Have an extra day in Taipei?
Venture to the northern part of Taiwan to explore some of the most stunning natural scenery along the coastal area. Yehliu is home to many unique rock formations formed thousands of years ago. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can take the off-the-beaten path by traveling further up north and be rewarded with breathtaking natural scenic views.
The scenery slowly shifts from a bustling city to a lovely coastal beach. Just some 54 kilometers away from Taipei City is Laomei Green Reef where you will witness how nature takes its form to shape the beauty of the beach.
Many tourists like to take a day trip to Yehliu Geopark with Jiufen or Shifen. But it is regrettable to say that they have missed out on the wonderful beauty in the northern part of Taiwan. You should absolutely take another day trip from Taipei to explore Yehliu Geopark with Laomei Green Reef, Jinshan Old Street and Keelung Town.
Best Time to Visit
Northern Taiwan has one of the most magnificent scenic views with beautiful rock formations, sandy beaches and natural landscapes. They can be visited all year round, but the best time to travel to these places is during the bright sunny day. You can soak up the sun, admire the natural views and enjoy the sunset along the beach.
The best months to see the Green Reef at Laomei Beach are March to May. It’s important to come at the right time as it depends on the weather and water tides. The reef covered in vibrant green algae is only visible during low tide and the algae will die rather quickly when the weather starts to warm.
Getting There
Take a direct bus from Taipei Main Station to Yehliu Geopark
Yehliu Geopark is easy to reach with a direct Kuo-Kuang Bus 1815. The bus leaves every 15-20 minutes from Kuo-Kuang Bus Taipei Terminal (國光威樂假期旅行社) at the east side of Taipei Main Station. The bus fare costs NT$98 one way and takes around 1 hour 20 minutes. You can use EasyCard or iPass to pay for the ride.
You need to get off at Yeliu bus stop. Then, continue walking 15 minutes down a fishing harbor and eventually arrive at the main entrance of Yehliu Geopark.
From Yehliu Geopark to Jinshan Old Street
To get to Jinshan Old Street from Yehliu Geopark, take Bus 790, 862 or 1815 from the same bus stop where you get off earlier when you come from Taipei city. These buses come frequently and take 15-20 minutes to travel up north to Old Street for NT$15 per way. The nearest bus stop is Jinshan District Office Bus Stop and takes a 5-minute walk to the Old Street.
From Jinshan Old Street to Laomei Reef & Fugui Cape Park
Take a local Bus 862 or 863 from Jinshan District Office Bus Stop to Mingde Village 1 Bus Stop. Both buses come every 20-30 minutes and the journey takes about 1 hour for NT$45. You will need to start hiking on the trail along the seaside to Laomei Green Reef and Fugui Cape Park. The hike to the lighthouse takes about 1 hour, depending on your fitness level and how frequently you stop for photography.
From Laomei Reef & Fugui Cape Park to Keelung Night Market
To go to Keelung Night Market for street food, take a direct Bus 862 bound for Keelung Bus Station. The journey will take about 1 hour and 40 minutes and costs NT$90. Be sure to catch the last bus back by 8 pm to Keelung, Do note that Bus 863 does not go to Keelung and only terminates their service at Jinshan.
If you want to travel back to Taipei City, take a direct Bus 862 or 863 bound for Tamsui and catch the Tamsui-Xinyi Red Line from Tamsui Station to Taipei Main Station.
A Perfect Day Trip at North Coast Taiwan
Enjoy the picturesque of Yehliu Fishing Harbor
Yehliu Fishing Harbor (野柳漁港) is a beautiful fishing village near Yehliu Geopark. The buildings along the harbor are painted in style and the water is very clear. You can stroll along the bay peacefully and enjoy the calm morning weather with a cool breeze.
Marvel the rock formations in Yehliu Geopark
Yehliu Geological Park (野柳地質公園) is a reserve within a 1.7 kilometers stretch of the cape on the north coast of Wanli district in New Taipei City. It is home to these extraordinary mushroom-like rock formations naturally formed by the winds and water erosion many centuries ago.
The rock formations known as hoodoo stones or fairy chimneys typically occur in areas where a thick layer of soft rock like mudstone, is covered by a thin layer of harder rock such as limestone or basalt. The softer rock at the bottom erodes at an accelerating rate than the top of the rock resulting to such strange-looking rocks like the shape of the mushrooms.
Each rock resembles something and is given a name. The most famous rock is the Queen’s Head, which looks like the profile of an elegant Queen Elizabeth, with her hairstyle, forehead, nose and chin from a certain angle. It is so famous that makes people queue for photos and selfies
Aside from the ‘Star of the Geopark’, other popular rock formations include Ginger Rock, Pineapple Rock, Sea Candles Rock, Ice Cream Rock, Elephant Rock, Fairy’s Shoe, Kissing Rock and Princess Head. How imaginative the people are who come up with names for every rock. Enjoy seeking them all if you can!
I recommend spending two hours at the geopark to admire the natural wonder. Believe me, it gives you ample time to discover all sorts of formations and enjoy the scenic views of the beach and landscapes surrounding the area. Local tours like Klook usually give only 1 hour to visit which can be very rushed, allows you to take a 20-minute walk to and back from the main site, 20 minutes to queue and take photos with Queen Rock (if you are lucky like me) and 20 minutes left to see a part of the geopark.
