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Voykit pocket guide · Taiwan
Shimen
石門區
Visit Shimen for a half‑day coastal walk: lighthouse, beach and a temple, 4–6 h total; skip if short on time.
Shimen is a small coastal district of New Taipei, known for Taiwan's northernmost point, a lighthouse, beaches and several temples. With no rail service, it is reached by bus or car via Provincial Highway 2. Most sights are within a few kilometres, making a half‑day visit sufficient.
- Country
- Taiwan
- Local name
- 石門區
- Best months
- Oct–Apr, avoid typhoon season Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heat, occasional rain)
- Stay
- 0–1 (day trip) 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$500–800 excl. transport · Mid NT$800–1,200 excl. transport (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 | NT$30–80 |
| Bottled water (500 ml) | NT$15–30 |
| Bus fare New Taipei‑Shimen | NT$150–200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TPE · Taoyuan International Airport
- MRT to New Taipei, about 45 min
Typical fares
- Bus New Taipei → Shimen round‑trip
- about NT$150 per person, 1 h each way (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
No rail; use bus along Provincial Highway 2 or rent a car. Walk between nearby sights (lighthouse to beach ~10 min).
See and do
Known for
- Fuguijiao Lighthouse
- Baishawan Beach
- 5 Dragons Temple
- Laomei Green Reef
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fuguijiao Lighthouse | Bus to Shimen, then walk 10 min north | ≈1 h total |
| Baishawan Beach | Bus to Shimen, then walk 10 min east | ≈1 h total |
| 5 Dragons Temple | Bus to Shimen, then 5‑min walk | ≈45 min total |
Sleep
- Shimen district
- Few hotels; most visitors stay in New Taipei City and commute.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 不好意思bù hǎo yì si |
| Thank you | 謝謝xiè xiè |
| How much is it? | 多少錢？duō shǎo qián? |
| Where is the bathroom? | 洗手間在哪裡？xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ? |
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
- No rail service; plan bus or car transfer.
- Check lighthouse opening hours (09:00‑18:00).
- Summer heat can be strong; bring water.
Generally safe; watch for traffic on Highway 2 and summer heat.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Shimen yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (day trip) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fuguijiao Lighthouse
- Baishawan Beach
- 5 Dragons Temple
- Laomei Green Reef
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata Shimen: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Shimen, revision 5300959 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5300959
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Shimen石門區
請到這裡
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; see Taiwan visa requirements page.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/shimen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.