Foreigners in Taiwan - 外國人在臺灣
  • Home
  • Travel Guides
    • Full Taiwan Travel Guide
    • Outer Islands >
      • All Outer Islands
      • Xiaoliuqiu >
        • Xiaoliuqiu Ferry Guide
        • Xiaoliuqiu Snorkeling Guide
      • Penghu >
        • Shanshui Beach
        • Shili Beach
        • Aimen Beach
        • Serpent Head Mountain
        • Fongguei Cave
        • Moses Parting Sea
        • Penghu Great Bridge
        • Penghu Best Beaches
      • Green Island
      • Orchid Island
      • Kinmen
      • Matsu
      • Turtle Island
      • Keelung Islet
    • Taipei >
      • Full Guide to Taipei
      • Family and Kids Guide to Taipei
      • Beitou Hot Springs >
        • Beitou Hotels
        • Beitou Food Guide
        • Marshal Zen Garden
        • Beitou Public Hot Spring
        • Beitou Museum
        • Beitou Library
        • Xinbeitou Station
        • Puji Temple
        • Thermal Valley
        • Beitou Hot Spring Museum
        • Ketagalan Cultural Center
        • Beitou Park
        • Willie's Deli
      • Taipei 101
      • Museum Guide
      • Night Market Guide
      • Old Street Guide
      • Best Beaches
      • Waterfall Guide
      • Hiking Guide
      • Best Views
      • Parents and Kids Guide
      • Best Day Trips
      • One Day Itenerary
      • Nangang
    • Northern Taiwan >
      • Keelung
      • Hsinchu
      • Taoyuan
      • Northern Coast
      • Yangmingshan
      • Pingxi Railway
      • Tamsui
      • Wulai
      • Heping Island
      • Four Furthest Points
      • Shiding
    • Southern Taiwan >
      • Kenting
      • Chiayi
      • Tainan
      • Kaohsiung
      • Pingtung
      • Maolin
      • Lotus Pond
      • Moon World
      • Cheng Ching Lake
      • Qijin
    • Eastern Taiwan >
      • Taroko Gorge
      • Tapingshan
      • Yilan
      • Hualien
      • Taitung
      • Taroko National Park
      • Toucheng
      • East Coast
      • East Rift Valley
      • Sanxiantai
    • Central Taiwan >
      • Sun Moon Lake
      • Alishan
      • Alishan Forest Railway
      • Nantou
      • Taichung
      • Miaoli
      • Changhua
      • Yunlin
    • Transportation >
      • Car Rental
      • Scooter/Moped Rental
      • Cycling Guide
      • Transportation FAQ
      • Circling Taiwan by Car
    • Hotels / Accomodation >
      • Hotel FAQ
      • Taiwan Hotel Map
      • Long Term Hotels
      • Camping
    • Food >
      • Taiwan Food Guide
      • Taiwan Fruit Guide
      • Taiwan Mango Guide
      • Hot Pot Buffet
      • Taiwan Dessert Guide
    • Taiwan Travel Maps
    • Foreigner Survival Guide
  • Taiwan FAQ
    • Daily Life >
      • Apartment Rental
      • Banking
      • Credit Cards
      • Giving Birth
      • Buying a Car
      • Buying a House
      • Buying a Scooter
      • Daily Life FAQ
      • Driver's License Test
      • Healthcare
      • Marriage
      • Preschool
      • Retirement
      • School / Education
      • Tax
      • Work FAQ
    • Immigration >
      • APRC
      • ARC Number Change
      • Alien Digital Certificate
      • Employment Gold Card
      • Immigration / Visa FAQ
      • Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa FAQ
    • Geography and Weather >
      • Geography
      • Time and Date
      • Weather and Climate
    • Travel >
      • Car Rental
      • Camping
      • Cycling
      • Drone Flying
      • Foreigner Survival Guide
      • Hotel FAQ
      • International Driving Permit
      • Long Term Hotels
      • Sailing
      • Scooter/Moped Rental
      • Taipei FAQ
      • Tourist Sites FAQ
      • Transportation FAQ
    • People and Culture >
      • Economy / Living Standards
      • Culture FAQ
      • Taiwan Festival Guide
      • Fruit
      • Funeral and Death Rites
      • Politics
      • Taiwan Snow Chasing Guide
      • 228 Peace Memorial Day Guide
    • Full Taiwan FAQ List
  • Blog
    • Blog Feed
    • Blog Index
    • Taiwan Travel Blog
    • Global Expat Travel Blog >
      • Hakka Kitchen
      • Bank Comparison
      • Snow Hakka
      • Mid-Autumn Festival
      • Ghost Month
      • Taiwan Vs. Thailand
      • Morakot
      • Gaemi
      • Mango Guide
      • Sand Fest
      • TD 19
      • Krathon
      • Typhoon Kong-Rey
      • Shen'ao Railbike
      • Museum of World Religions
      • Nanjichang Night Market
