Northeast Coast Taiwan Road Trip: Shen'ao Cape, Nanya, Bitou Cape, Longdong, Sandiao Cape Lighthouse & Fulong by Car from Taipei or Keelung

Northeast Coast Taiwan Road Trip: Shen'ao Cape, Nanya, Bitou Cape, Longdong, Sandiao Cape Lighthouse & Fulong by Car from Taipei or Keelung

Drive east from Taipei and follow Provincial Highway 2 (the Northern Coastal Highway) down to Fulong, and you have the classic Northeast Coast day trip: the sea-carved rocks of Shen'ao Cape (深澳岬角) in Ruifang, the roadside sandstone sculptures of Nanya (南雅奇岩), the ridge-top ocean views of the Bitou Cape Trail (鼻頭角步道), the cliffs of Longdong (龍洞), Sandiao Cape Lighthouse (三貂角燈塔) at the easternmost point of Taiwan's main island, and finally the golden sand of Fulong Beach (福隆海水浴場). The stops sit a few to twenty kilometres apart and buses run infrequently, so a rental car lets you pull over at every headland you like.

This guide covers only the Northeast Coast (Shen'ao in Ruifang to Fulong in Gongliao): drive times from Taipei Main Station, Songshan and Keelung Station (checked on Google Maps), what you can still see now that Elephant Trunk Rock has collapsed, which part of Bitou Cape is closed, Sandiao Cape Lighthouse opening hours, and northeast-monsoon safety, plus 3 ready-made routes, one of which ends in Yilan. For Jiufen, Jinguashi and the Yin-Yang Sea, see our Jiufen & Jinguashi self-drive guide; for other directions from Taipei, see 5 road trips from Taipei.

The ridge section of the Bitou Cape Trail (Unsplash, for illustration)

Where to Pick Up: Taipei Main Station or Songshan, with Keelung Closest to Shen'ao

The Northeast Coast lies east of Keelung. From central Taipei, take National Freeway 1 and the Wanli–Ruifang Expressway (Highway 62) to Shen'ao, then follow Highway 2 south. If you are staying in Taipei, pick up at Taipei Main Station or Songshan; if you are already in Keelung, Keelung Station is about 20 minutes from Shen'ao Fishing Harbor. If you want to continue into Yilan for the night, you can return the car at Jiaoxi Station or Yilan Station (a one-way rental; the fee is shown in the online quote and varies by station).

Drive times are Google Maps estimates (weekday 09:00 departure; weekend 08:00 / 17:00 departure) and depend on traffic. More on each station: Taipei Main Station pickup guide, Keelung car rental, Jiaoxi car rental.

Drive-Time Table: Following Highway 2 from North to South

Almost every Northeast Coast stop sits on Highway 2. The smoothest order is to head south (towards Yilan): Shen'ao → Nanya → Bitou Cape → Longdong → Sandiao Cape → Fulong. The sea stays on your left, and most roadside car parks are on the sea side, which makes turning in easier.

Driving from Shen'ao to Fulong takes well under 1.5 hours; the trails are what take time. Pick 4–5 stops per day and allow at least 2 hours each for the Bitou Cape Trail and the Longdong Bay Cape Trail.

Shen'ao Cape: Elephant Trunk Rock Is Gone, but the Cape Trail Is Still Worth It

Shen'ao Cape sits beside Shen'ao Fishing Harbor in Ruifang. It was famous for Elephant Trunk Rock, a sea arch that looked like an elephant dipping its trunk into the sea. The arch collapsed a few years ago after long-term wave erosion and weathering, so the "trunk" is no longer there. The remaining rock has been nicknamed the "capybara rock" by locals and even appears under that name on Google Maps. According to New Taipei City's official tourism site, the Shen'ao Cape trail remains open, with green algae-covered rock troughs, mushroom-shaped rocks, and sea on three sides, plus views of Keelung Mountain and Keelung Islet.

