When flying into Taiwan for the first time, the multitude of things going on might be rather overwhelming - immigration procedures, the signs that don't make sense, and a dozen tiny things that you don't really know how to handle. Yet, Taoyuan International Terminal is a good, well-organized place from which all you need is available to you, so that you can go to the city and start your trip with no troubles.
 
This article guides you towards the ideal steps you must take to avoid unnecessary airport delays, eliminate currency exchange markups, and transition seamlessly into your Taiwan itinerary. Here's exactly what to take care of in your first hour on the ground. 

Clear Immigration and Customs

Before approaching immigration counters, complete the electronic Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) online or submit your physical arrival card alongside your passport. Passport holders from eligible countries, including the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the UK, can use Taiwan’s automated e-Gates for 30-second immigration processing after initial enrollment.
 
After collecting checked baggage, proceed through the green customs channel if within standard duty-free allowances, or report directly to customs officers if carrying items exceeding the NT$35,000 duty-free limit or 1 liter of alcohol.

Get Connected (SIM, eSIM, and VPN)

The primary concerns upon arrival are setting up mobile connectivity and ensuring your online safety. Turn on a trustworthy VPN on your mobile device even before you land to access your online banking app, corporate sites, and overall apps
 
Regarding cellular data, companies like Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile have counters in the arrivals terminal and offer tourist SIM cards for as little as NT$300 for 5 days of unlimited 4G (NT$500 for 10 days). Alternatively, you can arrange an eSIM in advance or connect to the Airport_Free_Wi-Fi network that is available at no cost.

Exchange Currency or Withdraw Cash

Taipei shopping centers and hotels accept payment via well-known credit cards. However, cash is necessary for places like night markets, smaller restaurants, and local bus services. Instead of converting your money at foreign exchange offices that charge exorbitant commission fees (3 to 5%), withdraw New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) from ATMs at the airport operated by the Bank of Taiwan or Mega International Commercial Bank. Most foreign debit cards can be used like Visa or Cirrus and will incur only a minimal currency exchange markup as compared to other exchange options.

Arrange Transport Into the City

Reaching central Taipei from Taoyuan Airport is straightforward via three primary transit options:

• Airport MRT: The Express Train costs NT$160 ($5 USD) and reaches Taipei Main Station in 39 minutes.
• Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819: Operates 24/7 for NT$140, taking 55–60 minutes.
• Taxis & Rideshares: Cost NT$1,200–NT$1,500 with a 40–50 minute travel time directly to hotel doorsteps.

Grab Your Meal or Other Needs

Arrival halls of the airports have two different convenience stores that are available round the clock: FamilyMart and 7-Eleven. You may buy an EasyCard or an iPASS contactless smart card by depositing NT$100 and topping it up with NT$500 to enjoy the tap-and-go service across MRT lines, buses, and also at the registers of convenience stores.
 
Moreover, Aviation aficionados should not miss the Terminal 2 outdoor lookout, a great place to watch direct runway operations up close, as it is often called the alternative to the famous Airplane Alley of Taipei.

Save Key Local Apps and Contacts

• Download Essential Apps: Install the necessary apps that you need for travel right before you leave the airport terminal building.
• Navigation: Google Maps gives you exact, current schedules of the metro.
• Taxi Services: Rely on LINE Taxi and Uber for dependable transportation without any language problems.
• Hotel Address: Write out Traditional Chinese characters on your mobile phone to save your address in the accommodation. Displaying Chinese characters to taxi drivers means that you won't get lost.
• Emergency Contacts: Save emergency call numbers, such as Taiwan's Travel Service (0800-011-765) and the tourist emergency number, for quick access without delay.

Conclusion

If the prospect of arrival abroad scares you just a little, Taiwan could be one of the places that makes the landing and the first hours in the destination as painless as possible. In fact, by having your baggage and other matters attended to at the airport, you will be able to convert potentially a very stressful experience into an effortless one, and you can get on your way without delay.

When flying into Taiwan for the first time, the multitude of things going on might be rather overwhelming - immigration procedures, the signs that don't make sense, and a dozen tiny things that you don't really know how to handle. Yet, Taoyuan International Terminal is a good, well-organized place from which all you need is available to you, so that you can go to the city and start your trip with no troubles.
 
This article guides you towards the ideal steps you must take to avoid unnecessary airport delays, eliminate currency exchange markups, and transition seamlessly into your Taiwan itinerary. Here's exactly what to take care of in your first hour on the ground.

Scuba Diving

Longdong is widely regarded as the best diving destination in northern Taiwan, and it's easy to see why. Clear water, rich marine ecology, and natural rock formations that shelter the bay from rough seas combine to create ideal diving conditions almost year-round. Depths here range from around 5 meters to over 25 meters, giving both beginners and experienced divers plenty to explore, from colorful reef fish to healthy coral growth.

The primary diving season runs from May to September, when water temperatures are at their most comfortable; outside these months, the water can turn noticeably chillier, and strong winter swells can make conditions unsafe. Numerous dive centers operate directly out of Longdong Bay, offering everything from introductory dives to full certification courses, making it an easy add-on for travelers already planning a diving trip through Asia. Visibility can vary depending on recent weather and tides, but on a good day divers can expect to see schools of reef fish, nudibranchs, and a surprising variety of soft coral clinging to the rocky terrain below.
If Longdong sparks a bigger appetite for underwater exploration, nearby Indonesia is home to some of the richest marine biodiversity on the planet. Ready to dive among more colorful coral reefs? Plan an unforgettable 印尼水肺潜水 trip and explore vibrant marine life in tropical waters.
​
Rock Climbing

Beyond the water, Longdong is just as famous among climbers as it is among divers. The area is widely considered the best trad-climbing destination in Taiwan, and arguably one of the best in all of Asia. Sandstone crags rise directly from the Pacific Ocean, creating a dramatic backdrop unlike almost anywhere else in the region.

The climbing here suits a wide range of skill levels, with routes hovering around the 5.11 grade offering a sweet spot for intermediate climbers looking to push themselves, while newer climbers can find plenty of routes to build confidence on.

Most of the climbing at Longdong is traditional, meaning climbers place their own protective gear as they ascend rather than clipping into pre-placed bolts, which makes it a rewarding destination for those looking to sharpen their trad skills. Spring and fall tend to be the most comfortable seasons to climb, since summer heat can make the exposed rock faces uncomfortably hot. Because Longdong is a seaside crag, corrosion of bolts and anchors is a genuine safety concern, so climbers should inspect gear carefully or hire a local guide if visiting for the first time.

Snorkeling

Not every visitor to Longdong comes equipped with scuba gear, cause the bay's shallow, sheltered waters make it an excellent spot for snorkeling too. Calm conditions near the shore allow swimmers of all experience levels to peer beneath the surface and spot fish darting between rocks and coral without needing formal certification. The rocky outcrops that make the bay so photogenic above water also create sheltered pockets below the surface, giving marine life plenty of places to hide and explore.

Guided snorkeling experiences are widely available, often combining a walk along the bay's rock formations with time in the water, making it an accessible option for families or travelers short on time. Many tours also include a visit to a nearby diving platform along the way, so even non-divers get a glimpse of the more adventurous side of Longdong. As with diving, conditions are best from late spring through early autumn, when the water is warmer and visibility tends to be at its clearest.

Freediving

Freediving has grown rapidly in popularity across Taiwan in recent years, and Longdong has become one of the top spots to practice it in the north of the country. The bay's depth range and clear water make it well-suited to breath-hold diving, whether you're training for deeper dives or simply enjoying the meditative rhythm of freediving in a scenic setting. The relatively sheltered geography of the bay also helps reduce current and swell compared to more exposed stretches of coastline nearby, making it a more forgiving environment for those still building confidence in open water.

Local dive shops around Longdong frequently offer freediving equipment rental and organize group sessions, making it easy to connect with a buddy even if you're traveling solo. As with any freediving activity, it's essential to dive with a partner and never alone, given the currents and depth changes that can occur even in a relatively sheltered bay like this one.

Cliff Climbing

Closely related to traditional rock climbing but worth calling out on its own, cliff climbing and cliff jumping are a major draw for adventurous visitors to Longdong. The bay's natural rock formations create numerous ledges and platforms at varying heights, popular with both climbers scaling the rock and thrill-seekers looking to jump into the water below. On a busy weekend, it's common to see a steady stream of visitors taking turns leaping from the more popular platforms while others cheer them on from the rocks.

While cliff jumping can be exhilarating, it's worth approaching with caution. The water depth and underwater rock formations can vary significantly across the bay, and conditions that look calm on the surface can hide strong currents underneath. Locals and experienced visitors are the best source of guidance on which spots are safe to jump from and at what tide levels, and it's always worth watching a few other people jump before trying a new spot yourself.

Explore Longdong Bay

Longdong Bay itself is the heart of the entire area, and simply wandering along its coastline is worth the trip on its own. Formed by geological movement roughly 35 million years ago, the bay's coastline is said to resemble the body of a giant dragon crouching along the shore, complete with a large sea cave carved into the base of its steep cliffs.

The bay's distinctive sandstone formations, including mushroom-shaped rocks, honeycombed textures, and even visible marine fossils, make it a fascinating destination for anyone interested in geology, not just water sports. A growing number of cafes, hostels, and tour operators have popped up around the bay in recent years, making it increasingly comfortable to spend a full day, or even a weekend, exploring the area at a relaxed pace. Even visitors with no intention of diving, climbing, or swimming will find plenty to appreciate simply strolling along the shoreline and taking in the scale of the cliffs.

Visit Longdong Cape Trail

For a different perspective on the bay, the Longdong Cape Trail offers a scenic coastal walking path along the clifftops above the water. The trail winds along the promontory, giving hikers sweeping views over the bay, the surrounding cliffs, and the Pacific Ocean stretching out beyond.

It's a relatively easy and accessible walk compared to the technical climbing routes below, making it a great option for visitors traveling with family or anyone who wants to take in Longdong's dramatic scenery without getting in the water. Many visitors combine the cape trail with a stop at the diving platform along the way, watching climbers and divers in action from above before heading back down to the bay.

Final Thoughts

From world-class rock climbing to some of the best diving in northern Taiwan, Longdong offers an unusually dense concentration of outdoor adventure for such a compact stretch of coastline. Whether you spend your day underwater exploring reefs, scaling sandstone cliffs, or simply walking the cape trail and soaking in the views, this dragon-shaped bay rewards visitors willing to venture slightly off Taipei's beaten path.

Because so many activities are packed into one relatively small area. You could realistically snorkel in the morning, hike the cape trail after lunch, and watch the sunset from the cliffs before heading back to the city. Pack good shoes, sun protection, and a sense of adventure, and Longdong will not disappoint.
​
For divers who fall in love with the underwater world at Longdong, it might just be the beginning of a much bigger journey. Ready to take your diving to a professional level? Earn an internationally recognized certification with a quality 印尼 PADI 课程 in a tropical paradise, and kickstart your own underwater adventure.

Background:
History:
Orchid Island became inhabited about 800 years ago by the Tao indigenous people (達悟族) (aka Yami people 雅美族, which is a name coined by the Japanese, but the native people prefer Tao), which are thought to have traveled from the Batanes Islands in the Philippines, which are a little less than 200 KM away, cut off by the Bashi Channel. However, Orchid Island is very different than the Philippines.
Beginning in 1644, some Dutch Sailors were sent to investigate the island, and some settled there among the natives. Because of this, the Island was known as Red Head Island (紅頭嶼) by the Chinese and the Japanese.
After the Dutch were defeated in Taiwan, Lanyu was claimed but not controlled by the Qing Dynasty.
The Japanese claimed the Island shortly after the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, but protected it as an "ethnological research site" and forbid outsiders from entering.
After the Republic of China took over Taiwan following the end of WWII, they continued to ban visitors to the island until 1967, after which tourists were allowed to enter and public schools were built there.
​Christian missionaries began preaching and living on the island starting in the 1950s, and now basically all native people on the island are Christian (mixed with traditional beliefs). However Christianity was introduced much earlier starting with the Dutch in the 1600s although to a lesser extent. 
In 1982 a nuclear waste storage plant was built on the south side of the Island without the islanders' consent, causing protests from the inhabitants. Also because of this, the Island inhabitants receive free electricity.
The island is volcanic in nature, with the last major eruption being over 5 million years ago. The highest mountain is 552 meters (1,811 feet).
Currently there are 2,400 people permanently living on the island, 90% of them being of native Tao descent. 
Tao Culture:
The Tao people number about 2,000 living on Orchid Island, with about another 2,000 living on the Taiwan mainland. The Tao people rely on the sea for survival, and much of their traditions and lifestyle are centered on fishing. 
The Tao people are mostly Christian but also still practice many of their traditional beliefs. However their ancestral religion included a pantheon of Gods. 
Traditional roles for men are fishing while roles for women include harvesting taro and sweet potato and weaving. The men usually fish at night or early morning and rest on traditional wooden platforms during the day.
Boats are made from planks of wood and are painted red, white, and black. The boat usually has human figures, waves, and the traditional sun image (red and black circles and sun rays) which is said to warn off evil spirits. Boats are considered sacred and the ultimate human creation. There is also a launching ceremony for new boats in which traditional clothes and headgear (such as silver helmets for men and wooden hats for women) are worn, pigs are slaughtered, and the boat is lifted into the air multiple times before being set in the water. Traditional clothes include loin cloths and vests for men, and aprons and vests for women. Young people on the street usually do not wear traditional dress.
Flying Fish Festival:
There are three basic seasons on Lanyu: one is the flying fish season when flying fish can be easily caught and used and lasts from February to May. The other seasons are from May to October and October to February, when flying fish cannot be caught for ceremonial use. There are many taboos during flying fish season which are discussed below. 
The Flying Fish Festival lasts from about March to October when flying fish are caught. During this time many ceremonies take place such as for the beginning of the festival, plentiful harvest, etc. During the festival, there are multiple migrations of flying fish species near Lanyu. There are many taboos during this time, especially when it comes to catching and eating flying fish which are the main life source of the Tao people. 

Weather and Climate:
The island has a tropical rainforest climate, with average high temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees year round. The rainy months are in summer, especially due to Typhoons, but the most sunny days are also in summer (expect a lot of sun), and the most rainy days are in winter. Summer is the tourist season, but spring and fall are also popular times to visit. Winters are said to be dreary, cold, and have constant northeastern winds that can stop airplanes and ferries from departing to the island.

When to go:
The best time to go they say is around May when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons which can cancel your transportation to the island.
​Typhoon season lasts from around June to October. The busy season is during summer break from June to August, during which time it can be hard to book a hostel or airplane ticket. Winter is the less crowded season, but the water will be cold, there will be constant wind (which could cancel transportation), and it will rain more often. 

Taboos:
General Taboos:

• Do not take pictures of or enter any of the underground houses without permission.
• Do not use any of the resting pavilions without permission, and if you are given permission take off your shoes before entering.
• Do not visit schools when they are in session.
• Do not speak loudly or shout while inside the villages.
• When villagers are performing traditional rituals, watch from a distance and keep quiet.
• Do not touch or enter into traditional canoes
• Do not disturb the ecology or habitat when snorkeling, hiking, etc.
• Do not bring any plants or animal parts with you when you leave Lanyu.

