Jinshan and Wanli are hidden gems for tourism in northern Taiwan. Here you can find beaches, hot springs, delicious food, amazing geological formations, and much more. There is something to do here every time of the year. Don’t skip this area of Taiwan during your next trip.
🏯 Planning your trip to Jinshan and Wanli? 🏮
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: March-May, and October – November when the temperatures are nice and there is not as much rain
- How to get there: Inter-City Bus or taxi
- Best places to stay: Jinshan Bay Hot Spring Resort or Intercontinental New Taipei Hot Spring By IHG
- Book tours and activities in Taipei on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Background:
The first people to live in the Jinshan Area were plains indigenous peoples. The name “Jinabaoli” comes from the Chinese transliteration of the indigenous name of the place.
Chinese people began to settle here during the late Ming Dynasty, coming mainly from Fujian, and even more came to settle here during the Qing Dynasty.
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, a road was built to connect Jinshan to Keelung and Tamsui, making it easier for people to visit. This road was improved in the ROC period to become provincial highway 2.
Jinshan now has a population of about 22,000 people.
Jinshan Hot Springs refers to a group of geothermal springs in Jinshan and Wanli districts of northern Taiwan, formed by volcanic activity associated with the Datun Volcano Group. The area features a diverse range of spring types, including sulfur, carbonated, chloride, and iron-rich springs, with temperatures ranging from warm bathing waters to near-boiling outlets. Hot spring development began during the Japanese colonial era in the late 19th century, leading to the construction of public bathhouses and resort facilities that helped establish Jinshan as a major spa destination.
Tours:
You can book a tour to Jinshan on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.
Activities nearby:
Don’t forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan’s Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen’ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.
Where to Stay:
We recommend Jinshan Bay Hot Spring Resort, which is a reasonably-priced and high-quality resort right next to Huanggang Harbor (book on Booking.com here, Trip.com here, or Agoda here).
We have stayed at and recommend Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here.
We have also recommended Intercontinental New Taipei Hot Spring By IHG, which is perhaps the nicest hotel in Jinshan (book on Trip.com here, Agoda here, or Klook here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
How to get there:
By Bus: There are inter-city buses that leave hourly from Taipei Main Station and Taipei City Hall to Yehliu. You can purchase a discount EasyCard to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial Highway 2 west out of Keelung, and keep going until you reach Wanli. The turnoff to Yehliu comes right after Wanli beach. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.
Map:
See the map below:
Please see above.
Yehliu Geopark 野柳地質公園
Yehliu is perhaps the most famous geological park in Taiwan, with its most famous landmark being the Queen’s Head Rock. These rock formations have been forming for thousands of years through erosion of soft sandstone due to wind and water. Hurry and see these formations soon before they are gone forever…(read more)
Price:
120 NT per person.
You can book discount tickets to Yehliu Geopark on Klook here and KKday here.
You can book a tour to Yehliu on TripAdvisor here.
Check out our full blog on Yehliu Geopark here.
Ocean World 海洋世界
Another great attraction in Yehliu if you have time is the Ocean World aquarium that sits in the parking lot next to Yehliu Geopark. It is like the SeaWorld of Taipei and is by far the best aquarium in northern Taiwan. The one in Kenting is better though. There is also a tank where you can see sea turtles up close…(read more)
Price:
450 NT per person.
You can book discount tickets to Yehliu Ocean World on Klook here and KKday here.
You can also book tickets to the Yehliu Ocean World Parent-Child playground on Klook here.
You can book a tour to Yehliu on TripAdvisor here.
Check out our full blog on Yehliu Ocean World here.
Emerald Bay (Feitsuiwan) 翡翠灣
Feitsui Bay is another popular beach area in Wanli District of New Taipei. Besides swimming in the ocean, the most popular activity here is paragliding. You can jump from the hills above or be pulled into the air by Jet Ski. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan’s north coast…(read more)
You can also book a SUP / Paddle Board experience at Feitsui Bay here on KKday.
Check out our full blog on Feitsuiwan here.
Wanli UFO Houses 翡翠灣太空玲瓏/飛碟屋
The Wanli UFO Houses (aka Futuros) are a neighborhood of abandoned futuristic houses near Wanli Beach (aka Emerald Bay, Green Bay, or Feicuiwan) in Wanli District of New Taipei, and are some of the most popular urban exploration and Instagram destinations in Northern Taiwan…(read more)
You can also book a SUP / Paddle Board experience here on KKday.
For more information, check out our full blog on the Wanli UFO Houses here.
Lion Park (Wanli) 萬里獅子公園
Lion Park sits above a quiet and beautiful stretch of coastline in Wanli District of New Taipei. There is also a 1 KM pedestrian path that connects the park to Dawulun Beach. Popular activities here include hiking, fishing, paddle boarding, and watching the sunset…(read more)
Check out our full blog on Lion Park here.
