Ben's Guide to Taipei and Taiwan

Original post on Fulong can be found here: http://taipeiguide.blogspot.com/2006/05/camping-at-fulong-beach.html I was hesitant to stay at such a large campsite but it is spread out enough that if it is not at full capacity it is a very nice campsite with good facilities. Most of the camp sites have some shade, but some more than others. Most have picnic tables. The bathroom and camp sites are reasonably clean. There is a pedestrian and bike only area with wooden tent platforms. There are old Carrefour shopping carts that can be used to push your gear from the car to the camp site. There are also drive in camp sites which were more popular. There are a limited number of cabins with private bath. There is a a bath and toilet house with hot water, a camp store selling very basic supplies (including flashlights, batteries, stoves, stove fuel, bottled water, 2 brands of beer, ice, Coke), a large covered picnic area (which some people also use to camp out of the rain). There is a walking/bi...

Most of these sites have their own entries somewhere on this site. Sites in Taipei Taipei 101 Building Observatory I haven’t been up yet, but if we get a clear day we should go. CKS Memorial This is easy to see and can be done quickly. It is a large plaza surrounded by ornate Chinese buildings. This is where a lot of the political rallies and holiday festivals take place. Longshan Temple / Snake Alley / Night Market Longshan is a small but very nice temple. Snake Alley is creepy and as the name implies they have snakes. There is a good night market which is like a flea market. They are all within walking distance of each other. National Palace Museum This is a little boring, but a very cultural experience. Lots of Chinese antiques and artifacts. YangMingShan National Park A mountain inside just off of the city. Maokong Teahouse/Zhinan Temple This is an excellent temple located in the mountains. There are also sco...

Fulong Beach is on the northeast coast. The China Post definitely gives a feel good review but Fulong is a nice area. The beach is clean, but the lifeguards are overprotective and the designated swimming area is very shallow. Camping is available near the beach inside the park. There is an entrance fee to enter the park and another fee for camping. There is a toilet and shower house, which are reasonably clean. The problem is that the campsite is just a field. There is no shade, so if you go in the summer you can expect to be cooked alive in your tent when the sun comes up in the morning. There is a convenience store located within the park. Another option is Longmen campsite , which boasts that it can accommodate 1600 campers. I did not check this out as there is an admission fee to use the park for the day or you can pay to stay the night. I imagine this might be a nice spot in the off-season, but if I want 1600 neighbors I will stay in Taipei. 4/2011: Updated Post can be fou...

Bai Sha Wan 白沙灣 literally translates as white sand beach. This is a nice beach on the North coast, almost the northern most point in Taiwan, and is an easy day trip from Taipei. You can rent shade tents for $250, showers after your swim are $20. Entrance to the beach is free. Even during the summer season it is not too crowded. From Danshui MRT Station, cross the street to the bus stop which has a shack with a ticket window. You may need to ask for assistance as to which bus to get on, as Bai Sha Wan is not a final destination for the buses that run this route. Taipei Site Seeing Index: http://taipeiguide.blogspot.com/2006/05/sites-in-taipei-city.html Update July 2010 : From Bus Station in Danshui you can take the following buses: Bus 1261 to San Zhi, 1262 to Jin Shan, 1263 to Keelung. Bai Sha Wan is located in San Zhi Township, bus 1261 will make its final stop there. You can use your Easy Card or buy a ticket at the little shack that passes for a bus station. Beach tents now cost...

Toucheng 頭城 is located on the east coast near Yilan 宜蘭 and in Yilan County 宜蘭縣. From Xindian 新店 follow Highway 9 towards Pinglin and Yilan to the coastal flat land. When you cross the mountains and are on the coastal flat lands you will follow the signs to the north (left) away from Yilan which is to the south. Once in Toucheng another clearly marked road sign will direct you to the Toucheng Seaside Park. It is roughly 60 km so allow at least 2 hours from Xindian if traveling by scooter or car. From Taipei go South on Roosevelt Road. When you cross the river into Xindian, the name will change to Bei Xin Road but the road remains the same. Where you would turn right to go to Wulai, you will continue straight and the road will become Hwy. 9. Once you are out of Xindian you will start to climb the mountain hills. Roads can have dangerously sharp curves. Much of the road has little or no shoulder to drive on. The beach is not the greatest for swimming or sunbathing but it is ok for wading...