Flying Fish Season Taboos (February to June):

• Do not take photos or get near the fisherman or catch when they are coming ashore
• Do not touch or get into canoes to take photos.
• Women should keep away from canoes due to traditional beliefs.
• Do not bring oranges to beaches or harbors or give oranges as gifts, as this is believed to be a curse.
• Do not ask the fisherman what they are doing, this is thought to bring them bad luck for their catch.
• Do not try to fish without asking locals the proper time and place to do so.
• Avoid swimming and snorkeling in or near traditional fishing harbors. Always ask your hostel owner or other locals where it is okay to swim and snorkel.
• Do not fish for flying fish especially using nets or motorboats
• Do not harm or remove coral

Basic Courtesy:

• Know the taboos above before coming to Lanyu.
• Do not photograph local people or things without permission.
• Come to Lanyu with an open mind, and try to understand and sympathize with the people’s culture and way of life.

How to get there:
By Plane:
You can book discount air tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here. 
The only planes to and from Orchid Island come from Taitung.
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day by Daily Air Corporation from about 8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Lanyu takes about 25 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be  cancelled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. 
Costs: NT 1428 to Lanyu and NT 1360 from Lanyu.
You can purchase plane tickets through a tour agency such as Klook or a similar website.
 
By Boat:
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Lanyu: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港） in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). There are also two ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the same time for the same price (2300 NT per person round trip/1150 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
2300 NT per person round trip (1150 NT per single trip)from both Taitung and Pingtung. Both ferry companies have the same price.
Ferry Boat Times:
7:30/7:00 AM departure, 9:30 AM arrival to Lanyu.
12:00/12:30 PM departure, 3:00 PM arrival to Lanyu.
9:30 AM departure from Lanyu, 11:30 arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
3:00 PM  departure from Lanyu, 5:00 PM arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
Both ferry companies depart and arrive at the same time to both locations. 
You can purchase ferryboat tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 
​
​Check out our full Lanyu ferry guide here.

Getting around the island:
Rent a scooter! The island is small so you should not need to rent a car. You can rent bicycles but you will not be able to travel as fast. You can also hire a driver to take you on tours.
Ask your hostel for more rental information. They can help you book a rental in advance.

Tours:
You can book multiple tours and activities such as a Tribal Tour, Underground House Tour, day hiking, night hiking, snorkeling, scuba Diving, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, and Freediving. You can search for more tours through Klook here or KKday here. 

Scooter Rental:
Price: expect 500 NT per day.
​You can book a scooter through Klook here or KKday here. ​
Be sure to book your rental in advance, especially during summer weekends. Ask for help from your hostel owner if needed.
I am 100% percent certain you do not need a Taiwan local license to rent scooters here, however they may ask for an international license (but I'm fairly sure they will let you rent without one).
Helmet wearing is not enforced at all as you will quickly find, but it's still the law.
Also be careful to not hit any goats because they wander as they please.
There is only one gas station next to Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor.

Car Rental:
Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
You can rent a car for Lanyu on KKday here. 

Bicycle Rental:
Price: Bike rental is about 400 NT per day.
You can rent a bike for Lanyu on KKday here. 

Accommodation:
Booking accommodation on the island can be difficult in summer months and on weekends, when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance.
There is a nice selection of rooms on Agoda.
Here is a list of every registered hostel on the island, but it is in Chinese.
​My hostel required that I pay for my room in advance via bank wire transfer (this may not be an option if you are a foreign traveler, so make sure they accept credit cards if you do not have a Taiwan bank account).
Expect to pay 2000 - 4000 NT per night for a standard double room on Lanyu. 

You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

Map:
​Please see below:

In this blog we will cover the following things:
​

• Houbihu Harbor 後壁湖漁港
• Iratay Village (魚人部落 Yuren Village)
• Lanyu Cultural Museum 蘭嶼文物舘
• Yayo Village (Yeyou Village 椰油部落)
• Mantou Rock 饅頭岩
• Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor 開元漁港
• 7-Eleven
• Lanyu Lighthouse 蘭嶼燈塔
• Hongtou Rock (Jyakmey sawasawalan 像水渠一樣，紅頭岩)
• Crocodile Rock (Ji-macinger 鱷魚岩)
• Tank Rock 坦克岩
• Spread Out Rock （Jipaneytayan , 攤開岩） 
• Jikarahem Caves 很深之意 (五孔洞，Five Caves)
• Iraraley Village （郎島部落)
• Jade Woman Rock (Jimavonot 玉女岩)
• Traditional Tao Canoes 傳統達悟獨木舟
• Double Lion Rock (Jipanatosan 雙獅岩)
• Warship Rock ​軍艦岩
• Iranmeylek Village (Dongqing Village 東清部落)
• Ghost's Cave ​蘭嶼鬼洞
• Nipple Hill Hike 乳頭山步道
• Lover's Cave 情人洞
• Iranmeylek Secret Snorkeling Spot (東清秘境)
• Iranmeylek Night Market 東清夜市
• Iralino Village (Yeyin Village 野銀部落)
• Iron Helmet Rock 鋼盔岩
• Elephant Rock 象鼻岩
• Lesser Orchid Island 小蘭嶼
• Moon Rise 月出
• Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility 核廢料存放場
• Dragon Head Rock 龍頭岩
• Green Green Grassland (Ja-langoina 青青草原)
• Imorod Village (Hongtou Village 紅頭部落)
• Lanyu Weather Station 蘭嶼氣象站
• Screw Pine Juice 露兜果汁
• Flying Fish Rice Wrap 飛魚飯糰
• Gift Shops 紀念品店

​Our Journey:

I have been to Lanyu once in May of 2019, during the flying fish festival. Some say that Lanyu is more like the Philippines than Taiwan (it could well have been claimed a Philippine Island) but having been to both places I can tell you that it is much more like Taiwan (even though it is so different than the Taiwan mainland). 
​
Okay, let's begin!

Houbihu Harbor 後壁湖漁港

We decided to take the ferry from Kenting (technically Hengchun, Houbihu Harbor) because we knew the flights to Taitung would be hard to book and might be cancelled, and because we had just recently vacationed to Taitung and I wanted to go back to Kenting. After three days in Kenting, we decided it would be okay to do an overnight trip to Orchid Island. We departed on the 1:00 PM boat. The dock was hard to find, but eventually a lady told us to go to the yellow building on the west end of the harbor. We had booked our tickets online and already paid half. 
You can purchase ferryboat a tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. ​

We were told there would be parking at the dock, but it was scarce. We ended up driving through a huge crowd of people and parking on the side of the road. 

The boat ride was long and there was no TV. Our hostel owner told us to bring a coat because it would be cold on the boat. That was a complete lie; it was freaking hot (mid May) and to make things worse there was some wind which meant huge waves. My daughter barfed within half an hour and after two hours we all felt sick. Some of her bard unfortunately got stuck on the seat which I don't know whether or not it will ever come out. After that I tried to take her on deck (where we saw the first sign of Lanyu above) but it was even more hot outside. 

From the boat we could see the other ferry that left from Kenting at the same time as us, the Gold Star No. 3 (金星三號). Maybe that boat would have been more comfortable? We may never know. 

As Lanyu approached, hope filled our hearts. 

As you can see there are barf bags at the ready in the cabin, but we were too late with my daughter who can't speak and therefore could not give us a warning before she hawked all over the seat. Some people brought pieces of garlic to smell which I guess helps with motion sickness. 

We were anxious to get off the boat. There is room for you to store your luggage at the back of the boat. Then after getting your luggage you have to walk on a boardwalk to get to shore. 

Our hostel owner was waiting for us in a van at the dock, along with about 20 other hostel owners. We had to wait for the crowds to clear before we could move. 

Our hostel owner was a middle aged woman who looked Taiwanese, but she said she was native Tao, and that her grandmother (or great grandmother) was half Dutch so her family looked a little more foreign. That means I guess that some Dutch sailor came and settled on Orchid Island over 200 years ago. 

She told us that there is an elementary school with a view of the ocean in Iratay Village (Yuren Village 魚人部落). Also I noticed that no one was wearing helmets while driving a scooter. She said that this is common but if you get in an accident you will get a ticket. Also I noticed about only half the cars had license plates. This is because the people didn't want to pay for extra taxes on their vehicle (I pay 20,000 NT (600 USD) a year for taxes on my car in Taiwan). It seemed that the law did not quite apply here like it does in Taiwan. 

Our hostel overlooked the ocean and was in a great location in Imorod (Hongtou Village 紅頭部落, meaning "Red Head Village" as a slur to the Dutch on the island, fitting as the owner said her great grandfather was Dutch). 
We rented a scooter from our hostel.
​You can book a scooter through Klook here or KKday here. ​

The room was okay and the A/C worked, but before we could leave to explore the island while there was still sunlight, we had to have the talk over from the hostel owner. 
​There is a nice selection of rooms on Agoda.

The hostel owner gave us some pamphlets and a map, and showed us some pictures introducing their hostel. 

They offered us snorkeling tours (600 NT), traditional all you can eat barbeque (1000 NT), night hike (600 NT), canoeing (600 NT), flying fish fishing (600 NT), renting out a boat to go fishing (2000 NT), hiking to Big Tianchi Lake 大天池 (600 NT), Underground House Tour 地下屋解說 (300 NT), scuba diving 潛水 (2500 NT), scooter rental (500 NT), and tribal tour  (250 NT). She took quite a lot of time explaining these activities, which is understandable because they want to make money. However we did not have time to do these things and with our 2 year old water activities were pretty much out of the question.  ​

​I also recall that she told us to ride slow on the scooter because of potholes and because goats wander on the roads and you might hit one, which you will have to pay for. Also she told us to not take pictures of the underground houses because the elderly people that still live there like to take off their clothes and chill in the houses naked. She also said we could take pictures of canoes but not touch them. Also she said snorkeling and swimming was still allowed during flying fish season. 

She also lent us a map of the island, which she said is only printed once a year and only 40 copies are given to the whole island. The map says:
"Maybe Lanyu is part of Taiwan, but there is a different culture and way of thinking on this island.
Maybe those taboos that you think are silly are a tribe's beliefs and traditions held over hundreds of years.
Maybe Lanyu is not only a tourist paradise, but more it is the home of generations of people."

The map has the main sights in the six villages on the Island: Yayo, Iraralay, Iranmadgo, Iratay, Imorod, and Ivaolino Villages. 

Iratay Village (魚人部落 Yuren Village)

Finally after the indoctrination was over, we got on our scooter and rode north to Iratay Village, our first stop. Iratay means "flat and open place." Because of this, the Japanese chose this village as the place to build the Island's only airstrip. The town is also home to the island's only power plant and to the Lanyu Cultural Museum. The village is technically grouped with Imorod Village for government administration purposes; the total population of the two villages was 1,467 as of 2018.  

You can book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  

Lanyu Cultural Museum 蘭嶼文物舘

The first place we went to was the Lanyu Cultural Museum that shows a complete view of Tao Tribal culture. It closes at 5 PM. We also learned quickly that you have to pay 100 NT to go inside. 

From the outside you can see some traditional resting pavilions. 

Also there is an underground house there which I had permission to take a picture of.
For a full view of the cultural village, check out this blog.  

It was already 4 PM and the sun was going down, so we had to be on our way to see the rest of the Island. 

The airport is also in Irafay. There were no planes that day, all cancelled due to high winds. The winds weren't even that bad. So, just so you know the planes will be cancelled way more easily than boats. 

​Yayo Village (Yeyou Village 椰油部落)

Next we pressed on to Yayo Village. This is the most developed and populous village on the island, partly due to its proximity to Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor, the major port on the island (where the only ferry boats come). The village is also home to the most agricultural activity. Approximately 30% of the island's 1,197 inhabitants are Han Chinese, the largest percentage of non-Tao people living on the island. Most of the village is made with concrete structures, with traditional underground houses being almost nonexistent. The village also features the island's only large hotel, and one of only two 7-11s. Other sites near the village are Mantou Rock and the old and new Lanyu Lighthouses. 

Soon we saw what the hostel owner was talking about. Goats were everywhere, and it looked like they could have pooped on us from their perch above the road. 

Mantou Rock 饅頭岩

Next we saw a view of Mantou Rock, a large rock that looks like mantou bread sitting on the shoreline. It is a popular spot to watch and take photos of the sunset.

Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor 開元漁港

Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor is the main fishing harbor on the island. Near the harbor you can also walk to the old lighthouse (pictured above) which is kind of small. But during a long wait for a boat ride back, it is a nice place to relax. The harbor also has mostly motorized boats and I only saw one traditional canoe here. I guess there are quite a few Taiwanese Han fisherman who live here also. 

7-Eleven

The village also has one of the only two 7-11s on Lanyu.

The 7-11 had no ATM, and there was a huge line for what I guess is one of the few public bathrooms on the island. 

The food and stuff inside the 7-11 was just like any 7-11 on the Taiwanese Mainland. The prices were the same too. 

Lanyu Lighthouse 蘭嶼燈塔

The New Lanyu Lighthouse is built on a hill near Yayo Village. It was completed in 1982, replacing the old Lanyu Lighthouse. It is a popular spot for watching the sea and the sunset. 

A small road going up the mountain side. 

​Hongtou Rock (Jyakmey sawasawalan 像水渠一樣，紅頭岩)

There is a tunnel on the very eastern part of the island which you have to pass through to round the island. It has many names, but I am calling it Hongtou Rock. In Chinese it's nicknamed "Looks like a Water Tunnel." Anyway, it is a popular spot for photos and instagrams. 

View looking back and Yayo Village. 

Another view through Hongtou Rock. Be sure to slow down here if you are driving because there are sure to be people standing in the middle of the road taking a photo. 

View of the ocean on the other side of the tunnel. 

Interesting rock formations near Hongtou Rock. 

Goats grazing by the roadside. 

Crocodile Rock (Ji-macinger 鱷魚岩)

The north side of the island is full of interesting looking rock formations. One of the first ones you will come across is Crocodile Rock pictured above. I guess with the right angle it can look like a crocodile with its mouth open. 

This rock was made from volcanic rock withered away by erosion, and looks like it has crocodile skin, and looks like a crocodile with its mouth open, hence the name.

Cliffs on the north coast of the island. 

Tank Rock 坦克岩

Another interesting rock is "Tank Rock" which I guess also looks like an army tank. 

​Spread Out Rock （Jipaneytayan , 攤開岩） 

Here is Spread Out Rock. There is a legend that a Filipino man married one of the island's girls and set out to the Philippines, but the boat tipped over. So they laid out their possessions near these rocks to dry. 

Jikarahem Caves 很深之意 (五孔洞，Five Caves)

There are a series of sea caves on the north coast. There are quite a few caves along here (at least 5), some with religious significance. In the early days, some of the caves were used for relaxation while others were used for wrestling to settle disputes. 

Entrance to the largest cave. 

Cave ceiling. 

There is also a cross in here. These caves are also used sometimes for Christian worship service. 

View looking towards the sea. 

In the second cave we saw, there was a man selling food in from a van. 

The next cave is marked as "Lanyu District Prayer Camp."

This cave is closed of for christian worship, I guess for prayer but it looks like they also have services here. 