      • Popsmile Tourist Factory
      • Taiwan Science Center
      • Taiwan Better Than Thailand
      • Hualien Besides Taroko
      • Taiwan Car Rental Guide
      • Lunar/Chinese New Year Guide
      • Taiwan Lantern Festival Guide
      • Tomb Sweeping Festival
      • Taiwan Cherry Blossom Guide
      • Children's Day
      • Firefly Guide
  • Maps
    • Taiwan Blog Sites Map
    • Taiwan Hotel Map
    • Other Cool Maps >
      • Josh Ellis Blog Map
      • Xiaofei Map of Maps
      • Shinto Shrine Map
      • Working Coffee Shops Map
      • Taiwan Tales and Trails Blog Map
      • Hidden Taiwan Map
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Twitter (X)
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Current Time and Date in Taiwan
    • Privacy
    • More >
      • Taiwan Travel Blog Posts >
        • Guide to Taiwan
        • Taiwan’s Outer Islands. >
          • Turtle Island (Guishan Island)
          • Green Island 綠島
          • Xiaoliuqiu Island (小琉球)
          • Keelung Islet (基隆嶼)
          • Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼
          • Kinmen Islands Guide
          • Matsu Islands
          • Penghu Guide
        • Taiwan Cycling Guide – The Ultimate Guide to the Bicycle Kingdom 台灣騎自行車指南
        • The Ultimate Taiwan Scooter/Motorcycle Rental Guide 在臺灣租機車
        • The Ultimate Taiwan Car Rental Guide – Save Money on Your Next Trip 臺灣租汽車指南
        • Camping in Taiwan Guide – Everything you Need to Know 在台灣露營常見問題
        • Taiwan Blogroll – Top English Blogs to Follow for All Things Taiwan
        • The Ultimate Travel Guide to Taipei 臺北旅遊指南 >
          • Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山懶人包 – Your Complete Travel Guide
          • Ultimate Guide to Taipei’s Old Streets 台北老街指南
          • The Ultimate Travel Guide to Pingxi and Shifen 平溪懶人包
          • The Ultimate One-Day Taipei Itinerary 一天在臺北怎麽旅遊
          • The Ultimate Guide to Taipei’s Night Markets 臺北夜市指南
          • The Most Awesome Day Trips from Taipei 台北一日遊景點
          • The Complete 2025 Beitou Hot Springs Guide: Soak Like Royalty 北投溫泉英文指南
          • The Best Views of the Taipei 101 (Best Places to see New Year’s Fireworks) 欣賞101煙火的最佳地點
          • The Best Beaches Near Taipei: North Taiwan’s Top 10 台北前10名的沙灘 >
            • Hualien Travel Guide 花蓮懶人包 – The Most Beautiful Part of Taiwan >
              • What to See and Do in Hualien Besides Taroko Gorge
              • Ultimate Taroko National Park Travel Guide – Explore the Deepest Marble Gorge on Earth 太魯閣國家公園懶人包
              • Taroko Gorge Travel Guide (太魯閣) – Taiwan’s Most Breathtaking Geological Feature
          • Tamsui Travel Guide – Taipei’s Amazing Historic Riverside Town 淡水最佳的景點
          • Taipei’s Waterfall Guide – Explore the City’s Most Breathtaking Falls 台北瀑布指南
          • Taipei Museum Guide – Discover the Best Museums in Taipei 臺北博物館指南
          • Taipei City Hiking Guide – The Best Hikes in Taipei 台灣爬山指南
          • Taipei 101: The Ultimate Guide to Taiwan’s Tallest Tower (臺北101)
          • Shifen Waterfall and Old Street Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
          • Qingtiangang Grassland: See Amazing Views and Buffalo Close-Up 擎天崗
          • Our Travel Guide to Wulai – Taipei’s Amazing Mountain Paradise (烏來旅遊指南)
          • Jiufen Old Street – Taiwan’s Amazing Mountainside Village 九份老街
          • Dihua Street and Dadaocheng – Taipei’s Amazing Historical Hipster Paradise 迪化街及大稻埕
          • Children and Parent’s Travel Guide to Taipei 小孩及家長台北旅遊指南
        • Taiwan’s Northern Coast Travel Guide – Discover a Beautiful and Amazing Coastline 台灣北海岸懶人包 >
          • Yehliu Geopark – The Amazing Crown Jewel of Taiwan’s Northern Coast 野柳地質公園
        • Keelung Travel Guide – Best Places to See in the Harbor City 基隆旅遊指南
        • Taoyuan Travel Guide – More Than Just an Airport City 桃園旅游懶人包
        • Travel Guide to Hsinchu 新竹懶人包 – Taiwan’s Charming Tech Hub
        • Miaoli Travel Guide – Discover this Amazing Mountainous Backwater 苗栗旅遊懶人包 >
          • Huoyanshan
        • Taichung Travel Guide 台中旅遊懶人包 – Discover Central Taiwan’s Hidden Secrets
        • Gaomei Wetlands – Complete Guide to Taichung’s Amazing Wildlife Area 高美濕地
        • Nantou Travel Guide – Taiwan’s Most Stunning Mountain Getaway 南投縣懶人包
        • Sun Moon Lake Travel Guide – Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Lake 日月潭旅游指南
