Chu Nan
Chu Nan Beach
No Pictures yet.
Distance from the Airport to Chu Nan is less than 80km but distance in Taiwan is measured in time due to the traffic. The trip usually takes around 1 hour.
You can take the bus, rent a taxi or arrange someone to pick you up at the airport.
The guy with the rental accommodation in Chu Nan provides this service. Chu Nan is SE of the CKS airport.
Being in Chu Nan you can rent a 50cc scooter at US$12 per day or take a taxi at US$2 to most close destinations.
You can stay at “The Spot”, belongs to a guy called Tony. He rents a bed for US$10 per day. This is right at the beach with his own bar and food.
You can also stay in a Chu Nan down town hotel, its fair to good at US$ 40 per day but its not close to the beach and will require a taxi ride, however its central located if you have to be in the down town area.
Upper market accommodation is in the Shin Chu down town area where you will find big shopping centers, pubs and places to hang out but expect to pay US$50 and more.
The best pace to eat is the Chu Nan harbor. This is a fresh sea food area and a real Chinese experience. The people are friendly and love to drink…they don’t sip anything…
If you really have to then you can find the Mac D and KFC in Chu Nan.
Any beer house is also value for money, good sea food and other Chinese food and beer in 1 liter muggs. At the Beer House a mug will cost you US$3, plate of food around US$2…the general rule is three plates for two or three people.
Chu Nan also has many 7-11 which sells most easy food, beer and wine
You can travel in The Chu Nan area to the mountains and visit the hot springs…that would only apply to the winter months.
For a city and culture experience you can take a train trip to down town Taipei or Tai Chung.
There are many interesting temples to visit in the area.
Living is cheap at The Spot and will cost $10/day, budgeting for food will start at $10/day. A taxi ride starts at US$2 and US$3 will take you to most places in Chu Nan.
The wind in the winter blows from north china so the wind is cold and no gust as long as it blows from the north.
As the high pressure moves to the east the wind will start blowing over land or side off and created gusty conditions.
As soon as the wind moves to the east a new high pressure will be waiting to bring the good news. The summer thermals is clean and consistent
The northern wind BLOWS in the winter, expect to get 20 days or more per month of 20 knots and up to 40 knots with big swell.
The summer is hot with southern thermal wind, 8-15 knots.
Usually there is very little wind between July and August; however, I’ve kited at least 3 day per week during this period with a 16m kite.
Water temp is 26 Deg C during the summer and 20 Deg C during the winter. Most times we sail in board short and rash vest, I use a long suit in the winter (Oct to March) more to protect me from the wind chill then the actual water temp
There is always some stuff on the beach, like plastic or pieces of wood, coming from boats or being washed down in the rivers during typhoon season.
In the winter you should be on the lookout for fishing nets between the high and low water line. This usually only applies to the immediate entry area.
There is a lot more wind then kite surfers in Taiwan but no beach will ever have more than 15 people which leaves you with lots of space.
I live locally and know the area very well. I do kite and windsurf; rule of thumb is 16 or 10 meter kite up to 25 knots and windsurf for the rest.
You can contact me at swanie128@yahoo.com and I will help you or put you in contact with people in other areas.
“The Spot” sells some wind and kite surf equipment. There is a shop in Tai Chung and one on Peng Hu Island.
It’s very easy to get things delivered and it will cost US$3 to have most small items within 24hrs. Most people know each other so its very easy to find things.
This is a “no rules” area and we would like to keep it that way. Apply your basic kiting rules and you will be fine.
Chinese people don’t swim much so the ocean is open to use anywhere. Keeping this in mind, there is no emergency service in the water. If you get yourself into trouble then you swim. People do look out for each other and are very helpful.
Don’t sail close to the public and think their smiles “allow” you to show off. A smile means two things; one is friendly and the other embarrassment. The hospitals are very good should you get hurt but expect to pay in cash and claim back later.
Taiwan is a great place to sail; my log is an average of 25 days per month in the winter and 15 in the summer. The wind blows 30 knots for more than 3 days and the surf will be BIG on the outside, South of Chu Nan I sail regularly in 6m face in the winter.
My 12 year experience in Taiwan is only good, nothing has ever been stolen, people have always have treated me nice and friendly. The society is easy to live in and people are very helpful and forgiving as long as you show respect.
I have to add: The police will not hassle you, even if you do overstep but I can assure you that does not allow you to take chances, because if the police so much as speaks to you then assume yourself to be in trouble. Should they take you “down to the station” then you will be guilty.
The beach during low tide is real wide (100m or more), tidal movement is around 1.5m and the beach has a very even gradient into the ocean.
During spring high the beach space is small and I you would have to walk into the water to launch a kite. There is at least 4km of beach and the locals would only concentrate in the area right at the beach entry point.
I usually walk 100m down wind and have the beach for myself. The beach sand has a dark white color. The South China Sea being busy sea route expect to lots more stuff like plastic on the beach then you would see for eg in the South African coast. This only applies to the high water line.