Iraraley Village （郎島部落)

Iraralay (Iraraley) Village is said to be the most friendly village on the island. It is also the largest village on Lanyu by area, however it is the smallest by population with only 943 people living there, 91% of which are Tao indigenous people.
Iraralay means "Irara Island" which is one of the Tao names for Orchid Island. 
It is said in this village, one Christian Missionary Father participated in the traditional Flying Fish opening ceremony, which helped to normalize relations between the traditional Tao religion and the Christian believers. Now the religions are largely mixed together. 
The village is separated into the traditional bottom half which features traditional underground houses with mostly elderly people and also a modern top half with cement houses that house younger generations. Near the village is a large concentration of coastal rocks and geological formations. 

Jade Woman Rock (Jimavonot 玉女岩)

According to local legend, a certain child always told her parents to stop fighting. One day when they wouldn't stop fighting, she stopped by the roadside and would not stop crying until she turned into stone. Then she became Jade Woman Rock. However to Taiwanese people the rock looks like something more like the private parts of a married couple, which I don't need to explain further. 

The road into central Iraraley. 

The welcome sign next to Iraraley Harbor, which has one of the biggest fishing harbors on the island. 

Quite a few traditional canoes parked on the shore of a small bay.

Traditional Tao Canoes 傳統達悟獨木舟

Closeup on a traditional Tao canoe. Notice the circular symbol on the bow that represents the sun and its rays, which is said to ward off evil spirits. You will see this symbol all over the island. Also there is a painting of waves. Most boats are painted in red, white, and black and can hold 4-10 people depending on the size.
It gets really hot during the day especially in summer when there is more sun, so most fishing is done at night and the men wear minimal clothing. 

My hostel owner told me that everyone who stays on Lanyu long enough get a really dark tan because of the sun. Because of this tan they do not need any sunscreen. 

Double Lion Rock (Jipanatosan 雙獅岩)

Past Iraraley Village, there are two rocks that look like resting lions on the shore, hence the name Double Lion Rock. 

Warship Rock ​軍艦岩

Just beyond Double Lion Rock there is a small rocky island called Warship Rock. 

Iranmeylek Village (Dongqing Village 東清部落)

Iranmeylek Villlage lies on the easternmost part of the island, which means it is the first place in Taiwan to see the sunrise. The village is home to some of the best snorkeling on the island and also to Lover's cave, a large volcanic arch carved out by the sea. It also has one of the only two 7-11's on the island and the island's only night market. The village also administers to Ivalino Village (Yeyin Village 野銀部落), and combined they have a population of 1,550 people.  

First glimpse of the sea cliffs neat Lover's Cave. 

What appears to be the remnants of an abandoned ROC military base on the outskirts of Iranmeylek Village. 

What is most likely the remnants of an abandoned ROC bunker. 

When the ROC first occupied Taiwan they also sent soldiers to Lanyu. The soldiers were sometimes rude and bullied the locals who could not speak Mandarin and still practiced their native culture. Now most young people can speak Mandarin as they have been through Taiwan's school system.

Welcome sign to Iranmeylek near Lover's Cave. 

Ghost's Cave ​蘭嶼鬼洞

Near the entrance to lover's cave is a tunnel that goes through the mountain. I first thought it could have been an ROC air raid shelter, but acutally was an early road connecting the villages. Many passerby's think that it is "Lover's Cave," so it has been also named "Fake Lover's Cave."

The entrance to the cave. I saw a very large scorpion looking bug crawling into it so I did not advance any further. 

Nipple Hill Hike 乳頭山步道

Right across from Ghost's Cave (looking out from the entrance of the cave above) you can find the Nipple Hill Trail, which gives you some great views of the area. 

The trail is officially closed during Typhoon season from June to October. Obviously you can see why; the trail is quite dangerous and has seen better days. 

View of Iranmeylek Village from above. 

View to the northwest overlooking the abandoned ROC compound. 

View of the rocks around Lover's Cave from above. 

View of Warship Rock. 

At this point I didn't know if I was walking on goat trail or human trail. This is the only real hike I did in Lanyu. Without risking falling off a cliff, I walked back the way I came from here. 

Small viewing post at the top of the hill. 

View of Iranmeylek Bay from the road. This is where you need to pull over and take the 10 minute walk down to Lover's Cave.  This cave is probably the coolest and most grand rock formation on the island, a must see. 

 Lover's Cave 情人洞

This is what the entrance to Lover's Cave looks like. No scooters allowed beyond this point.

The trail down to Lover's Cave is well-paved and easy to walk down. 

First view of the cave. There is a resting pavilion out front. If you are really cool you can come here at sunrise and take a photo of the sun coming through the cave. 

Check out our drone footage of the cave and the surrounding area above! And don't forget to subscribe to us on Youtube.  

The trail abruptly ends and you have to walk on some uneven rocks. 

The volcanic rock formations in front of the cave. 

Lover's Cave, which looks like a person's head. 

Waves crashing into the cave. 

Another view of the cave. 

A small puddle in front of the cave. 

View of the cave via drone. 

Iranmeylek Secret Snorkeling Spot (東清秘境)

One of the best places for snorkeling on the island, or in Taiwan, or anywhere in the world for that matter is on the shoreline between Lover's Cave and the main village. 

As you can see below there is a path to the snorkeling spot from someone's property, so you may need to hire a guide to get there. 

A group of people getting back from snorkeling. There are quite a few holes and swimming spots along the shoreline. 

As seen from above, the water is a beautiful clear blue color, perfect for snorkeling or diving. 

The main street of the village is especially busy close to dusk when the night market is about to start. 

Locals and tourists sit next to the traditional boats. 

Children watching tourists take pictures of the boats. 

Flying fish hanging up to dry. 

People resting on traditional pavilions off the main road. 

One of only two 7-11s on the island. 

Flying fish for sale: one for 100 NT. 

Iranmeylek Night Market 東清夜市

Fried wine chicken stall. 

Right about dusk, people start to clamor in from all around. 

I am not sure if most of the people there are tourists or not, but there were a ton of people there. 

View of the main street at night. 

If you are hungry at night in Lanyu, coming to the Iranmeylek Night Market is a no brainer. 

Fried chicken and drink stand in front of the 7-11. 

Iralino Village (Yeyin Village 野銀部落)

Ivanlino Village is also separated into the traditional underground house part of town and the new cement house neighborhood. It is said that Ivanlino has the best preserved Tao culture of any part of the island. Also near the village are the cold springs that flow directly into the ocean. 

This is the beach at Dongqing Bay between the two villages. This would be the nicest beach in Lanyu if it weren't for the pile of garbage on the lower left. I could have easily cropped it out of the photo, but I am giving you the full, raw Lanyu here. Garbage is a problem for the islanders because space is limited, and tourists always come with new garbage. If every tourist took all the garbage off the island that they brought with them, then perhaps we wouldn't have to see this sight. 

View to the north of the Dongqing River. 

Taro fields and goats living in harmony in Ivalino Village. 

Another view of the growing taro. 

Ivalino Village welcome sign, right next to the local garbage dump. Tourists are forbidden from dumping here, take your garbage home with you, make Lanyu better than you found it. Pack it in, pack it out!

View of the modern side of Ivaino village. To the right is the older side with sunken houses, not pictured. 

Mother pig sleeping and piglets walking on the main street. 

Not far from the main village are the Ivalino Cold Springs (Yeyin Cold Springs 野銀冷泉) which are some of the only cold springs in the world that come from under the ocean. 

Due to limited time and coming with a toddler, we did not partake in any bathing or water sports on this trip. For more information on the cold springs you can check out Nick Kembel's blog here. 

Iron Helmet Rock 鋼盔岩

I bet you can't guess why this is called Iron Helmet Rock. Funny thing is that the Tao people used the silver that westerners traded with them to make helmets, which they made by beating the silver coins into strips. I am not sure if any of these helmets are on display on the island. 

Elephant Rock 象鼻岩

Another rock along the southeast side of the island is Elephant Rock, not to be confused with the Rock with the same name in Shenao, New Taipei. You can see the head and trunk on the right side of the rock. 

Lesser Orchid Island 小蘭嶼

From here you can also see Lesser Orchid Island, an uninhabited island that has some of the last remaining indigenous orchids, which are highly endangered. Back in the day, the orchids on Orchid Island were nearly picked to extinction. 

Moon Rise 月出

Also I saw a moon rise over the ocean here for the first time in my life, which was pretty cool. 

View of the mountains on the southeast coast. 

Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility 核廢料存放場

No one lives on the southeast coast, so the Taiwan government had the bright idea of putting the country's nuclear waste storage facility there in 1982 without the islanders' consent, causing protests from the inhabitants. Also because of this, the Island inhabitants receive free electricity.

Dragon Head Rock 龍頭岩

Near the waste storage facility is Dragon Head Rock, which looks pretty cool. Almost as if the lava cooled just yesterday. 

Past Dragon Head Rock is a small harbor from which they bring in the nuclear waste. 

Green Green Grassland (Ja-langoina 青青草原)

Green Green Grassland lies on the south side of the Island, and is one of the most wide and open areas on the island. It was once a coral reef that has been uplifted, and now tall grass grows here year round. Our Hostel Owner told us that there is a poisonous bug here that if you are stung, you will need to go back to the Taiwan mainland. So she told us not to sit in the grass. 

First view of the grassland from the trail. 

View to the south. I am not sure what this platform was used for, perhaps for artillery. 

The stone path winds slowly up the hills. 

Another view to the south. 

View of lesser Lanyu from the grasslands. 

A popular activity in the evening is to watch the sunset from the top of the hill. As you can see, it can get quite crowded. 

Sunset as seen from the grasslands. 

Imorod Village (Hongtou Village 紅頭部落)

Finally we have come full circle to the last village, where we started. Imorod is the government center of the island, with the only post office (and only ATM) and hospital located here. There are also a large number of Han Chinese that live here, with 20% of the population being non-Tao people. The town officially covers everything from the nuclear waste plant to the weather station to the airport. It also administers to Iratay Village (漁人部落); the total population of the two villages was 1,467 as of 2018.  

View of Green Green Grasslands from central Imorod Village.

A shrine to Chiang Kai-shek, freshly painted. Native peoples in Taiwan are very pro-KMT. 

The island's only government administrative center. 

Lanyu Weather Station 蘭嶼氣象站

Just behind the government administration building is the road up to the Lanyu Weather Station, which has some of the best views of the island. The turnoff has a white sign warning you not to ride a scooter up the hill, and to start walking. But if you have a powerful scooter, ignore these signs and just ride up. It will save you 40 minutes of walking. 

You might have noticed that this blog is out of order chronologically. We spent less than 24 hours on Lanyu, and I decided I needed to see the sunrise to get the most out of this trip. I woke up at 5:30 to ride up the mountain to the weather station, but I was a few minutes late. My scooter had trouble carrying two adults up the mountain, so if possible make sure you have a 150cc or above scooter. 

View of the sun rising over Lanyu; I just missed the sun come up. 

The earliest sunrise in Taiwan, and one of the earliest sunrises in the world. 

There is quite a walk from the main road to the weather station, so if possible you should ride your scooter up. 

The weather station has three main buildings, one abandoned, one used for weather measurements, and the other looks like a dormitory for the employees. 

View looking down from the top of the station. 

There is scooter parking at the top!

Panorama of the northeast side of the island, with a picnic table at the top of the weather station. I imagine on new years day this place is packed. 

Another view of the sunrise viewing area. 

In the grass you can see the eye of the boat pattern, which is painted on all of the Tao boats. It has concentric circles with rays of the sun, which is said to ward off evil spirits (to me it looks similar to a Native American dream catcher). 

Weather tracking instruments. 

The main weather building. 

Just behind the main weather building is the old shell of a building built by the Japanese in 1940, which was the first built in Lanyu. It is the original weather station. The other buildings were built by the ROC before 1971.

The original Japanese Era weather station. 

A look inside the old Japanese Weather Station. 

Signs inside the building indicating this is a historical building, which means it can't be torn down. However that does not mean the weather bureau needs to keep it well kept. 

A traditional resting platform on the other side of the weather station. 

View to the north from the weather station. 

Another view of the sunrise as I walked down. 

View of the northeast side of the island. 

Soon enough I was back in Imorod village. You will notice many cars do not have license plates. This is so the people don't have to pay fuel tax on their cars. Not all laws apply to Lanyu I guess. 

The main street in Imorod has a police station, post office, and hospital, along with some gift shops. The post office has the only ATM on the island.  

After seeing the sunrise, I was ready for some breakfast. To my surprise, breakfast prices are 2-3 times more expensive than the Taiwanese mainland. I was wondering if this only applies to non-Tao people but apparently not? Who knows if there is a secret menu for locals. 

I didn't mind paying more because after all these people were forced into tourism by the government so the least I can do is help them out monetarily for the privilege of seeing their beautiful island. 

​Screw Pine Juice 露兜果汁

A popular drink here is Screw Pine or Pandanus (露兜) fruit juice which looks like an overgrown pineapple. Apparently it is really nutritious. I have only ever seen it here and in the Philippines. 

A sign showing the health effects of screw pine fruit juice, such as lowering blood pressure, having  xanthopyll, carotene, vitamin B, and fiber. 

Flying Fish Rice Wrap 飛魚飯糰

The flying fish rice wrap was pretty good. Even though it was 80 NT (the price of a full meal in Taipei), it was a special experience that I will cherish forever. The meat was savory and delicious. 

Gift Shops 紀念品店

There are a few souvenir shops on the main street in Imorod. Here I will show a few photos from the inside for those who are curious. 

Local treats and daily household items. 

Random Lanyu related trinkets. 

We also explored one other store that was colorfully painted. 

Screw Pine fruit and coconuts for sale. 

More Lanyu trinkets. 

More trinkets for sale. 

Just down the street is the only hospital on the island (蘭嶼鄉衛生所醫療大樓).

View of the ocean from the main street. 

After breakfast, we still had an hour before we needed to go to the boat dock at 9:00. I decided to take one last walk on the beach. 

View of the varying hues of blue in the water. 

A few boats parked on the beach. 

Another view of the boats. 

Last view of the boats on the beach.

Last view of the taro fields at Imorod. 

We returned our scooter and the hostel owner drove us back to Kaiyuan Harbor an hour before the boat was set to arrive. 

We waited in line in the hot sun for about 45 minutes before we could get on the boat. There are three separate boats, one goes to Kenting, one to Taitung, and one to Green Island, so make sure you are in the right line. 

The boat ride back was a little more comfortable and the air conditioning worked a little better. Also our hostel owner gave us some sea sickness pills. My daughter threw up again, but this time I caught it all in the barf bag. 

We only had less than 24 hours to spend on Lanyu, so we missed quite a few things. However, the nice thing is that there is always a reason for us to go back:

• Little Tiannchi Lake 小天池
• Big Tianchi Lake 大天池
• Lanyu Old and New Lighthouses 蘭嶼新跟舊燈塔
• Mother Hen Rock (Jyakmey Monomanok 母雞岩)
• Ivalino (Yeyin) Cold Springs 野銀冷泉
• Snorkeling 浮潛
• Scuba Diving 潛水
• SUPing / Paddle Boarding
• Tribal Tour 
• Freediving 自由潛水​
• Swimming 游泳
• Fishing 釣魚
• Night Hike 夜游
• Traditional Barbeque 燒烤
• Underground House Tour 地下屋解說
• Boat trip around Lesser Orchid Island 小蘭嶼繞島
• And much much more for you to discover!

