So I heard that there is a bus that goes from Nangang, the Exhibition Hall Station to be specific, to Wai Ao Beach, or at least somewhere really close to it. Does anyone know the number or route for this bus? What is it’s final destination called? Any help would be great. Thanks.
I don’t know that bus, but Google maps say all the buses take at least two hours. Train might be better option.
Google isn’t always up to date when it comes to intercity routes operated by private bus companies. I can’t remember the number or the final destination but this bus indeed exists and I have taken it. I think you can also take a bus from the small station on Fuxing next to Daan MRT, though that one might only go as far as Jiaoxi.
Google tends to vastly overestimate the times needed for buses that travel on freeways. It told me a bus from Nankan (in Luzhu, Taoyuan) to Zhongli would take 90 minutes. It took 30.
King Bus/Kuo Kuang (國光客運) bus number 1811 and 1812 leave from Taipei West Station A (台北西A店) and stop at Wai’Ao (外澳). It’s a scenic ride that takes you up and around the north east coast, but it does take awhile. If you start early enough, you can get off at Bitoujiao (鼻頭角) for a nice scenic hike, then catch a later bus to Wai’Ao.
However, the fastest way is to take an express train from Taipei to Toucheng (頭城), which is one train stop south of Wai’Ao. Then, to get from Toucheng to Wai’Ao you can…
[ul][li]Take a local train[/li]
[li]Take a bus (but they’re much more infrequent than the train)[/li]
[li]Rent a scooter near the Toucheng train station and drive yourself to Wai’Ao.[/li]
[li]Hitchhike?[/li][/ul]
I work in Nangang and my idea is to knock off early from work one day and get out to the beach for a few hours until sunset. So I would need to know the specific bus. I guess I’ll go out there and try to figure it out. I got this info off a friend and his memory, like most peoples’, isn’t that sharp.
Two things:
1st) If you’re at Nangang, just take the blue train to Wai-Ao. 1:30 minutes. By bus you (at best) save 20 minutes and (at worst) lose time due to traffic. Every year, Friday night tunnel traffic gets worse and worse. Lots of condos and auntie’s houses in Yilan.
2nd) If it’s the sunset on a beach you desire, just go to Fulong: White sand, closer to Taipei, more food, more people, better sunset. 1 hour by train from Nangang.
note: taking the express to Toucheng, if your destination is Wai-Ao, is a fools folly. Just get some beers and take the damn Blue Daewoo!
I see. But the local train out that way runs on a sporadic schedule. I’ll check that out and see if it matches up with when I’m able to knock off early.
I’m not after the sunset per se, I just mentioned it because it’s at that time that it’s no longer reasonable to swim.
Two things:
1st) If you’re at Nangang, just take the blue train to Wai-Ao. 1:30 minutes. By bus you (at best) save 20 minutes and (at worst) lose time due to traffic. Every year, Friday night tunnel traffic gets worse and worse. Lots of condos and auntie’s houses in Yilan.
2nd) If it’s the sunset on a beach you desire, just go to Fulong: White sand, closer to Taipei, more food, more people, better sunset. 1 hour by train from Nangang.
note: taking the express to Toucheng, if your destination is Wai-Ao, is a fools folly. Just get some beers and take the damn Blue Daewoo!
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Good pointers. If you have your own surfboard, or just want to watch, take train to DaXi, cross the street, and walk about 4 minutes to the bay. The train station is directly across the street from the ocean.
I checked out the train schedule, it’s too spotty to make it and I’d have to knock off much earlier than I would be able to to make the train, or leave at a time when it’s no longer worth it. It’s gonna be this bus or nothing. I’ll go by Nangang Exhibition Hall and see if I can figure out which bus it is.
Alright, looks like I found it, here it is, it’s the one in purple, the 1877:
kingbus.com.tw/newsContent.php?pid=16
Looks like Wushih Harbor is the place to get off.