Toucheng Township in Yilan is known for its amazing beaches, but there is much more to do here, such as visit Lanyang Museum, visit Turtle Island, enjoy seafood, traditional fishing harbors, recreational farms, hiking, cycling, surfing lessons, and much more. Here is a short guide to Toucheng, to let you know the variety of activities that you can enjoy here.
Background: Before Chinese settlers came, the area around Toucheng was inhabited by the Ketagalan Aboriginal tribe, whose language is now extinct. The name Toucheng literally means "first town" in Chinese, because it was the first settlement in Yilan, settled in the late 1700s. With the nearby Wushih and Touwei Harbors around the same time, it became the economic focal point of Yilan. However in the late 1800s and early 1900s Wushih Harbor and Touwei Harbor silted in, reducing their function. With the advent of the Japanese built Yilan railway line in the mid-1900's, as well as constant floods and continually silting of the harbors, Toucheng quickly lost its importance economically and fell into decay. After residents of Turtle Island were relocated to Daxi in Toucheng, Daxi Harbor was expanded and has become one of the largest fishing harbors in the area. Due to its close proximity to Taipei, Toucheng has become a major tourist area and may be the most popular surfing location in Taiwan. How to get there: By TRA: Take the TRA to any of the stations in Toucheng, By Car: From Taipei, take National Freeway 5 to Toucheng. Be careful to note that on Sundays there are highway controls for cars travelling from Yilan to Taipei from 3 PM to 8 PM, so avoid travelling back to Taipei at that time to beat the traffic. Map: See below for a map of places that are covered in this blog:
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Zhuwei Fishing Harbor is a recreational tourist harbor in Taoyuan, Taiwan. It includes a large seafood market and a long rainbow arch bridge across the harbor. If you love fresh seafood for a good price, you definitely need to come here.
Background: Zhuwei Fishing Harbor had its beginnings in 1952 when a small boat dock was created in the area. Later a levee was built in 1959. The harbor was massively expanded in 1993, and was declared a tourist fish market in 2000. The harbor lies only 3 KM from Taoyuan International Airport. The main fish caught and sold here are Catfish, Sharks, Black pomfret, Squid, Bonito, and mullet. Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM Price: Free How to get there: By car: Take expressway 61 to Taoyuan and take the exit near Zhuwei. The harbor is just west of the expressway. There is limited free parking near the harbor, and also paid parking nearby. By scooter: Take provincial highway 15 south from Taipei stop at Zhuwei Harbor. By bus: From Taoyuan, take bus 5017 west to the harbor. Map: Please see below: 
Nanliao Harbor (aka Hsinchu Fishing Harbor) along Taiwan's west coast in Hsnichu City includes includes a seafood market and a wide grassy area (International Kite Park 國際風箏場). There is also a long sandy intertidal area nearby. It is a popular location for its seafood, kite flying, and ocean scenery.
Background: The Hsinchu Fishing Harbor at Nanliao dates back to 1731 when the Qing Dynasty first built a harbor in Hsinchu at the head of the Touqian River to aid with international trade. Over the centuries, the harbor went through various changes which included silting in many times, until its current form which was completed in 1991, to combat silting that occurred before the 1980's. Currently the main purpose of the harbor is to dock fishing vessels. During Dragon Boat Festival, dragon boat races are also held here. Kite flying is also a popular activity at the park. There is an international kite flying competition every September at the grassy park next to the harbor. On weekends you can also find many people relaxing here. In August 2020, a three year old was caught in a kite and flow 30 feet into the air. Luckily no one was injured by the kite activities were suspended for the rest of the day and it became viral news. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free How to get there: By Car: From Taipei, take National Freeway 1 from Taipei and once in Hsinchu head west on expressway 68. The harbor is at the end of the road. Parking can be hard to find on weekends. By Scooter: From Hsinchu, drive along expressway 68 until you reach the harbor. By Train/Bus: Take the TRA to Hsinchu Station, then switch to BL15 shuttle bus and take it to Nanliao Station. Map: Please see below: 
Badouzi is a rocky area along Taiwan's north coast in Keelung. It includes a seafood market, marine science museum, and a wide grassy area (Chaojing Park). There are also many interesting rock formations in the area. It is a popular location for its seafood, flying kites, hiking, and enjoying the ocean scenery.
Background: The sandstone and sedimentary that forms the Badouzi formations were created between 10 and 20 million years ago, and was pushed out of the sea along with northern Taiwan thousands of years ago. The rock formations formed by easily eroding sandstone, by the sea and waves. The area around Chaojing Park was a protected military base and garbage dunmp, after which civilians were allowed to freely visit. Kite flying is also a popular activity at the park. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Marine Science Museum: 200 NT How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Drive to Keelung, then from downtown take provincial highway 2 east about 10 KM until you reach the the turnoff to Chaojing Park, and there is some paid parking if you drive to the very end, which will put you closest to the park. By Train/Bus: Take the TRA to Badouzi (八斗子） station, then walk about 1 KM northwest until you reach the Chaojing Park. Map: Please see below: 
People often don’t realize that Kaohsiung has a lot to offer to tourists. There are many amazing historical and natural sites to see, as well as amazing food, shopping, and an interesting culture. Many of the places down south aren’t represented as well in English as other sites in Taipei, which is why we want to help everyone realize what a great place it is. I lived in Kaohsiung for three years and it was like living in paradise every day (I wish I still lived there).
Below I will list out some of the best places in Kaohsiung that I have visited. I will be sure to update this blog as I visit more places (and take more photos) later. How to get around in Kaohsiung? As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. However, you can also a great deal of Kaohsiung by taking the MRT, light rail, train, inter city bus, local bus, taxi, or bicycle (U-bike rental). When to go? Kaohsiung is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season lasts from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is dryer. Map: 
The Xingda Seafood Market (aka Xingda Tourist Fish Market, Hsinta Harbor Fish Market or Qieding Fish Market) is a large seafood market in Qieding District of Kaohsiung. You can find just about any kind of fresh seafood here, including sashimi, whole fish, shellfish, squid, etc., along with other traditional Taiwanese snacks. Also, the market is known for high quality knives. It is definitely worth a trip if you are in the area.
Background: Xingda Seafood is often called Qieding Fish Market because it is located in Qieding District of Kaohsiung, which is not very large and only covers a small area near the harbor. This area has been a delta for rivers and since the Qing Dynasty has served as the border between Tainan and Kaohsiung, which has changed with the Erren River. Xingda Harbor was built in 1997 and consists of four parts: a yacht tourism and business area, ocean business development zone, Fuli harbor living zone, and themed relaxation zone. There is also a fish market here. In the future, there are plans to expand capacity for the harbor. Hours: 11 AM to 6 PM (opens one hour earlier and closes one hour later on weekends) Price: Free How to get there: By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 17 north from Kaohsiung or South from Tainan and stop at Xingda Harbor. There is free parking on the side of the road. By bus: From Tainan Train Station, you can take Tainan bus 1 south to Xingda Harbor Station. The whole trip will take about an hour and a half. Map: Please see below: |
Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
September 2022
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