Jinshan Beach 金山海濱浴場 (aka Xiaoliao Wan 下寮灣) is a nice stretch of beach near Jinshan Old Street. On the other side of the beach is a rocky shoreline popular for hikers called the "Jinshan Shuiwei Port Mysterious Coast 神秘海岸" which you can also check out. ​

Background:
The first people to live in the Jinshan Area were plains indigenous peoples. The name "Jinabaoli" comes from the Chinese transliteration of the indigenous name of the place.
Chinese people began to settle here during the late Ming Dynasty, coming mainly from Fujian, and even more came to settle here during the Qing Dynasty. 
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, a road was built to connect Jinshan to Keelung and Tamsui, making it easier for people to visit. This road was improved in the ROC period to become Provincial Highway 2. 
Jinshan now has a population of about 22,000 people. 
Currently Jinshan Old Street is a popular place to visit for day-trippers from Taipei. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free
​
Tours:
You can book a walking tour to Jinshan Old Street on Klook here or KKday here. ​

Activities:
Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

Hotels on Taiwan's Northern Coast:
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Keelung, take Provincial Highway 2 north along the coast until you reach Jinshan. The beach is up the road not far from the old street.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
By Bus: There are buses that leave from Taipei City Hall station to Jinshan hourly. The ride takes about an hour. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 

Map: 
Please see below:

Double Lion Beach is a quiet surfing beach in Yilan County. There are fewer people here and awesome waves. The reason it is called Double Lion Beach is because of the two lions in front of the temple that looks over the beach. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Yilan.

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. 

Tours and Activities:
You can book a surfing lesson at Double Lion Beach on KKday here. 

​Accommodation:
We have stayed at and recommend Toucheng Leisure Farm. You can also book a room there on Klook here, Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here.
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By TRA: Take the TRA to any of the stations in Toucheng. You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yialn via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
Bicycle rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 
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. Looking for scooter rental in Yilan? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals in Yilan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 

Map:
Please see below:​

Only a 20 minute car drive away, Dawulun Beach in Keelung is the closest sandy ocean beach to Taipei City. Although it is small, it has a calm shallow swimming area and the sand looks like it was shipped straight from Kenting. It is definitely worth a visit for all beach lovers in Taipei.

Background:
This beach is also known as Aodi Beach (澳底沙灘) or Waimushan Beach (外木山沙灘). In 2007, a road was created that connected Dawulun Beach with Wanli, creating a circular road around the north coast that was previously cut off. After that, more and more tourists started coming to this beach, especially from Taipei, because it is the closest oceanside destination to Taipei City. On weekends during the summer, the area can be totally packed with people. 

Hours:
24/7, but showers close after about 7 PM

Price:
Free

Showers:
Yes, multiple paid shower areas, about 30-50 NT per person

Tours:
You can book a tour to Taiwan's North Coast on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Activities:
Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

​Hotels in Keelung:
We recommend Just Live Inn-Keelung and Yung Feng Hotel, which are two great quality hotels for a reasonable price in Keelung's City Center.
You can book Just Live Inn-Keelung on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, or Kayak here. 
You can book Yung Feng Hotel on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, Klook here, or Kayak here,

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Keelung, take provincial highway 2 toward Wanli, and after you cross over the hill and see the ocean, turn right down to the beach. There is free parking on the side of the road, but good spots are limited. You can always park for free on the steep road that goes up the hill. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
By Bus: From Keelung Station, you can take the T99 tourist shuttle Binhai Qiji Line to the beach. The ride takes about 13 minutes. 
You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Baishawan is one of the best beaches in northern Taiwan. The sand is white, the water shallow (and warm in the summer), and it is relatively well-kept and clean. Due to its proximity to Taipei, it sees lots of visitors, especially from foreigners. Swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and kite surfing are all popular activities at this beach.

Please note this blog is about the beach in New Taipei.
​For Baishawan Beach in Kenting, see our blog here. 

Background:
Baishawan (literally White Sand Bay) was formed roughly 800,000 years ago by volcanoes spewing lava into the ocean creating Fuigui Cape. Later coral grew near the shoreline, which makes up for most of the white sand seen on the beach today. The white sandy beach extends about one kilometer along the coast. Now it is one of the most popular destinations on the north coast of Taiwan. Because of its proximity to Taipei, there are sure to be many visitors, and because Taipei has the highest concentration of foreigners, be prepared to see a lot of other foreigners as well.

Price: 
​Free

​Parking: 
There is a paid parking lot in front of the main entrance. If this is full, you can park along the road next to it.

Showers: 
Cold Shower: 10 NT per minute
Hot Shower: 20 NT per minute
Foot Wash: 10 NT
If the main showers next to the visitors center are closed, there are other paid showers to the north next to the Fish and Chips restaurant. If you take long showers, it is more economical to shower there. 

Hours:
May, June, and October 9AM - 5PM
July, August, and September 9AM - 6PM

Tours:
You can book a tour to Taiwan's North Coast on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.
​You can book a Private Laomei Green Reef Day Tour from Taipei on TripAdvisor here or KKday here. 

Activities:
Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

Hotels on Taiwan's Northern Coast:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to Get There:
By Bus: Take Keelung bus from either Danshui MRT station or Keelung TRA station.
You can also take the yellow and white North Coast Shuttle Bus to Baishawan station. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Car/Scooter: Drive on Provincial Highway 2 out of Danshui to the northeast, or out of Keelung to the northwest. The beach area is near Sanzhi District 三芝區. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
​
Map: Please see below:

Taipei is not usually known for its beaches, but there are some great beaches just outside the city on Taiwan's Northern Coast, all within an hour's journey from the city center. Popular activities on these beaches include swimming, surfing, wind surfing, SUPing, paragliding, snorkeling, and more. Here is our guide to the very best beaches in Taipei.

When should you visit Beaches in Taipei?
In my opinion, the best beach weather in Taipei is from April-November, when the temperatures stay above 26 degrees Celsius. Summer is the best time to go when it is hottest and taking in the dip in the ocean is the most refreshing.
Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet, but you can still enjoy the beaches or surfing in a wet suit. 

Hotels Near Beaches Taipei:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Safety and Etiquette at Beaches Taipei:
Taiwan has a unique beach culture that may be different than other countries. Please be aware of the following general information:

• Except for designated swimming areas that have a lifeguard, you are technically not allowed to swim anywhere else.
• The above rule can be avoided if you have a surfboard or fins. 
• If you can't swim, bring a life jacket and consider bringing fins and a board too. Don't go out in open water above chest height without safety gear. This can save your life.
• Don't go to the beaches when there are typhoons, strong winds, huge waves, or if a sea warning is in effect.

Tours in Taipei:
There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. 
Here are some of the post popular tours of Taipei on Tripadvisor:

1. Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei
2. The 10 Tastings of Taipei With Locals: Private Street Food Tour
3. Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup
4. Full-Day Private Custom Taipei City Tour
5. Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei
6. Half-Day Muslim Friendly Tour in Taipei City
7. Private Taipei Tour for Families​

Water and Beach Activities in Taipei:
Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, sailing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, ATVing, Horse Riding, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 
​​
Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. Some of the Klook links may not work if you are using an Ad blocker. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

How to get to beaches in Taipei:
Taipei's transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train: Gets you to beaches like Hepoinh Island, Fulong, and Wai'ao. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. Most city buses will get you to the beaches along the north coast but it may take a while. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire/charter a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD. You can search for options on Klook here or KKday here.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Click here or here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike bike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map of Beaches:
Check out our map below of the beaches we will cover in this blog.