Toucheng Township Travel Guide

Toucheng is stretched along the coast with a compact town center near Toucheng Station and the older Ho-Ping/Old Street area; Wushi Harbour lies on the coast to the north of the center and is the embarkation point for Guishan Island and whale-watching boats. Wai’ao and Honeymoon Bay are a short drive or scooter ride south along the coast; many travellers base themselves either in the town center for convenience or in the Wai’ao area for beach access.

Costs: Modest daily budget (varies by travel style) - Budget travelers can find guesthouses and cheap eats; midrange rooms and boat trips raise daily costs.

Safety: Generally safe - Low petty-crime levels typical of small Taiwanese towns; take care on wet coastal paths and when swimming or surfing.

Best Time: March - May, Sep - Nov - Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions for hiking, beach walks and island trips; summer brings heavier rain and typhoon risk.

Toucheng sits on Taiwan’s northeastern coast in Yilan County, with a long fishing and farming history that now mixes tourism, surf culture and small-scale seafood trade. The township includes offshore Guishan Island, popularly called Turtle Island, and a number of coastal villages such as Wai’ao known for its surf breaks and black sand bays. The opening of Freeway 5 dramatically shortened travel time from Taipei, making Toucheng a popular weekend escape for people from the capital and the north.

The town has a layered history visible in places such as Ho-Ping Street and Toucheng Old Street, which retain older shopfronts and neighborhood structures from the Qing era. Toucheng also hosts practical infrastructure - it is a landing point for several submarine communications cables - alongside tourist draws like whale- and dolphin-watching boats operating from Wushi Harbour. Visitors will find a compact town with multiple rail stations on the Yilan Line, surf beaches, small museums and access to coastal trails such as the Caoling Historic Trail.

Travelers come to Toucheng for sea activities and easy coastal hiking: boat trips to Guishan Island and whale-watching set out from Wushi Harbour, Wai’ao and Honeymoon Bay are the region’s best surf beaches, and the Caoling Historic Trail (including the Old Caoling Tunnel) links the coast with dramatic cliff-top views. The town’s old streets and seafood restaurants give a straightforward, low-key taste of local life without big-city crowds.

Toucheng is best visited when coastal weather is settled and the trails are comfortable to walk. Spring and autumn are generally the most pleasant windows for outdoor activities and island trips.

Toucheng is well connected by rail, road and sea from northern Taiwan, with services that suit daytrips and weekend escapes from Taipei. Plan for possible weather impacts on boat services when travelling to offshore islands.

• By Rail: Yilan Line (TRA): Toucheng is served by multiple stations on the Taiwan Railways Yilan Line (Toucheng, Daxi, Dali, Dingpu, Guishan, Sicheng). Trains from Taipei take roughly 40-90 minutes depending on service type; fares vary by service but expect NT$100-300 one way.
• By Car: Freeway 5 from Taipei: Freeway 5 links western Taipei to Toucheng via a series of tunnels and cuts driving time to around 30-60 minutes from northern Taipei in good traffic; parking is available but can be limited on busy weekends.
• By Bus: Intercity routes: Several intercity buses and private coach services run between Taipei/Keelung and Yilan area stops close to Toucheng; journey times typically range from 1 to 1.5 hours and fares are usually in the NT$100-250 range.
• By Boat: Wushi Harbour departures: Local boat operators run scheduled trips from Wushi Harbour for Guishan Island and whale-watching; crossing times and fares vary with operator and weather, and services are often suspended in rough seas.

Toucheng is small and easy to explore, with short distances between beaches, the harbour and the old town. Public transport connects villages, while scooters and taxis give you flexibility for early starts and surf spots.

• Walking: The town center, Old Street and harbour areas are compact and walkable; bring a light jacket for coastal winds and comfortable shoes for uneven trails.
• Scooter rental: Scooters are the most convenient way to reach beaches, trailheads and small villages; expect to pay around NT$400-800 per day and carry an appropriate license.
• Taxi and local buses: Taxis are readily available for short hops and can save time when public buses are infrequent; local buses serve the coast but check timetables, especially on Sundays.
• Boat trips and tours: Boat operators at Wushi Harbour provide the island trips and whale-watching tours; book in advance in high season and monitor weather advisories.

Toucheng’s dining scene centers on seafood - restaurants near Wushi Harbour and along the coast serve fresh catches plus simple Taiwanese seafood dishes. Toucheng Old Street and small markets have casual stalls and local snacks; expect modest prices and family-run eateries rather than fine dining.

Nightlife is low-key: early-evening seafood dinners, a handful of beachside cafes and weekend pubs attract locals and visiting surfers. Expect places to close earlier than in big cities; nightlife is best on weekends and holidays.

Shopping is local and practical: seafood sellers at the harbour, small shops on Toucheng Old Street selling snacks and souvenirs, and surf shops around Wai’ao. For full-service shopping or big markets, head to larger towns in Yilan.