You may have noticed in your Google search that there are not very many blogs in English about Lanyu. Some that were helpful to us were Richard Saunder's blog, Catherinelee 234's blog, and Nick Kembel's blog.

Thanks for reading! Be sure like, share, and subscribe as well as check out our other blogs on Taiwan's outer islands, such as Xiaoliuqiu, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and Turtle Island. 

You can also check out our full guide to all of Taiwan's outer islands here. ​

Green Island is a paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Once a prison for political enemies of the KMT, it is now a tourist hot spot. It is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in Taiwan, one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world, and it also includes amazing volcanic rock formations and scenery all around the island. ​

Background:
Green Island is the remnant of a volcano that formed millions of years ago and is part of the Luzon Volcanic Arc. Today you can see lots of volcanic rock all along the shoreline.
Green Island is the seventh largest Island in Taiwan. 
Green Island became inhabited hundreds of years ago by the Tao indigenous people (達悟族) (aka Yami people 雅美族, which is a name coined by the Japanese, but the native people prefer Tao), which are thought to have traveled from the Batanes Islands in the Philippines, and then to Orchid Island. It was called Jitanasey by the Tao people. It was also known to be inhabited by the Amis Tribe (阿美族) who reside today in Taitung. It was known by the Amis people as Samasana Island. 
The Island was first settled by Han Chinese fisherman from Xiaoliuqiu Island in 1813, who called the island Huoshandao (火燒島) or Bonfire Island. More Han settlers from Donggang arrived in 1850.
In 1937 the American Steamship SS President Hoover ran ground at Green Island and all aboard were saved. To thank the people of Green Island, the US donated to build the Green Island Lighthouse which was designed by the Japanese and finished in 1938, at 33.3 meters or 109 feet high. 
Green Island also served as a penal colony for political prisoners' during the martial law era of Taiwan, which lasted from the late 9140s to the late 1980s. Some prisoners went on to help form the Democratic Progressive Party. The prison is now open to the public. 
Currently, the Island is powered by one diesel generator. It also includes an airport.
Currently about 4500 people live on the island, and the main industries are tourism and fishing.

Weather and Climate:
The island has a tropical rainforest climate, with average high temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees year round. The rainy months are in summer, especially due to Typhoons, but the most sunny days are also in summer (expect a lot of sun), and the most rainy days are in winter. Summer is the tourist season, but spring and fall are also popular times to visit. Winters are said to be dreary, cold, and have constant northeastern winds that can stop airplanes and ferries from departing to the island.

When to go:
The best time to go they say is around May when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons which can cancel your transportation to the island.
​Typhoon season lasts from around June to October. The busy season is during summer break from June to August, during which time it can be hard to book a hostel or airplane ticket. Winter is the less crowded season, but the water will be colder, there will be constant wind (which could cancel transportation), and it will rain more often. 

Rules to Consider:

• Do not go snorkeling or diving during bad weather, low tide, or big waves. 
• Do not trespass private property or government property that is off limits (such as military base, weather station, reservoir, or garbage dump)
• Always snorkel or dive with a buddy
• Have fun

How to get there:
By Plane:
The only planes to and from Green Island come from Taitung City in Southeastern Taiwan. From Taipei, there are daily flights from Songshan Airport to Taitung, where you can switch to Daily Air which will take you the rest of the way to Green Island.
You can book discount tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here. 
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day by Daily Air Corporation from about 8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Green Island takes about 15 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be  cancelled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. 
Costs: NT 1428 to Green Island and NT 1360 from Green Island.
 
By Boat:
You can purchase boat ferry tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. 
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Green Island: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港） in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). However, to get there from Houbihu you need to stop in Lanyu, so I will focus this blog on departing from Fugang Harbor. There are also about three ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the about same times for the same prices (1200 NT per person round trip/600 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
1200 NT per person round trip (600 NT per single trip) from Taitung. Ferry companies have roughly the same price.
Ferry Boat Times*:
7:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 8:20 AM arrival to Green Island.
8:30 AM departure from Green Island, 9:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
9:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 10:20 AM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
10:30 AM departure from Green Island, 11:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
11:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 12:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
12:30 PM departure from Green Island, 9:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
13:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 14:20 PM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
14:30 PM departure from Green Island, 15:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
15:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 16:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
16:30 PM departure from Green Island, 17:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
*Note: the above times change according to the seasons. There may only be one boat per day during winter, while all the boat times may be available during summer break and weekends. Please double check which times are available before you go.
You can purchase tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. 

Getting around the island:
Rent a scooter! The island is small so you should not need to rent a car. You can rent bicycles but you will not be able to travel as fast. You can also hire a driver to take you on tours.
Ask your hostel for more rental information. They can help you book a rental in advance.

Scooter Rental:
Price: expect 400 NT per day.
You can book a scooter rental for Green Island on Klook here or KKday here. 
It may be better to book your scooter rental in advance, especially during summer weekends. Ask for help from your hostel owner if needed.
I am 100% percent certain you do not need a Taiwan local license to rent scooters here, however they may ask for an international license (but I'm fairly sure they will let you rent without one).
Helmet wearing is not enforced at all as you will quickly find, but it's still the law.
Also be careful to not hit any goats because they wander as they please.
There is only one gas station next to Nanliao Fishing Harbor.

Car Rental:
Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
You can rent a car for Green Island using KKday here.

By Bicycle: 
​Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

Accommodation:
Booking accommodation on the island can be difficult in summer months and on weekends, when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance. AirBnb has the most choices, however there is also better quality selection on Agoda.com. 
We stayed at and can recommend Fire Island Guesthouse, which is a high quality B&B on right on the east coast of the island. 
​My hostel did not require that I pay for my room in advance via bank wire transfer (as was the case on Lanyu), but they required me to pay in cash.
Expect to pay 2000 - 4000 NT per night for a standard double room on Green Island. 

Tours and Activities:
There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, and other tours on Green Island. You can search for tours on Klook here or KKday here. 
You can also book discount tickets to Zhaori Hot Spring on KKday here. 

You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

Map:
​Please see a map of all the locations covered in this blog below:

Our Journey:

We have been to Green Island once. We planned to go there on our first round island trip of Taiwan in 2014, but at the time we did not have as much cash and it would have added too much time and cost to our trip so we skipped it then. 
We finally visited in October 2021, and it was the last major outer island for us to visit. We saved the best for last. ​

I should also mention we were travelling with two toddlers. Let me assure you, if you take toddlers on the ferry ride, they will throw up, and it will be miserable (there are no seasick pills available for toddlers). To avoid that, try and take the plane. Other than that this trip was pretty amazing. 

​Check out our drone video below for an overview of the Island. 

And of course the main reason people visit is to snorkel, so below is a video of my non-professional snorkeling experience there, in some of the more shallow snorkeling areas. 

​In this blog we will cover the following places:
​

• Fugang Harbor 富岡漁港
• Nanliao Harbor南寮漁港
• Green Island Old Street 綠島老姐
• Green Island Airport 綠島機場
• Green Island Lighthouse 綠島燈塔​
• Wuyouku 烏油窟
• Chaikou Snorkeling Area 柴口浮潛區
• Gongguan Rock 公館鼻
• Gongguan Fishing Harbor 公館漁港
• General Rock and Triple Rocks 三峰岩及將軍岩
• Elephant Rock 象鼻岩
• Green Island White Terror Memorial Park 白色恐怖綠島紀念園區
• Swollow Cave (Yanzidong) 燕子洞
• Green Island Marine Research Station 綠島海洋研究站
• Ch'ou-Ch'in Reservoir 綠島酬勤水庫
• Niutoushan (Cow Head Mountain) 牛頭山
• Green Island Sika Deer Preserve 綠島梅花鹿生態園區
• Guanyin Cave 觀音洞
• Wangong Dong Sea Cave 彎弓洞
• Laogu Stone Village  咾咕石古厝
• Youzihu 柚子湖
• Little Great Wall 小萬里長城
• Haisenping 海蔘坪
• Sleeping Beauty Rock 睡美人岩
• Pekingese Dog Rock哈巴狗岩
• Confucius Rock孔子巖
• Guoshan Old Trail過山古道
• Ocean View Trail 綠島觀海步道
• Zhaori Hot Springs 朝日溫泉
• Fanchuanbi Grassland帆船鼻大草原
• Ziping 紫坪
• Ziping Campground 紫坪露營區
• Da Bai Sha Beach 大白沙
• Fudi Dongtian 福地洞天
• Shilang Snorkeling Area 石朗潛水區​

​
Okay, let's begin!

Fugang Harbor 富岡漁港

One of the hardest decisions for us was picking which ferry time to leave. We decided to visit in October when there were fewer people but still warm temperatures. However there were also fewer ferries. Because we were travelling with kids, we couldn't leave too late or early from Taipei, so we stopped halfway in Hualien and spent a night there. We planned to take the 3:30 PM ferry to Green Island, but we got an early start and ended up driving down to Fugang Harbor in time for the 1:30 PM Ferry. 
Parking next to Fugang Harbor is pretty much impossible, unless you want to pay someone nearby 200 NT a day. I ended up parking up the hill on a country road for free for the four days, and my car was fine when I got back. 
We got to the main ticket hall, picked up our tickets, went to the bathroom, and then waited in the hot sun for the boat to arrive. 
You can purchase ferry boat tickets for a discount through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. ​

There is some shade as you wait in line if you get there early. 

The boast finally came, and we were able to board. 

The boat ride over can be very shaky. Best to take some seasick pills, I'm serious. Also, it is best to sit on the bottom near the back of the boat for less movement. This boat goes on the open Pacific and it can be like a roller coaster ride. Also make sure your luggage is secure. 
Both there and back, our kids threw up. There are plastic bags on the seats to throw up in. The adults around us also threw up. Those 50 minutes were long but they eventually passed. 

Nanliao Harbor 南寮漁港

We finally made it to Nanliao Harbor. I went to the first scooter shop I could see and rented a scooter for 400 NT for a day, and he only charged me for three days instead of four. He also offered a free van ride to our hostel to transport our luggage for free.
We stayed at and can recommend Fire Island Guesthouse, which is a high quality B&B on right on the east coast of the island. 
​You can book a scooter rental for Green Island on Klook here or KKday here. 
​
I will now introduce the island starting from Nanliao Harbor and move clockwise. 

Green Island Old Street 綠島老街

Green Island Old Street refers to the section of Huandao Road between Nanliao Fishing Port and the Airport. It is not an official name, but I have seen it been called Green Island's Old Street a few times. Here you can find the most restaurants and eating options. There is even a small night market that appears here sometimes. Also, 7-11, Family Mart, the post office, and the agricultural association are all on this road. There are also multiple seafood restaurants, ice shops, and breakfast shops on this road. 

You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  ​

For more views of the old street and some of the food we had there, see the gallery above. 

The old street is also a great place to watch the sunset over Taiwan. 

Last rays of sun over the ocean. 

Also don't forget that the post office has the only ATM on the island. If you don't want to run to the post office ATM, make sure you bring plenty of cash with you to the island. 

Green Island Airport 綠島機場

At the end of the old street you will come to Green Island Airport, which is very small and only services small planes from Daily Air. Due to strong winds in the winter, flights can be cancelled with short notice. There are also few seats available each day, so you may have to book far in advance to get a flight. 

Plane coming in to land as seen from the old street. 

Green Island Lighthouse 綠島燈塔

Near the airport is Green Island Lighthouse. ​

Unfortunately due to the pandemic no one was allowed inside when we visited. But even if you could go inside, they will not let visitors walk to the top of the lighthouse. 

If you do come, the lighthouse is closed on Mondays and admission is free. 

In 1937 the American Steamship SS President Hoover ran ground at Green Island and all aboard were saved. To thank the people of Green Island, the US donated to build the Green Island Lighthouse which was designed by the Japanese and finished in 1938, at 33.3 meters or 109 feet high. ​

Another view of the lighthouse. 

Wuyouku 烏油窟

One of the best swimming spots on the island is Wuyouku near the lighthouse. It is a small pool of seawater with white sand.

It is best to visit here during high tide when the water is cleaner. At low tide the water pretty much has no flow with the ocean, and if there are a lot of people swimming there the water can get dirty. 
The water here is not very deep, and you can see lots of little fish in the water too. 

You can also see Daily Air planes take off and land from here. 

You can see more photos from the Wuyouku pool in the gallery above. 

Also above are some photos of me snorkeling in the water there. 

Chaikou Snorkeling Area 柴口浮潛區

There are four concrete bridges that lead out into the ocean on Green Island, and they are all great places for snorkeling and diving. At Chaikou, there is also an underwater mailbox.
There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, and other tours on Green Island. 

Be careful to only go snorkeling and diving here at low tide and low winds, and bring a buddy. If you go at high tide, the waves will eat you alive here. 

There are actually tons of places to snorkel and dive along this stretch of coast, but walking along the concrete path is the most convenient and most beneficial to the sea life. For more photos of the area, see the photo gallery above. 
You can search for tours of Green Island on Klook here or KKday here. ​

See above for snorkeling photos I took in some of the more shallow parts of Chaikou. 

See above for snorkeling photos I took in some of the deeper parts of Chaikou. 

There is also some sand here but not much. Above are views from behind the hostel I stayed at. 

Gongguan Rock 公館鼻

Gongguan Rock is a popular spot for locals to go fishing, and has great views of the ocean. However the sign said tourists were not allowed, so I did not go any further. 

Gongguan Fishing Harbor 公館漁港

Near the rock is a fishing port which has pristine water and is a good place to practice snorkeling. 

View of the right side of the port. 
​
General Rock and Triple Rocks 三峰岩及將軍岩

If you want to venture out here, you can reach general rock in the foreground, and triple rocks in the background. 

Near this area there are also quite a few swimming holes and places to snorkel. 

You can also see more photos of the area in the gallery above.

Elephant Rock 象鼻岩

Another cool rock in the area to see is Elephant Rock, shaped like its namesake. It is a popular Instagram spot. 

There are more photos of the area in the above gallery. 
​
Green Island White Terror Memorial Park 白色恐怖綠島紀念園區

One of the most popular tourist attractions on the island is the White Terror Museum, which is an old prison for political prisoners during the white terror or martial law period of Taiwan, that has now been opened to the public. There are now quite a few exhibits set up in these buildings. 

See above for more photos of the inside which shows what it was like for prisoners living here at the time. 

I find it ironic that the dictator responsible for the white terror massacre and unrightful imprisonment of prisoners here (Chiang Kai-shek) is still proudly displayed on a pedestal here. 

See above for pictures of the main museum and displays in the area. 

There are also quite a few abandoned buildings and cells that you can go explore. See above for more photos of the abandoned buildings in the area. 

Outside wall and guard tower that once kept prisoners inside. 

Outside the prison you can find the 13th Squadron cemetery, which was a cemetery for the political prisoners here that died from disease or suicide. They are called the 13th squadron to moralize their undying spirit. 

Swallow Cave (Yanzidong) 燕子洞

Past the cemetery, if you keep walking down the beach you will reach Swallow Cave, which was once used as an auditorium for performances by the political prisoners. 

Here you can see the rocks tell an interesting story of erosion mixed with other layers of lava. 

