Laomei Green Reef Day Tour: Volcanic Reef & Coastal Stops

A 30-meter bronze dog statue honors merchants lost in a shipwreck centuries ago.

This private day tour from Taipei visits the Northern Coast of Taiwan's most distinctive sites, starting at Shitoushan Park and ending at Laomei Green Reef, the seasonal algae-covered volcanic formation visible from March to May. You soak your feet in iron-rich hot springs, walk Jinshan Old Street at your own pace for lunch, explore the Temple of Eighteen Deities with its towering dog sculpture, and finish at Fugui Cape Lighthouse on Taiwan's northernmost point. A professional guide and air-conditioned vehicle handle all transport. The tour runs about 10 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Northern Coast and Laomei Reef

• Depart Taipei hotel to Jinshan District
• Visit Shihtoushan Park and view Twin Candlestick Islets
• Soak feet at Huanggang Community Hot Springs
• Lunch and food exploration at Jinshan Old Street
• Visit Temple of Eighteen Deities and see bronze dog statue
• Explore Shimen Stone Arch natural rock formation
• Visit Laomei Green Reef seasonal algae spectacle
• Walk Laomei Maze and photograph Fugui Cape Lighthouse
• Enjoy gelidium jelly dessert near Fugui Cape Lighthouse
• Walk scenic trail around Fugui Cape Lighthouse
• Return to Taipei hotel

The experience

The tour starts with a one-hour drive from your Taipei hotel to Jinshan District, where Shitoushan Park sits on terrain once restricted to the military. From the elevated viewpoint, Twin Candlestick Islets (Double Rock) rise from the sea. The park's primary vegetation and coastal vistas set the tone for the day ahead.

Next comes the Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs Center, where you dip your feet into the "Golden Spring": an iron-rich pool whose distinctive golden-brown color comes from oxidation. The soak overlooks the sea. After that, you walk Jinshan Old Street on your own, a 300-year-old street lined with local food stalls selling duck meat, sweet potatoes, scallion pancakes, Xiaolongbao, and seafood congee. Lunch is your choice and your expense, so you can linger or move quickly as you prefer.

The Temple of Eighteen Deities comes after lunch. During the Qing Dynasty, 17 merchants drowned in a shipwreck offshore. A dog that survived the wreck chose to drown itself alongside them. The temple was built to honor this loyalty, and during its renovation, a 30-meter-tall bronze statue of the dog was installed. From there, you visit Shimen Stone Arch, a natural rock formation carved by waves and geological uplift, with a 10-meter arch framing views of the sky and sea. The Laomei Maze, a brick labyrinth near the lighthouse, offers a short walk and photo opportunities before you reach Fugui Cape Lighthouse, Taiwan's northernmost point, where a scenic trail circles the 1962 cement structure painted in black and white.

The centerpiece is Laomei Green Reef, the seasonal volcanic formation that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year. From March to May, northeast monsoon waves constantly batter the reef's surface, fostering algae growth that turns it a vivid green. CNN recognized it as one of Taiwan's eight wonders. Before heading back to your hotel around 6pm, you'll have time to walk the reef's distinctive ditched surface and photograph it. The tour includes a gelidium jelly dessert, a local iced specialty made with lemon juice and syrup that locals eat to cool down on hot days.

What’s included

• Professional licensed tour guide fluent in English or Chinese.
• air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your Taipei hotel.
• gelidium jelly dessert.
• local general liabilities insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Edison Travel Service

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if your group wants a driver-led day along the Northern Coast with flexibility to linger at Jinshan Old Street for lunch, rather than following a fixed group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What is the Laomei Green Reef and when can I see it?

Laomei Green Reef is a volcanic formation on Taiwan's Northern Coast that turns green from March to May each year. During those months, northeast monsoon waves constantly batter the reef's surface, fostering algae growth that creates the distinctive green hue. Outside that window, the reef looks different and draws fewer visitors. CNN named it one of Taiwan's eight wonders.

Can I eat lunch wherever I want on this tour?

Yes. Jinshan Old Street, a 300-year-old street, is where you stop for lunch on your own time and at your own expense. You choose from local vendors selling duck meat, sweet potatoes, scallion pancakes, Xiaolongbao, seafood congee, and other dishes. Most eateries in Taiwan don't accept credit cards, so bring enough cash.

What is the Temple of Eighteen Deities famous for?

The Temple of Eighteen Deities honors 17 merchants who drowned in a Qing Dynasty shipwreck and a dog that survived the wreck but chose to drown itself alongside them. During the temple's renovation, a 30-meter-tall bronze statue of the loyal dog was installed as a lasting tribute to its sacrifice.

How long is the drive from Taipei to the first stop?

The drive from your Taipei hotel to Shitoushan Park takes about one hour. You'll travel through the window scenery to Jinshan District in New Taipei City, where the park sits on elevated terrain that was once a military restricted zone.

What is the Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs Center like?

The Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs Center has one of the most picturesque foot bathing pools on Taiwan's Northern Coast. The pool is filled with iron-rich hot spring water that turns a golden-brown color from oxidation, earning it the name "Golden Spring." You soak your feet while looking out at sea views.