No need to go abroad—Taiwan also has stunning desert landscapes

By MOOK Scenic Spots / Reported by Chen Wenlin
 
While admiring friends’ photos of magnificent desert vistas from their overseas trips, have you ever wondered what it’s like to experience a different living environment in the desert? Now you don’t have to envy others—you don’t even need to leave Taiwan or take a flight to find an incredible desert, with lesser-known alternative spots where everyone can easily snap desert-worthy photos!

Qigu Desert Beach in Tainan

Qigu Desert Beach, also known as the Dingtou’e Sandbar in Tainan, is a common sandbar formation along the southwest coast. Formed over time by the deposition of sediments carried by gentle rivers and ocean waves, combined with the blowing of seasonal winds, this area accumulates thick layers of sand. At first glance, it looks just like being in a desert, giving visitors the feeling of being in a foreign wasteland.

【Info】
Dingtou’e Sandbar
Address: No. 52, Yancheng Li, Qigu District, Tainan City
 

Guanyin Caota Sand Dunes

The Caota Sand Dunes are located along the coast of Guanyin in Taoyuan, featuring an 8-kilometer stretch of dune landscape. This hidden gem is not widely known. The yellow sand, shaped by the wind into wave-like patterns, makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into an otherworldly scene from a movie. Standing atop the high points of the dunes along the walking path, you can gaze out at the vast seascape, including the even more spectacular Taitung Fengchui Sha and Jiupeng Desert. A row of more than ten huge wind turbines turns gently in the wind, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.