        • Changhua Travel Guide – Fall in Love with Taiwan’s Historical Central County 彰化懒人包
        • Chiayi Travel Guide – Best Places to Visit, Eat & Explore 嘉義懶人包
        • Alishan 阿里山 – Taiwan’s Ultimate Mountain Destination
        • Alishan Forest Railway Travel Guide (阿里山森林鐵路) – Taiwan’s Most Scenic Rail Line
        • Yunlin Travel Guide 雲林旅遊懶人包 – A Rural Wonderland in Southwest Taiwan
        • Tainan Travel Guide: Discover Taiwan’s Oldest City & Ultimate Foodie Paradise – 臺南懶人包
        • Travel Guide to Kaohsiung – Southern Taiwan’s Most Vibrant City 高雄旅遊懶人包 >
          • Tianliao Moon World Travel Guide 田寮月世界 – Taiwan’s Out-of-this-World Geopark
          • Qijin (Cijin) Island Travel Guide – Koahsiung’s Best Beach Destination 旗津懶人包
          • Maolin Travel Guide 茂林旅游懶人包 – Our Favorite Place in Taiwan
          • Monkey Mountain (Shoushan) 壽山 – Taiwan’s Best Monkey-Spotting Location
          • Lotus Pond Travel Guide 蓮池潭 – Kaohsiung’s Scenic Temple Area
          • Cheng Ching Lake Ultimate Travel Guide 澄清湖完整導覽
          • Pingtung Travel Guide – Explore Taiwan’s Sunniest County 屏東旅遊懶人包
          • Kenting Travel Guide 墾丁懶人包 – The Best Beaches in Taiwan
          • Travel Guide to Yilan 宜蘭懶人包 – Beaches, Mountains, Hot Springs, and more
          • Guide to Toucheng 頭城懶人包 – Yilan’s Amazing Seaside Paradise
          • Taipingshan Travel Guide 太平山 – Discover Yilan’s Amazing Mountain Scenery
          • Our Guide to Taiwan’s East Coast 台灣東海岸指南 – Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Coastline
          • Taiwan’s East Rift Valley (Huadong Valley) Travel Guide 花東縱谷旅遊指南 – The Most Beautiful Places in Taiwan
          • Taitung Travel Guide – Top Things to Do in Taiwan’s Outdoor Tourism Paradise 台東懶人包
          • Taiwan National Public Holiday Guide 台灣國定假日指南
          • The Ultimate Taiwan Hotel Guide 臺灣飯店指南
          • The Ultimate Taiwan SIM Card, eSIM, and Portable Wi-Fi Guide
          • The Ultimate Taiwan Transportation Guide 台灣交通常見問題
          • The Ultimate Taiwan Butterfly Watching Guide 台灣賞蝴蝶指南
          • The Ultimate Foreigner’s Guide for Surviving in Taiwan 外國人在台灣存活指南
  • Home
  • Travel Guides
    • Full Taiwan Travel Guide
    • Outer Islands >
      • All Outer Islands
      • Xiaoliuqiu >
        • Xiaoliuqiu Ferry Guide
        • Xiaoliuqiu Snorkeling Guide
      • Penghu >
        • Shanshui Beach
        • Shili Beach
        • Aimen Beach
        • Serpent Head Mountain
        • Fongguei Cave
        • Moses Parting Sea
        • Penghu Great Bridge
        • Penghu Best Beaches
      • Green Island
      • Orchid Island
      • Kinmen
      • Matsu
      • Turtle Island
      • Keelung Islet
    • Taipei >
      • Full Guide to Taipei
      • Family and Kids Guide to Taipei
      • Beitou Hot Springs >
        • Beitou Hotels
        • Beitou Food Guide
        • Marshal Zen Garden
        • Beitou Public Hot Spring
        • Beitou Museum
        • Beitou Library
        • Xinbeitou Station
        • Puji Temple
        • Thermal Valley
        • Beitou Hot Spring Museum
        • Ketagalan Cultural Center
        • Beitou Park
        • Willie's Deli
      • Taipei 101
      • Museum Guide
      • Night Market Guide
      • Old Street Guide
      • Best Beaches
      • Waterfall Guide
      • Hiking Guide
      • Best Views
      • Parents and Kids Guide
      • Best Day Trips
      • One Day Itenerary
      • Nangang
    • Northern Taiwan >
      • Keelung
      • Hsinchu
      • Taoyuan
      • Northern Coast
      • Yangmingshan
      • Pingxi Railway
      • Tamsui
      • Wulai
      • Heping Island
      • Four Furthest Points
      • Shiding
    • Southern Taiwan >
      • Kenting
      • Chiayi
      • Tainan
      • Kaohsiung
      • Pingtung
      • Maolin
      • Lotus Pond
      • Moon World
      • Cheng Ching Lake
      • Qijin
    • Eastern Taiwan >
      • Taroko Gorge
      • Tapingshan
      • Yilan
      • Hualien
      • Taitung
      • Taroko National Park
      • Toucheng
      • East Coast
      • East Rift Valley
      • Sanxiantai
    • Central Taiwan >
      • Sun Moon Lake
      • Alishan
      • Alishan Forest Railway
      • Nantou
      • Taichung
      • Miaoli
      • Changhua
      • Yunlin
    • Transportation >
      • Car Rental
