One of Taiwan’s top rail journeys (and so tasty too), the Haifeng dessert train experience is a luxury scenic sightseeing rail journey running between Taipei Nangang and Yilan in the summer months, and between Hsinchu and Taichung in the winter months.
A luxury coastal train in Taiwan with beautifully designed carriages, fine foods and coastal views, this is an unforgettable foodie experience perfect for a top Taiwan trip or a romantic Taiwan honeymoon.
Famous for its pastel blue exterior and macaron inspired interiors, only 60 passengers are allowed onboard each Haifeng / ‘Sea Breeze’ train journey making for a leisurely and decadent dessert experience.
A luxury Taiwan train ride along the coast, the Haifeng train offers incredible views, Instagrammable moments and fantastic service. We took a ride in September 2026 so here is our guide to Taiwan’s Haifeng dessert train 海風號.
PS Given there are limited spaces aboard the train, be sure to book your Haifeng train well in advance via KKDAY.
Disclosure – This was an unpaid hosted train ride with Lion Travel.
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How to book the Taiwan’s Haifeng dessert train 海風號
Operating since 2024, the Sea Breeze / Haifeng is a relatively new scenic train experience, operated by the Taiwan Railway Corporation in partnership with Lion Travel.
Locals will most likely book their tickets on Lion Travel’s official website. However the website is not English friendly, so for foreign travellers, the best way to book the Haifeng train online is via KKDay – a reputable Taiwan travel booking site (very similar to Klook).
The Sea Breeze / Haifeng dessert train in Taiwan is also sometimes available to book on Klook but at the time of writing in October 2026, it is currently unavailable but do keep checking.
As the Haifeng train only has 4 carriages / 60 seats and usually only operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the train sells out quite quickly so plan your trip well in advance.
The train runs journeys in both directions along the following routes:
- East coast between Nangang in Taipei and Yilan (from April to October)
- West coast between Hsinchu and Taichung (from November to March)
Taiwan Haifeng Train 2026 prices
As of late 2026, the Sea Breeze / Haifeng train costs around NT$3,600 per person (approximately US$115 or £85 per person) for a one-way 3.5 hour train journey, which includes the train ride, local foods to try plus a walking tour.
Note the walking tour location changes depending on the route you take and the time of the year – we did the Taipei to Yilan route in September 2026 and stopped for a short walking tour of Toucheng (Mandarin only), but the return Yilan to Taipei route has a walking tour of Houtong Cat Village.
We then spent several nights in Yilan City and Jiaoxi – a famous hot spring town that is similar to Beitou in Taipei.
Check out the full itineraries here on the Lion Travel website, however foreign travellers are best to book via KKDay >
You might like – Our trip on the Formosensis train: a scenic journey along the Alishan Forest Railway >
Our Sea Breeze / Haifeng experience
One Sunday morning in September 2026, we arrived at Taipei Nangang Station and checked in at the dedicated Lion Travel desk located on the B2 floor of the station. The check in is open from 8.45am until 9.05am.
We were presented with a transparent and stylish souvenir ticket and as we arrived at the train platform, we got our first glimpse of the pastel blue train exterior.
Staff guided us to our seat / carriage and were more than happy to help us take photos by the train, prior to our approx 9.25am departure.
The first thing you notice as you climb aboard the Haifeng is the beautiful pastel and Instagrammable interiors, said to have been inspired by the coastal colors and reminiscent of a macaron in a bakery shop window.
With matching fixtures and furnishings including plush seats and tables plus huge panoramic windows, it is certainly a much more comfortable and luxurious experience than your standard Taiwan railway journey.
We were allocated a double seat together and there are various seating options – single seats, twos and quadruple seating areas. Charging points and box boxes can also be found next to your seats – there are two toilets aboard too (or you can use the station toilets at selected stops).
From a practical standpoint, please note there is a small Haifeng luggage space in each carriage (likely enough for several suitcases) and no overhead storage space.
Most guests were travelling as part of an organised group tour and had no luggage with them – we managed to find a place for our two suitcases (plus there was room for our smaller backpacks by our seats).
