Taipei and the North · New Taipei City

Northeast Coast guide: Bitou trails, Fulong and a coastal stay

The northeast coast is a sequence of different landscapes: Bitou’s green ridges and cliffs, Fulong’s sand and river mouth, and the railway heritage of the Old Caoling Tunnel. A good plan chooses how much walking, cycling and beach time you actually want, then gives the road connections space of their own.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated 8 October 20265 min read

Grassy ridge and steps seen from a Bitou Cape trail — Bitou’s coastal hills; confirm the currently open public route before visiting.

Suggested time: 2 days with 1 Fulong night, or one focused day trip from Taipei
Where to stay: Fulong station area for the beach and cycling; Taipei for a single coastal excursion
Season and timing: Match exposed trails and beach activities to a calm forecast and current access notices. Confirm the actual year’s sand-sculpture or music-festival dates before choosing an event-led trip.

The short answer

Allow two days with one night near Fulong station: use one for an open Bitou hill route and the other for the beach or Old Caoling cycle tunnel. Confirm the available trail before travelling; the lighthouse and restricted coastal branches are not part of this plan. For a single Taipei day trip, choose Bitou with arranged road transport or Fulong by rail, rather than forcing the full coast into one outing.

Make Fulong the overnight base

Fulong provides a clear anchor: the railway station, food shops, beach and access to the Old Caoling cycling route belong to the same village. A room near the station suits a rail arrival and lunch before checking in. Compare the exact walk to your accommodation; a beach-resort address and a station-side guesthouse do not give the same final approach.

Bitou is a separate road stop farther along the coast. Arrange that connection before committing to a two-day plan, especially if you carry luggage. If you want only one day outside Taipei, the simplest decision is whether the day is about a hill walk at Bitou or Fulong’s beach and railway landscape.

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Choose a stay that fits this visit

For an early start in Fulong station area / Fulong beachfront / Taipei rail base, a well-placed overnight stay matters. Check access to the actual trail, pier or meeting point and seasonal transport before booking.

Fulong station area — Village meals and a practical rail arrival; compare the hotel walk with the beach entrance and bike-rental location.
Fulong beachfront — For a beach-led overnight; confirm the property approach from the station.
Taipei rail base — For a focused day trip; arrange the Bitou road stage separately from the Fulong train journey.

These are example bases: choose the area that fits your own route before searching.

Compare stays: Fulong station area ↗Compare stays: Fulong beachfront ↗Compare stays: Taipei rail base ↗

Enter your dates and compare the map, total price, cancellation terms and room details. Search results are not verified hotel recommendations.

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Bitou’s attractive routes have important limits

The city government describes the hill walk beside Bitou Elementary School, green ridges, coastal plants and views over bays and capes. Begin at the visitor entrance and follow the route that staff or current signs confirm is open. The school is a working school, so keep its entrance clear rather than treating the grounds as a viewpoint.

When checked on 2026-10-08, the Tourism Administration explicitly restricted the Bitou Coastal Hiking Trail to academic or work visits, and listed the lighthouse trail and lighthouse as closed because of cracked rock and rockfall risk. Do not follow an old photograph or an optimistic route map into either branch. A shorter open hill walk, or a different coastal stop, is the appropriate alternative.

Rocky cliffs above the sea at Bitou Cape — Bitou’s headland scenery is the focus of a coastal walking day.

Make time for the local food

What to eat and where to look

Fulong lunchbox

Fulong’s railway-station food shops are known for bento-style lunchboxes, a convenient meal before the beach or a train journey.

Where to look: Lunchbox shops around Fulong station.
Fit it into your day: Eat before your beach or cycling block, rather than carrying a warm meal through a long outdoor day.

Ask about the meat and side dishes; the standard box should not be assumed vegetarian.

Gelidium jelly drink

The Gongliao district guide describes jelly made by boiling gelidium, served chilled in drinks such as lemon, honey or plum.

Where to look: Drink shops in Gongliao and around Fulong.
Fit it into your day: A cooling break after a walk or cycle, with sweetness adjusted if the shop offers a choice.

Check the syrup and additions if you avoid honey, dairy or particular ingredients.

Gongliao abalone

The city government highlights locally grown abalone and ormers as a coastal seafood specialty.

Where to look: Seafood restaurants in Gongliao on a road-based coastal outing.
Fit it into your day: Choose a sit-down seafood lunch when your route includes a restaurant stop.

Contains shellfish; agree the portion and price before ordering rather than assuming a fixed set meal.

Fulong: beach day or railway-tunnel ride

Fulong’s sandy coast lies at the Shuangxi River mouth, with a bridge linking the beach areas. Give a beach visit its own relaxed block after lunch, and let the operator’s current instructions determine any swimming or water activity. Sand-sculpture and music events can change the experience completely; look up the current calendar and admission arrangements rather than relying on a recurring month.