      • Scooter/Moped Rental
      • Cycling Guide
      • Transportation FAQ
      • Circling Taiwan by Car
    • Hotels / Accomodation >
      • Hotel FAQ
      • Taiwan Hotel Map
      • Long Term Hotels
      • Camping
    • Food >
      • Taiwan Food Guide
      • Taiwan Fruit Guide
      • Taiwan Mango Guide
      • Hot Pot Buffet
      • Taiwan Dessert Guide
    • Taiwan Travel Maps
    • Foreigner Survival Guide
  • Taiwan FAQ
    • Daily Life >
      • Apartment Rental
      • Banking
      • Credit Cards
      • Giving Birth
      • Buying a Car
      • Buying a House
      • Buying a Scooter
      • Daily Life FAQ
      • Driver's License Test
      • Healthcare
      • Marriage
      • Preschool
      • Retirement
      • School / Education
      • Tax
      • Work FAQ
    • Immigration >
      • APRC
      • ARC Number Change
      • Alien Digital Certificate
      • Employment Gold Card
      • Immigration / Visa FAQ
      • Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa FAQ
    • Geography and Weather >
      • Geography
      • Time and Date
      • Weather and Climate
    • Travel >
      • Car Rental
      • Camping
      • Cycling
      • Drone Flying
      • Foreigner Survival Guide
      • Hotel FAQ
      • International Driving Permit
      • Long Term Hotels
      • Sailing
      • Scooter/Moped Rental
      • Taipei FAQ
      • Tourist Sites FAQ
      • Transportation FAQ
    • People and Culture >
      • Economy / Living Standards
      • Culture FAQ
      • Taiwan Festival Guide
      • Fruit
      • Funeral and Death Rites
      • Politics
      • Taiwan Snow Chasing Guide
      • 228 Peace Memorial Day Guide
    • Full Taiwan FAQ List
  • Blog
    • Blog Feed
    • Blog Index
    • Taiwan Travel Blog
    • Global Expat Travel Blog >
      • Hakka Kitchen
      • Bank Comparison
      • Snow Hakka
      • Mid-Autumn Festival
      • Ghost Month
      • Taiwan Vs. Thailand
      • Morakot
      • Gaemi
      • Mango Guide
      • Sand Fest
      • TD 19
      • Krathon
      • Typhoon Kong-Rey
      • Shen'ao Railbike
      • Museum of World Religions
      • Nanjichang Night Market
      • Popsmile Tourist Factory
      • Taiwan Science Center
      • Taiwan Better Than Thailand
      • Hualien Besides Taroko
      • Taiwan Car Rental Guide
      • Lunar/Chinese New Year Guide
      • Taiwan Lantern Festival Guide
      • Tomb Sweeping Festival
      • Taiwan Cherry Blossom Guide
      • Children's Day
      • Firefly Guide
  • Maps
    • Taiwan Blog Sites Map
    • Taiwan Hotel Map
    • Other Cool Maps >
      • Josh Ellis Blog Map
      • Xiaofei Map of Maps
      • Shinto Shrine Map
      • Working Coffee Shops Map
      • Taiwan Tales and Trails Blog Map
      • Hidden Taiwan Map
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Twitter (X)
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Current Time and Date in Taiwan
    • Privacy
    • More >
      • Taiwan Travel Blog Posts >
        • Guide to Taiwan
        • Taiwan’s Outer Islands. >
          • Turtle Island (Guishan Island)
          • Green Island 綠島
          • Xiaoliuqiu Island (小琉球)
          • Keelung Islet (基隆嶼)
          • Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼
          • Kinmen Islands Guide
          • Matsu Islands
          • Penghu Guide
        • Taiwan Cycling Guide – The Ultimate Guide to the Bicycle Kingdom 台灣騎自行車指南
        • The Ultimate Taiwan Scooter/Motorcycle Rental Guide 在臺灣租機車
        • The Ultimate Taiwan Car Rental Guide – Save Money on Your Next Trip 臺灣租汽車指南
        • Camping in Taiwan Guide – Everything you Need to Know 在台灣露營常見問題
        • Taiwan Blogroll – Top English Blogs to Follow for All Things Taiwan
        • The Ultimate Travel Guide to Taipei 臺北旅遊指南 >
          • Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山懶人包 – Your Complete Travel Guide
          • Ultimate Guide to Taipei’s Old Streets 台北老街指南
          • The Ultimate Travel Guide to Pingxi and Shifen 平溪懶人包
          • The Ultimate One-Day Taipei Itinerary 一天在臺北怎麽旅遊
          • The Ultimate Guide to Taipei’s Night Markets 臺北夜市指南
          • The Most Awesome Day Trips from Taipei 台北一日遊景點
          • The Complete 2025 Beitou Hot Springs Guide: Soak Like Royalty 北投溫泉英文指南
          • The Best Views of the Taipei 101 (Best Places to see New Year’s Fireworks) 欣賞101煙火的最佳地點
