Located in Qingshui District in Taichung, Gaomei Wetlands (高美濕地) is an ecological preservation zone in Central Taiwan. Also known as Gaomei Wetland Preservation Area, the wetland is known for its abundant natural resources and beautiful sunset.
And the best way to experience Gaomei Wetlands is during the late afternoon when you can catch the sea breeze and watch the sun disappear below the horizon.
But if the weather doesn’t cooperate during your visit, or if you can’t make it there during the afternoon, you should still visit Gaomei Wetlands while in Taichung. And you should include Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour and Luce Memorial Chapel in your day trip itinerary. I will show you how you can see all three attractions comfortably in one day.
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Before you visit Gaomei Wetlands
Before you go to Gaomei in Taichung, take a look at my post on all my best tips for travelling to Taiwan. I included information like how to get a Taiwan tourist SIM card, transportation around the country and more.
And check out more tips on my solo travel guide to Taichung and learn about other attractions in Taichung.
And here are some additional travel tips for visiting the Taichung wetlands:
- Make sure to get a rechargeable smartcard called EasyCard or iPass. Either card is good for taking the public bus to the Wetlands and also to Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour and Luce Memorial Chapel (if you are following my one-day itinerary)
- Many people visit Gaomei during sunset to see the gorgeous sun dipping below the horizon. But it is just as much fun visiting Gaomei during the day, where you can rent an electric bike and explore the area. If you plan your day ahead, you can do both!
How to get from Taichung to Gaomei Wetland
Address: Meidi Street, Qingshui District, Taichung City (see map) | Hours: 24 hours
Taichung City Bus: from Taichung to Gaomei Wetlands
There are many ways to go to Gaomei Wetlands in Taichung. Both trains and buses are excellent options. However, the easiest way is to take a direct bus from Taichung to Gaomei Wetlands.
- Bus #309: from Taichung Station to Gaomei Wetlands (No.18 windmill station)
- Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cost: NT$73 (with your EasyCard or iPass)
What are Gaomei Wetlands in Taichung
Gaomei Wetlands is over 300 hectares of grassy, mossy, muddy flat land on the west coast of Central Taiwan at the mouth of the Dajia River.
The muddy land has the perfect balance of sand and soil, which is ideal for many ecological creatures to live in. During low tide, you will find these creatures crawling around, such as mud-skippers, fiddler crabs, and other crustaceans.
An 800-meter-long wavy boardwalk was built to preserve the wetland to prevent people from walking on the muddy land. And you can still walk out into the flat land during high tides.
While many little creatures live underground, you can also find migratory birds, especially during the fall and winter months. An excellent spot for bird watching!
But before you go to Gaomei Wetlands, check the tidal forecast first. You can only see crustaceans in their natural habitat during low tide.
What to do in Gaomei Wetlands
The Gaomei Wetlands aren’t very big. But exploring the wetlands with an electric bicycle is definitely more fun. And with two wheels, you can see the following places at a much faster pace (which means you can see other attractions around Taichung, too! More on that later)
Gaomei Wetlands Visitor Centre
As soon as you arrive, you will see the visitor centre, a modern concrete building with a pathway leading to the entrance. The visitor centre has a restaurant, bathrooms and several sculptures on the front lawn.
Gaomei Lighthouse
Further along the route, you will find the Gaomei Lighthouse. The red and white striped octagonal concrete structure is 38.7 meters high and was built in 1967.
Initially, it was used to guide ships in the area, but it has since been retired in 1982 when the lighthouse lamps were moved to Taichung Port Lighthouse, which it is higher in elevation.
Temples and food stalls along Gaomei Road
There are several temples along the main road along the wetlands.
On weekends, you will find food stalls selling Taiwanese food along the main road, Gaomei Road. That is what’s so great about Taiwan – there is always food somewhere!
Gaomei Wetland Scenic Bridge
And when you return to the visitor centre, you will find Gaomei Wetland Scenic Bridge connecting the wetlands and Taichung Port. The modern structure has an excellent pedestrian walkway. And there are a few benches where you can enjoy the scenery from the bridge.
How to get around Gaomei Wetlands
Even though I didn’t see the beautiful sunset at Gaomei Wetlands, I still had a fantastic day because I rented an electric bike!
The bike rental is just south of the visitor centre. It costs NT$150 for 1 hour. If you return it late for 10 minutes, they will charge an extra NT$150.
Be careful when on the electric bike – it can go pretty fast! As fast as 40km/hour! For your safety, make sure to wear a helmet. And also, do not stop at the bus stop and the red line.
They also have tandem electric bikes too! If you visit the wetland with a friend, the two of you can hop on the same bike and ride it together!
From the visitor centre, I biked along the Seaside Cycling Route in Gaomei Section, where the route continues into the Branch Line.
The bike route is paved and easy to navigate. It was super easy to follow the signage along the way.
