I’m thinking of trying to kayak, canoe or paddleboard (just don’t fall in) in the Keelong or Tamsui rivers. Anybody know if it’s illegal? I have seen people in dragon boats and some kayaks in places during the summer, but never along the whole river.
That would be a cool self tour to do. Logisitics I can handle, just wondering if the police will try to stop me in the river.
I’ve seen people using them in the rivers in Taipei. It was funny, because I saw it when I was considering to get something for exploring these waters. It was some sort of inflateable kayak.
There’s organized kayaking from a location opposite Dazhi so it can’t be illegal. It might be dodgy further downriver where the big boats launch.
I’ve seen the same kayaking near Dazhi. the Keelong river might ok to go on. I’ve seen big boats and ferries on the tamsui river. Was thinking of going from tamsui to nangang or vice versa. Still unsure about the Tamsui river due to the bigger boats on it.
Just last week, I saw a couple guys riding jet skis around the confluence of Keelung and Tamshui near Guandu Temple. If noisy and fast jet skis are allowed, I doubt it’s illegal to row a small boat.
It’s not illegal at all, and not as unpleasant as it looks.
There is very few big (or small) boats there so it almost look desertic sometimes, about the pollution it can stinks in a few places but it’s very limited (mainly aroung Yonghe for Tamsui and around ShiDziDao for Keelung river), the main danger there is to get a jumping fish in the eye (don’t know why but never seen so many fishes jumping).
I’ve paddled along all Keelung and Tamsui rivers, and crossed many policeman, or Coast guard, never got anything else than a polite hi sign.
The jet skis are there every weeks.
By the way, this saturday morning, there will a very big paddle event, with kayaks and SUP doing short and 10 km races:
There’s also waterskiing and wakeboarding in the river at Luzhou:
I think just most don’t know all this activity is available. And of course many worry about pollution in the water. Probably justified but I don’t seem to mind when they have the triathlon there.
Dang, I really want this for kayaking in Taiwan (available in Taipei)
Oru Kayak.
http://www.ftg.com.tw/shop-list-brand.ftl?id=OK
I’ve seen it in the states, and it’s not too much more expensive that in the USA. But it is still expensive.