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COMPASS MAGAZINE, August 2001. VOL. 8 ISSUE 8

Photo: Henry Westheim © 2001

Summer Fun along Highway 61 by Cheryl Robbins translated by Rachel Chiou

With the coming of summer, thoughts turn toward ocean breezes, sandy beaches and getting away from it all, making this a good time to explore the coastal areas around Taichung. A one- or two- hour drive will take you to some scenic and fun spots, most of which are located just off of or near Highway 61, better known as the West Coast Highway. The following tour is just a preview of what the coast has to offer, such as fresh seafood, beautiful wetlands, white sand beaches and a scenic hillside ranch.

The first stop is Taichung Harbor, specifically the Wuchi Tourism Port. To get there, exit Highway 61 at Taichung Harbor, or if coming directly from Taichung City, take Taichung Harbor Road. After passing the town of Sha Lu, turn right onto Chung Yi Road. Follow this road for about 3 or 4 kilometers and turn left at Bei Ti Road. If driving, you will need to pay NT$49 to enter the parking

area. This port is where the fishing boats bring their catches. There are plenty of seafood options available, served in small stalls or informal restaurants. If you come in the late afternoon, you can watch the daily catches being unloaded and auctioned off to seafood wholesalers. There is a very large fish market, where you can buy fresh fish, live crabs and shrimp. A very popular attraction is the Horng Shing Harbor Cruise (30-2, Bei Ti Road, Ching Shui Town, Taichung County; tel: 26578282; 23164486). Look for the ticket booth on a small lane that runs between two areas of food stalls. These cruises run every day (in good weather) from 9:30am-7pm. for about 50 minutes and provide a good overview of Taichung Harbor and the surrounding coastal area. Ticket prices are NT$350 for adults, NT$250 for students and senior citizens and NT$150 for children under 6.

	The next stop is the Kaomei Wetlands. This is a scenic 1,500-hectare marshy area located at where the Ta Jia River meets the ocean. It is an important migratory bird habitat that conservationists are trying to protect. To get there, from the Wuchi Tourism Port, go back to Chung Yi Road and turn left.
Follow the signs to Highway 61 heading north. Exit at Kao Mei and turn left on Kao Mei Road. Follow this very narrow road to the end, where it becomes a gravel parking lot. From here you can observe the wetlands. But, better views can be obtained by following the road that runs in front of the gravel area. There is no charge to enter the wetlands but as this is a fragile ecosystem, every effort should be taken not to disturb it. The best time to come is in the mornings and early evenings. At that time, birds of more than 120 species flock to this area, making it a bird watcher’s paradise. It is possible to also reach this area by bus. From Taichung take a Chu Yeh Transportation Company bus to the Ching Shui station, then transfer to a bus heading to Kao Mei. Get off at the last stop and walk for about five minutes.

From Kaomei, the West Coast Highway passes through quiet townships. Agricultural fields and green hillsides add to the serene landscape, making this a great get-away from the crowded streets of Taichung. A 15-minute drive brings you to the town of Ta An. If you haven’t had the chance to eat seafood yet, this is a good place to do that. There are also a number of beaches in this town, some free and some requiring admission. One of the newest attractions is the Ta An Beach Resort (1, Lane 86, Bei Shan Rd., Fu Chu Tsun, Ta An Hsiang (Township), Taichung County; tel: 26886288). Phase I of this resort area opened in May and includes private beaches, barbecue pits, swimming pools and water slides, and a 3D theater. Admission for the day is NT$300 for adults and NT$250 for children. Wooden cottages and a campground (camping equipment can be rented) are available for overnight stays. Phase II is currently under construction and will include a lake and rowboats. There will also be docks for sailboats and motorboats.

Continuing north on Highway 61, you will come to Tong Hsiao and the West-Ocean Educational Sea World (41-1, Hai Bing Rd., Tong Hsiao Town, Miaoli County; tel: (037)761777). The white sand beach is a great place to swim, jet ski, play beach volleyball or soak up the rays. The beach also has a campground and barbecue pits. In addition, there are 6 exhibit

rooms with aquariums featuring sharks, tropical fish, sea horses, sea dragons, horseshoe crabs and jellyfish, etc. Visitors can also take a walk through a forest of tall trees or the botanical garden. Children will enjoy seeing animals such as deer, goats, monkeys, and mini pigs, as well as the opportunity to ride horses. This park is open 8am-6pm daily. The beach area is open from the beginning of May to the end of October from 8am-5pm. Admission to the West-Ocean Educational Sea World is NT$350 for adults, NT$320 for students and NT$180 for pre-school children. This park is conveniently located near the Tong Hsiao train station making it accessible by train from Chang Hua (coastal train route).

	Although technically not next to the ocean, Flying Cow Ranch (166, Nan Ho Li, Tong Hsiao Town, Miaoli County; tel: (037)782-999; 782-844) is also located in Tong Hsiao, nestled deep in the coastal hillside. From the West-Ocean Educational Sea World head to Highway 1 and turn left. Then, turn right onto Highway 121, following the signs towards Flying Cow Ranch. You won’t
be able to see cows fly (the name comes from the abundance of cows and butterflies), but you can learn how to milk one. Visitors can also feed a baby goat and bale hay. In addition, this ranch offers much in the way of natural beauty including spacious green meadows with cows, horses, goats, rabbits, and a butterfly house. Admission to the ranch is NT$120 for adults and NT$150 for children over 90 cm in height. If you would like to turn this tour into a weekend get-away, Flying Cow Ranch offers some good accommodation choices including campsites and a hotel.

This tour includes only a small number of interesting coastal towns and attractions located near Taichung. So, there is much to see and do this summer and endless fun waiting for you along Highway 61.

Click here to see a map of the tour.