Just 54km north of Taipei City, Laomei Green Reef (老梅綠石槽) is one of Taiwan’s most unique landscapes.
Located on the outskirts of Laomei, a tiny fishing village in New Taipei City’s Shimen District (石門區), this stunning reef is a must-see on any day trip from Taipei!
Beyond its pretty shoreline, Laomei Green Reef is one of Taiwan’s best-kept seasonal gems. And if you want to see it in all its glory, timing is key! Here’s what to expect and how to plan your visit!
Disclaimer: This post probably contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through one of these links, I might receive a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What Makes Laomei Reef Special
While there’s no shortage of natural beauty along Taiwan’s North Coast, Laomei Green Reef is arguably one of the most beautiful places on the island. Every spring, a vibrant carpet of green algae covers the entire reef creating a stunning sight.
What makes this place truly unique is its geological history. The ditches and trenches were formed thousands of years ago when the Datun Mountains’ volcanoes erupted, sending lava down to the coast and creating this incredible formation. Over the years, erosion has shaped these odd (but truly fascinating) rows stretching along the 700m reef.
Travel tip: Since this is a natural landmark, please respect the environment. To safeguard the reef and its visitors, note that it’s strictly prohibited to walk on the reef. In fact, you can get a dizzying fine if caught doing so! I was also quite disappointed to see garbage scattered along the beach. Please take your trash with you! There are bins in the bathroom near the food vendors as well as by the lighthouse.
Best Time to Visit
While Laomei Beach is a great year-round place to visit in Taiwan, a bit more planning is needed if you want to see the reef covered in a vibrant green carpet.
The best time to visit the green reef at Laomei is from March to May. Since the algae die rather quickly when the weather starts to warm, you really want to get your timing right. The easiest way to know when to visit is to keep an eye on recent news articles and posts on social media, like Instagram.
Another thing to know is that the reef is only visible during low tide. Don’t forget to check the tidal schedules for Shimen before your trip to avoid disappointment.
If your itinerary in Taiwan is flexible, it’s also best to visit during the week. I went on a long weekend, and the beach was insanely busy! Luckily, as with most attractions in Taiwan, it’s not too hard to get away from the crowds!
For the best photos, I recommend visiting at dawn or dusk (tides permitting), because that’s when you can catch the reef with magical changing skies as a backdrop!
How to Get to Laomei Green Reef
The easiest way to get to Laomei Reef is to self-drive or hire a private charter. That way, you can explore all of the north coast’s hidden gems at your own pace.
If that’s not an option for you, the best way to get to there is by bus. Buses depart from Tamsui, so if you’re coming from Taipei, you’ll first need to take the red MRT line there. Then take bus 863 or 862 from Tamsui MRT Park (right next to the Tamsui MRT Station). The journey takes about 1 hour. Buses come roughly every 20-30 minutes and cost TWD 45. Get off at the Mingde Village 1 stop. From here, it’s a 3-minute walk to the beach entrance. You’ll also find loads of food vendors selling all kinds of local Taiwanese street food and drinks here.
If you’ve missed the buses above, another option is to take the Crown Northern Coast shuttle bus 716 which goes to Keelung. The bus only comes a few times between 9 am and 3 pm, so you’ll need to time your trip. Tickets cost TWD 45 to Laomei Reef and, like all other buses in Taiwan, you can pay with an Easy Card.
Insider tip: Make sure you’ve got Google Maps on your phone to check schedules and stops. It works really well in Taiwan and is one of my top recommended travel apps. I highly recommend keeping the app open during your trip. That way, you can keep track of your whereabouts and know when to press the stop buzzer.
What to Do at Laomei Beach
While the reef is a really cool place to tick off during your Taipei travels, you can easily see it all in under 2 hours. This will allow ample time to walk along the reef, take as many photos as your heart desires, and even chill on the beach.
However, since you’ve come all this way, it would be a shame not to explore a bit further afield. If you continue past the green reef, there’s a nice coastal walk offering amazing views over New Taipei City’s rugged coastline.
To get to the pathway from the very end of the beach, you’ll need to scramble up a massive dune. If you’re not wearing flip-flops, you might want to kick off your shoes as it’s a pain to make the journey with sneakers. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the entire bay! Don’t stop there, though, because there’s much more to see!
Like the reef, the Fugui Cape (Taiwan’s northernmost cape), was formed when lava from Mount Datun flowed into the ocean. All along the trail you can spot cool rock formations shaped by centuries of sea and wind erosion. These are called windkanter. What really makes these formations so cool is that most of them have sharp pointed edges. They’re quite different from other popular geological sites in Taiwan, like Yehliu, but reminded me of the cool rock formations on Green Island.
After a short stroll, you’ll find the Fuguijiao Lighthouse (富貴角燈塔), which offers more stunning views. While you could head back to the beach, it’s worth continuing along the trail to Fuji Fishing Harbor (富基漁港) for a dose of fresh seafood. The market is just 480m from the lighthouse, and the path is an easy walk.
Just a heads-up — I spotted some scary-looking lizards along the way! So keep an eye out for them and try not to get a fright!
The closest bus stop is Fugui Cape Lighthouse, which is about 650m away from the fish market. From there, you can either catch the bus back to Tamsui or explore other hidden gems nearby. Jinbaoli Old Street, as well as the Shimen Rice Terraces, are other great places to see, but for a change of pace, don’t miss Baishawan Beach (白沙灣遊憩區).
It’s a lovely Taiwan beach boasting powdery white sand and gentle waves. If you don’t fancy taking a dip or trying out stand-up paddleboarding, opt for an ice-cold beer and the best fish and chips in Taiwan at Dazzler’s Fish and Chips. The owner is from the UK, and I’m not lying when I say this is the real deal – complete with peas (albeit not mushy) and tartar sauce!
There you have it – my quick guide to visiting Laomei Green Reef. I hope this guide comes in handy on your visit to this unique part of Taiwan.
Leave a Reply