A while ago, I went camping in Kenting with friends over New Year’s. While preparing for the trip, I looked through a lot of articles about campsites, so I’ve put together a summary here for everyone’s reference. Most of the information below was compiled from travel notes and Google Maps reviews found online, so it’s for reference only, and I recommend calling the campsite to confirm. If I get the chance to visit again, I’ll update the information. If you have any feedback, I’d welcome it and will revise the notes accordingly.

When choosing a campsite, I pay attention to the following things. Not having one of them doesn’t automatically make a site bad. For example, if the washroom facilities are poor, I can accept that, since I don’t expect to shower when camping. But you should plan ahead for what to bring if the facilities are poor, or if the Luoshan wind is strong, and so on:

  • Crowding: I don't like camping at a site packed with people. You open your tent and see a crowd of people, and then there's no point in camping at all.
  • Sea view: Opening your tent and seeing the ocean is so exciting, isn't it!!!!
  • Management: For example, whether the facilities are maintained, whether the number of guests is limited, whether you can reserve in advance, and so on. A few campsites are basically left to rot: they give you a patch of ground to camp on and charge you for it, but there's nothing else.
  • Environment: Whether snakes or insects show up. If these little critters are around, you need to prepare in advance.
  • Washroom: Whether there's hot water, whether the bathrooms are clean, and so on.
  • Power: Whether power is provided and how far it is from your tent. Be sure to check this carefully! Ways to cope include bringing a bunch of power banks, extension cords, and so on.
If you camp in Kenting in winter, watch out for the Luoshan wind. You can still camp in it, but rent a sturdier tent, and you can also use your car as a windbreak (lol).

Shiniuxi Farm Campground

  • Phone: 08-886-1281
  • Address: No. 1-1, Shiniu Alley, Kenting Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Yes
It's very, very, super big! Why do I say that? Because during the busy New Year's period, there were still spots available even though we hadn't booked, and once inside, each person has a lot of space. It's not like Happy Baisha Campground, which feels like army tents lined up with flags flying, where opening your tent means facing someone else's tent. At Shiniuxi, what made me happiest was having my own campsite. Shiniuxi Farm is also super close to Kenting Main Street! It takes only about 20 minutes on foot to get there. The washroom facilities are complete and clean, with hot water even at 3 a.m. There are a few drawbacks, though: there's no power, and you can't rent camping equipment. If you come here, I suggest bringing several power banks!

The funniest part is that when I was little, Mom took us to play in Kenting, and we stayed right here. I didn’t know it beforehand. It was only when I drove in that I realized how familiar this scene was!!

Information

  • Crowding: Very satisfied, not crowded.
  • Sea view: The sea is nearby, but you can't see it.
  • Management: Very satisfied, even the lawns are maintained.
  • Environment: As a mosquito-attracting lamp, I surprisingly wasn't bitten at all. What do you think?
  • Washroom: Hot water at 3 a.m. The bathrooms are cleaned every morning, and I personally find them very clean.
  • Power: Basically none.
  • Equipment rental: None. This place only provides the campsite and doesn't rent equipment.
References

Happy Baisha Campground

Happy Baisha is right next to Baisha Bay in Kenting, and the entrance is fairly easy to find. You can reserve by phone in advance, and they control the number of guests, so if you manage to get a reservation, you're guaranteed a spot. This is probably the campsite with the most complete facilities and services in the Kenting area, and they put real effort into management. However, the price isn't cheap, roughly twice that of other campsites. Also, from the outside, the space looks a bit crowded.

Happy Baisha Campground is also known as Happy Panda Campground. They’re the same place!

Information

  • Crowding: I haven't been inside, but from the outside it looks very crowded.
  • Sea view: Open your tent and you can see Baisha Bay and the ocean.
  • Management: Very satisfied. It's expensive, but the management is excellent.
  • Environment: I haven't seen any negative reviews about this.
  • Washroom: Hot water from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
  • Power: There are power outlets next to the wooden-pallet campsites, but I'm not sure every site has one.
  • Equipment rental: Yes!!! This includes tents, sleeping bags, inflatable mattresses, and more.
ReferencesThe beautiful sea view you can see at Happy Baisha Campground is right next to the campsite!

Baisha Campground

  • Phone: 0955-525-945
  • Address: Right next to Happy Baisha. Happy Baisha is to the left and Baisha Campground is to the right. It's not easy to find, so you may want to ask a local.
  • Visited in person: Just passed by
Baisha Campground and "Happy Baisha Campground" are two different campsites. Although the names are very similar and they really are next door to each other, the two are completely unrelated! Baisha Campground operates very low-key. It has no website, and few people know about it (or maybe everyone mixes it up with Happy Baisha). It enjoys the same stunning sea view as Happy Baisha, while the washroom facilities and grounds are fairly basic. I'm not sure whether you can make reservations, but it was still open when January 1, 2017 went by.

Information

  • Crowding: By eye, it feels quite crowded.
  • Sea view: Open your tent and you can see Baisha Bay and the ocean.
  • Management: When I went, I couldn't find the owner (lol). Basically, you could say there's no management.
  • Environment: No information.
  • Washroom: No information.
  • Power: No information.

Hongchai Water Village

  • Phone: 08-886-9000
  • Address: No. 37, Hongchai Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Not tried
According to reviews online, this place is nearly abandoned. The facilities are old and unmaintained, the owner has a bad attitude, the environment is dirty, and so on. It's said that because of the terrain, the Luoshan wind isn't strong at Hongchai Water Village, so it's suitable for camping in winter. It's also very close to the beach, so if you're like me and the sea view is number one, you might consider it.