There are also some swimming and snorkeling holes here too. 

For more photos of the beach area, see the gallery above. 

Inside the cave you can see remnants of the amphitheater and stone steps. There is also an interesting eye shaped light that enters the cave. 

Green Island Marine Research Station 綠島海洋研究站

Part of the old prison had been converted into the Green Island Marine Research Station, which is run by Academia Sinica. This is off limits to tourists. 
​
Ch'ou-Ch'in Reservoir 綠島酬勤水庫

Just up the road you can spot Green Island's main source of clean water, the Chou Qing Reservoir. Also off limits to tourists. 

Niutoushan (Cow Head Mountain) 牛頭山

One of the most popular hikes on the island is Niutoushan, which includes a grassland and a few small hills on the east coast of the island. The hike does not take very long to complete. 

Check out our drone video of Niutoushan above.

Or check out a 360 degree view of the area above. 
​
Guanyin Cave 觀音洞

Guanyin Cave is a small limestone cave on the east side of the island, with a rock that looks like Guanyin. The local people here have also constructed a temple to Guanyin. 

View of the Guanyin shaped rock worshiped by the locals. 

You can see more photos of the area above. Be careful not to hit your head on a rock while exploring the cave, it is not very high. 

Green Island Sika Deer Preserve 綠島梅花鹿生態園區

You may notice advertisements for a sika deer preserve on the island. Frankly the preserive is out of business and is now a private farm not open to the public. 

Tourist map of the area in its heyday. 

See more photos of this abandoned tourist attraction above. It seems that most of the deer have left, probably to become dinner for the many all you can eat venison restaurants around the island. The farm seems to have been open a year ago, but may have closed due to the pandemic. Hopefully it will open again. 
But until then, best to stay away. Here is a review from Google: "Dogs came running full speed and bite us. They are NOT in chain! The gate was open so we walked in. Because of this We had to go hospital. Totally ruined our day. Don’t come!"

Youzihu 柚子湖

Youzihu is a seaside valley on the east side of the island, featuring a large sea cave, swimming holes, and an abandoned fishing village and aquaculture farm. 

For an overview of the area, see our drone video above. 

Or check out our 360 degree panorama of the area above. 

Laogu Stone Village  咾咕石古厝

One of the more interesting areas of Youzihu is the abandoned stone house village. Some of the earliest settlers to green island lived here. I'm not sure why it was abandoned since there is a road here, but it seems that people lived here up until a few years ago. 

There is also a large abandoned fish farm out back with empty cement basins. 

There are quite a few abandoned stone houses, this is one of the few with an intact roof. 

For more photos of the village, please see the photo gallery above. 

In the middle of the valley there is a spot to park your scooters on the sand. 

For more photos near the seashore at Youzihu, see the gallery above. 

Wangong Dong Sea Cave 彎弓洞

Wangong Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves on Green Island. It attracts tons of instagrammers and is a great spot for a photo. 

Lots of people like to get a silhouette image from inside the cave. 

There are also some interesting rock formations on the cave roof.

Another view of the cave. 

See above for more photos of Wangong Cave. 

Near Wangong Cave there is also a secret swimming spot, which is really only swimmable at high tide. 

The swimming spot sits in between these rocks and it is a really pointy, rocky, walk to get there. 

View of Youzihu to the south via drone. 

Further south along the beach, there is another volcanic wall and small passageway that leads to another cove. 

The most impressive thing here is the rock formations, that look like a giant natural cathedral. 

More views of the rock formations here can be seen above. 

Last view of Youzihu from the plateau above. 

Little Great Wall 小萬里長城

A must see on Green Island is the little great wall. It provides some of the most amazing views anywhere in Taiwan for very little effort. 

View of Niutoutshan in the distance from the trailhead. 

The trail here is not very steep or long, but there is a sheer dropoff on either side.

View of Haishengping valley. 

From here you can see Sleeping Beauty Rock, if you can't see it the head is to the left. 

If you have seen the Disney film Moana, it is kind of like that.

Down below are some volcanic rocks with natural steps on them, which are popular for people to climb. 

View of the open ocean from the top.

View of Youzihu. 

Closeup on the rock formations at Youzihu. 

View looking back down the trail. 

View looking south from the top pavilion. 

You can check out more photos of the little wall in the photo gallery above. 

Just a little way up the road about at the location this photo was taken, you can find a small path leading down the mountain to Haishengping. 
​
Haisenping 海蔘坪

The path is well hidden so not many people find their way down there. It is the only way to get to sleeping beauty rock. Originally there was a village down there, but due to difficulty in walking up and down the hill, the village was abandoned. The last resident finally gave up and moved away. But there are still concrete steps that lead down to the village. 

See above for more photos of the trail. Ropes are required in some places. 

And this is where I saw the sunrise. 

Video of the sunrise that morning above. 

View of the sun in between the clouds. No filter. 

Sun rising into the clouds. 

Sun disappears behind the clouds. 

Further down, you will run into about four or five abandoned houses, all with their roofs collapsed. 

More photos of the abandoned village can be found in the gallery above. 

Getting down to the beach was an amazing experience. I had the whole beach to myself the whole time, and I know it was a place few people would visit. It felt almost like a sacred place.

There is a path along the beach through this thick brush, which will hurt if you are wearing shorts. 

The three volcanic rocks that peak out of the ocean on the north shore.

A not so unfamiliar artifact in what I assumed was an untouched paradise. 

Morning sun behind the clouds. 

Sleeping Beauty Rock 睡美人岩

As explained above, sleeping beauty rock reminded me of Moana. Once you see it, you can't un-see it. 

For more photos of the beach before sleeping beauty rock, see the gallery above 

View looking toward the Little Great Wall from the beach.
​
Pekingese Dog Rock哈巴狗岩

Another amazing rock here is Pekingese Dog Rock, which is an island that has a sea cave that goes through the entire island. 

Closeup of Sleeping Beauty Rock. 

View inside the cave. 

The water here is pristine. 

Looking into the cave. 

Looking back at the great little wall. 

More photos of the Sleeping Beauty Rock cave above. 

Behind sleeping beauty rock, there are two more sea caves. I only explored one. 

View of the entrance to the two caves. 

Inside the right cave there was tons of rubble, and it was really damp. 

View of the end of the cave. The cave is constantly eroded by seawater. 

View looking back at the cave entrance. 

For more views of this sea cave, see the photo gallery above.

Another view of Sleeping Beauty Rock. 

Waking back toward little great wall.

Pine trees growing in the beach, perhaps washing up from the western undited states?

There is also a stream running from the abandoned village to the beach here which was beautiful. 

Dinosaur spotted on the trail. 

There were also tons of land crabs everywhere. They were big and loud. 

Huge banyan tree growing on a rock near the village. 

At first I thought the way to Sleeping Beauty Rock was through the garbage dump here, but that is not the case. You have to go down the trail mentioned above. 
​
Confucius Rock 孔子巖

Once you come down from the dump, you can see Confucius rock from the seashore, on the left. 

Hot Spring Village 溫泉村

On this shore you will find Hot Spring Village.

hen I was there they were hanging eight octopuses out to dry. 

Also there are usually goats grazing here. 

Also the only Skia deer I saw was here, and it had a broken leg. 

Also saw a water buffalo here. 

More photos of Hot Spring Village above. 
​
Guoshan Old Trail過山古道

Perhaps the best trail on the Island is the Guoshan Old Trail. It traverses the mountains through the middle of the island, and was once a major transportation route for the locals. Unfortunately I did not walk the whole thing because I was too busy snorkeling. The entire walk will take a few hours. 

The trail ends near the top of the island, next to the weather station. This is the view at night. It's about 2 km long and takes about two hours. 

Ocean View Trail 綠島觀海步道

Another nice trail is the ocean view trail that also starts from Hot Spring Village. 

This trail seems newer and also has great views. I didn't have time to finish it though. 

Zhaori Hot Springs 朝日溫泉

Zhaori (or Chaori) hot springs is one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world. It is truly a world class location worth checking out. The hot springs have also been turned into hot tubs and swimming pools above, and below is a more close to nature experience.
Admission is usually 200 NT per person. 
You can also book discount tickets to Zhaori Hot Spring on KKday here. ​

Unfortunately due to the pandemic the hot springs closed for a while, and threatened to shut down permanently. Thankfully it opened up again when we came, even if it was only open partially. 

Another view of the hot spring from above. 

Check out our done video of the area above. 

Or you can look at the 360 degree panorama of the area above. 

This is the entrance to the hot springs. There is plenty of parking around. 

When I was there, tickets had to be purchased from my hostel owner, they did not sell tickets at the door.

View of the pools to the left.

View of the pools to the right. 

Large hot tub pool in the center. 

View out to the ocean. The ocean part was closed when we went there because they were filming a movie. Also because of renovations, the entire park was only open after 5 PM. Usually it is open all day. 

Another view of the beach area with filming going on in the background. 

Giant laval pillar on the beach. 

Looking back at the pools.

"Zhaori Hot Spring - Enjoy a Good Hot Spring Soaking"
Zhaori Hot Spring is located on the southern east side of the island and faces towards the east, named the hot spring Asahi, which means 'Morning Sun' and the Kanji was pronounced Zhaori in Chinese. The hot spring sits within the intertidal zone causing sea water to cover the source during high tide and emits during low tide. The chloride sulfate spring is maintained at around 60 to 70 degrees Celsius within the pool, but may reach up to 93 degrees Celsius at its outlet. These characteristics also points to an active volcano. Sea water penetrates the fault beneath and emerges after it has been heated and pressurized to reach the surface, causing its high density in salt and lack of sulfur odor and tacky touch. We have a complete hot spring facility to satisfy all your needs that includes an indoor spa, a semi-outdoor hot spring, a large pool, and outdoor hot spring, an egg cooking area, and three more hot springs by the ocean that lets you enjoy the stars, waves, and sunrise all while inside our hot spring."
The indoor spa was also closed when we were there. Hopefully the entire facility will open soon. 

For more photos of Zhaori Hot Spring, see the photo gallery above. 

Fanchuanbi Grassland 帆船鼻大草原

Another amazing place near the hot springs is Fanchuanbi Grassland. The trailhead is right inside the hot spring parking lot. 

View of the hot springs from on top of the grassland. 

There is also a 360 degree viewing platform here. 

The grass here is amazing. You could put here. It would be a great place for golf. I imagine that it's because goats graze here. 

For more views of the grassland, see the photo gallery above. 

There is also a Hot Spring Visitors Center down the road which appeared to be shut down. 
​
Ziping 紫坪

Ziping is an ecological area that has a large tide pool. It used to be inhabited, but the village there has now been abandoned too. 

View of Ziping from above. We did not get a chance to walk down for a closer look. 

Ziping Campground 紫坪露營區

At Ziping there is also a pretty nice campground with covered camping areas. 

There is also a hot spring swimming pool here that was closed when we went. 

See above for more photos of the camping area. 

We also saw this amazing whale hostel on a hill nearby.

Da Bai Sha Beach 大白沙

Dabaisha is the largest beach on Green Island. There is also a concrete bridge here, so it is busy with both beachgoers and divers. 

There were tons of snorkelers and divers here when we visited. 

There was also a diving boat here. 

View of the beach. There are usually people sunbathing here. 

There was also a long line of instagrammers here waiting to take selfies. 

The sand here is not fine, it is quite coarse. But we were still able to make a sand castle out of it. 

People walking on the concrete bridge. 

Another view of the crowd in front of the bridge. 

More instagrammers. 

A lone swimmer. 

Walking in the sunset. 

View under the water. 

This is about the best view of fish I have there. 

For more views of Daboisha Beach, see the gallery above. 

Fudi Dongtian 福地洞天

Another amazing place on the island is Fudidongtian. Here the road passes many sea caves and even passes through one. 

The road here passes through a sea cave. 

Also under the bridge here there is another stone walkway that you can walk to go diving or snorkeling. 

There are also a few large caves here. 

View inside the cave. 

People fishing here at night. 

Another view at dusk. 

Check out more photos of the Fudigongtian area above.

Also near there we came across this concrete pipe hotel.

A lone sunbather on this somewhat rocky beach in front of the pipe motel. 

More photos of this stretch of coastline above. 

Shilang Snorkeling Area 石朗潛水區

Shlang is perhaps the premier diving destination on Green Island. It also has a concrete bridge, and was the first place on Green Island to feature an underwater mailbox. 

Levee and street behind.

For more photos of Shilang, see above. 

Now that we have circled the island, here are some night photos I took. Here is a giant frog I found on the road. 

Starry night with Taiwan in the distance. 

The stars here were bright and beautiful. 

Venus and other stars. 

Milky Way barely visible. 

You can see more night photos in the gallery above. 

Another view of Taiwan from near the lighthouse. 

Also, if you are travelling with kids, there is a great playground at the elementary school. 

This concludes our journey to Green Island. The ferry journey back to Fugang Harbor was worse than the way over. We put out luggage on some seats downstairs and moved upstairs, and by the time we came down all our luggage was strewn all over the place. Then we drove 5 hours back to Taipei.

Compared to other Islands, Green Island was much easier to explore. There is pretty much nothing stopping you from jumping into the ocean anywhere, and tourists can go pretty much anywhere on the island. Green Island probably has the most amazing natural scenery and rock formations of any other island I have seen in Taiwan. It also has great snorkeling and lots of places to dive. Zhaori Hot Spring is world class, and going there alone is worth the entire trip. But there are no nice fine sandy beaches, and the journey there is rough and bumpy unless you take a place. 

Places and things we missed:

• Blue Cave
• Diving
  
• SUPing
  
• Submarine/Glass Boat Ride
• Night Squid Fishing​

There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, and other tours on Green Island. You can search for tours on Klook here or KKday here. 
​
Hopefully this blog was helpful to you and good luck on your journey to Green Island!

You can also check out our full guide to all of Taiwan's outer islands here. ​

A Transit System Built for Newcomers

Taiwan public transport is, by most measures, one of the most efficient systems in the region. Taipei alone has a metro network covering over 150 kilometers, with trains arriving every two to five minutes during peak hours. The signage is bilingual everywhere—English and Mandarin—so foreigners aren't left guessing which platform leads where. Announcements on trains are also made in multiple languages, including English, Hakka, and Taiwanese Hokkien.

For someone who just landed and doesn't yet understand local customs, this matters more than people expect. You can go from the airport to your apartment, then to a coworking space, then to dinner, all using one card and zero confusion. That kind of low-friction movement reduces the daily stress that often makes the first few months abroad exhausting.

EasyCard: The Single Tool That Changes Everything

If there's one object that defines daily life in Taiwan, it's the EasyCard. This small stored-value card works on buses, the metro, convenience store purchases, bike-share systems, and even some taxis. You tap in, tap out, and the fare is calculated automatically based on distance.
Here's why this matters for long-term living in Taiwan:

• No need to calculate fares manually or buy individual tickets
• Works across cities, not just within Taipei
• Can be topped up at virtually any convenience store, and Taiwan has roughly one convenience store for every 2,000 people
• Discounted fares for frequent riders, including transfers between bus and metro within a set time window

For digital nomads juggling time zones and client calls, not having to think about transportation logistics frees up mental space. One nomad living in Taichung put it simply: "I spend less time thinking about how I'll get somewhere than I did back home, and that's strange to admit."

