Chenggong in Taitung County - Taiwanese Secrets Travel Guide

Chenggong 成功 is a fishing town located in Taitung County along the scenic Highway 11. With a population of 15,000, this place is the biggest town between Hualien city and Taitung city.

chenggong taiwan 成功 — The mighty Central Mountain Range looms behind Chenggong

Chenggong is surprisingly not on most people’s travel itinerary as they drive or ride along the coast – most travelers only stop here for gas, and maybe a pee or a bite at 7-11. I say surprisingly because there are quite a few interesting things to see and do here such as hiking, surfing, and checking out one of Taiwan’s busiest fish harbors.

Taiwanese fishermen in chenggong taitung — A Taiwanese man chops a fish under the watchful eye of a local buyer.

Chenggong Fish Harbor 成功漁港

The lively fish harbor is the focal point of life in Chenggong, and witnessing the fish auction is the main reason why people stop here. It is said to be one of the busiest fish harbors on the island, but I have to be honest with you, last time I visited in November 2017, the auction was a sad thing to watch: there were barely any fish on display and even less buyers to haggle over them.

chenggong taiwan fish auction — A fisherman unloads his boat.

I have seen this place as busy as you would imagine the floor of the New York stock exchange could be. I’ve witnessed the auction floor completely filled with mountains of fish, dozens of sharks, even more giant tunas, and tons of other kinds of seafood. I asked a local fisherman who was unloading his catch why the auction was so quiet, and he simply replied “海沒有魚阿 – No more fish in the ocean!”

taiwan hammerhead shark for sale — A hammerhead shark lies on the auction floor at the harbor, waiting to be bought.

The auction used to be loud and hectic with buyers pushing their way around, yelling their offer, trying to get a good deal on an item. Last time I visited with my nephew, there were more tourists than buyers. This time only one man was conducting the auction.

The whole place was dead quiet. You could tell from the look of the locals that business was not good and that this place had seen much better days.

taiwanese fishermen — Most buyers are seafood restaurant owners. Some will re-sell to markets and restaurants outside Chenggong.

Nevertheless, I think the fish harbor is still a very interesting place to visit. You should definitely stop if you are in the area. The auction starts at 13:00 sharp. You should wear shoes, not slippers or sandals, as the auction floor can get wet and bloody. Don’t be shy to snap pictures of people here, they are used to curious tourists.