk in all the places, especially upward walking in Jiufen, you may have to forgo a couple of places. Enjoy your trip.

Go to klook website and there is a mini bus that cost S$21 each two ways. Just to let you know that at Jiufen you will need to climb around 150 to 200 steps up.

Hi Donald, I agree if you find other place to stay, as Shifen itself is easily reached by train, which attraction is right by the train station. It's a nice place for 1-2 hour or so.