Dapeng Footbath Park 大鵬足湯公園
Dapeng Footbath Park (aka Dapengzutang Park 大鵬足湯公園) is a free outdoor public foot hot spring near Jinshan’s Xialiao Beach in New Taipei City. Besides soaking your feet in hot spring water here, you can also walk along a wetland nature trail that has access to the beach. It is definitely worth checking out…(read more)
Jinshan Beach 金山海濱浴場
Jinshan Beach 金山海濱浴場 (aka Xiaoliao Wan 下寮灣) is a nice stretch of beach near Jinshan Old Street. On the other side of the beach is a rocky shoreline popular for hikers called the “Jinshan Shuiwei Port Mysterious Coast 神秘海岸” which you can also check out…(read more)
Check out our full guide to Jinshan Beach here.
Twin Candlestick Islets 燭臺雙嶼
The Twin Candlestick Islets (aka Candlestick Islet 燭臺嶼) are a beautiful natural wonder off the coast of Jinshan in New Taipei. There is a scenic trail (Shitoushan Hiking Trail 獅頭山步道) that lets you soak in the beautiful views of the islets from the coast. It is definitely worth a trip for lovers of Earth’s natural beauty…(read more)
Candlestick Islet Beach 蠟燭台沙灘
Right in front of the Candlestick Ilets is Candlestick Iselt Beach, a secret beach that is inaccessible to the general public, but still a beatiful place to look at from the Shitoushan Hiking Trail.
Mysterous Seashore 神秘海灘
The shore near Candlestick Islets is filled with “mysterious” fossils and interesting rock formations, called the Mysterious Seashore. It is definitley worth checking out if you have time.
Shitoushan Park 獅頭山公園
Shihtoushan Park includes the bluff above downtown Jinshan. Here you can find great views of Candlestick Islets and Jinshan, lots of old abandoned military sites, and endless plants and animals to spot.
Jinbaoli Old Trail 金包里古道
The Jinbaoli Trail is part of the Yulu Old Trail, which was the overland route between Jinshan and Dadaocheng (Taipei). During the Qing Dynasty, people would carry goods by hand and walk over Yangmingshan and back down to trade. The trail starts here at Huanggang Fishing Harbor.
Zhongshan Hot Springs Park 中山溫泉公園
You must visit Zhongshan Hot Spring Park which is right next to JinahN old street. You can lao take a free hot spring foot bath here.
Jinshan Old Street 金山老街
Jinshan Old Street (aka Jinbaoli Old Street 金包里老街Jīnbāolǐ lǎojiē) is a popular historical street in Jinshan District of New Taipei. The most famous delicacy here is duck but you can also find other traditional Taiwanese snacks among the numerous shops and restaurants here. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taiwan’s Northern Coast…(read more)
You can book a walking tour to Jinshan Old Street on Klook here or KKday here.
Check out our full guide to Jinshan Old Street here.
Huanggang Community Public Hot Spring 磺港公共浴室
Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs (aka Golden Baths 黃金之湯) are a free outdoor public hot spring near Jinshan’s Huanggang Harbor in New Taipei City. The iron content in the water is quite high, and you can tell by the yellow, opaque color of the water. It is definitely worth a stop for anyone in the area…(read more)
Gold Mountain Ranch and Resort (金山驛境)
Gold Mountain Ranch and Resort (aka Jinshan Yijing in Chinese, or simply “Horse Camp”) is a campground and horse ranch in Jinshan District of New Taipei. A stay here includes activities such as horseback riding, four-wheeling, archery and bb-gun practice, and also a filling BBQ dinner and western style breakfast. Staying here makes you feel like you are in the rural American West, which is a unique experience in Taiwan. With a shortage of ranches and horse riding opportunities in Taiwan, Gold Mountain is a special place that you should not miss on your trip along Taiwan’s northern coast…(read more)
Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education 法鼓山世界佛教教育園區
Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education (aka Dharma Drum Mountain 法鼓山) is a religious education center in Jinshan District of New Taipei City. Here you can learn to relax, meditate, and enjoy the surrounding natural scenery. The center also has guided tours and classes for those interested in learning more about Buddhism…(read more)
Zhongjiao Bay Beach 中角灣
Zhongjiao Bay (aka Zhongjiaowan 中角灣, or Zhongjiao Shazhu Wan 中角沙珠灣) is a long sandy beach in Jinshan District of New Taipei, known as the most popular surfing location in Northern Taiwan. It is popular for surfing and swimming, and nearby there are also hikes, interesting rock formations, and the nearby Jinshan Old Street and Jinshan Hot Springs. It is definitely a relaxing place to spend an afternoon. Nearby, you can also find other sandy beaches such as Jinshan Beach and Xialiao Beach 下寮灣 (Jinshan Ocean Waterpark)…(read more)
You can book surfing lessons at Zhongjiao Bay on Klook here.
Check out our full blog on Zhongjiao Bay here.
Thanks for reading!
Check out our guide to Taiwan’s northern coast here.
Check out our full guide to Taiwan here.