Staying Connected While You're Moving Around — Including Online

Staying Connected While You're Moving Around - Including Online
Living abroad long-term means handling more than just physical transportation; it also means managing your digital footprint, especially when you're streaming content, accessing banking apps from your home country, or simply browsing without local restrictions slowing things down.

Many expats and remote workers in Taiwan use a VPN while commuting on the metro or working from a café, both for privacy on public Wi-Fi and to access region-specific services. If you're researching options, VeePN Malaysia servers are sometimes used by people based in Taiwan who want a nearby regional server with lower latency for streaming or work tools tied to Southeast Asia. It's a small detail, but for someone managing freelance clients across multiple countries, having a reliable connection during a 40-minute train ride can mean the difference between meeting a deadline and missing one.

Cost: How Much Does Getting Around Actually Cost?

One of the more pleasant surprises for foreigners in Taiwan is just how cheap transportation is. A single metro ride in Taipei typically costs between NT$20 and NT$65 (roughly USD $0.65 to $2), depending on distance. Monthly unlimited passes are available too, and even frequent riders rarely spend more than NT$1,200 (about $39) per month if they're using the metro daily.
​
Compare that to cities like London or San Francisco, where a monthly transit pass can easily exceed $100. For someone living on a remote salary that may not be huge by Western standards, this cost difference adds up fast. It means more disposable income for rent, food, or simply saving money while living somewhere new.

Beyond Taipei: What About Smaller Cities?

Not everyone living in Taiwan settles in the capital. Cities like Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Hualien have grown popular among remote workers looking for a slower pace, lower rent, and a stronger sense of community. The good news is that Taiwan's transportation system, while strongest in Taipei, doesn't abandon these areas.

Kaohsiung has its own metro and light rail system. Tainan relies more heavily on buses, but they're frequent, and the city is compact enough that many people get by on bikes or scooters anyway. High-speed rail connects most major West Coast cities in under two hours, meaning someone based in Tainan can be in Taipei for a meeting and back home by dinner.

Scooters: The Unofficial Backbone of Urban Mobility

While trains and buses get most of the attention, scooters are arguably the real backbone of urban mobility in Taiwan. There are over 14 million registered scooters across the country—more scooters than there are people in many nations. For long-term residents, getting a scooter license isn't difficult, and many foreigners eventually do.

That said, you don't need one. Public transit alone is sufficient for most daily needs, especially in larger cities. But having the option matters. It means weekend trips to the mountains or coastline don't require renting a car or relying on tour groups. This flexibility is part of what makes expat life Taiwan feel less restrictive than in places where car ownership is essentially mandatory.

Why This Matters for Long-Term Travel Plans

When people think about long-term travel Taiwan, they often focus on visas, cost of living, or healthcare. Transportation rarely makes the list, yet it shapes daily life more than almost anything else. If getting groceries, attending meetings, or visiting friends requires constant planning and expense, the cumulative stress adds up over months.

Taiwan removes that friction. The system works, it's affordable, and it doesn't require fluency in the local language to navigate. For someone deciding between several countries for remote work abroad, that's not a minor detail—it's often the difference between a place feeling temporary and feeling like home.

Final Thoughts

There's something to be said for infrastructure that simply gets out of your way. Taiwan's public transport doesn't demand attention; it just works, quietly, in the background of daily life. For digital nomads, Taiwan has become a serious contender precisely because of details like this—the unglamorous, practical stuff that makes a place liveable rather than just visitable.

Whether you're commuting to a coworking space in Taipei, taking a high-speed train to explore the south, or hopping on a scooter for a weekend trip, the system adapts to you. And for anyone weighing where to settle next, that kind of reliability is worth more than it might initially seem.

​Jinshan Old Street (aka Jinbaoli Old Street 金包里老街 Jīnbāolǐ lǎojiē) is a popular historical street in Jinshan District of New Taipei. The most famous delicacy here is duck, but you can also find other traditional Taiwanese snacks among the numerous shops and restaurants here. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taiwan's Northern Coast.

Background:
The first people to live in the Jinshan Area were plains indigenous peoples. The name "Jinabaoli" comes from the Chinese transliteration of the indigenous name of the place.
Chinese people began to settle here during the late Ming Dynasty, coming mainly from Fujian, and even more came to settle here during the Qing Dynasty. 
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, a road was built to connect Jinshan to Keelung and Tamsui, making it easier for people to visit. This road was improved in the ROC period to become provincial highway 2. 
Jinshan now has a population of about 22,000 people. 
Currently Jinshan Old Street is a popular place to visit for day-trippers from Taipei. 

Hours:
All day until about 7 PM.

Price:
Free
​
Tours:
You can book a walking tour to Jinshan Old Street on Klook here or KKday here. ​

Activities:
Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

Hotels on Taiwan's Northern Coast:
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Keelung, take provincial highway 2 north along the coast until you reach Jinshan. The old street is right in the middle of town and there is free parking on the side of the road not far from the old street.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Klook here or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
By Bus: There are buses that leave from Taipei City Hall station to Jinshan hourly. The ride takes about an hour. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Our Journey:
​
I have been to Jinshan Old Street about three times, and I have enjoyed my experience there every time. It is a decent sized old street that is popular and full of food options. You will not regret a trip here as a tourist. 

You can book a walking tour to Jinshan Old Street on Klook here or KKday here. 

Zhongshan Hot Spring Park 中山溫泉公園​

First I want to point out that you must visit Zhongshan Hot Spring Park which is right next to the old street. You can take a free hot spring foot bath here. 

From there you can walk over the bridge to the old street.

You can also find a century old well here that is still used for tap water.

View looking back at Zhongshan Hot Spring Park. You can find hot springs and hot spring hotels all over Jinshan if you are interested.

Jinbaoli Old Trail 金包里古道

Jinbaoli Old Trail is the original trail that connected Jinshan to Yangmingshan to Taipei, and is a main part of Jinshan Old Street. You can find tons of history on this path.

Here is an old traditional Chinese medicine shop on the old street that is over 100 years old.

View inside a decoration store.

View inside a perfectly restored, centuries old house.

Resorted wooden roof.

Period furniture.

Old Photo of Jinbaoli Old Trail which goes up to Yangmingshan.

We carried on our way on Jinbaoli Old Road where we saw painted blue magpies.

This rotting building is an old hotel, the first hotel built in Jinshan.

The trail then opens into this large square area.

Then the trail meanders into a more residential area.

View of one of the oldest houses in Jinshan which is still lived in.

Another pristine part of the old street.

This looks like it has been unchanged in 200 years.

I think this temple is dedicated to Jinbaoli Old Street in some way.

A side note, you can find this giant golden lion head outside the old street.

The temple was started when local fisherman found what they thought to be a natural statue of the goddess Matsu in a nearby cave. They later raised money to build the temple. Currently it is one of the largest temples in Jinshan and the religious center of the area. 

Another view of the temple with a green onion pancake shop in front.

Traditional Taiwanese dried snacks being sold on the old street. 

There are also a surprising number of toy stores here.

In addition there are also a number of children's clothes for sale. 

Fried sweet potato cakes.

Peanut candy.

Sweet potato and cactus ice cream.

A shop selling traditionally cooked meat.

More photos of the old street in the gallery above. 

Even more photos from an even more recent visit. 

If you have time, you should also visit Huangang Public Hot Springs which is not too far away.

You can also hike along the coast to see views of Twin Candlestick Rock.

Once you have eaten your fill at the old street, you can trot on over to Jinshan Beach, which is actually a nice beach when there is good weather. 
​There are also many public hot springs in the area. 

You can book a walking tour to Jinshan Old Street on Klook here or KKday here. 

​You can book a customized tour of Taiwan's North Coast on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

​Check out our full guide to Jinshan and Wanli here.

Check out our guide to Taipei’s Old Streets here. 

Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.

Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. 

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. 

Background:
The first people to live in the Jinshan Area were plains indigenous peoples. The name "Jinabaoli" comes from the Chinese transliteration of the indigenous name of the place.
Chinese people began to settle here during the late Ming Dynasty, coming mainly from Fujian, and even more came to settle here during the Qing Dynasty. 
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, a road was built to connect Jinshan to Keelung and Tamsui, making it easier for people to visit. This road was improved in the ROC period to become provincial highway 2. 
Jinshan now has a population of about 22,000 people. 
Currently Jinshan Beach is a popular place to visit for day-trippers from Taipei. 
Due to the shape of the bay facing east, Zhongjiaowan has constant waves year round.
Recently the area has been promoted as an international surfing base by New Taipei City. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

Showers:
10 NT per minute - coin operated

Activities:
You can book surfing lessons at Zhongjiao Bay on Klook here.

Tours:
You can book a tour to Taiwan's North Coast on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Hotels:
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Keelung, take provincial highway 2 north along the coast until you reach Jinshan and see the sign for Zhongjiaowan. The beach is located northwest from the old street. There is limited free public parking in front of the beach. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
By Bus: There are busses that leave from Taipei City Hall station to Jinshan hourly. The ride takes about an hour. From the city center, the beach is a short walk (1 KM or so) or taxi ride. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
​
Maps:
​Please see below:

Our Journey:
​
Zhongjiao Bay 中角灣:

I have been to Zhongjiao Bay once. My friend from Korea came one time to surf here, and before that I did not know Jinshan had any good beaches. It turns out that this is the premier beach for surfing in northern Taiwan. 

​You can book surfing lessons at Zhongjiao Bay on Klook here.

Zhongjiao Beach as seen from the roadside. 

Near the entrance to the beach is a large parking lot surrounded by many surf shops. 

The main building here has some lockers, paid showers, and areas to relax.

If you need, you can rent surfing equipment from the many shops nearby.

​You can book surfing lessons at Zhongjiao Bay on Klook here.

Rules of the beach, At least swimming isn't outright banned like at many beaches in Taiwan. 

View to the left of the beach.

View to the right.

View of the sand (no filter or photoshop).

Another view of the right side of the beach. Notice that there are lifeguards on duty here. 

View of the mountains behind the beach.

Xialiao Beach 下寮灣

I have been to Xiaoliao Wan twice (aka Jinshan Oceanside Waterpark 金山海濱浴場), once with nice weather and once with crappy weather. I have way more photos of when the weather was crappy.

Here is when the weather is nicer. Does this look like a beach you want to go to? Yeah, tons of trash every time I have been.

A few years ago I had a friend that came to Taiwan and decided to go surfing at Jinshan Beach. I mean there are probably some nice waves here. But of all the public beaches in Taiwan, if someone were to tell me Jinshan was the dirtiest, I would believe them. 
If you want some good surfing/swimming, stay at Zhongjiao Bay. However there are some nice places to hike and enjoy the scenery here if you will not get in the water.

There is a beautiful pedestrian bridge across the Yuantan River called the Yuantan Rive Bridge.

From there you can reach the beach.

View up the Yuantan River.

Another view of the Yuantan River.

There is some parking and shops near the beach as well.

Abandoned house likely dating back to the Qing Dynasty. 

To be honest this is not the cleanest beach I have seen in Taiwan. There has been quite a lot of trash when I have gone both times, but I know they clean it sometimes. I mean you can search Google. Maybe I am just unlucky and come when there is a particularly large amount of trash on the beach.

Another view of the beach.

On the other side of the beach is a rocky shoreline popular for hikers called the "Jinshan Shuiwei Port Mysterious Coast 神秘海岸" which you can also check out. 

When you are done checking out the beach, be sure to check out Jinshan Old Street. Also nearby are many hot spring hotels which you can stay at, which are arguably cheaper and better than those of Wulai or Beitou.

You can book surfing lessons at Zhongjiao Bay on Klook here.

Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

​Check out our full guide to Jinshan and Wanli here.

Check out our guide to the best beaches near Taipei here. 

Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.

Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. 

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. ​

The Wanli UFO Houses (aka Futuros) are a neighborhood of abandoned futuristic houses near Wanli Beach (aka Emerald Bay, Green Bay, or Feicuiwan) in Wanli District of New Taipei, and are some of the most popular urban exploration and Instagram destinations in northern Taiwan. ​

If you are looking for the Sanzhi UFO houses (三芝飛碟屋), stop looking; the Sanzhi UFO houses were destroyed in 2010. There are UFO houses all around Taiwan, but Wanli has the largest group of these houses. Go see them soon before they are demolished too!

Background:
The UFO house village was created in the 1970s by a Taiwanese construction company. At the time during martial law, Wanli beach (Feitsui Bay) was one of the few places that American servicemen could enjoy a beach vacation, as most beaches were closed off at the time. These UFO houses had these servicemen in mind. However, a slowing economy and the severing of official diplomatic ties with the USA prevented the area from taking off, and the UFO resort town fell into decay.
Now, only a few hotels are left operating in the area, such as CT Green Bay Hot Spring Hotel, which is still in operation in Wanli, and has great views of the ocean, and includes a hot spring (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). 
Because of the harsh winters and short summers along the north coast, many hotels in the area have closed down. 
For a more complete historical background on this area, check out this blog by Josh Ellis. 

Common Courtesy When Visiting:

• Some of the houses are not abandoned and still have people living in them. Do not walk near these houses, try to walk in, or invade these people's privacy in any other way.
• Do not disturb the houses and items at the scene. Leave everything the way you found it. The most important rule of urban exploration is that you take only pictures and leave nothing but footsteps. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

Activities:
You can book a SUP / Paddle Board experience at Feitsui Bay on KKday here. 

Tours:
You can book a tour to Taiwan's North Coast on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.
​You can book a Private Laomei Green Reef Day Tour from Taipei on TripAdvisor here or KKday here. 

Hotels in Wanli:
We recommend CT Green Bay Hot Spring Hotel, which is still in operation in Wanli, and has great views of the ocean, and includes a hot spring (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). 
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
​By Bus: There are many buses that pass the area. You'll want to get off at Green Bay (翡翠灣). You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial highway 2 west out of Keelung, and keep going until you reach the Howard Green Bay Resort. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map:
Please see below:

You can also check out our 360 degree pano above. 
​
Our Journey:

I have only been to the UFO houses in Wanli twice and I didn't stay long either time, so I'm sure there is much more for you to explore than what I have in this blog. 

Once you reach the Howard Green Bay Resort (pictured above), you know it is time to turn off. There is no entrance to the UFO houses from the main road, Provincial Highway 2. You have to drive up the hill and come back down Feitsui Road, which goes underneath Highway 2 straight to the beach. There is plenty of parking near the UFO houses. 

CT Green Bay Hot Spring Hotel

We recommend CT Green Bay Hot Spring Hotel, which is still in operation in Wanli, and has great views of the ocean, and includes a hot spring. 

​太平洋翡翠灣 Pacific Green Bay

There was also an abandoned resort called 太平洋翡翠灣 Pacific Green Bay that looked like a castle near the UFO houses. It has its own fake website so you can see what it used to look like here: ​https://www.pacificgreenbay.com/ 

You can also check out the drone video above to see what it looked like on the outside before.
I think it was built around 2011. It operated for about five years after that before becoming abandoned around 2015 and being destroyed in 2025.

Inside was a grand staircase and hot tub facilities, and I did find a way inside. 

View from below the old grand staircase.

View from the second floor above the staircase.

Rooftop party area turned mosquito breeding area.

The insides of the resort were in bad shape.

The old swimming pool, now turned into a waste dump.

