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Taichung to Gaomei Wetlands: bus 309, Qingshui connections and the trip home
Bus 309 works well from central Taichung and Taiwan Boulevard. If you are already travelling on the coastal railway, change at Qingshui for bus 688. A shared return transfer can make the evening departure easier to organise. For a 2026 visit, choose transport around the boardwalk opening window and your walk back to the bus stop.
Boardwalk works, 12–23 October 2026: Taichung City has announced closure of Phase 1, the first 228 metres from the entrance. As the entrance itself is within the works, visitors cannot enter the boardwalk. Nearby steps, paving and a pavilion are also being repaired. This announcement does not close the entire wetlands, but choose another date if the boardwalk is central to your visit. Works announcement
Choose your starting point first
| Option | Best starting point | Useful cost/time detail | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 309 | Taichung Station or Taiwan Boulevard | Published adult fare to Sanshun Road: NT$74; add the walk | Direct, with seasonal weekday/holiday schedules |
| Train plus bus 688 | Qingshui on the coastal railway | Separate train and bus fares; four daily main-route departures | Coordinate the connection before leaving |
| Shared return transfer | The package’s meeting point | Product-specific price; about two hours at the wetlands | An organised return with a fixed visit length |
| Private car or taxi | An agreed hotel or meeting point | Quote both directions, bags and waiting | Useful for groups and a difficult final walk |
A normal transport card does not automatically qualify visitors for Taichung-resident concessions. The operator publishes distance-based fares; payment-card discounts and eligibility are separate. Use the 309 fare chart for your exact pair of stops.
Where to board 309 in Taichung
Look for Taichung Station (Platform A), 臺中車站（A月台）, beside the city’s conventional railway station. Taichung HSR is a different station in Wuri. From an HSR arrival, add a connection to the route or book a transfer that explicitly collects there.
If staying near the National Museum of Natural Science, City Hall or Tunghai, use the nearest suitable 309 stop along Taiwan Boulevard. Several are on dedicated busway platforms. On the live route, select the direction towards 大勇四維東路口 and check that Gaomei Wetlands (Sanshun Road) appears ahead. Tap your card on and off, and press the stop button before alighting.
309 runs as a loop. The city-station times on the operator route diagram are estimated passing times. Its October–March weekday column currently lists 11:45, 12:45, 15:30, 16:30, 19:25 and 20:15, with extra holiday services. Choose an afternoon service early enough for the walk and the day’s sunset; the later departures are not useful simply because they still reach the coast.
Sanshun Road, No. 18 Wind Turbine and the final walk
The current route serves 高美濕地（三順路）, Gaomei Wetlands (Sanshun Road), and 18號風車, No. 18 Wind Turbine. Compare the stop with your intended destination: the visitor centre, boardwalk entrance and coastal viewpoints are different places. Directions using an old “visitor centre” bus-stop name need updating.
The tourism authority’s 309 itinerary allows about 20 minutes on foot from No. 18 Wind Turbine to the wetlands. Use that as a route-specific example, then check the actual pedestrian approach. Ask a transfer operator how much walking remains if anyone in the group has limited mobility.
For the city-station journey, the operator chart lists adult fares of NT$74 to Sanshun Road and NT$76 to No. 18 Wind Turbine. The reverse journeys are NT$72 and NT$74 respectively, reflecting the loop’s different city stops. Card discounts may change the amount charged; these are not flat fares for every 309 journey.
Bus 688: the daily main route and holiday-only variant
Qingshui Station, 清水車站, is on the coastal railway. The operator’s current 688 page distinguishes the main route via Aofengshan Park from 688副, the holiday-only variant. Both diagrams include Sanshun Road and No. 18 Wind Turbine.
| 688 main route | Published origin departures | Planning consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Qingshui Station (Zhongzheng Street) towards the port | 08:50, 11:15, 13:30, 16:15 | Match your train arrival to one of these buses |
| Taichung Harbor Passenger Service Center towards Qingshui | 10:00, 12:15, 14:30, 17:15 | These are port departures; the bus reaches Gaomei later |
The operator-linked map is dated 15 August 2025 and remained its displayed version at this 7 October 2026 check. Service gaps are substantial. The holiday variant offers additional options, but its evening departures should not be used to plan a weekday return. Check approaching buses again when you leave the coast.
Fit the visit around the tide and boardwalk access
The authority’s usual restrictions cover the 1.5 hours before and after high tide, two hours each side of spring high tide, and entry to the protected area after sunset. The current access calendar and instructions on site determine the usable window, including maintenance closures.
A sunset view from a permitted shore location is a different plan from walking out onto the tidal area. Keep to open paths and follow staff directions when access closes. Bring a windproof layer, secure loose belongings and leave large suitcases at your accommodation if possible.
Would a shared return transfer suit you?
The Klook Taichung–Gaomei shared return transfer lists about two hours at the wetlands and Chinese-language service. Check its collection point and return instructions, particularly if you do not speak Chinese. The listing alone does not confirm availability on your chosen date.
This product does not provide child seats, and its language versions state young-child restrictions differently. Families should obtain confirmation before booking, or arrange a suitable private vehicle. A transport purchase remains subject to the same tide and works restrictions as any other visit.
Getting home after sunset
Find and photograph the correct return stop when you arrive. Work backwards from boarding, including the walk from your viewpoint. For 309 select the Taichung Station-bound direction; for Qingshui check the coast-to-station bus before the onward train.
Leave the viewing area earlier if travelling with children or anyone uncomfortable walking after dark. If a fixed train or flight follows, keep an earlier departure or prearranged car available. A last-minute coastal taxi and a seat on the final bus are both uncertain connections.
Gaomei transport questions
Can I board 309 at Taichung HSR?
Its city stop is Taichung TRA Station Platform A. An HSR arrival needs another connection or an explicitly HSR-based transfer.
Is 688 weekends only?
The operator’s main-route diagram lists both weekdays and holidays. The 688副 variant is holiday-only, so check which version you are using.
Does the October closure cover all of Gaomei?
The 12–23 October 2026 announcement covers the entrance section of the boardwalk and nearby works. Follow local barriers for access elsewhere; plan another day for a boardwalk visit.
Can I stay on the boardwalk after sunset?
Follow staff instructions to leave. The authority’s general access rules prohibit entry to the protected area after sunset.
Why does 309 cost a little less on the return?
It is a loop with different city stops by direction. The published station–Sanshun adult fares are NT$74 outward and NT$72 back, before any applicable card discount.
Before you travel
309 route and fares · 688 route variants · Access calendar · October 2026 works notice. Checked 7 October 2026.
Related planning guides
For your city base and arrival journey, see where to stay in Taichung and Taoyuan Airport to Taichung.