Even though I may be leaving Taiwan in July, an amazing and beautiful thing has occured. Kaohsiung finally has a surf club! It’s on Cijin Island and I’m so so so happy. This weekend I checked it out for the first time with my friend Sandy. It’s Greek-style, lovely. I didn’t think Cijin Island would have good surf, but it’s great for me since I’m only a beginner and it’s only 20 minutes away!
Once you’re off the ferry to Cijin from Kaohsiung, you walk straight until the beach and turn right at the street that is right before you actually get to the beach (and toward the path that would lead you to the old fort on the hill and boardwalk). Then keep walking and just look for the surf signs and the building that looks Greek! It’s there!
The best time to surf on Cijin in the winter (Oct-April) is low tide. In the summer it’s high tide. Right now 10 a.m. until noon is the best and again around 2-4 p.m. if you’re lucky – although the waves seem to die down in the afternoon. They are great if you have the patience, and otherwise very gentle if you don’t! Gentle is fine with me.
The guys are wonderful. They told us this is the only surf club in Taiwan owned by surfers, so 13 of them share the club and rent boards. The boards cost around $500NT (or $15 a day) and they also have beds to nap in. After surfing they have a BBQ, and although I wasn’t able to stay the last time they were very kind and didn’t even want to charge us to eat! Hopefully next time. Anyway I know what I’m doing every weekend this summer.
this is sooo cool!!!!
By: Anonymous on November 4, 2010
at 11:34 AM
Hi, I’m going to Kaohsiung soon for school, and I was wondering where exactly this place is?? I’ve never surfed in my life but I have always wanted to try! Any tips??
Jessie
By: Jessie Wildflower Chanel on November 29, 2011
at 1:15 PM
Take a bus (400nt) or taxi (2000nt or you can share for about 800nt, negotiate) to Kenting (about three hours away from Kaohsiung) and when you get there, you could hang out for a night or head straight to Jialeshui. To get to Jialeshui, you could take a cab (about 500NT) but cabs are hard to find. It’s better to rent a scooter if you can (about 500nt, but they might charge you more for being foreign). If you’re going with friends, you could scooter/motorbike all the way down from Kaohsiung to Jialeshui and it will take about 3-3.5 hours. Once you’re in Kenting, keep heading east along the coast. You will pass a little town called “Sail Rock” within ten minutes of leaving Kenting. Keep driving along the coast, another 15 minutes or so. You will see another little town that rents kayaks and has a bridge going across the river. Keep going another 5 minutes around the bend (keep following the coastline) and you will be in Kenting. I can give you the phone number if you want… just let me know. They speak English.
Sorry about the late reply!
By: globalciti on January 29, 2012
at 11:53 AM
I’m going to Kaohsiung in February, I hope to learn to surf while there! I’ve never tried before. Is it really popular there?
By: Jessie on December 11, 2011
at 2:39 PM
Yes it’s quite popular!
By: globalciti on January 29, 2012
at 11:49 AM