The Old Caoling Tunnel offers a contrasting day on a bicycle. The former railway tunnel links the Fulong side with Shicheng in Yilan and is now part of a coastal cycling route. Confirm bike fit, lights, the permitted route and the return before renting. The city’s visitor page distinguishes weekday walking from weekend cyclist-only use; recheck that access rule for your visit.

Footbridge above the sand at Fulong Beach — Fulong’s beach and bridge form a contrasting coastal stop.

Two days without rushing the connections

On the first day, make Bitou the outdoor priority if the weather and open routes suit. Follow the walk with a proper meal, then complete your arranged road connection to Fulong and settle into the hotel. An evening by the village is a better finish than adding another headland after you have already crossed the coast.

On the second day, choose the beach or the Old Caoling cycling route, with a Fulong lunchbox before your train onward. Combining both can work for a modest beach pause, but a full cycle outing and a booked water activity deserve different days. Longdong’s rocky shore belongs to the broader coast; add it only if your transport and the conditions allow an extra stop.

Layered sandstone along Longdong’s rocky shoreline — Longdong is an optional stop on the broader northeast coast.

Reach the village by rail, the headland by road

When checked on 2026-10-08, the Tourism Administration’s Fulong page listed TRA trains to Fulong station, bus 856 from Ruifang to the Fulong Visitor Center and bus 791 from Keelung. No current frequency, fare or journey time was verified. Check the actual train stop and your road connection before using a route number as the basis of the day.

A private coastal excursion can solve the separate road stages, but compare its hiking stops with the published closures. The Fulong sand-sculpture tour linked here also visits Bitou and other places, so it is an event-led regional day rather than a substitute for two slow days on the coast. Keep a separate margin for the return to Taipei before a flight.

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Plan your arrival before booking

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the usual arrival airport for this trip. Compare the whole journey, including connections and the onward transfer; this does not imply a direct flight from your home airport.

Continue from Taoyuan to Taipei for a city overnight or the rail journey toward Fulong. Bitou needs a separate road connection; confirm that stage and the final hotel approach rather than treating the airport transfer as transport around the whole coast.

Compare flights: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) ↗

Choose your own departure airport and dates on the booking site. Check baggage, arrival time and the final transfer before paying.

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Practical questions

Can I walk to Bitou Cape Lighthouse?

Do not plan that branch. When checked on 2026-10-08, the Tourism Administration listed the lighthouse trail and lighthouse as closed because of cracked rock. Its coastal trail was restricted to academic or work visits; confirm the public hill route separately.

Is one day enough for Bitou and Fulong?

One day can connect them with arranged road transport, but it leaves less room for a long walk, cycling or a beach activity. Two days with one Fulong night give each outing space; by public transport, one focused destination is often the cleaner day-trip choice.

Where should I stay on the northeast coast?

Choose Fulong station area for a rail-based overnight with village meals, beach time or cycling. A resort farther from the station may suit a beach-led stay, but confirm the final walk or pick-up and your dinner options.

Should I choose the beach or Old Caoling Tunnel?

Choose the beach for a relaxed shore block or a separately confirmed water activity. Choose the tunnel for a cycling day with railway heritage and coastal scenery. Check current access and bike arrangements before committing to either.

Sources and checks before you travel

Reference sources for the version dated 8 October 2026. Confirm opening times, access, transport and conditions for your travel dates.

Taiwan Tourism Administration: Bitou Cape Hiking Trail ↗ — opens in a new tabUsed for: Cape scenery, public visitor description, explicit academic/work restriction on coastal branch and closure of lighthouse trail and lighthouse; body read. · checked 8 October 2026
Taiwan Tourism Administration: Fulong Beach ↗ — opens in a new tabUsed for: Fulong beach and bridge, river setting, events and published TRA/856/791 access references; body read. · checked 8 October 2026
New Taipei City Travel: Bitoujiao Trail ↗ — opens in a new tabUsed for: School-side hill-path setting, coastal plants and ridge scenery; does not override the national page’s branch restrictions. · checked 8 October 2026
New Taipei City Travel: Old Caoling Tunnel ↗ — opens in a new tabUsed for: Former railway tunnel between Fulong and Shicheng, cycling use and published weekday/weekend access distinction; body read. · checked 8 October 2026
New Taipei City Travel: Gongliao and Shuangxi ↗ — opens in a new tabUsed for: Fulong cycling and beach context, gelidium jelly drinks and local abalone/ormers; body read. · checked 8 October 2026
New Taipei City Travel: Fulong Train Station ↗ — opens in a new tabUsed for: Fulong station and its established bento/lunchbox shops; body read. · checked 8 October 2026

Editorial policy →

Does this experience fit your route?

Before booking a coastal tour, check the exhibition dates, the open Bitou route and how much time remains for Fulong. A confirmed Fulong overnight suits a slower beach or cycling visit.

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