All aboard the Sea Breeze
After a flurry of photo-taking, we explored the other Haifeng carriages and created a colorful souvenir postcard using the Haifeng ink stamp – there are several stamps of different shades which combine into a pastel postcard scene.
Within about 20 minutes of departing Taipei Nangang Station, we were served our decadent dessert course, presented beautifully in a two tier turquoise box.
On top of the box was a high quality menu which as you opened it, featured a paper pop-up Haifeng train and a list of everything you were about to eat and enjoy.
The menu (in Mandarin and English) is also yours to take home as a lasting reminder of this restaurant train trip.
Served with lovely longan and chrysanthemum tea, we eagerly opened our pastel blue box of delights to discover a unique six course Taiwanese dessert carefully curated and created by the Michelin recognised Moon Baking Studio. The dessert dishes were:
- Pineapple and winter melon cake
- Osmanthus syrup and jasmine tea jelly
- Croissant with red wine poached plum filling
- Pork tenderloin, edamame, and pumpkin chicken broth puree
- Sanxing (Yilan) scallions and cream cheese sauce bun
- Mentaiko cod roe, nori powder.
Sea Breeze and more dessert
We devoured all our desserts and finished them just in time for our first stop, Dali Station.
Here, we had a few minutes to stretch our legs and fittingly, enjoy some actual sea breeze – Dali Station is just a few footsteps from the Taiwan coast and a great photo pitstop.
Back on board, we were treated to our final course, a pomegranate, raspberry and geranium sorbet from MINIMAL, the world’s only Michelin One Star ice-cream shop. The dessert spoon served with the sorbet is Haifeng branded and yours to keep as another culinary keepsake.
Better still, you don’t have to queue for a long time for this sublime sorbet like you do at the actual MINIMAL ice-cream store in Taichung – find out more in our Taichung guide >
We should also mention that Haifeng has a small dessert store on board where you can buy additional sweet treats to eat or save as souvenirs like canales.
The Haifeng scenic train is well air-conditioned but as we’d just returned from the Dali Station viewpoint on 32c day, we opted to have an ice-cold can of exclusive Haifeng sea salt lemon ale (5% ABV) – a collaboration with Taiwanese beer brewery Taihu.
Genuinely, this was one of the best fruity beers we have ever had – a great brew best served with a coastal view!
Guided walking tour
Our final and longest stop was at Toucheng Station, ready for a guided tour (included as part of your Haifeng booking).
Note that depending on which season / direction you ride, the walking tour locations differ. The Yilan to Taipei return route includes a walking tour of Houtong Cat Village.
As everyone leaves the train and assembles at the front of the station to go on the group guided walking tour, everyone is issued with a Bluetooth headset so you can hear the tour-guide.
We were taken on a short walk around Toucheng Old Street and a couple of temples. However, the commentary of the tour was all in Mandarin so we didn’t really know what was going on – but the tour guide did greet us in English and said to ask her if there were any questions.
Back on board, we had another top up of tea and we were on our way to our final destination, Yilan Station. You can also request to leave the train one stop earlier at Jiaoxi station if you are staying there or want to explore the town (which we highly recommend as it is a nice place).
Sea Breeze / Haifeng Dessert review and summary
One of Taiwan’s top railway journeys, the Haifeng dessert train 海風號 is delightful and delicious way to enjoy sea views and local brews, served with sublime sweet treats.
A luxury train trip in Taiwan like no other, the train has super stylish furnishings and a comfy and cute seating area. The guided tour and station stops are a nice way to breathe in that ‘Sea Breeze’ and stretch your legs.
The Haifeng books up quickly so plan your trip in advance and book here via KKDay – this is truly a breathtaking bucket list Taiwan activity and an amazing ‘sweet treat’ and cool coastal escape.
Haifeg Train – other things to know / practical information
- The train leaves promptly and on time so make sure you arrive at the allocated time to check in.
- There are two toilets on board the train, plus some at selected station stops.
- The journey is one way – so you may need to make your own way back to the departure station if you do not plan on staying. The journey lasts around 3 and a half hours including the walking tour.
- Most of the Haifeng announcements and signage are in Mandarin – some staff spoke a little English.
Found this Taiwan’s Dessert-themed Luxury Train article helpful?
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