          • The Best Beaches Near Taipei: North Taiwan’s Top 10 台北前10名的沙灘 >
            • Hualien Travel Guide 花蓮懶人包 – The Most Beautiful Part of Taiwan >
              • What to See and Do in Hualien Besides Taroko Gorge
              • Ultimate Taroko National Park Travel Guide – Explore the Deepest Marble Gorge on Earth 太魯閣國家公園懶人包
              • Taroko Gorge Travel Guide (太魯閣) – Taiwan’s Most Breathtaking Geological Feature
          • Tamsui Travel Guide – Taipei’s Amazing Historic Riverside Town 淡水最佳的景點
          • Taipei’s Waterfall Guide – Explore the City’s Most Breathtaking Falls 台北瀑布指南
          • Taipei Museum Guide – Discover the Best Museums in Taipei 臺北博物館指南
          • Taipei City Hiking Guide – The Best Hikes in Taipei 台灣爬山指南
          • Taipei 101: The Ultimate Guide to Taiwan’s Tallest Tower (臺北101)
          • Shifen Waterfall and Old Street Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
          • Qingtiangang Grassland: See Amazing Views and Buffalo Close-Up 擎天崗
          • Our Travel Guide to Wulai – Taipei’s Amazing Mountain Paradise (烏來旅遊指南)
          • Jiufen Old Street – Taiwan’s Amazing Mountainside Village 九份老街
          • Dihua Street and Dadaocheng – Taipei’s Amazing Historical Hipster Paradise 迪化街及大稻埕
          • Children and Parent’s Travel Guide to Taipei 小孩及家長台北旅遊指南
        • Taiwan’s Northern Coast Travel Guide – Discover a Beautiful and Amazing Coastline 台灣北海岸懶人包 >
          • Yehliu Geopark – The Amazing Crown Jewel of Taiwan’s Northern Coast 野柳地質公園
        • Keelung Travel Guide – Best Places to See in the Harbor City 基隆旅遊指南
        • Taoyuan Travel Guide – More Than Just an Airport City 桃園旅游懶人包
        • Travel Guide to Hsinchu 新竹懶人包 – Taiwan’s Charming Tech Hub
        • Miaoli Travel Guide – Discover this Amazing Mountainous Backwater 苗栗旅遊懶人包 >
          • Huoyanshan
        • Taichung Travel Guide 台中旅遊懶人包 – Discover Central Taiwan’s Hidden Secrets
        • Gaomei Wetlands – Complete Guide to Taichung’s Amazing Wildlife Area 高美濕地
        • Nantou Travel Guide – Taiwan’s Most Stunning Mountain Getaway 南投縣懶人包
        • Sun Moon Lake Travel Guide – Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Lake 日月潭旅游指南
        • Changhua Travel Guide – Fall in Love with Taiwan’s Historical Central County 彰化懒人包
        • Chiayi Travel Guide – Best Places to Visit, Eat & Explore 嘉義懶人包
        • Alishan 阿里山 – Taiwan’s Ultimate Mountain Destination
        • Alishan Forest Railway Travel Guide (阿里山森林鐵路) – Taiwan’s Most Scenic Rail Line
        • Yunlin Travel Guide 雲林旅遊懶人包 – A Rural Wonderland in Southwest Taiwan
        • Tainan Travel Guide: Discover Taiwan’s Oldest City & Ultimate Foodie Paradise – 臺南懶人包
        • Travel Guide to Kaohsiung – Southern Taiwan’s Most Vibrant City 高雄旅遊懶人包 >
          • Tianliao Moon World Travel Guide 田寮月世界 – Taiwan’s Out-of-this-World Geopark
          • Qijin (Cijin) Island Travel Guide – Koahsiung’s Best Beach Destination 旗津懶人包
          • Maolin Travel Guide 茂林旅游懶人包 – Our Favorite Place in Taiwan
          • Monkey Mountain (Shoushan) 壽山 – Taiwan’s Best Monkey-Spotting Location
          • Lotus Pond Travel Guide 蓮池潭 – Kaohsiung’s Scenic Temple Area
          • Cheng Ching Lake Ultimate Travel Guide 澄清湖完整導覽
          • Pingtung Travel Guide – Explore Taiwan’s Sunniest County 屏東旅遊懶人包
          • Kenting Travel Guide 墾丁懶人包 – The Best Beaches in Taiwan
          • Travel Guide to Yilan 宜蘭懶人包 – Beaches, Mountains, Hot Springs, and more
          • Guide to Toucheng 頭城懶人包 – Yilan’s Amazing Seaside Paradise
          • Taipingshan Travel Guide 太平山 – Discover Yilan’s Amazing Mountain Scenery
          • Our Guide to Taiwan’s East Coast 台灣東海岸指南 – Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Coastline
          • Taiwan’s East Rift Valley (Huadong Valley) Travel Guide 花東縱谷旅遊指南 – The Most Beautiful Places in Taiwan
          • Taitung Travel Guide – Top Things to Do in Taiwan’s Outdoor Tourism Paradise 台東懶人包
          • Taiwan National Public Holiday Guide 台灣國定假日指南
          • The Ultimate Taiwan Hotel Guide 臺灣飯店指南
          • The Ultimate Taiwan SIM Card, eSIM, and Portable Wi-Fi Guide
          • The Ultimate Taiwan Transportation Guide 台灣交通常見問題
          • The Ultimate Taiwan Butterfly Watching Guide 台灣賞蝴蝶指南
          • The Ultimate Foreigner’s Guide for Surviving in Taiwan 外國人在台灣存活指南

