Shihmen Reservoir 石門水庫 – Taoyuan Tourist Attraction

Shihmen Reservoir (石門水庫, lit. Stone Gate Dam) is the third largest reservoir in Taiwan. An artificial lake and dam, Shihmen Reservoir is a crucial player in keeping Northern Taiwan online and hydrated, even being the source of power and (drinking) water for much of Taoyuan, New Taipei City, and Hsinchu.

Where is Shihmen Reservoir?

Shihmen Reservoir is a reservoir in Taiwan that crosses 16.5 km through Taoyuan’s Daxi, Longtang, and Fuxing Townships. Although not always full, Shimen Reservoir has a capacity of 240 million cubic meters of water, making it an essential player in Northern Taiwan’s water supply chain.

Also referred to as the ‘Stone Gate Dam’, Shihmen Reservoir was completed in 1964, at a cost of NTD $3.2 billion. Since then, this majestic feat of engineering has prevented floods and droughts that had previously plagued the area all those years ago. That being said, with the increasing frequency of extreme weather, or lack thereof, the latter is still up for debate…

Activities to do at Shihmen Reservoir Taoyuan

Along with being an essential component for everyday life in Taiwan going smoothly, Shihmen Reservoir is a prominent Taoyuan tourist attraction. Tourists in Taiwan love visiting the ‘Stone Gate Dam’, particularly during the rainy season (Summer & Autumn) when the water is released into the spill bay. 

However, whether it’s the rainy season or not, there are still plenty of activities to do at this popular Taoyuan tourist attraction.

Enjoy a scenic boat cruise

Weather permitting, a lake boat cruise is the best way to explore Shihmen Reservoir. The Northern Region Water Resources Agency even likened the experience of a Shihmen Dam boat tour as being similar to China’s surreal Guilin.

Lake boat tickets cost no more than $300 per person (depending on the duration of the trip). 

Admire the natural beauty around Shihmen Reservoir

Shihmen Reservoir is the perfect Taoyuan tourist attraction to bask in the fresh air and glorious views of the mountains. It’s also super relaxing to take a semi-challenging cycle and a long walk around Shihmen Dam. Walking the roads also gives you a great opportunity to marvel at the architecture of the dam, and take epic pictures in front of the spillway.

Even so, you may feel a bit anxious looking up at Shihmen Dam from below…

Aside from its impressive man-made architecture, Shihmen Reservoir also boasts beautiful flowers and fauna in its trails and parks. Enjoy gorgeous native Taiwan blossoms from winter to summer, or wander through the calming Maple Tree Area and subsequent Maple Path in the Fall. This is located near the ‘High Line Toll Station’, accessible by car or scooter, or by really jacked cyclists.

Shihmen Reservoir Entrance Fee

While the Shihmen Reservoir experience is priceless, the cost of entry is dependent on your mode of transport, not how many people are actually entering. For bicycles, the entrance is absolutely free, but it’s a different story for motorized vehicles.

Vehicle	Price (same day parking for 1 vehicle)
Car	$100
Scooter	$50

The ticket comes with a handy mini map on the back, so drivers can squint and view all the features of Taoyuan Shihmen Reservoir. While you can see that there are several parking areas, I recommend leaving your vehicle near the Management Center. This is right by the top of the reservoir, which is likely where you’ll be spending most of your trip.

What to eat near Taoyuan Shimen Reservoir

While fish is the cuisine of choice for most visitors to Shihmen Reservoir, I personally found the quality of the restaurants nearby lacking and expensive for what they’re worth. So, in truth, for the best food options near the reservoir I actually recommend taking a good ol’ packed lunch and potato chips.

Or you can fork up for the waffles at the “cafe” on top of the dam…

If that isn’t so much your scene, I highly recommend holding out to Daxi. There’s an amazing mountain chicken restaurant there (天賜佳鷄, Tiāncì jiā jī, lit. Godsend Chicken) that really hit the spot after coming down the mountain. A real blessings from the heaven after a sweltering hot/torrential rainy day.

For just $770, we had a whole mountain chicken (plus oil and white pepper salt – two essential condiments), the most amazing sugared fried sweet potatoes, fried tofu (a specialty in this part of Taoyuan), classic stir-fried cabbage, and a hearty chicken stock soup. There was also unlimited tea included.

I’ve had a lot of mountain chicken in Taiwan, usually up in the mountains of Nantou or Hualien, and this was definitely among some of the best. Totally recommend a visit if you’re in the area, which you will be if you visit the reservoir.

• Restaurant: 天賜佳鷄 Godsend Chicken
• Address: No. 52, Section 2, Xingfu Road, Daxi District, Taoyuan City
• Price: $$

Attractions nearby Shimen Reservoir

While there is much to see and do at Shimen Reservoir, it won’t take you that long to explore it all. Extend your stay in the area with these leisurely (and intense) hiking trails near Shihmen Dam!

• Nanyuan Ecological Park walking trails

A highlight is the lighted evening walk, which lasts from 6pm to 10pm.

• Shimen Mountain (also known as Xiaozhukungshan)

Like Mount Dadong in Guishan, Shihmen Mountain is one of the ‘100 Little Peaks of Taiwan’ (小百岳, xiao bai yue). These are lower altitude mountains that are generally pretty easy to climb, making them great excursions for leisurely hikes. Shihmen Mountain is a particular highlight as it offers incredible views from up top of Shihmen Dam.

Visitors can even see Taipei 101 from Shihmen Mountain! Weather permitting, of course.

• Daxi Old Street

Whether you’re driving, cycling, or taking the bus, be sure to make a stop at Daxi Old Street on the way back from Shihmen Reservoir. Stop and savor the old town flavors with stinky tofu, mochi, caramel candies, and dumplings, or browse the local craft stores. Daxi Old Street won’t disappoint – it’s also a great place to snap a few pictures of local life in Taiwan!

How to get to Shimen Reservoir

Whatever your mode of transportation, it’s easy to get to Shihmen Reservoir. For those heading to there by car, simply follow the Google Maps link below. For those taking the bus to Shihmen Reservoir, here’s what you need to know ⬇️.

🚍 There are two buses that go to the reservoir🚍

• Taoyuan Bus from Zhongli Station ->Shihmen Station or Shihmen Station (Dam stop).
• Shimen Reservoir Route 503 -> Shihmen Station (only on weekends and holidays).

Address:	No.68, Sec. 1, Huanhu Rd., Daxi Dist., Taoyuan City, Taiwan [Google Maps]
Open hours:	8am to 6pm

Overview

Though Taiwan drinking water has yet to actually be drinkable, there is so much you can thank Shihmen Reservoir for. Not only is it a beast of a power generator and water collection point, but it’s also a great Taoyuan tourist attraction that ticks all the boxes.

Make sure to swing by on your next visit to Taoyuan!

♥️ Liked this post? Here are some other places in Taoyuan that you might be interested in:

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