Shanshui Beach is the best beach in Penghu. The sand is white, the waves are big, and the water is clear and warm. Popular activities here include snorkeling, swimming, surfing, and SUPing. It is a great beach destination if you come to Penghu.
Historical Background:
Shanshui Beach, located on the southern coast of the main island of Penghu, stretches over 200 meters. The beach was formerly known as “Zhumu Shui” (literally “Mother Pig Water”) from a local legend that said in the past when pigsties were near the beach, giant octopuses would come ashore and pull the pigs into the sea. This story led to the name “Zhumu Shui.” Later, during a movement to beautify place names, local residents renamed the area “Shanshui” (“Mountain and Water”) to reflect the scenic hills and clear waters, a name that has been used ever since.
Here there are natural expanses of lush beach morning glory flowers, followed by golden, soft sand and the deep blue sea. These three colors blend to create a picturesque and inviting landscape.
As one of the few beaches in Penghu suitable for surfing, Shanshui Beach is known for its strong waves. At night, the beach is also popular for stargazing.
On the western side of the beach is Zhumu Mountain, which was once a military-controlled area but has since been transformed into the Shanshui 30 Highland Park. This spot offers an excellent panoramic view of the beach. Shanshui Beach has also become popular because it appeared in Bobby Chen’s music video and the film All You Need is Love. It is usually clean and one of Penghu’s most popular beaches.
Activities:
Besides soaking in sun rays at the beach, there are many activities available in Penghu such as snorkeling, diving, wind surfing, sailing, canoeing, wakeboarding, massage, yachting, glamping, trampoline Water Sports, SUP / Paddle Boarding, kayaking, night fishing and more on Klook here or KKday here.
Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands such as Island Hopping Tour, starlight Marine Ranch, seafood Barbeque, Sheraton Four Points Eatery, Dragon Palace Intertidal Zone, Jibei Sand Tail, and many more options on Klook here or KKday here.
For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here.
Where to Stay:
We have stayed at and recommend Han’s Hostel which had great service and is right next to Shanshui Beach, the best beach in Penghu (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here) a newly renovated homestay in downtown Magong with great service and great prices (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide here.
When to go to Penghu:
The best time to go is Autumn. Spring is also a nice time to go, but there is a greater chance of spring showers during that time. The summers may be too hot, and winters too cold and windy.
How to get to Penghu:
By Plane:
There are daily flights from Taipei Songshan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung airports to Makung. the flight takes roughly under an hour. Rates can range from around 2200-6000 NT for a round trip. There are also flights to and from Chiayi, Tainan, Kinmen, and Chimei, with charted flights to Hong Kong starting September 2018.
There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.
By Boat: There are daily ferries from Chiayi and Kaohsiung. A one-way trip takes about 4 hours from both locations. A one-way ferry from Kaohsiung costs about 900 NT for just a reclining seat, and a one-way ferry from Chiayi costs about 1000 NT.
By Ferry: You can book ferry boat tickets from Chiayi on Klook here, or ferry boat tickets from Tainan on KKday here.
How to Get to Shanshui Beach:
By Scooter: From Makung, take Highway 201 southwest until you reach County Highway 25 and continue to the beach. There is a free parking lot there. We recommend taking a scooter as the most efficient and convenient type of transport on the islands. However, most places require a local scooter license. You can rent a scooter for Penghu on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Car/taxi: From Makung, take Highway 201 southwest until you reach County Highway 25 and continue to the beach. There is a free parking lot there. A car is also sensible in Penghu because the main island is pretty spread out. You can rent a car for Penghu on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Bus: You can get to Shanshui Beach via bus 52D Shanshui Line. The bus stop is called Shanshui Beach. The beach is about a 3-minute walk north from the bus stop.
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 search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
Map:
Please see the map below:
