Baisha Bay
白砂灣
The white shell beach where Life of Pi was filmed. Its clear, calm water and westward-facing shore make it the best bay in Kenting for swimming and watching the sunset.
Baisha Bay lies on the west coast of the Hengchun Peninsula, north of Maobitou. It is a curved beach about 500 meters long, made of fine white shell sand and coral fragments, which gave it its name. The water is clear, the slope is gentle, and the terrain blocks much of the waves, making it the best beach in Kenting for swimming, snorkeling, and family play. It is also the location where the protagonist washes ashore at the end of Ang Lee's film Life of Pi, which made it famous. The beach faces due west across the Taiwan Strait, and the sun sets directly into the sea in the evening. Together with Guanshan to the north, it is one of Kenting's best sunset viewpoints. Behind the beach are a small parking lot, restaurants, and rinse showers. You can rent umbrellas and loungers for about 300 to 500 New Taiwan dollars, and during high season, water activities like jet skis and banana boats are available. Admission is free, and lifeguards are on duty in summer. Visit tip: schedule it as the last stop of a west-coast half-day tour. Snorkel at Houwanhu in the afternoon, look at the reef cliffs at Maobitou, and reach Baisha Bay for a swim around 4 p.m., then return to Kenting Street after sunset. Getting there: a 25-minute motorcycle ride from Kenting Street, or take the Taiwan Good Bus Kenting Street Car Blue Line (Route 102) to the Baisha stop. There is no direct bus, so a charter is most convenient. Notes: the beach is remote with no night lighting. Do not take shells away from the beach. Parking is tight on busy weekends. Waves vary with the season, and swimming is not recommended in winter.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Maobitou (Cat's Nose Cape)
- Guanshan Sunset Viewpoint
- Houbihu
- Hengchun Sisal Industry Exhibition Area
- Longluan Lake
- Nanwan (South Bay)
- Wanlitong
- Hengchun Old Town