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There’s a lot to do within the metropolis of Taipei itself, however in case you are seeking to discover a bit of additional afield, one straightforward day journey choice is to go as much as Taiwan‘s North Coast in New Taipei City. One of the more popular things to do on Taiwan’s North Coast is to go to Yehliu, a world-famous geological web site, however I believed I’d introduce you to another cool issues to do within the Wanli 萬里 district, from coastal points of interest like paragliding over a seaside and consuming tremendous recent seafood to exploring an deserted UFO village.
Looking for extra day journeys from Taipei? Check out close by Jinshan 金山 which has a pleasant previous city space and the Juming Museum, or head in the direction of Keelung for extra coastal points of interest and Miaokou Night Market. Yilan within the Northeast can also be a fantastic straightforward day journey from Taipei.
Admire rocks at Yehliu Geopark 野柳地質公園
Yehliu Geopark 野柳地質公園 is among the hottest vacationer points of interest alongside Taiwan’s North Coast. It’s an extended cape of about 1700m protruding out into the ocean and well-known for its geological options and curiously formed rocks.
I really visited Yehliu means again in 2007 on my grad journey in Taiwan and revisited it once more on my Career Break journey whereas exploring the North Coast. Tourist crowds apart, it’s a extremely stunning scenic place and the rock formations are fairly uncommon and have been given fairly descriptive names. Bring a cap and sun shades as it could possibly get fairly scorching and there’s hardly any shade in any respect.
I walked the complete size of the cape all the way in which to the lighthouse remark deck proper on the finish. The pathways are pretty nicely paved however you’re going uphill so it’s a bit of tiring however not too unhealthy. Most of the vacationers keep across the decrease ranges so it’s good to get away from the crowds for a bit.
The most well-known rock right here is the Queen’s Head Rock 女王頭, and from the precise angle it actually does appear like the silhouette of a queen’s head. Who is aware of how lengthy it’ll look forward to although – consultants are fearful that the rock would possibly break off at its slender ‘neck’ some day from weathering.
I spent about 2 hours exploring Yehliu. Try to search out an off peak time to go to because it is among the extra widespread vacationer issues to do round Taipei.
Yehliu Geopark is situated in Wanli [Google Maps]. Opening hours from 8am – 5pm. Tickets for adults price 120NTD.
Eat Wanli crab at Guihou Fish Market 龜吼漁夫市集
A brief distance away from Yehliu is Guihou Fish Market 龜吼漁夫市集, and that is apparently the place to go to eat Wanli crab. Wanli is a major crab fishing space, and peak crab season occurs in Autumn (Look out for a serious crab pageant that occurs in October), however you will get crab right here any time of the 12 months.
Wanli crabs include three varieties of crab – Three Spot Crab (which has three apparent black dots on its shell), Flower crab (with a patterned shell) and Stone Crab and also you’ll discover them available on the market right here. Besides a moist market the place you should buy all method of seafood, there may be additionally a meals centre the place you may get pleasure from your crabs on web site. Taiwan Panorama has an fascinating article about how the native affiliation branded Wanli Crabs and made it an area specialty.
I visited at a barely bizarre time in between meals so I didn’t handle to take a seat down for a crab meal, although my hosts did purchase some 3-spot crab to prepare dinner for dinner that evening. Here’s a fairly good account of consuming Wanli crabs by Places and Foods that you could try. Hopefully I can return sooner or later for some scrumptious seafood!
The meals stalls are sometimes open from round 10am – 7pm however it is dependent upon every stall. See retailer particulars at Wanli Crab.
Paraglide over Feicuiwan seaside 翡翠灣海灘
Located east of Yehliu, you may admire the Green Bay or Feicuiwan Beach 翡翠灣海灘 view right here from up excessive by tandem paragliding.
Mustang Paragliding Club 野馬飛行傘俱樂部 repeatedly does brief paragliding flights over Green Bay and the encompassing hills.
Fun truth: they used to take off from the hills however these days they do a seaside take-off and touchdown – you’re hooked as much as a jetski to provide you some carry and take off over the ocean. Flights normally take about 10 minutes altogether relying on the wind circumstances.
My teacher was a pleasant younger native man known as Ah Zhe who lived in close by Keelung who had a pleasant chitchat with me and identified far they might fly on their very own in addition to some landmarks across the space. As a part of the expertise, you’re loaned a GoPro digicam to seize your total flight and given the 16GB SD card inside it on the finish.
