The Hidden Gem of Hsinchu County : Xinyue Beach

▎Introduction

In our daily lives, we often need a space where we can relax and enjoy ourselves. Have you heard about Xinyue Beach? It's time to explore Xinyue Beach through this blog! You won't regret coming here!

Visiting Zhubei Yuanlin Forest, Xinyue Shawan, and Shuiyue Park was our plan for this day. Let's take a look at the map below for more details.

Our original plan for this day was going from the parking lot as our main gathering point. After that, we walked to Zhubei Yuanlin Forest while visiting the famous Mullet fish farms along the way. After we visited Zhubei Yuanlin Forest, we continued our journey to Xinyue Shawan Beach. Finally, after visiting the beach, we went to Shuiyue Park.

▎The Journey Begins: It’s time have a relaxing walk

We set off for Xinyue Beach on March 8, 2026, from the university at around 10:00 a.m. As we were arriving at Xinyue Beach, we passed through a small town with lots of rice fields. The air was fresh, and it was enjoyable as if you were travelling in a village with little to no traffic. When we stepped onto the parking lot of Xinyue Beach, we quickly prepared ourselves to go on our next journey: Zhubei Yuanlin Forest.

We passed through an area full of mullet fish farms on our way to the forest. In fact, it's known as Fule Leisure Fishing Village, which is famous for Black Mullet cultivation. Baiziku is also a common name for this place. The water looked really fresh and suitable for fish farming. There were lots of fresh fish inside the pool surrounded by local fishermen using fishing rods, waiting patiently for a big mullet fish. Suddenly, a huge mullet fish was caught by a fisherman. It was an unforgettable sight. One interesting question is, why are they using fishing rods, not a fishing net, to catch the fish in the pool? It must be a form of hobby, where one has fun fishing while also harvesting the full-grown millet fish.

The best part of this journey is that the Mullet Fishing process can be directly observed here, right on its original farming land. As we walked alongside the fish farms, we finally arrived at the main gate of the Zhubei Yuanlin Forest. The place is surrounded by trees, and there is a small building designated as a recreation area right beside the main entrance. When we were walking through the forest, we found a unique cactus plant, perhaps it's a prickly pear cactus, inside a tiny hidden park. The park floor was covered with hay-like leaves, and there was a place with lots of bricks.

▎It’s time to Stroll on A Unique Beach You Would Never Forget

We finally left the park. As we exited the park, there was a beach right in front of us. We arrived at the area where there were black square-shaped beach rocks. These rocks might be used to break the sea waves, preventing the waves from going onto the land during a rising tide. Interestingly, there was a person doing beach-fishing using a long fishing rod, waiting patiently for the fish swimming in the middle of a roaring wave, and this fishing activity also offers a way to enjoy the relaxing scenery of the beach.

Right on the left side, there was a biking trail. When we walked alongside the biking trail, we found some special artworks.

Interestingly, the material of the artworks is the trash found along the beach in Hsinchu, such as Nanliao Beach. They were found last year by the volunteers cleaning Nanliao Beach.Fortunately, apart from these artworks, we found no other unusual trash or things in the coastal area. The area was relatively clean, and we found little trash along the way. 

Eventually, after a long walk alongside the coast, we arrived at Xinyue Beach. When we arrived at the beach, the tide was rising, and the water was covering some parts of the beach. Fortunately, we found a great place for a picnic, just under a beautiful glass canopy at the edge of the beach area. We enjoyed our food while enjoying the fresh air and sunny weather on the beach. The view was just great for having a picnic. After lunch, we continued our journey to Shuiyue Park. Using motorcycles, we went there together.

▎It’s time to Save Pictures

By the time we got there, we discovered a beautiful open landscape. We noticed a huge space in the middle of the park. This space might be an ideal space to take pictures and to hold social events. Moving further, we could see a beautiful temple right in front of us, together with the decorations around the place. We then move alongside the bridge, where we lie down on the bench, which has a photovoltaic hood to generate electricity.

Among these three other places, having a picnic on the beach is most enjoyable. It offers a way to escape from the city atmosphere. When you visit this place, don't forget to prepare your EasyCard or iPass card for a bike ride. I also found walking alongside the coastal path really enjoyable. You can take a bike ride all the way from the Parking Lot, Zhubei Yuanlin Forest, Xinyue Shawan, and Shuiyue Park, where you can finally park your bike in the UBike station at the park.

▎Other Place Recommendation

It's also recommended to take a visit to the souvenir shops, such as 新竹嘉豐益生菌烏魚子 and 慶豐烏魚子カラスミ, selling Mullet roe, a fish egg delicacy, locally harvested from the Mullet Fish Farm. The first shop is near the Zhubei Yuan Lin Forest, and the second shop is near the Shui Yue Park. You can take a look at the opening hours of the souvenir shops beforehand if you plan to visit them early in the morning. You can purchase souvenirs and fresh Mullet Roe products here. If you want to directly taste this delicacy at a restaurant, you can directly visit 田媽媽福樂休閒漁村, which is the right place to taste fresh and delicious Mullet Roe.

▎The Best Time to Visit and Transport Tips

Overall, the beach is ideal to be visited during spring and summer. However, it is important to check the weather conditions prior to departure. When visiting Xinyue Shawan, it's recommended to open the tide chart from the weather app, such as tide-forecast.com, or tide forecast from the Central Weather Administration to avoid visiting the beach during a rising tide. If you are going through public transport, it's recommended to set off early in the morning and track the bus schedule through apps, such as iBus or Taiwan Bus Tracker by Yahoo. You can bring an umbrella and snacks when visiting the beach, and prepare some water to avoid dehydration.

記者／徐國勇
圖片／張晁維、許國勇、鄭綺元、陳映蓉
編輯／陳映蓉

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