• Getting in: enter via the trail next to the third car park of Shen'ao Fishing Harbor. There are several car parks around the harbor (paid; check on site).
• Safety: this is rocky coastline with no railings near the cliffs. Stay away from the edge, do not climb on the rocks, and skip it on days with a strong northeast monsoon. Follow any on-site notices from the Ruifang District Office.
• Nearby: the harbor has a seaside boardwalk and seafood restaurants, and the Shen'ao Rail Bike runs about 1.3 km along the old line. Jiufen and Jinguashi are up the hill to the south, so you can add them using our Jiufen & Jinguashi guide. For Keelung city sights, see Keelung travel guide.

Nanya and the Bitou Cape Trail: Roadside Rocks and a Ridge-Top Walk

Weathered sandstone on the Northeast Coast (Unsplash, location tagged Nanya by the photographer, for illustration)

Nanya Rock Formations: natural sculptures beside Highway 2

Nanya is at roughly kilometre 80.8 of Highway 2 and marks the northern entrance to the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area. The sandstone layers here vary in hardness, and decades of monsoon winds and waves have carved painted-looking patterns and shapes nicknamed "ice-cream rock", "bamboo-shoot rock" and "seal rock". There is a roadside car park with information boards, so you can park and be at the shore in a few steps. Twenty to thirty minutes is enough.

Bitou Cape Trail: the Northeast Coast's signature ocean walk

About 6 minutes south of Nanya is Bitou Fishing Harbor, where the Bitou Cape Trail begins; there is a car park and toilets nearby. According to the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration, the trail is about 3.5 km long, open all year and free. Allow 2–3 hours. From the ridge you get 360-degree views of headlands, sea-eroded rock and crashing waves, including the "Great Wall" ridge shown in the photo above.

Longdong: Cliff Views on the Bay Cape Trail and a Sea Pool at the Ocean Park

Reef rocks on the Gongliao coast (Unsplash, for illustration)

Past Bitou Cape you reach Longdong in Gongliao District, whose cliffs are Taiwan's best-known rock-climbing spot. There are two places to stop:

• Longdong Bay Cape Trail (龍洞灣岬步道): entrances at about km 85 (north, near Hemei Elementary School) and km 87 (south, at Xilingyan Temple) of Highway 2. Open all year, free, with parking and toilets. A few minutes up from the temple you reach a viewing platform; the full walk takes 2–3 hours. The Administration describes the trail as linking Bitou Cape and Longdong Cape, with rock formations ranging from roughly 6 million to 35 million years old.
• Longdong South Ocean Park (龍洞南口海洋公園, Longdong Four Seasons Bay): park hours 09:00–18:00; the seawater swimming pool and other water areas open roughly May to September (check official notices). Great for kids in summer; in autumn and winter it is mainly a scenic stop.

The Administration specifically warns that rogue waves are common during the northeast monsoon (roughly October to March), so do not go out onto the shoreline rocks. The rocky platforms below Longdong Cape are particularly dangerous in this season.

Sandiao Cape Lighthouse and Fulong: Taiwan's Easternmost Point, Then the Beach

Sandiao Cape Lighthouse: the easternmost lighthouse on Taiwan's main island

From Longdong it is about 25 minutes south to Sandiao Cape. According to Taiwan's Tourism Administration, Sandiao Cape Lighthouse is the easternmost lighthouse on Taiwan's main island, built during the Japanese era, and was the first lighthouse in Taiwan opened to the public. Its exhibition room displays historical materials on Taiwan's lighthouses.

• Opening hours: 1 April–31 October 09:00–18:00; 1 November–31 March 09:00–17:00; closed every Monday. On a Monday, swap it for the fishing villages of Magang (馬崗) or Maoao (卯澳).
• Address: No. 38, Magang Street, Gongliao District, New Taipei City (tel. 02-2499-1300).
• It is also a popular sunrise spot on New Year's Day. See our New Year sunrise road trip guide for pickup timing.

