Fengchuisha is one of the most scenic and photographed places in Taiwan. It’s very close to the southern tip of the island, next to Longpan Park, in beautiful and wild Kenting National Park.
Fengchuisha is known by all Taiwanese, but few (English-speaking) people ever mention it by name. Probably because there is only a Chinese name for this place, three Chinese words: wind (風 feng), blow (吹 chui), and sand (沙 sha). Yes, as the name implies, there is plenty of wind around here, and as you will see when you visit the area, also quite a fair amount of sand – even on the road!
Things to do at Fengchuisha
Most people will simply stop at the viewpoint by the road to enjoy the spectacular panorama and snap pictures of the sea, beach, and mountains on the horizon to the north, behind Jialeshui. But trust me, it gets much better than taking seflies outside of your car in the parking lot!
You CAN walk down to the beach and the sand dunes. There is a trail along the coast that can take you to the sand dunes, a beach, few swimming / snorkeling pools, and potentially some wild camping spots.
It is a bit steep if you hike down from the parking lot, so it’s best to take the little dirt path which you will find about 50 meters south of the parking lot at Manzhou Beach 滿洲沙灘. Local fishermen ride their scooter down this track, but I don’t encourage you to do so, as you can easily get stuck in the sand.
Camping at Fengchuisha
It is not legal to camp at Fengchuisha, but that doesn’t stop the more adventurous travelers of doing it. I’ve camped there a few times in the past, and I always enjoyed the experience greatly! You must bring your own water and food as there is absolutely nothing available there or around – it is wild, wild camping. The best part about sleeping under the stars here is the sunrise over the ocean in the morning, on cloudless days. The downside is it can get extremely windy and you can end up with a crushed tent and sand all over your stuff.
One of the favorite things about Fengchuisha, is that you rarely see anyone there, except for local fishermen and the odd shell pickers. Kenting National Park can be extremely crowded on weekends and it is a challenge to find tranquility near the main touristic spots like Nanwan (South Beach) and Sail Rock. Fengchuisha is an exception – here you can get one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan all to yourself!
Accommodation Near Fengchuisha
The two nearest “villages” are Eluanbi (鵝鑾鼻) to the south, and Xinghai (興海) to the north. Both places are quiet and have a couple of decent B&Bs. Another option, not too far inland, is Puding (埔頂).