Blog Posts

Guide to Taiwan's Outer Islands 台灣外島之旅游指南

1/1/2026

0 Comments

 

Share

Tweet
Picture
Taiwan's outer islands are some of the most beautiful and scenic places in the whole country, and each of them can be considered a secret paradise. You can find the best beaches, snorkeling, and diving on these islands. You can also find rich and important historical sites here. Transportation may be difficult, but you will never regret visiting Taiwan's outer islands, and no trip to Taiwan should be complete without doing it.

Planning your trip to Taiwan?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

  • Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn when it is not too hot or cold and less rainy
  • How to get there: Plane tickets via Trip.com
  • Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
  • Book tours and activities in Taiwan on Klook
  • Stay connected with a local SIM
  • Rent a car to explore distant sights

In this blog, we will introduce the main outer islands in Taiwan that are open to tourists (there are 166 islands in Taiwan, this blog only covers a few), point out their unique traits, and compare them to each other.  This way you can best prepare for your trip to the outer islands, and at the same time know what you are missing out on. All the outer Islands are great, and I highly recommend visiting them all if you can.

When to visit:
  • Xiaoliuqiu Island 小琉球: Anytime! Xiaoliuqiu is a tropical island that has warm water and temperatures (above 25 degrees Celsius) year round. 
  • Green Island 綠島 : The month of May is best time to go to Green Island and Orchid Island when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons.
  • Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼: The month of May, same as Green Island above. 
  • Turtle Island (Guishan Island) 龜山島: March-November. Boat tours are generally closed from December to February due to rough seas and cold weather. 
  • Keelung Islet 基隆嶼: Boats to Keelung Islet are only available from April to October due to northeasterly winds in the winter.
  • The Matsu Islands 馬祖列島: We recommend going to Matsu between April and June when you can see the "blue tear" phosphorescent microbes in the water.
  • Kinmen 金門: Autumn is said to be the best time to visit Kinmen, when there are still warm temperature and not too much rainfall. 
  • Penghu 澎湖群島: Spring to Autumn. Winters are rather miserable.

How to get there:
  • Xiaoliuqiu Island 小琉球 By Boat: The only way to get there is via ferry from Donggang or Kaohsiung. You can purchase a tickets at Donggang Fishing Harbor (東港漁港), or through a tour agency such as Klook here or here, or KKday. 
  • Green Island 綠島 By Plane: The only planes to and from Green Island come from Taitung City in Southeastern Taiwan. Costs: NT 1428 to Green Island and NT 1360 from Green Island. You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or a similar website.
    By Boat: Ferry prices are about 1200 NT per person round trip/600 NT per single trip.
    You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or a similar website.
  • Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼 By Plane: The only planes to and from Orchid Island come from Taitung. Costs: NT 1428 to Lanyu and NT 1360 from Lanyu.
    You can purchase a 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) (2300 NT per person round trip/1150 NT per single trip). You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as Klook or a similar website.
  • Turtle Island (Guishan Island) 龜山島 By Boat: The only way to get to Turtle Island is by boat from Wushih Harbor in Yilan. You can purchase a ticket at the harbor or book online in advance via Klook or KKday.
  • Keelung Islet 基隆嶼 By Boat: In order to get to Keelung Islet, you first need to make your way to Badouzi Harbor (see map below). Next you have to take a boat to the island. There are multiple ferry boats running to Keelung daily from April to October. You can book tickets on Klook here or KKday here. 
  • The Matsu Islands 馬祖列島 By Plane: The easiest way to get around the islands is to take a plane/boat to Nangan and then go island hopping from there. Nangan is the main transportation hub for all the islands. By Boat: There are daily ferries from Keelung Harbor that usually take an overnight trip to Nangan, passing through Dongyin Island. 
  • Kinmen 金門 By Plane: The only way to get to from Taiwan to Kinmen is via a airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Penghu, and Kaohsiung.
    By Boat: You can reach Kinmen from Xiamen at Wutong port (五通碼頭) or Quanzhou at Shijing Port (石井碼頭), connecting at Shuitou Port (水頭碼頭).
  • Penghu 澎湖群島 By Plane: There are daily flights from Taipei Songshan, Rates can range from around 2200-6000 NT for a round trip.
    There are also flights to and from Chiayi, Tainan, Kinmen, and Chimei.
    By Boat: There are daily ferries from Chiayi and Kaohsiung. A one way trip takes about 4 hours from both locations. A one way ferry from Kaohsiung costs about 900 NT for just a reclining seat, and a one way ferry from Chiayi costs about 1000 NT.
    You can book ferry boat tickets on Klook here. ​

Where to stay:
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 

Tours:
There are many tours available on the islands, including scooter rentals, boat tickets, and other activities. For more information, book with Klook here or KKday here. 