Fulong Beach: river on one side, sea on the other

About 14 minutes beyond Sandiao Cape is Fulong. Fulong Beach is a golden sandbar at the mouth of the Shuangxi River, so you get a river on the inside and the sea on the outside, joined by the photogenic Rainbow Bridge. There is a car park with accessible spaces. Summer is peak season, and the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival usually opens in early summer and can run into autumn. Check the beach website and the Administration's notices for opening times, fees and festival dates.

Next to Fulong is the Old Caoling Tunnel, a cycling tunnel between New Taipei and Yilan. Cars cannot enter: park in Fulong, then rent a bike or walk in (on weekends and holidays it is bicycles only). The Administration lists opening hours of 08:30–17:30 from 1 June to 30 September and 08:30–17:00 from 1 October to 31 May, with a short midday break; follow on-site notices. For the autumn silver grass season on the Caoling Historic Trail, see our Taiwan flower season calendar.

3 Northeast Coast Routes: Day Trip, From Keelung, or On to Yilan

Guishan Island seen from the Toucheng coast (Unsplash, location tagged Toucheng by the photographer, for illustration)

Route A | Taipei day trip (the classic)

Pick up at Taipei Main Station at 09:00 → (about 35–75 min) Shen'ao Cape and lunch at Shen'ao Fishing Harbor → (about 12–18 min) Nanya → (about 6 min) Bitou Cape Trail → (about 6 min) Longdong Bay Cape Trail or the Ocean Park → (about 25 min) Sandiao Cape Lighthouse → (about 14 min) Fulong Beach and a Fulong lunchbox → (weekend evening about 65–130 min) back to Taipei to return the car.

Total driving is about 3–4.5 hours. With so many stops, walk either Bitou Cape or Longdong in full and just visit a viewpoint at the other. On Mondays, Sandiao Cape Lighthouse is closed, so visit Maoao or Magang instead.

Route B | Half or full day from Keelung Station

Pick up at Keelung Station → (about 18–35 min) Shen'ao Cape → Nanya → Bitou Cape Trail → Longdong → (if time allows) Sandiao Cape and Fulong → (weekend evening about 45–80 min) back to Keelung Station. Ideal if you are staying in Keelung. Skip Sandiao Cape and you can be back in Keelung by mid-afternoon.

Route C | Pick up in Taipei, return in Yilan (one-way)

Pick up at Taipei Main Station or Songshan → Shen'ao → Nanya → Bitou Cape → Longdong → Sandiao Cape → Fulong → (about 55–90 min) return at Jiaoxi Station for a hot-spring evening, or (about 60–100 min) return at Yilan Station. Beyond Fulong, Highway 2 follows the coast into Toucheng with Guishan Island offshore. For Jiaoxi hot springs see our Taiwan hot spring road trip map; to keep exploring Yilan the next day see 5 Yilan road trips; more one-way ideas are in 10 one-way rental routes.

Driving Tips and Costs: Monsoon, Parking, Refuelling and Pricing

Driving and safety

• Northeast monsoon: from roughly October to March the Northeast Coast is windy and often rainy, with a risk of rogue waves. Watch the waves from trails and viewing platforms, not from the reef. Check the Administration's notices before and after typhoons or heavy rain.
• Highway 2: mostly one lane each way, with many curves, heavy weekend traffic and plenty of cyclists and scooters. Pull into car parks or marked bays only; never stop on a bend or at a tunnel mouth. Taiwan drives on the right. See our driving rules for foreign drivers.
• Parking: Shen'ao Fishing Harbor, Nanya, Bitou Fishing Harbor, Longdong and Fulong all have car parks (fees vary; check on site). Bitou and Fulong fill up after midday on weekends, so start early. General tips: parking in Taiwan.
• Refuelling: there are fewer petrol stations along the coast than in the city. When the tank is about half full, stop at a staffed station near Ruifang or Fulong, ask the attendant to fill up and pay with your fuel card (self-service pumps may not accept it). If you forget the card and pay yourself, keep the receipt and it will be fully credited against your mileage fee.
• Breakdown or accident: contact your pickup store first (the number is in your booking confirmation). Call 119 for injuries and 110 to report a traffic accident.