You can fly any time of the 12 months so long as it’s not raining and the winds should not too loopy, however summer time is normally the very best time as a result of the winds are probably the most regular.
Mustang Paragliding Club 野馬飛行傘俱樂部 are greatest contacted through Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp – drop them a observe to search out out which dates they plan to fly, and on the morning of the day to see whether or not the climate circumstances on that day are optimum for flying. Expect cancellations if the winds are too sturdy or there may be rain! A flight prices 2,000 NTD and also you solely register and pay on the spot at Green Bay / Feicuiwan Beach – take a queue quantity and pay ASAP so that you don’t have to attend for too lengthy because it’s 1st come 1st serve.
Explore the deserted Wanli UFO village
Something else you are able to do whereas at Green Bay Beach is to discover one thing the locals name the Wanli UFO Village. This a group of bizarre wanting flying saucer and rounded-box homes alongside Riguang Road 日光路, instantly behind Green Bay Beach. I might see them from the air whereas paragliding and popped over to test them out after.
The spherical flying saucer like homes are known as Futuro Houses, whereas the squarish ones with rounded corners are known as Venturo Houses. They have been conceived by a Finnish architect Matti Suuronen within the late Sixties, and have been apparently fairly widespread for a couple of years earlier than an oil disaster within the 70s made manufacturing prices tremendous costly in order that they fell out of favour.
Apparently a wealthy businessman imported a number of of those pods to Wanli with the intention of organising a flowery seaside resort, however sadly the homes have been badly hit by the intense typhoons within the day and finally deserted. You would possibly discover that there are a couple of models which have been cleaned up and inhabited at this time although I actually am unsure how authorized that’s, however I’d hold a low profile regardless and never disturb the residents.
Since the place is generally deserted, you may wander round and poke about. It’s a preferred place for some cool Instagram pictures for positive. The Futuro inside really appeared fairly cosy, although all the things is rounded and you haven’t any corners. The inside I noticed had half the home made out of a curved front room and a kitchen-bar, with the opposite half is a bed room and a rest room. The Futuro pods are raised above floor and a few had stone benches instantly beneath the pods.
I first wrote about paragliding and exploring the UFO village on this article about issues to do in Taipei through the summer time.
How to get to Wanli
Wanli is part of New Taipei City alongside Taiwan’s North Coast situated between Jinshan and Keelung, roughly 50 minutes away by driving from Taipei City. I took buses to discover this space alone however in case you are tight on time or have individuals to separate the fee with, think about hiring a taxi for the day to get round.
I might suggest doing a full day journey exploring Wanli alongside Jinshan since they’re proper subsequent to one another, after which ending the break day in Keelung City’s Miaokou evening market earlier than heading again to Taipei.
By bus from taipei
Bus cease at Yehliu [google maps] or Green Bay / Feicuiwan cease 翡翠灣 [google maps]
- Bus 1815: from Kuokuang bus terminal at Taipei Station East Gate (situated on the east facet of Taipei Main Station) to Jinshan – stops at Yehliu and Green Bay. This is your quickest choice as you go direct from Taipei City to Jinshan in about 1.5 hours.
- Bus 862: from Tamshui MRT Station 捷運淡水站 to Keelung Train Station – stops at Yehliu and Green Bay [Taipei e-bus route]. This is an extended route that takes round 2 hours because it runs alongside the entire north coast. You might additionally take this bus in case you are coming from Keelung as a substitute.
Bus 716 Crown Northern Coast Shuttle Bus: From Tamshui/Danshui 捷運淡水站 to Yehliu (doesn’t go to Green Bay). This vacationer shuttle leaves each hour from 8am to 3pm and passes via different widespread vacationer spots like Fugui Lighthouse, Laomei Green Reef, Jinshan and the Juming Museum. You can use Easycard like ordinary, or purchase a 1-day bus move for 160NTD for limitless hop on and off for the day – helpful should you plan to cease at multiple spot. More info right here. It ought to take about 1.5 hours.
Other buses
- Bus 790: from Jinshan Nanshih 金山(南勢) to Keelung Train Station – stops at Yehliu and Green Bay [Taipei e-bus route]
- Bus 953: from Jinshan Nanshih to Taipei Da’an – stops at Yehliu and Green bay [Taipei e-bus route]
This bus information by North Coast and Guanshan National Scenic Area is sort of a helpful overview of the varied bus choices.
Looking for extra cool issues to do close to Taipei? Check out these posts or see extra guides for Taiwan’s North Coast.