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Voykit pocket guide · Taiwan
Gongliao
貢寮區
Spend a half‑day in Gongliao for the lighthouse, beach and old tunnel; reach by train from Taipei in ~1 h.
Gongliao is a coastal district on Taiwan's eastmost tip, best explored in a few hours. Train from Taipei takes about an hour, and the main sights – Cape Santiago Lighthouse, Old Caoling Tunnel and Fulong Beach – are close together, making a half‑day visit realistic.
- Country
- Taiwan
- Local name
- 貢寮區
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (cooler, occasional rain)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TWD
- Money
- Night markets, breakfast shops and many small restaurants take cash only; carry NT$1,000–2,000 in small notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget NT$800–1,200 excl. bed · Mid NT$1,200–1,800 excl. bed · High NT$1,800+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and FarEasTone sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at TPE and KHH arrivals; a passport plus a second photo ID is required (check).
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Tourism helpline 0800-011-765
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110 V · 60 Hz · US and Japanese plugs fit; European, UK and Australian plugs need an adapter, and 220 V-only appliances need a converter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; a 10% service charge appears in many sit-down places and hotels.; Taxis: No tip; round up if you like.; Hotel porter: Not expected; NT$100 in luxury hotels if you want.; Private guide or driver: Not required; NT$200–500 a day or a meal is a thank-you.
- Water
- Treated at source, but locals boil or filter it. Filtered hot-and-cold dispensers are in stations, hotels and many public buildings; bottles cost NT$20–30.
- Toilets
- Free, clean toilets in every MRT station, convenience stores and department stores; paper goes in the toilet in most new buildings — follow the sign.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street food snack (e.g., fried squid) | NT$50–120 |
| Bottled water (500 ml) | NT$30–50 |
| Bike hire (hour) | NT$150–200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TPE · Taoyuan International Airport
- Airport MRT to Taipei, then TRA to Gongliao (~1 h).
Typical fares
- Taipei → Gongliao (TRA)
- about NT$340 one‑way, 1 h (check)
- Bike rental (3 h)
- NT$150–200 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Train to Fulong or Gongliao station, then walk or rent a bike for the tunnel and beach; local buses connect to Keelung.
See and do
Known for
- Cape Santiago Lighthouse
- Old Caoling Tunnel
- Fulong Beach
- Hohaiyan Rock Festival
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Keelung | TRA from Gongliao to Keelung, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Local guesthouses in Fulong
- Small family‑run inns; book ahead, especially in festival season.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | 這個多少錢？zhè ge duōshǎo qián? |
| Where is the beach? | 海灘在哪裡？hǎitān zài nǎlǐ? |
| I would like to rent a bike. | 我想租腳踏車。wǒ xiǎng zū jiǎotàchē. |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A nod or light handshake; 'nǐ hǎo'; avoid: Hugs with new acquaintances
- Handing things: Two hands for cards, gifts and money; avoid: Tossing money on the counter
- Gifts: Fruit or a boxed sweet for hosts; refuse once before accepting; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, pears and anything in fours — they sound like death or parting
- MRT: Queue at the markings, give up priority seats; avoid: Eating, drinking or chewing gum past the gates
- Temples: Enter right, exit left; one or three sticks of incense; avoid: Stepping on thresholds; pointing at deities
- Home visit: Shoes off; slippers provided; avoid: Writing names in red ink
- Sensitive topics: Follow your host's lead; many people hold a range of views on identity and cross-strait ties; avoid: Assuming everyone thinks the same about China or the ROC's status
Scams and watch-outs
- Check train schedules for the last southbound service; after 22:00 trains stop.
- Tunnel entry hours 08:30‑17:00; bring water in summer heat.
Gongliao is generally safe; watch for strong sun and occasional sudden rain on the coast.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Gongliao yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cape Santiago Lighthouse
- Old Caoling Tunnel
- Fulong Beach
- Hohaiyan Rock Festival
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Gongliao official site: www.gongliao.ntpc.gov.tw/
- Wikivoyage: Gongliao, revision 5240013 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240013
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Gongliao貢寮區
請到這個地址
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Tourism helpline0800-011-765
US Consulate in Taipei; other embassies in Taipei.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/gongliao). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.