Old restaraunt area now covered in garbage.

View from the outside before it was demolished.

You can check out more photos from Pacific Greent Bay above. I think they finally tore it down because it was a public danger and Dange Fever cess pool. 

Some old Jeeps in disuse. 

When I was there, there was a ton of old guys using drones to cast fishing lines on the beach.

There were also paragliders floating down to the beach the whole time I was there. Apparently Wanli is also a popular paragliding destination. 

View of one of the UFO houses and other roundly shaped houses nearby. 

Deserted living room of one of the squarish houses. 

Balcony of one of the UFO houses. 

One of the houses here has totally collapsed. probably during a typhoon. 

Another view of the wreckage. 

A view of one of the living room of one of the round yellow houses.

A destroyed bar and kitchen. 

More rot and decay, with the walls coming apart.

Another living room in one of the square houses. 

Empty road near the UFO houses. 

When I came a second time, there were white signs in front of the houses to say photography is prohibited. I think it is because this place has seen too many instagrammers, and there are some people that actually live in some of these houses.

UFO houses seen from the beach.

You can see more photos of the UFO houses from another trip above.

Paraglider coming down for landing near Wanli Beach.

Endless UFO houses with a backdrop of para-gliders. 

The paragliders take off from the hill next to the beach, but some also take off via jet ski right on the beach.

You can book a SUP / Paddle Board experience at Feitsui Bay on KKday here. ​

Check out the video above for what it's like to paraglide here.

The beach is normally not very clean. This day was an exception. Paragliding is the most popular activity at this beach but people also swim and surf here too.

It was hard to believe that so many people are enjoying a beach this dirty, on a different day. I am happy to say I did participate in a beach cleanup here last year.

This is perhaps the trashiest tourist beach I have seen in Taiwan. If it weren't for the trash though, it would be pretty nice. Time for a cleanup.

Lots of fishing boats will come by the beach here at night.

The beach is still a popular swimming, surfing, and paddle boarding area.

To the left of the beach here is a small "Mocha Hills" park and huge parking lot.

Lastly I noticed a fake church arch in the background; New Taipei City has been putting these things all around the north coast because apparently they make for romantic photo opportunities. I think they are pretty mediocre. 

You can also find rows of abandoned apartments here.

If you go up the hill in Wanli to all the apartment buildings and resorts, on "New Kenting Road 新墾丁路" you will come across this road. As you can tell, Wanli is everything but New Kenting. The winters here are just too cold, wet, and windy to compete with Kenting which is warm and sunny year round.

Above you can watch a news report about the Castle. It was sold to its current owner for about 20,000 NT per ping in 2008, which is dirt cheap. The building was made in about 1986, and was slowly abanoned. Now only squatters live here. 

View from Feitsui Bay from the castle.

Inside the first floor of the castle which was once a seafood restaurant. 

Another view inside this ruin.

Graffiti, peeled paint, falling wall tiles, and broken windows everywhere.

There was a wooden sign here that said "This place is not a ruin, trespassing is prohibited, violators will be reported to the police, - The building manager." I had to laugh at this sign because this is one of the most ruinous ruins I have ever seen, and the gumption of this squatter to call himself the building manager.

Another view inside the ruin. I stopped here because I did not want to disobey that sign!

More ruined houses in Wanli.

You can buy some of these houses if you want.

Wanli Beach (Feitsuiwan) 翡翠灣

Wanli Beach (aka Feitsuiwan, Emerald Bay, or Green Bay) is a popular beach along the northern Coast. Paragliding is the most popular activity at this beach but people also swim and surf here too. Check out our full blog on Wanli Beach here. ​

Not far from the UFO houses you can check out Yehliu Geopark, which has some of the most famous geological land forms in Taiwan, and the best aquarium in northern Taiwan. For our full blog on Yehliu Geopark, click here. 

You can book a SUP / Paddle Board experience at Feitsui Bay on KKday here. 
​
​Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

​Check out our full guide to Jinshan and Wanli here.

​Check out our guide to the best beaches near Taipei here. 

Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.

Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. 

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. ​

Gold Mountain Ranch and Resort (aka Jinshan Yijing in Chinese, or simply "Horse Camp") is a campground and horse ranch in Jinshan District of New Taipei. A stay here includes activities such as horseback riding, four-wheeling, archery and bb-gun practice, and also a filling BBQ dinner and western style breakfast. Staying here makes you feel like you are in the rural American West, which is a unique experience in Taiwan. With a shortage of ranches and horse riding opportunities in Taiwan, Gold Mountain is a special place that you should not miss on your trip along Taiwan's northern coast. 

Background:
From my conversation with the Laoban (Boss), Mr. Z, as well as info from their website, Mr. Z. started this ranch about three years ago as a pet project, due to his love of horses. Before that he was in the restaurant business. He said that he searched the entire island for a suitable place for a Horse Ranch, which was his dream, and happened to find this spot of land where the ranch currently operates. When he started the ranch, he would still drive back to Zhonghe every night to take care of his ailing cat. Now he spends all his time taking care of the horses, even sleeping next to them at night in case something goes wrong. Now him and four other employees help to run the campground and ranch.
Currently the ranch has 6 horses, about five ATVs, and can accommodate 60 people. Soon they plan to open a restaurant and bar on the property, as well as a wilderness survival training camp. 

Hours:
Check in: 1 PM 
Check out: 11 AM
​
Price:
1600 NT - 2750 NT per night per person
Additional horse rides charged per hour/lesson.
​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. 

Website: https://goldmrnr.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/goldmrandr/ 
​(like and share button below)

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take National highway 3 north to Wanli, then take provincial highway 2 along the northern coast until you reach Jinshan. Then take provincial highway 2A east to county highway 25, and turn right at Sanhe elementary school. Turn left when you see the sign for "金山驛境." The ranch is at the end of the road. It takes about 50 minutes from Taipei by car. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
​By Bus/taxi: There are buses that leave from Taipei City Hall station to Jinshan hourly. The ride takes about an hour. From central Jinshan you can take a taxi (about 200 NT) to the ranch. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. ​

Map:
Please see below:

Our Journey:
​
We have been to Gold Mountain Ranch once and it surpassed our expectations. We had a way fun time, the food was amazing, the atmosphere was great, and most of all the people there were really friendly. 
Let me add also that they do have a Singaporean employee that speaks perfect English, and the rest of the employees have okay English too.

​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. ​

See above for our drone footage of the ranch.

If you do not want to waste data on your phone, check out our 360 panorama near the ranch above.

We drove to Gold Mountain Ranch by car, which is the most convenient way to get there. There is not train yet on the northwest coast, but there are buses hourly that leave from Taipei and go straight to Jinshan.
​Once you get to this sign, be sure to turn left. The Ranch is up this little road. 

View of the Ranch from above. There are about 13 tents, and the whole camp can hold about 60 people max. In the middle is the main horse range, as well as the horse stable. There is a restaurant on the top left where they serve breakfast, as well as a shower building. 

Most of the tents here are Mongolian style Yurt. But all of them have beds and A/C.

You can check into your room at 3 PM (activities start at 1 PM). Checkout is at 11 AM. Be quiet after 10 PM.

​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. ​

If you get the meal/activity package, it comes with dinner (BBQ), breakfast, bow and arrow shooting/bb-gun shooting, ATV riding, and of course horse riding activities. 

There are a total of six horses, and they put them on rotation I'm sure so the horses don't get too tired. 

During the horse riding activity, you mount the horse from the rock wall on the side.

The horse instructor there taught me how to ride a horse in the "English style." I had only ever ridden horses in America before, so it took some getting used to. And it had been over 10 years since I had ridden a horse.

They also let us lead the horse around.

You can take horses and ATVs outside to ride, like to Jinshan Beach, but there is an additional fee.

We also spent quite a bit of time riding ATVs. In the past they let visitors take the ATVs and horses outside, but because they are afraid of people getting injured they only let beginners practice inside the arena area. 

It was pretty fun. The ATVs have good pickup and it is really easy to do doughnuts in the dirt.

We also got to tour the stable and see the baby foul that was just one month old!

He let us in to take a closer look.

And of course we got to feed to horses.

Getting close enough to feed the horse. All the horse feed for the horses is imported from overseas. The grass that the horses need doesn't grow well in Taiwan.

Feeding the horse straight from the hand. It tickled. 

Feeding another one of the horses.

I haven't picked up a bow since a trip to Maolin years ago, so I was excited to do some archery practice again.

I did hit a few arrows in the yellow.

On the other side are BB-guns, and you can shoot targets that pop right back up again. It takes some practice but it's pretty fun.

The Ranch also offers horse lessons and ATV rentals charged per the hour.

During the hot summer, another fun activity is soaking in the river. This activity is free.

View of Jinshan from the riverside. ​Upstream there are a few pools.

For our stay, we stayed in the "Adam" cabin. It's the only place here with wooden walls a roof.

View of inside the cabin. The inside of the cabin had western themed decorations, such as boots, cowboy hats, and toy guns.

There was A/C, a large fridge, and a fan. We were very comfortable staying here.

Wooden ornament outside made especially for Instagrammers.

Another view of the camp at sunset.

​View of downtown Jinshan, with Yehliu and Keelung Island in the background. From here, the Yehliu peninsula looks like a lady laying down (head to the left).

Further down the camp, there is a "Love" and swing. Actually there are a few swings all around the camp.

This is the shower building, which provides hot showers and good water pressure. Also there are free hair dryers.

If you need water, there is a shed to the left of camp which has a filtered water cooler that you can fill up at for free.

Playground above the horse arena.

Swinging doors in front of the restaurant.

In the future, this building will become a bar and they plan to have live music as well.

View of the camp looking north. There is one teepee and one spot where you can bring your own tent.

There are three or four barbecuing areas in the camp. They will come and make a charcoal fire for you, and provide food for your to grill.

They gave us tons of food, enough for four people. Because we were only two adults, we did not finish it all in one night.

Grilling sausage and wings. We also had green onions, mushrooms, pork patty's, and fish patties (tianbulu 甜不辣).

Another view of the grill. They gave us tons of meat.

Grilling green onions, mushrooms, wings, and sausage.

We also brought our own s'more ingredients. 

View of the camp at night. From about April to June you can see tons of fireflies here at night.

View of Jinshan at night with a starry sky above.

For breakfast, we all had an amazing Taiwan style beef and cheese burrito, which was amazing.

They also gave us a plate of nuggets and fries.

Originally they gave us two huge pitchers of tea, but because we don't drink tea they were kind enough to immediately change out the drinks.

They instead gave us some amazing cold hot cocoa and soymilk.

For dessert: a banana brown sugar pudding.

Another view of the pudding. 

The restaurant itself is unique, I have never seen anyone install western swinging doors in Taiwan.

There is also a bunch of other cowboy stuff around. The theme of the restaurant is "route 66."

You can try on any of the hats on the wall too.

Starting this ranch hasn't been easy. Mr. Z sleeps next to his horses every night, because he says if something goes wrong the horse could die in a matter of hours. Also all his horses were imported from the states. They shipped them over in a giant crate, and had to undergo a quarantine period at customs for a few days, during which Mr. Z had to go there and take care of them. The shipping for the horses cost more than the horses themselves. Caring for horses requires constant care, and running the camp has only been a secondary objective until recently.

From the ranch you can also see Xiaoguanyin Mountian in Yangmingshan National Park. The ranch is a just a few minutes drive away from the park.

Also while you are in Jinshan, you should check out Zhongjiao Bay (aka Zhongjiaowan 中角灣, or Zhongjiao Shazhu Wan 中角沙珠灣), a long sandy beach in Jinshan District of New Taipei, known as the most popular surfing location in Northern Taiwan. It is popular for surfing and swimming, and nearby there are also hikes, interesting rock formations, and the nearby Jinshan Old Street and Jinshan Hot Springs. It is definitely a relaxing place to spend an afternoon. Nearby you can also find other sandy beaches such as Jinshan Beach and Xialiao Beach 下寮灣 (Jinshan Ocean Waterpark). For our full blog of Zhongjiao Bay, click here.

Another place you should check out is Jinshan Old Street (aka Jinbaoli Old Street 金包里老街 Jīnbāolǐ lǎojiē), a popular historical street in Jinshan District of New Taipei. The most famous delicacy here is duck, but you can also find other traditional Taiwanese snacks among the numerous shops and restaurants here. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taiwan's Northern Coast. For our full blog of Jinshan Old Street, click here. 

After you come to Gold Mountain Ranch and Resort, there are lots of other fun things to do in the area. Jinshan is one of the most unique and beautiful places in Taiwan.

​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. 

​You can book a tour to Taiwan's North Coast on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

​Check out our full guide to Jinshan and Wanli here.

Check out our guide to the best beaches near Taipei here. 

Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here.

Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. 

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. ​

Zhuzihu is a small valley in Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園 Yángmíng shān guójiā gōngyuán, in Beitou District of Taipei City) between Qixing Mountian and Datun Mountian. The valley is especially fertile due to the rich volcanic soil and abundant rain, and the entire area is full of recreational farms which have become popular tourist destinations. You should definitely stop by on your trip to Yangmingshan. ​

Background:
Zhuzihu valley (竹子湖 Zhúzi hú) was formed from lava that flowed out from Datunshan (大屯山 Dà tún shān) and Xiaoguanyinshan (小觀音山 Xiǎo guānyīn shān). 
Due to its location as a high mountain valley, it rains easily here; annual rain accumulation is about 4500 mm. 
Before Chinese settlers came to this valley, it was simply a road from the Taipei Basin to the coast, and a hunting ground. In the early 1600s, the first Chinese settlers came to farm here in three main family groups. In 1895, a brief skirmish was fought here between the Japanese and local settlers who did not want to be part of the Japanese empire. 
The Japanese built hot springs here, experimental farms, a library, and a hiking dormitory. They began planting cabbage and rice here. 
After the ROC took over Taiwan, cabbage growing became less important, and the farmers here began planting flowers and catering to tourism instead. 
Now Zhuzihu is one of the most popular spots in Taipei to see flower gardens, mainly white and purple Arum-lilys (海芋 Hǎiyù) and Hydrangea (繡球花 Xiùqiú huā), which bloom from about February to June. 

Hours:
8 AM to 5 PM
(March 13th to June 21st, in 2026)
​
When to go:
From late February to early June, when the Arum-lilys and Hydrangea are in bloom. 
(竹子湖海芋季; 竹子湖繡球花季)
​
Price:
100 NT per person (can be used to purchase drinks, food, or other merchandise)
You can book tours to Yangmingshan on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here or here.

Tours:
You can check out tours to Yangmingshan, such as a One-day Yangmingshan NP Beitou Hot Spring Park and Tamsui Tour Package,  Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei, One Day Hike around Yangmingshan, or Private Yangmingshan Volcano Tour and more on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

Hotels in Taipei:
High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). 
We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). 
Budget Hotels: We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com hereor Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 2A north to the Zhizihu Lookout. At the roundabout, stay to the left off the main highway and then keep right until you reach the valley. Car parking is limited on weekends and the number of cars allowed up the mountain is also limited. There is free scooter parking everywhere. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Check out Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Bus: From Beitou MRT Station, Take Little Bus 9 (小9) to Fengjiakou Station (風架口). You can book tickets to travel to Taipei via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
​By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 
​
Map:
Please see below: 

Our Journey:

I have been to Zhuzihu about a dozen times, but I didn't really know about the flower season here for a long time. Some of the photos below are during flower season and some are not.