How the cost works

• Rental fee + mileage fee: Goodcars includes a fuel card and the fuel is built into the mileage fee, charged by the actual kilometres driven. You do not need to top up before returning, and there is no limit on distance. Details: mileage fee explained and mileage charges guide.
• Economy cars from: New Vios, New Yaris, Yaris Cross and New Colt Plus start at NT$1,199 on weekdays and NT$1,399 on weekends (actual prices vary by pickup station and date; see the online quote).
• Vehicle size: a five-seater is enough for 2–4 people (choosing a five-seater); families can choose a seven- or nine-seater such as the Wish, M7 Turbo ECO Hyper, Staria, Starex or Touran (7- and 9-seater rentals).
• ETC tolls: every car has an ETC tag. Freeway tolls are charged at a flat NT$1.2 per kilometre for rental cars and settled when you return the car; the store can give you a breakdown on request. Highway 2 itself is toll-free.
• Add-ons: extra drivers can be added online; the GO Worry-Free Protection Plan lowers the amount you would owe for vehicle damage; child seats and dashcams are also available, with prices shown on the booking page or at the store.

FAQ

Q1. Can I drive in Taiwan with my foreign licence?

Taiwan recognises licences on a reciprocity basis. If your country has a reciprocal agreement with Taiwan, bring a valid International Driving Permit (IDP), your original national licence and your passport; you can drive for 30 days after entry, and for longer stays you must have the IDP endorsed by a Taiwanese motor vehicles office. Reciprocal countries are listed by Taiwan's Highway Bureau. Japanese visitors need a Japanese licence plus a Chinese translation (a Japanese-issued IDP is not accepted in Taiwan). Visitors with a valid Hong Kong or Macau licence can rent with Goodcars; Hong Kong visitors are advised to also carry an IDP. See our Taiwan IDP guide.

Q2. Can I still see Elephant Trunk Rock?

No. The trunk-shaped arch has collapsed. The Shen'ao Cape trail is still open, though, with the remaining rock (nicknamed "capybara rock"), green rock troughs and mushroom rocks. There are no railings at the cliff edge, so keep back and do not climb.

Q3. Can I walk to Bitou Cape Lighthouse?

No. The old lighthouse path is closed because of rockfalls and foundation collapse, and the lighthouse is not open to visitors. The other open sections of the Bitou Cape Trail are accessible all year; allow 2–3 hours.

Q4. When is Sandiao Cape Lighthouse open?

April–October 09:00–18:00 and November–March 09:00–17:00, closed every Monday. On Mondays, visit Maoao or Magang fishing villages instead.

Q5. Is the Northeast Coast worth visiting in autumn or winter?

Yes, if you pick your day. During the northeast monsoon it is windy and often rainy, with rogue waves, so enjoy the sea from trails and viewpoints only. On clear days Bitou Cape and Sandiao Cape are just as beautiful. On rainy days, shorten the trip to Shen'ao and Nanya and add Jiufen.

Q6. Can I pick up in Taipei and return in Yilan?

Yes. This is a one-way rental; the fee is shown in the online quote and differs by station. Just select your pickup station (for example Taipei Main Station) and return station (for example Jiaoxi Station) when booking.

Q7. Do I have to pay for fuel or top up before returning?

No. Goodcars cars come with a fuel card, fuel is included in the mileage fee, and you are charged by the kilometres actually driven.

Q8. How far ahead should I book, and how do I pay?

Online bookings need to be made 12–24 hours before pickup, depending on the station. For last-minute needs, call the store or message us on WhatsApp via the official website. Foreign visitors need a credit card in the name of the person who made the booking.