Fun for Everyone at Dawulun Beach & Lover’s Lake Park

May 10, 2019 Taipei Expat

Dawulun Beach (also known as Waimushan Beach) is located near the coastal city of Keelung, just over an hour from Taipei. It’s on the small side, especially compared to Wai’ao or Baishawan Beach, but it’s pretty and good for swimming in. When combined with some of the attractions nearby, it makes for an excellent day trip from Taipei.

Like all beaches, Dawulun is best experienced on a clear, sunny day because the colour of the water is absolutely divine. Still, we had great fun on a cloudy day and were able to get some pretty nice photos. There isn’t much to do at the beach itself other than swim and lounge, but there are a few small restaurants and shops selling beach clothes and shoes.

The main demographic of this beach is Taiwanese families, of which there were many. We only saw one other group of foreigners there: a family, who was shocked that we were there. The water was cold but perfectly safe to swim in, and the sand was fine and soft. For the most part, it was quite clean.

The views in this area are stunning and easy to appreciate from a paved path called the Waimushan Shore Walk that stretches along the coast. We walked along it towards Waimushan Seaside Scenic Area, taking photos and admiring the stark contrast of the clear, blue water and the lush mountains.

You can continue all the way to the scenic area, but we stopped at this temple, which marks the beginning of Haixing Trail, which would take us to Lovers Lake Park. There are public bathrooms here.

We were worried we wouldn’t be able to find the trail, but it was clearly marked and easy to access. The trail itself was very nice, winding through a shady, wooded area. It wasn’t particularly long or challenging — about 20-30 minutes uphill — and we enjoyed the cool breeze and pretty butterflies. There were a few signs warning us of venomous snakes, so we kept our eyes peeled.

After around half an hour, the trail forked, giving us the option of heading further up the mountain or walking towards Lovers Tower. We went to Lovers Tower but were quite unimpressed by the view from the top.

Instead, we recommend that you keep on walking and head for Lion’s Rock, which is less than five minutes away. There is a small observation platform, from which you get a great view of the spectacular shoreline down below. Isn’t it stunning?

After this, we followed the signs to the Lovers Lake Suspension Bridge, which was another 5-10 minutes walk downhill. There is a beautiful big lake that sparkles green in the sunshine, surrounded by an easy, circular walk.

The park is well signposted in both Chinese and English. Do note that we didn’t see anywhere to buy food or drinks, so it’s best to come prepared.

We weren’t sure how much fun the park would be at first, but we ended up having a great time wandering around. The path was easy and breezy, and we enjoyed basking in the sunshine and watching the turtles swimming idly by.

There is also an old steam engine located close to the car park.

All in all, we had a fantastic time at Dawulun Beach and Lovers Lake Park. We don’t recommend doing them by themselves, as there isn’t quite enough to do at either to warrant the trip, but when combined they make a fun, relaxed outing. If you want to stretch your day out even more, try to check out some of the scenic spots in the area, or even better, spend some time in Keelung as you are making your way back to Taipei. We had a great time at Miakou Night Market (and a cool abandoned house nearby it), one of the best night markets in Northern Taiwan.

How to get there:

This was the tricky part, unless you have your own vehicle. We recommend taking the same route as we did, which is Taipei – Dawulun Beach – Lovers Lake – Keelung – Taipei. Getting to the beach is the hardest part, as there are only a few buses that go there directly, and they are from Keelung. We recommend taking the 1815 bus from Taipei (map out transit directions from your location in Taipei to Dawulun Beach to see where the nearest stop to you is) to Neiliao, which is the closest village to the beach. You can either walk to the beach from here and order a taxi at 7-Eleven, which is what we did. It costs us less than $100.

Once you’re done at the beach, follow the same path we took to Lovers Lake Park. When you’re ready to leave, head to the bus stop at the car park. There is a regular bus that will take you into Keelung. From here, there are a surprising number of buses that take you to different parts of Taipei.

What’s the vibe?

Modest but pretty beach that’s well-suited for families. The path along the coast is stunning, as are the view from Lion’s Rock in Lovers Lake Park. The park is a pleasant spot for walking, with a nice lake, lots of greenery, and cute turtles.

Worth it?

Yes. The combination of beach, views, and hiking was great, and having to stop through Keelung on the way back was a blessing in disguise. They have one of the best night markets in Northern Taiwan, and we had great fun exploring the abandoned house afterwards!

Would you go back?

We would, and this time we would explore a little more around the beach. Hopefully, the sky will be clearer when we return!

Visited: April 2019

Dawulun Beach

Chinese Name: 大武崙情人海灘

Hours: Open 24/7

English Address: No. 100, Section 2, Huhai Road, Anle District, Keelung City

Chinese Address: 204基隆市安樂區湖海路二段100號

Lovers Lake Park

Chinese Name: 情人湖公園

Hours: 24/7

English Address: 204 Lane 208, Jilin First Road, Anle District, Keelung City