Fulong Beach, with its long strip of soft golden sand and blue water of the East China Sea, is one of the most famous beaches in Taiwan. If you are looking for a nice beach near Taipei, you definitely have to visit Fulong.
Located in Gongliao District of New Taipei City, Fulong is a tiny village along Taiwan’s northeast coast. Since it’s only about 1 hour by train from Taipei, Fulong is an easy day trip from Taipei and a popular hangout spot among locals and expats alike.
The sand is soft, the scenery beautiful, and there are quite a few outdoorsy activities on offer. Whether lounging on the beach, checking out the sand sculptures, cycling through the Old Caoling Tunnel, or joining one of the many water sports activities is on your radar, there are many cool things to do in Fulong.
In this travel guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting Fulong Beach in Taipei.
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Table of Contents
Things to do at Fulong Beach
Relax at the Beaches
As you can imagine, most of Fulong’s activities revolve around the water. It is, after all, one of the most popular beach resort towns near Taipei. There are actually two beaches in Fulong, the main beach and a public beach just east of the main beach.
The Main Fulong Beach
Fulong Beach is a beautiful 3km strip of soft golden sand with plenty of room to bake in the sun and play in the water. It is located right in front of the Fullon Hotel and to get there, you’ll need to cross Rainbow Bridge – a pedestrian bridge over the Shuang River.
It has lifeguards, and you can rent everything from umbrellas (TWD 300) to beach chairs (TWD 100) and even beach mats and surfboards here. Besides lounging on the beach, the estuary offers perfect conditions for various water sports like windsurfing, kayaking, and SUP.
However, you should know that the main beach is not free to visit. You can buy tickets at the ticket booth on Zhongtong Road, right next to the Fullon Hotel. Tickets cost TWD 120 per adult and TWD 60 for elders and kids under 12. Nearby there’s also a new complex with changing rooms, showers, and small lockers where you can safely store any valuables you don’t want to take with you to the beach.
Fulong Beach is open from 8:30 am to 6 pm daily.
Know before you go: On our visit, the swimming area was clearly lined with a net which was ridiculously close to the beach, and one couldn’t even go knee-deep into the water. If you’re not a strong swimmer or visiting with kids, this probably won’t bother you much, but we were quite disappointed. We ended up just dipping our feet in the water and baking in the sun. This might be different when you visit as the swimming conditions mainly depend on the tides and currents.
The Public Beach
If you’ve come all this way for a proper swim, you might want to check out the public beach near Dongxing Temple. The beach is free to visit and less crowded than the main beach.
Just a heads up, there aren’t any lifeguards here, and you’ll need to watch out for the surfers. It’s also a good idea to bring your own beach umbrella as there are no beach gear rentals on this side.
Klook.comCheck out the Sand Sculptures
Every summer Fulong Village hosts the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival, where you can see a wide variety of sand sculptures displayed on the beach.
In the past, sand sculpture artists from various countries took part in the festival, but things have changed a bit since the pandemic. This year the festival runs from May 26 to October 10, and over 30 characters from the Pili puppet shows are on display.
Explore Fulong by Bike
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, there are some nice cycling routes in and around Fulong.
The Old Caoling Railway Tunnel is the most popular route and one of the first railway-tunnels-turned-bikeways in Taiwan. Once you emerge from the tunnel, you’ll be greeted with a stunning view over the Pacific Ocean and Turtle Island in the distance. The tunnel is about 2km long, and it only takes about 10 minutes to cycle through it. While the tunnel is lit with fluorescent lights, it might be a good idea to bring a small flashlight along on your trip. The route actually forms part of the extensive 20km Old Caoling Circle Line Bikeway, so if you have more time (or really like cycling), you could do the entire loop. Remember to bring some water, sunscreen and a hat with you. Read more about cycling the Old Caoling loop here.
The tunnel is open to cyclists between 8:30 am and 6 pm, and you’ll need to get out 30 minutes before closing time.
Another popular route is the Longmen-Yanliao Bikeway which takes you along Provincial Highway No. 2 to the Longmen Suspension Bridge, from where you can continue to Yanliao Beach Park.
If you didn’t bring your bike along, there are several bike rental shops just outside the train station where you can rent a bike for as little as TWD 100 a day.
