Today we're going to the most eastern point in Taiwan, to see the Sandiaojiao Lighthouse. Before we go there, we're going to make a pit stop to a place called Fulong.
Fulong is a beach and like quite a few places in Taiwan, I don't really get it . I don't know if it was because I came here on a grim day, or whether the location isn't that appealing. This is Fulong Hotel, and it faces the sea, which perhaps in summer, would offer fantastic views. They even have a big Starbucks, that's the building with the blue top on the left front. It's was awfully quiet when I was here.
The main attraction in Fulong is this footbridge. I have to admit it's a pretty neat and makes a nice stroll out towards the beach which itself is quite unusual.
Fulong beach faces the Pacific Ocean, if you draw a straight line you'll get to Mexico 🇲🇽. The waves are strong here and apparently it's popular with surfers, perhaps the vibe is very different in the summer. The other thing with the waves, is that over time it has created this strip of beach that extends underneath the bridge, maybe if I return some years later, the beach would have connected to the mainland on the right.
| The beach from the left | and right side of the bridge |
|---|---|
 |  |
It was so windy when I was here, and when I got to the end of the bridge the beach was sort of closed. I remember seeing a sign somewhere to that effect, and a trolley was placed in front of the bridge on the beach. I wasn't planning to go on the beach anyway as I didn't fancy getting wet sand all over my boots.
Our next stop is Sandiaojiao lighthouse or Sandiao Cape as the information board calls it. Jiao means corner in Chinese.
In the old days this area was called San Diego, named by the Spanish when they ruled in the 17th century. Sandiaojiao is the localised name from the Spanish one. The area here is pretty large, and apart from the lighthouse, there's also a radar.
Here's the radar, and some sheep 🐑🐑😁
Not only that, there's also a little chapel, and some heart shape structures, and a gazebo. Random and odd? Not quite, if you notice all the structures are in stone white and there's a beautiful backdrop of the sea. Apparently this is quite a popular Instagram and wedding shoot location, some call it Greece here 😉
 |  |
The most eastern point in Taiwan is actually an observation deck less than 200m away. You can see it from the lighthouse.
We strolled across to the observation deck and saw the coordinates marked on the ground. I made sure I pinned this post exactly here on Pinmapple 📌🍍
Here's looking back to the lighthouse and radar station
And panning a little further across from the radar station, is this image which I find quite interesting. You have the radar station - modern technology, then there are the graveyards dotted at the base of the hill - belonging to the local villagers offering good feng shui, and then there's a fort outlook in the right. I'm not sure how far back the fort dates, I couldn't find any information. Anyway, I just thought together they offer a view of three very different objects from different different period and culture but all coexisting in the same location.
With the popularity of Facebook, Taiwanese love a good 👍 pose when taking photos. Someone must have figured in case you can't see one's 👍 clearly, why not erect two massive ones!
What did you think if this trip? 👍 or👎