Check out our drone footage of the area below:

Please note that if you want to fly a drone in Yangmingshan National Park you need to apply online 7 days in advance and check in at one of the service centers to get a vest. I has permission to shoot this video. 

If you do not want to waste internet on your phone, check out the 360 spherical panorama of the area below:

The day I went to fly, it seemed that a lot of the Arum-lilys were already out of bloom (the white flowers), and there were alot more Hydrangea, which are the big spherical purple flowers you see. 

Flower season or not, Zhuzihu is always a beautiful place, a mystic valley nestled between old volcanoes. 

At the edge of the valley is a viewing platform, so if you have a telephoto lens you can skip the 100 NT entrance fee and take pictures from there. 

View looking south from the viewing platform. 

View from the air. 

Closeup on one of the gardens. 

View of the valley when it is not flower season. 

Another out of season view of the valley. Even during non flower season, Zhuxihu still has tons of visitors. 

Another view of the valley out of season. 

View from the platform looking at Xiaoyoukeng. 

Another view of Xiaoyoukeng.

You can book tours to Yangmingshan on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here or here.
You can check out tours to Yangmingshan such as a One-day Yangmingshan NP Beitou Hot Spring Park and Tamsui Tour Package,  Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei, One Day Hike around Yangmingshan, or Private Yangmingshan Volcano Tour and more on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.

We will be sure to update this blog in the future. Thanks for reading and be sure to check out more of our guides to Taiwan coming soon!

Check out our full guide to Yangmingshan National Park here. 

You can also check out our full guide to Beitou here. ​

Check out our Taipei hiking and trails guide here. 

Check out our guide to the best day trips from Taipei here. 

Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. 

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. 

Longmen is a scenic coastal biking area near Fulong Beach. Here you can also find sand dunes, a camp ground, and a large sports part. It is a great place to go cycling and enjoy the ocean views. 
​

Background:
​"The total distance of Lingmen bikeway is about 5 kilometers, the scenery along the route is very beautiful with green grass, river, and birds. The sea wave is magnificent, you can stand there to look Bitou Cape, Scenery of Laolan Mountain, and sunrise. The natural scenery such as Pacific Ocean, Shuangxi River, Longmen Park, and Yanliao Park, you can ride a bike with your family members to enjoy the scenery here."


Fulong Beach lies next to Fulong Village in Gongliao District of New Taipei, at the mouth of the Shuang River. It is special in Taiwan for its rare golden color.
The beach has been a popular swimming destination since the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. In 1959, the TRA created public showers and bridge that goes to the other side of the sandbar that you see today. 
The Fullon hotel resort sits in front of the paid beach and is a popular destination for Taipei residents. 
Taiwan's fourth nuclear reactor lies in the background of the beach, but it has never been operational and likely never will be due to the anti-nuclear power movement in Taiwan. 
Near the beach one can go camping at Longmen campground or biking on the Caoling bicycle loop. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7

Tours and Activities:
There are many activities available here at Longmen such as Windsurfing, SUP /paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also book tickets to the international Sand Sculpture Art festival on Klook here or KKday here.

When to go:
May to October when the weather is nice and the water is warm.
Winter on the northeast coast is cold and windy. 
Fulong sand sculpture season dates: April 19th - August 25th (2019).

Hotels in Fulong:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA train to Fulong Station. Walk straight from the station down to the beach! Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial higway 2 from Qidu in Keelung through the mountains past Shifen and Shuangxi until you reach Gongliao on the coast. The beach is right in front of the train station, and there is free parking in front of Dongxing Temple. Looking for scooter rental in Keelung? Search KKday here for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike bike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map:
​Please see below:

If you keep riding past the train station, you will come to Longmen Suspension bridge. The area around here is popular for camping and kayaking. 

There are many activities available here at Longmen such as Windsurfing, SUP /paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also book tickets to the international Sand Sculpture Art festival on Klook here or KKday here.​

View of the riverside near Longmen park facing upriver. ​

View downriver to Fulong Beach. ​

View looking the other way. ​

Likely Qing Dynasty era houses near the well.
​
​Experience the Magic of Fulong’s Sand Art Festival: Taiwan’s Premier Sand Sculpture Event 福隆國際沙雕藝術季

Longmen Campground is a large, well-operated camping area on the north coast and has cycling, kayaking, and other water activities nearby. It is definitely worth checking out on your next trip to northern Taiwan...(read more)

Longmen Beach 龍門沙灘

Longmen Beach is a long, sandy beach, quiet just north of Fulong Beach on Taiwan's Northeast Coast. The beach is not as well-kept as Fulong. However, this is still a peaceful and beautiful area devoid of crowds, and well worth a visit...(read more)
​
Fulong Beach 福隆海水浴場

Fulong Beach is my favorite beach in greater Taipei. It is easily accessible by public transportation (TRA Gongliao Station) and has beautiful golden sand, a large shallow swimming area, and tons of food options within walking distance. The paid part of the beach features sand sculptures and lifeguards, while the free part of the beach is less clean but there are no annoying lifeguards to whistle at you all the time, making it a foreigner's paradise...(read more)

There are many activities available here at Fulong Beach such as Windsurfing, SUP /paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also book tickets to the international Sand Sculpture Art Festival on Klook here or KKday here.

You can also book a Private Full Day Fulong International Sand Sculpture Tour on TripAdvisor here. ​

We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, TripAdvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
​We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, TripAdvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 

​Check out our full guide to Fulong Beach here. ​

Caoling - Fulong Bicycle Loop 草嶺-福隆環狀線

The Fulong-Coaling-Sandiao Cape- bike route is one of the most biker-friendly routes in Taiwan, the roughly 2 hour loop is something that the whole family can enjoy. It includes a 2KM ride through the Old Coaling Railroad Tunnel, as well as a ride along the Sandiao Cape coast on an enclosed bike path, where one can enjoy great views of the ocean, Turtle Island, wavy geological features on the coastline, and historical stone villages along the way. This bike route is highly recommended for people of all ages...(read more)

You can book a tour to the Caoling Tunnel on KKday here. 

​Check out our full blog on the Fulong-Coaling-Sandiao Cape- bike route here. 

There are many activities available here at Longmen such as Windsurfing, SUP /paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also book tickets to the international Sand Sculpture Art festival on Klook here or KKday here.

You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​
​
Check out our guide to the best beaches near Taipei here. 

​Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here. 

Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. 

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. ​

The Fulong-Coaling-Sandiao Cape- bike route is one of the most bike-friendly routes in Taiwan; the roughly 2-hour loop is something that the whole family can enjoy. It includes a 2KM ride through the Old Coaling Railroad Tunnel, as well as a ride along the Sandiao Cape coast on an enclosed bike path, where one can enjoy great views of the ocean, Turtle Island, wavy geological features on the coastline, and historical stone villages along the way. This bike route is highly recommended for people of all ages. ​

Background:
The area around Fulong was originally inhabited by the Basay indigenous tribe, who had a village and hunting grounds there.
In 1626, the Spanish landed near Fulong and renamed the location Santiago (transliterated from Taiwanese as Sandiao 三貂, as in Sandiao Cape). After the Qing colonized Taiwan, many Fujianese fishermen relocated to the area and began to build the iconic stone houses you can see today.
The Old Caoling Tunnel was built in 1924 during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, and is 2,167 meters long. At the time it was built, it was the longest tunnel in Taiwan.
The tunnel took 3 years to build due to delays from Malaria, remoteness of the location, and digging accidents killing 11 people and injuring over 300. 
The tunnel was only one lane wide, too narrow for electric trains, and so was decommissioned in 1985 and lay waste for 22 years.
The tunnel was reopened when the Coaling Bicycle Loop was created in 2007, using the old Coaling Tunnel as its main looping point. 

Also, along the northeast coast are some old fishing villages that have been around since the Qing Dynasty, including traditional stone houses. One of these historical villages, called Magang (馬崗), is in danger of destruction to make way for a resort. however as Li Yongping out it "The thing that attracts modern travelers most is not 5-star hotels, but history and culture!" Save the Magang Stone Houses!
Besides these historical sites, there is amazing scenery along the bike ride, such as views of Turtle Island and long flat sections of layered rock (see below to know what I am talking about). 

Price:
Bicycle Rental: 100-500 NT, depending on the bike
Electric Bicycle Rental: 300-400 NT
You can search for bike rentals on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

Riding Time: 
The whole bike route is about 20 KM and takes 1-2 hours to complete.
We were going really slow with many pit stops, and it took us 2 hours. 

Hours:
The Old Caoling Tunnel is open from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
It is okay to walk through the tunnel on weekdays, but on weekends, only bike traffic is allowed for safety reasons. 

When to go:
May to October, when the weather is nice and the water is warm.
Winter on the northeast coast is cold and windy. 

Tours and Activities:
You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as Su'ao Crayon Castle, Taipingshan, Turtle Island, Lanyang Museum, Toucheng Leisure Farm, Zhang Mei Ama Capybura Farm, Bambi Land, Yinong Ranch, National Center for Traditional Arts, Taxi Museum, Glamping, Camping, ATV / 4-wheeling experience, SUP / paddle boarding, Ximeng Forest Theater, Surfing, Kayaking, Horse Riding, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Water Biking, Snorkeling, Canoeing, Shrimping and many others through Klook here or KKday here. 

Accommodation:
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
We have stayed at and recommend Fullon Hotel, which has a location right on the beach in Fulong (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Klook here). We have also stayed at Toucheng Leisure Farm, a recreational farm and experience center in Toucheng (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, on Klook here, or on Trip.com here).
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. ​

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA train to Fulong Station. Walk straight from the station and you will see tons of bike rental shops. You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yialn via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
Bicycle rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 from Qidu in Keelung through the mountains past Shifen and Shuangxi until you reach Gongliao on the coast. The beach is right in front of the train station, and there is free parking in front of Dongxing Temple. From there you can walk to the train station where there are bike rentals everywhere. Looking for scooter rental in Yilan? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals in Yilan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. ​

Map:
Please see below: 

Our Journey:

I have completed the Caoling Bicycle loop only once, but it was fun. 12/10 would recommend. See below for my full Gopro Video of the loop (sped up).

If you watch the video above slowly, you won't miss anything. You're welcome for the virtual tour. 

​But if you want some explanation of the ride, see the rest of the blog below.

The trail is pretty straight forward. You start out from Fulong train station, then make a loop around the peninsula (including going through the Caoling Tunnel). 

In front of Fulong Station there are plenty of places to eat and rent bikes. Don't expect to find Youbike here. 

Also be sure to try to the Fulong Bento box, which is an amazing lunch for cheap.

Very tradition Taiwanese lunch that you should try. 

Once you have found a bike shop you like, go ahead and rent a bike. We rented an electric tandem bike for 400 NT per day. 

You might think we are wimps but we had to carry a baby and a bunch of gear so we did it this way. 

First we rode out of downtown Fulong on toward the Caoling Tunnel. 

On the way, you will pass the new Caoling Tunnel which is operational and sits right next to the old Coaling Tunnel. 

In front of the tunnel are some train tracks and a retired train engine that you can take pictures with. 

Also you should take a picture of the tunnel entrance, but make sure you do not get hit by some little kid on a bike. 

Inside the tunnel is nice and cool on a hot day. Also watch out for dripping water in here. 

About halfway through the tunnel, you will cross the boundary between Yilan County and New Taipei City. 

On the other side of the tunnel you will find yourself in a small village in Yilan called Shicheng (石城, literally Stone City); there are usually a few roadside food stands here, and you will also find traditional stone houses here that are over 100 years old. 

At Shicheng there are some food stalls and more places to rent bikes.

Another view of the other side of the tunnel which has plenty of bicycle parking. If you don't want to bike up any hills, turn back now. 

View of Turltle Island from near the entrance of Coaling Tunnel. 

The beautiful wave carved sedimentary rock shores on the northeast coast of Taiwan. 

More of the sedimentary lines in the rock. Note that all along the road from Caoling Tunnel to Fulong there is a closed off bike path, which means you don't have to worry about being hit by scooters or cars coming by. 

The geology here is simple breathtaking. 

More amazing geology. 

View with Turtle Island in the background. 

More amazing views. 

View looking north up the coast.

More views of the coast.

Flat rocks and some abandoned fish farms. 

All along the coast you will see traditional Fujianese stone houses. These houses date back to the Qing Dynasty when many Fujianese settlers colonized Taiwan. These buildings are actually quite rare on the Taiwan Mainland, although there are still plenty of them in Matsu. 

More of that beautiful coastline. 

More breathtaking views. 

Soon you will come to the most northeast part of mainland Taiwan. More photo taking opportunities. 

There is a new EAST PARK here, which celebrates the easternmost park of Taiwan, 極東公園

There are places to park bikes here.

There is also a lighthouse here on top of the hill called Sandiaojiao Lighthouse (三貂角燈塔), also known as the Santiago Cape Lighthouse.

By this time, we were halfway there. 

Another view of the hilly geography near the lighthouse. 

You can ride your bike up the steep road to the left of the light house (much easier with an electric bike) or hike up the steps from the shore.

The lighthouse is a nice place to relax. Sandiaojiao Lighthouse (三貂角燈塔), also known as the Santiago Cape Lighthouse, built in 1935 by the Japanese. You cannot go inside, but you can enjoy the views from the top o the hill there and the museum inside. 

You can check out our drone video of the lighthouse above. Please note this video was taken before March 31, 2020, and flying near the radar is now off limits. 

You can also check out the 360 degree spherical panorama of the area above.

View of the lighthouse looking north.

View of the lighthouse with Turtle Island in the background. 

Park near the lighthouse full of tourists. 

"Sandiao Cape Lighthouse"
"The round white lighthouse you see before you is the Sandiao Cape Lighthouse at the easternmost extremity of Taiwan. The lighthouse was completed in 1935 and was damaged by bombing and strafing during WWII, repaired after the war ended, it began flashing its guiding light again in 1946. You can still see bullet holes from WWII machine guns in its walls. A display room inside has exhibits of lighthouse-related equipment and information. This is the only lighthouse in northern Taiwan that is open to the public."

View in front of the lighthouse. 

There are some much needed bathrooms here. 

Miniature model of the lighthouse. 

"Protractor" and other artifacts in the lighthouse. 

Old light-bulb. 

View looking at the radar and graveyard behind. 

"Introduction of Turtle Island" (seen behind the foliage here)
"Turtle Island, named for its turtle like shape, is an inactive isolated volcanic island located about 10 km east of Toucheng Town in Yilan Coutny, It is approximately three kilometres long and about two kilometres wide, and has a total area of 2.85 square milometers. The length of its shoreline is approximately 9 kilometres. Known for its beautiful sunrise, precipitous cliff, teaming sulfur, hot spring, mountain peaks, sea eroded caves, lake, special cliff vegetation and rich marine ecological resources, this islet is an ideal outdoor classroom for the study of volcanic geology and natural ecology."
For our full blog on Turtle island, click here.

More interesting coastline near the light house. 

The reflective pools here are fun to take photos with.

Fishermen on the rocks.

View looking back at Sandiao Cape.

View of Bitou Cape.