Guanyin Grass Sand Dunes Introduction
The popular scenic spot that has caused a sensation on social media platforms like IG and FB is the Caosha Sand Dunes, a unique landscape that stretches 8.1 kilometers and is known as the "coastal desert." It is the widest and most complete sandy area along Taiwan's coast. At sunset, rows of wind turbines stand tall, and the sandy shore meets the sea in a line, with footprints intertwining in the undulating dunes, creating a tranquil yet desolate beauty that attracts many photographers and influencers. The movie "Secret" and the drama "You & Me" have both been filmed here. Following Taiwan Highway 61, you can enjoy a journey from north to south, exploring the four major ecological highlights of Taoyuan: the Huwei Wetland, Caosha Sand Dunes, Guanxin Coral Reef, and Xinhwu Stone Weir. Known as the "Taiwanese Sahara Desert," the Caosha Sand Dunes have formed due to the accumulation of drifting sand brought by the strong northeast monsoon and the south winds reaching land. The dune field starts from the estuary of Laojiekou in the Dayuan District and extends to the estuary of Dajue Creek in the Guanyin District, running in a northeast-southwest direction. The northern section is about 400 meters wide and widens to 600 meters in the south, covering an area of 4 square kilometers over thousands of years. The dunes can reach a height of up to 15 meters, and walking to the high points along the ridge will reward you with a vast and stunning view. The Taiwan Environmental Information Association has selected the Caosha Sand Dunes coast as one of the "nine coastlines worth protecting in Taiwan" (another selected site in Taoyuan is the Guanxin Coral Reef) as it is a rare and undisturbed coastline in northern Taiwan. The Caosha Sand Dunes feature a coral reef ecosystem and rich coastal forest ecology, including salt-resistant windbreak plants such as Casuarina, bitter neem, dodder, castor bean, and Dahlia. These plants help block windblown sand and prevent coastal erosion, adding another layer of green scenery along the sand dunes.