Since I only rented the electric bike for an hour, I biked as far as I could along the route in half an hour and went right back to the bike rental.
If you have time, you can continue on the cycling route to Dayang Cycling Route and Qingshui Cycling Route, which will take you back to the bike rental.
Seeing the coastal scenery on a bike and feeling the sea breeze simultaneously was nice. I highly recommend biking along the cycling route in Gaomei Wetlands.
Gaomei Wetlands 1-day itinerary: include Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour
Address: Qingshui District, Taichung City (see map) | Hours: 9am-7pm
Located in the same district as the wetlands, the Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour (梧棲漁港) is a fishing harbour with a seafood market and a variety of seafood restaurants. There are even boat tours if you feel like touring around the port.
In the wet market, walk through aisles of seafood vendors and see fisherman’s daily catches. I saw many types of fish, crabs, lobsters, and the biggest shrimp I’ve ever seen! And they also sell sashimi if you want to try some raw fish at the market.
Before you leave the harbour, take a stroll around the short promenade and see fishing boats unload their catch of the day.
While eating at the seafood restaurant as a solo traveller is not ideal, you can try the seafood at the seafood market, where they have cooked seafood.
I found these spicy shellfish types of seafood. I’m not sure what the name but it looks like a small snail. Taiwanese people like tasty food! So be careful when you order something spicy!
There are other less exotic types of seafood. Many of them are fried, including different types of fish and squid. They also sell meat buns, bubble tea, and other traditional Taiwanese food.
And if you want to buy a souvenir, the market has a lot of dried goods, including dried squid, which is wildly popular in Taiwan.
How to go to Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour from Gaomei Wetlands
From the same bus stop (but across the street) at Gaomei Wetlands, take Bus #688 or #309 towards Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour. It should be the last stop on the route because the bus will loop back around, back to Gaomei Wetlands and back to Taichung.
- Bus 309 or 688: from Gaomei Wetlands (No.18 windmill station) to Wuqi Fishing Port (see route)
- Time: 25 minutes
- Cost: free (with your EasyCard or iPass)
Gaomei Wetlands 1-day itinerary: include Luce Memorial Chapel
Address: No. 1727, Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung City (see map) | Hours: 24 hours (to view from outside of the chapel)
Located on the campus of Tunghai University, the Luce Memorial Chapel (路思義教堂) is a Christian chapel to honour Rev. Henry W. Luce, who was an American missionary in China during the late 19th century.
If you are a modern contemporary architecture lover, you will appreciate the chapel’s design. The structure stands on an irregular hexagonal base, with a curvy tent-like structure made of reinforced concrete acting as the walls and roof of the chapel. The continuous external structure comprises repeating yellow glazed diamond-shaped tiles, which resemble the diamond-shaped lattice interior walls.
Many locals visit the chapel on the weekends. And there may even be a wedding! I couldn’t see the chapel inside because a lovely couple was getting married that day.
How to go to Luce Memorial Chapel from Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour
From Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour, take Bus #307 to Veterans General Hospital / Tunghai University. Then walk 8 minutes into the campus and find Luce Memorial Chapel on the left-hand side.
- Bus 307: from Wuqi Fishing Port to Veterans General Hospital/Tunghai University (see route)
- Time: 55 minutes
- Cost: NT$48 (with your EasyCard or iPass)
Are you going to follow my 1-day itinerary and see Gaomei Wetlands Taichung?
If you enjoy the outdoors and seeing different biodiversity and wildlife, you should take a day trip to Gaomei Wetlands in Taichung. Spending the entire day there is possible, especially if you take your time to see every nook and cranny.
But if you have time, also visit Wuqi Fisherman’s Harbour to see the pier and sample some delectable seafood.
And if you love contemporary architecture, you must visit Luce Memorial Chapel on the way back to Taichung. The chapel is literally on the way back to Taichung, and it only takes a few more minutes to visit the modern chapel.
Thank you for reading my Gaomei Wetland post
You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Taiwan:
Introduction to Taiwan
- Things to know before visiting Taiwan
- How and where to buy a Taiwan prepaid SIM card
- How to spend 3 weeks in Taiwan
- 22 must-eat food in Taiwan
- Top 10 must-try Taiwan 7-11 Food
Taichung posts
- 23 Best things to do alone in Taichung
- Taichung 1-day itinerary
- Where to stay in Taichung for solo travellers
- Miyahara Taichung: best ice cream and food souvenirs
- Taichung Second Market
- Top 3 Taichung Night Markets
- SOF Hotel: best boutique hotel in Taichung
- Norden Ruder Hostel: best minimalist hostel in Taichung
- Zhongshe Flower Market near Taichung
- Carton King Creativity Park: 1-day itinerary
- Xinshe Sea of Flowers near Taichung: 1-day itinerary
- Xinshe Castle near Taichung
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