Map: Please see a map of the islands covered in this blog below:

Read More
0 Comments

The Ultimate Guide To Kinmen 金門極限指南

1/1/2026

1 Comment

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Kinmen (aka Jinmen or Quemoy) is a group of islands off the coast of Xiamen, China, belonging to Taiwan. For years it was the front lines and closest territory to China during the Chinese Civil War, which has not officially ended. Now that the war with China has come to a close due to the establishment of the "status quo," Kinmen has been open to tourism, especially from that of China. Kinmen has the highest concentration of museums and historical buildings in almost anywhere in Taiwan, as well as local cuisine, beaches, and scenery, making it an ideal vacation destination for both Taiwanese, Chinese, and other foreign tourists

Planning your trip to Taiwan?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

  • Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn when it is not too hot or cold and less rainy
  • How to get there: Plane tickets via Trip.com
  • Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
  • Book tours and activities in Taiwan on Klook
  • Stay connected with a local SIM
  • Rent a car to explore distant sights

Background:
Kinmen first began to be settled by Chinese people in the Tang Dynasty (around 700 AD). It got its name Jinmen "Golden Gate", from the Hongwu Emperor who set up military operations on the main Island during the Ming Dynasty in 1387. The name Quemoy comes from the Hokkien pronunciation of the name.
After the fall of the Ming Dynasty (1644), Ming Loyalists continued to occupy Kinmen under the Prince of Lu and Kongxia, but Kinmen was eventually captured by the Qing in 1663.
The Islands were never ceded to Japan.
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Kinmen (along with the rest of China) was governed by the Republic of China (ROC). When the ROC lost the Chinese Civil War, they retreated to Taiwan under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, but still maintained some outlying islands off of the west coast of China. The ROC army dug into Kinmen and fortified almost every inch of the island, holding off PRC invasion. Perhaps the most pivotal battle in holding off the communists was the battle of Guningtou, in which 9,000 PRC troops were defeated and captured in an attempt to take back the island of Kinmen. The battle effectively stopped the PRC from advancing toward the invasion of Taiwan, because in 1950 the Korean War started, demanding much of their manpower, buying time until the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty was signed in 1955, offering protection by the United States against the PRC invasion of Taiwan. Because of this, the battle laid the groundwork for the status quo between China and Taiwan as we know it today.
Kinmen was kept as a military reserve until it was made into a civilian government in the 1990s. Travel was reopened with China in 2001, which really opened the door for the tourism sector on the islands, mainly driven by Chinese tourists. Many businessmen also moved to the island to gain easy entry into China from Taiwan. In 2015, the Taiwanese government made it easier for Chinese tourists to visit Kinmen by allowing them to apply for a visa on arrival.
Currently, the island's main industry is tourism, but there is also a large Sorghum Wine production industry, as well as agriculture and fishing.
Kinmen is a stronghold for the KMT party, mainly because the residents resent the fact that many in the pro-independence DPP would consider returning Kinmen to China in an independence treaty.

When to go:
Autumn is said to be the best time to visit when there are still warm temperatures and not too much rainfall. Spring also has great temperatures, but seasonal rains may dampen your travels. Summer can get really hot, which might be totally fine with you. The winter is cold and windy; don't go in winter.

How to get there:
By Plane: The only way to get from Taiwan to Kinmen is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Penghu, and Kaohsiung.
You can book cheap flights to Kinmen on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.
By Boat: You can reach Kinmen from Xiamen at Wutong Port (五通碼頭) or Quanzhou at Shijing Port (石井碼頭), connecting at Shuitou Port (水頭碼頭).

Getting around the island:
Rent a scooter! The island is small, so you should not need to rent a car. You can rent bicycle,s 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 Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide 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.
​
Car Rental:
Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
You can rent a car for Kinmen on KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Don't rent a car unless you absolutely need to. Renting scooters should be sufficient for most travelers. 

Shuttle Bus:
You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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. 

Map: Please see below:

Read More
1 Comment

4 Reasons Why You Have to Visit Kinmen Island

7/12/2025

0 Comments

 
Tweet
At the beginning of the year, I published a guide to Kinmen Island, including a summary of its history and the amazing places I visited. However, Ferdinand, a travel vlogger documenting Kinmen, pointed out that there are some unique sights worth adding. In this article, he introduces four incredible things you can only experience on the island.
​
He also runs a travel blog with more information about Kinmen. Among other things, he answers the question “why is Kinmen part of Taiwan”, and also tells you the story behind the Wind Lions of Kinmen. But now let us talk about the four coolest things on the island.
Picture
​See the Blue Diamonds Lighting Up the Ocean

At the very top of the list are the so-called Blue Diamonds: A natural phenomenon that causes the ocean to light up at night. It turns the sea into a magical shade of blue. This glowing effect is created by marine microorganisms called dinoflagellates. They emit light as a defense mechanism. The phenomenon is also known as the Sea of Stars.

Read More
0 Comments

Kinmen Islands Guide 金門極限指南 – A Complete Travel Resource

1/9/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
Kinmen (aka Jinmen or Quemoy) is a group of islands off the coast of Xiamen, China, belonging to Taiwan. For years it was the front lines and closest territory to China during the Chinese Civil War, which has not officially ended. Now that the war with China has come to a close due to the establishment of the “status quo,” Kinmen has been open to tourism, especially from that of China. Kinmen has the highest concentration of museums and historical buildings in almost anywhere in Taiwan, as well as local cuisine, beaches, and scenery, making it an ideal vacation destination for Taiwanese, Chinese, and other foreign tourists.

