Kenting Day 1, Hengchun, Taiwan

travelasia

Nov 13

Written By Anne

I had planned to take the train and bus from Hualien to Kenting, but since I was offered a vehicle by a friend, I picked it up at Fangliao Station instead. The train ride from Hualien was long, but I managed to catch up on sleep.

My first stop was Fu’an Temple in Checheng, a historic Taoist temple built during the Qing Dynasty. It’s popular among locals and visitors, with snack stalls nearby selling local treats, including famous salted duck eggs.

Next, I headed to Checheng Guishan Trail nearby. It’s a short hike but offers panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding mountains. The heat and humidity were intense, so I was drenched in sweat after the short climb.

Around lunchtime, I drove to Houbihu Fishing Harbour, known for fresh and affordable seafood. I grabbed sashimi and seafood stir-fry with rice, then relaxed by the port for a bit.

My next stop was Maobitou Park, which means “Cat Nose Head” in Chinese. The cape features rocks shaped like a cat and plenty of stray cats wandering around. The park is small, so it didn’t take long to explore the viewpoints.

After checking in and resting at my accommodation in Kenting, I headed to Guanshan, a popular sunset spot. There’s now a small entrance fee, supposedly for maintenance, but the trail and boardwalks seemed neglected. Still, the sunset was stunning — the perfect way to end the day.

Route Detail

Itinerary: Fangliao Train Station → Checheng Fu’an Temple → Checheng Guishan Trail → Houbihu Fishing Harbour → Maobitou Park → Guanshan → Accommodation in Kenting

Distance: 82.1km from Fangliao Train Station

Time: 6h 00m (Driving time + Sightseeing)

Difficulty: Easy