Location: 207, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Wanli District, 港東路167-1號
Opening Hours: Daily from 8 am to 5 pm
Entrance Fee: NT$120
Explore Jinshan Old Street
Jinshan Old Street (金山老街) is filled with history dating back over 300 years when it used to be the major gathering place for farm goods and fishery for the local community. Formerly known as Jinbaoli Old Street, it is one of the last remaining old streets from the Qing Dynasty on the north coast.
This historic street retains its historic vibes and attracts visitors from near and far for local delicacies and specialties. The popular snacks you have to try in Jinshan Old Street include oyster crisp, handmade egg rolls, black sugar cake, caramelized yam, roasted red-hearted sweet potatoes and bite-sized pastries. There are other stores that sell pastries, fresh produce, poultry, seafood, fried fruits and desserts.
Location: Jinbaoli St, Jinshan District, New Taipei City
Opening Hours: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Eat the famous duck meat for lunch
Located outside the temple is the store selling one of the most famous duck meat in Taiwan. When I was exploring Jinshan Old Street, it made me wonder why so many people are walking back and forth between the streets, carrying plates of food. Only later did I realize the store is situated outside the temple.
The business owned by Guangxiong Li and his wife is extremely busy and they open 4 shop lots for customers to dine in. The staff put the duck and other dishes on the counter and customers have to self-serve by bringing the food to their table.
Every visitor who comes here does not leave without having a plate of flavorful duck. A quarter duck costs NT$220 and half a duck costs NT$280. Apart from the famous duck meat, they also have dry yellow noodles, deep-fried shrimp rolls and a variety of vegetables. They do not sell the food just for one person though and all food portions are quite big which can serve 2-3 persons. Fortunately, I am a big eater and can finish a quarter duck.
Location: No. 104號, Jinbaoli St, Jinshan District, New Taipei City
Opening Hours: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Admire the stunning Laomei Green Reef
Located on the beach next to Laomei community of Shimen district, the Green Reef (老梅綠石槽) is arguably one of the most stunning places in Taiwan. It is a perfect place for nature lovers to see a carpet of green algae growing and covering the entire reef that creates the most phenomenal sight. The best time to catch the beautiful light reflecting in the water with the algae is at dawn and dusk between April and May.
The ditches and trenches were formed thousands of years ago when a volcano in the Datun Mountain range erupted. The lava flowed down to the coast and formed such a unique landscape. Centuries of sea erosion also contribute to shaping the rocks into dozens of strange-looking trenches along the 700-meter long reef when the tide flows into the shores.
The green reef was formed by building up successive layers of algae on the volcanic rock. When the old algae dies, its limestone skeletons form layers to serve as foundations for the growth of new algae. This continuous accumulation resultion from the circle of life and death has given rise to the wonderful thin-grained algae reef seen today.
Watch the sunset at Fugui Cape
Located in Taiwan’s northernmost point, Fugui Cape (台灣最北點) is considered to be my favorite natural wonder and the stunning landscape has made me fall in love right away. This hidden gem is mostly visited by the locals and is a great spot for breathtaking panoramic views and catching the beautiful sunset over the horizon.
Continue walking on the trail from Laomei Green Reef to Fuguijiao Lighthouse built in 1962. The octagonal lighthouse is an incredible backdrop for the sunset near the cliff along the seaside. These amazing rock formations along the trail were shaped by sea and wind erosion centuries ago known as ventifact. What really makes these formations so unique is most of them have sharp pointed edges, which are quite different from other geological sites like Yehliu.
Eat The Way Through Miaokou Night Market
No trip to northern Taiwan will be complete without a visit to one of Taiwan’s most famous Miaokou Night Market (基隆廟口夜市). Just a 10-minute walk from Keelung Station, the night market boasts a wide variety of delicious Taiwanese street food. With over 200 food stalls, you won’t have a hard time filling up your hungry tummy.
The main street of the night market is decorated with hundreds of bright yellow lanterns and stores are labeled with numbers and their menu in Mandarin, English and Japanese. It is easier for foreign tourists to make food choices. Some cheap eats you can find in Miaokou Night Market are pork belly soup, pork hamburger, shrimp meatballs and egg tart.
The night market has an interesting history as the name means “temple entrance”. It started with some food stalls in a small square to serve attendees between the entrance gate and Danji Temple. This Taoist temple dates back to 1875 in the Qing Dynasty.
As the number of stalls grew over time, they began occupying the streets towards the temple. Hence, a night market was born. Now, it runs over several streets with the most happening area at Rensan Road and continues to Aisi Road with lots of seafood.
Location: 200, Taiwan, Keelung City, Ren’ai District, 玉田里仁三路
Opening Hours: Daily from 12 am to 12 pm
Traveling to Taiwan Soon?
If you are planning to come to Taiwan, here are the posts to give you some ideas on the best things to do in the fascinating country. There are some cities and towns you can visit in Taiwan and the delicious Taiwanese food worth trying:
Like It? Pin This Article.
Jack on Adventure 
Leave a comment