Information

  • Crowding: There are quite a few complaints about overbooking.
  • Sea view: Open your tent and you can see the sea.
  • Management: Someone manages it, but in reality it's in an abandoned state.
  • Environment: The equipment is almost never maintained, and some people complain about lots of ants.
  • Washroom: There are some, but online reviews say they're not great.
  • Power: You need to bring your own extension cord.
References

Mianhai Campground

  • Phone: 08-886-1215
  • Address: Chuanfan Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County (opposite Fullon Hotel)
  • Visited in person: Not tried
Information
  • Crowding: No information on this. There aren't many sites, so it could get crowded in peak season.
  • Sea view: Open your tent and you can see the sea.
  • Management: They give you a piece of land and leave you to fend for yourself (lol).
  • Environment: No reports of insects or ants.
  • Washroom: There's a very basic washroom area with hot water, offered from 6 p.m. onward.
  • Power: Yes, but you may need an extension cord.
  • Equipment rental: Tents are available for rent.
References

Dayuanshan Campground

  • Phone: 0915-275-413
  • Address: No. 999-1, Chuanfan Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County (opposite Fullon Hotel)
  • Visited in person: Not tried
Dayuanshan Campground is right next to Mianhai Campground. The two were originally run together by brothers, and then they split up. The facilities, environment, and so on are very similar to Mianhai's. I haven't seen any notable negative reviews. It's also very close to the sea, but next to it is a rocky shore rather than a sandy beach (Mianhai also has a rocky shore).

Information

  • Crowding: No information on this.
  • Sea view: Yes Sir!
  • Management: No special management.
  • Environment: No reports of insects or ants. The facilities are basic.
  • Washroom: Yes, but very basic construction.
  • Power: Yes, but you may need an extension cord.
  • Equipment rental: Tents are available for rent.
References

Jushi Coffee

  • Phone: 08-886-9192
  • Address: No. 34-5, Wanli Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Not tried
Don't be surprised, but Jushi Coffee B&B also runs a campsite. You can call ahead to reserve. Personally, though, I thought the owner had a very bad attitude, with a "come if you want, I don't care" tone. Also, two articles from 2014 mention a big ant problem at the campsite. There are washroom facilities, but they're very basic, with only two toilets for men and two for women, so during peak season you'll have to queue. On the plus side, you can camp directly on the beach, which I think is a wonderful thing!

Information

  • Crowding: It gets very crowded in peak season at Jushi Coffee's campsite.
  • Sea view: The only real advantage here is the amazing sea view!
  • Management: Personally, I think the owner's service attitude is very poor.
  • Environment: Two articles from 2014 mention the big ant problem.
  • Washroom: Yes, but only two toilets each for men and women, very basic construction.
  • Power: Yes, but you need an extension cord.
References

Sichongxi Riverside Campground

  • Phone: 08-882-4865
  • Address: No. 29-5, Damei Road, Shimen Village, Mudan Township, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Not tried
Reviews online are not bad. Although there's only one bathroom, it's very clean. And since it's in the hot spring area, can you really resist soaking in the hot springs? (lol) There's a pavilion you can rent for barbecuing, and the equipment is fairly complete. It feels like the owner has put real thought into running this place.

Information

  • Crowding: The owner is said to control the number of guests, so it doesn't get outrageously crowded.
  • Sea view: It's in the mountains. There are hot springs but no sea view.
  • Management: From what I've read online, the owner seems to put real effort into running it.
  • Environment: Generally positive reviews.
  • Washroom: Two toilets and one bathroom, very clean.
  • Power: Yes, but you need an extension cord.

Qingliang Campground

  • Phone: 08-885-1509
  • Address: No. 234-1, Shadao Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Not tried
Information
  • Crowding: The space is very large and can hold about 200 tents, but I'm not sure whether the management limits the number of guests.
  • Sea view: Not visible.
  • Management: Average. The equipment is old, with no special management.
  • Environment: No reviews about insects or ants.
  • Washroom: Yes, with hot water, built of corrugated metal sheets.
  • Power: Yes, but you need an extension cord, and power is only supplied from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day.
  • Equipment rental: Tents can be rented.

Junlin Campground

  • Phone: 08-885-6983
  • Address: No. 330-9, Kenting Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Not tried
Information
  • Crowding: No information.
  • Sea view: Close to Kenting Main Street and the beach, but you can't see the sea.
  • Management: A small team runs it, but the equipment isn't updated much.
  • Environment: One review mentions lots of mosquitoes.
  • Washroom: Yes, with hot water, built of corrugated metal sheets.
  • Power: No information.
  • Equipment rental: Tents and sleeping bags are available for rent.

Shadao Campground

  • Phone: 08-885-1402
  • Address: No. 200-1, Shadao Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Not tried

Haishan Campground

  • Phone: 08-885-1430
  • Address: No. 200-2, Shadao Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung County
  • Visited in person: Not tried
Information
  • Crowding: No information.
  • Sea view: Close to the Shadao protected area, but you can't see the sea.
  • Management: An old-established campsite with decent reviews online, and it's maintained.
  • Environment: No negative reviews.
  • Washroom: Hot water, and there are many washrooms.
  • Power: Yes, but the power goes out at night. There's a dedicated phone-charging area for nighttime, but you're responsible for looking after your own belongings.
  • Equipment rental: Tents are available for rent.