Where to Eat in Fulong
Many blogs rave about the lunchboxes in Fulong, which have been famous since the Japanese occupation. If you’re into that, you won’t need to look far to find a biàndang shop in Fulong. There are a couple of shops right in front of the train station. And as always, the golden rule in Taiwan is to follow the crowds! That way, you’re almost guaranteed the food is good!
If you’ve already had way too many lunchboxes in Taiwan like me, then that’s probably the last thing you want to eat. So rather skip the lunchboxes and check out one of these spots.
Wow Cafe
You must get yourself to Wow Cafe if you’re craving a proper burger. Wow Cafe is quite famous for its gigantic burgers, but they also have a good selection of other western food and ice-cold beers, making it a great place to relax before or after you hit the beach. The interior is cool, and they play great music too. If you’re not into burgers, the roasted lemon chicken wings were amazing, and the pasta also looked delicious!
Picnic Bar
Picnic Bar is a tiny vegan coffee shop located in the Starry Sky Artist Village, just a short walk down Fulong Road. They offer a good selection of light meals, cakes, and drinks and even have Rooibos tea on the menu. It’s a nice relaxing spot, with plenty of outdoor seating.
Several other vendors in the complex also sell snacks and artisanal goods like tie-dye clothing and hand-made soap. And you’ll find showers and restrooms just around the corner too.
If you’re craving something cold, check out Mantou’s Summer Ice Shop, one of the most famous dessert shops in Fulong. There’s also a brand new Starbucks near the footbridge to the beach.
How to Get to Fulong Beach
The easiest way to get to Fulong Beach from Taipei is by car. But if you don’t have that luxury, the next best option is by train. Trains leave Taipei Main Station every 15-30 minutes and take just under 1h30 to get to Fulong.
The first train to Fulong leaves at 5:26 am, and the last train returns to Taipei at 9:41 pm. Search exact train schedules here on the Taiwan Railways website.
Tickets generally cost TWD 42-99 depending on which train you take. Bring your Easy Card so you can skip the ticket lines and simply tap and go at the train station.
The beach is a quick 10-minute stroll from Fulong Train Station.
How to Get Around Fulong
If you only want to explore the town and lounge on the beach, you can easily get around Fulong Village on foot.
Another great way to get around is by renting a bike for the day. That way, you can venture further and see a bit more of the area. There are a bunch of bike shops near the train station where you’ll find a good selection of bikes. Bike rental prices generally start around TWD 100 per bike for the day.
Where to Stay in Fulong
Fulong is not the biggest place, so the accommodation options are quite limited.
The Fullon Hotel is the most famous beach resort in the village and has great views over the beach. That said, it’s not the cheapest place to stay, and the interior is quite outdated. Check rates and availability.
If you’re looking for something a bit more budget friendly, you can check out the Longmen Campground, which sits next to the Shuang River.
Alternatively, the Fulong Visitor Center can always offer some insights into local guesthouses (minsu’s), which are probably not listed on popular booking platforms like Agoda or Booking.com.
Other places to stay near Fulong include Ruifang, Jiufen, and Keelung. Although you could reach these places by public transport (train or bus) from Fulong, having your own wheels will be much easier (rent a car here with Klook). If you’d rather base yourself in Taipei and only visit Fulong for the day, here’s a list of the best places to stay in Taipei.
When to Visit Fulong Beach
Fulong Beach is a great year-round destination, and there’s always a crowd. Summer is a great time to visit as the water is warm and it’s nice and sunny. This is also a great time to enjoy the Sand Sculpture Festival.
However, summer in Taiwan can be relentless, and if you’re not used to the intense humidity, spending a whole day at the beach might not be for you. If you decide to go in summer, you’ll need to time your visit to beat the heat. Either visit early in the morning or after 3 pm when it tends to be a bit cooler. And don’t forget to bring along a decent sunscreen and a sunhat! (Also check out my Taiwan packing list for more packing tips.)
If summer is too hot for you, other great months to visit Fulong include April and October, when temperatures are more pleasant.
Visiting Fulong Beach in Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to spend some time at the beach or just want to escape Taipei’s bustling city life, Fulong Beach is a great place to spend a day playing at the beach. I hope this guide comes in handy when planning your Fulong Beach day trip!
Well, that wraps up my guide on Fulong Beach! If you have any other tips about visiting Fulong Beach Taiwan, let me know in the comments below.
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