Table of Contents
  • Background:
  • When to go:
  • How to get there:
  • Getting Around the Island:
    • Scooter Rental:
    • Car Rental:
    • Shuttle Bus:
    • Bicycle Rental:
  • Where to Stay:
  • Map:
  • Our Journey:
  • Flight to Kinmen:
  • Sheng Zu Foods 聖祖食品
  • Shuitou Pier 水頭碼頭
  • Juguang Tower 莒光樓
  • Maoshan Tower 茅山塔
  • Shuitou Village 水頭村
  • Deyue Gun Tower 得月樓
  • Zhushan Village 珠山聚落
  • Zhaishan Tunnels 翟山坑道
  • Kinmen National Park 金門國家公園
  • The Ancient City of Kinmen 金門城
  • Wentai Tower 文台寶塔
  • Oucuo Beach 歐厝沙灘
  • Shuitou Peir 水頭碼頭
  • Kinmen Bridge 金門大橋
  • 823 Artillery Bombardment Victory Memorial 八二三炮戰勝利紀念
  • Mao Gong Shi Island Recreation Area 猫公石滨海休憩區
  • Little Kinmen Hujingtou Battle Museum 小金門湖井頭戰史舘
  • Jiugong Tunnels 九宮坑道
  • Bada Tower 八達樓子
  • Jiangong Islet 建功嶼
  • Jincheng Seaside Park 金城海濱休閑公園
  • Kinmen Qing Dynasty Military Headquarters 金門清朝總兵署
  • Mofan Street 模範街
  • Liang Jin Farm 良金牧場
  • Cihu Lake 慈湖
  • Gulongtou Shuiwei Pagoda 古龍頭水尾塔
  • Kinmen Heping (Peace) Memorial Park 金門和平紀念公園
  • Beishan Old House 北山古洋樓
  • Battle of Guningtou Museum 古寧頭戰史舘
  • Beishan Broadcasting Tower 北山廣播墻
  • Taiwu Mountain 太武山
  • Mashan Observation Post 馬山觀測所
  • Chen Ching-lon's House 陳景蘭洋樓
  • Carrefour 家樂福
  • Wind Lion Plaza Mall 風獅爺購物廣場
  • Places We Missed 我們錯過的地方:

Background:
Kinmen first began to be settled by Chinese people in the Tang Dynasty (around 700 AD). It got its name Jinmen “Golden Gate” from the Hongwu Emporer who set up military operations on the main Island during the Ming Dynasty in 1387. The name Quemoy comes from the Hokkien pronunciation of the name.
After the fall of the Ming Dynasty (1644), Ming Loyalists continued to occupy Kinmen under the Prince of Lu and Kongxia, but Kinmen was eventually captured by the Qing in 1663.
The Islands were never ceded to Japan.
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Kinmen (along with the rest of China) was governed by the Republic of China (ROC). When the ROC lost the Chinese Civil War, they retreated to Taiwan under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, but still maintained some outlying islands off of the west coast of China. The ROC army dug into Kinmen and fortified almost every inch of the island, holding off the PRC invasion. Perhaps the most pivotal battle in holding off the communists was the battle of Guningtou in which 9,000 PRC troops were defeated and captured in an attempt to take back the island of Kinmen. The battle effectively stopped the PRC from advancing toward invasion of Taiwan, because in 1950 the Korean War started, demanding much of their manpower, buying time until the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty was signed in 1955, offering protection by the United States. against the PRC invasion of Taiwan. Because of this, the battle laid the groundwork for the status quo between China and Taiwan as we know it today.
Kinmen was kept as a military reserve until it was made into a civilian government in the 1990s. Travel was reopened with China in 2001, which really opened the door for the tourism sector on the islands mainly driven by Chinese tourists. Many businessmen also moved to the island to gain easy entry into China from Taiwan. In 2015 the Taiwanese government made it easier for Chinese tourists to visit Kinmen by allowing them to apply for visa on arrival.
Currently, the island’s main industry is tourism, but there is also a large Sorghum Wine production industry, as well as agriculture and fishing.
Kinmen is a stronghold for the KMT party, mainly because the residents resent the fact that many in the pro-independence DPP would consider returning Kinmen to China in an independence treaty.

When to go:
Autumn is said to be the best time to visit when there are still warm temperatures and not too much rainfall. Spring also has great temperatures, but seasonal rains may dampen your travels. Summer can get really hot, which might be totally fine with you. The winter is cold and windy; don’t go in winter.

How to get there:
By Plane: The only way to get from Taiwan to Kinmen is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Penghu, and Kaohsiung.
You can book cheap flights to Kinmen on KKday here or Trip.com here.
By Boat: You can reach Kinmen from Xiamen at Wutong Port (五通碼頭) or Quanzhou at Shijing Port (石井碼頭), connecting at Shuitou Port (水頭碼頭).

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 Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide 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.
Car Rental:Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
You can rent a car for Kinmen on KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Don’t rent a car unless you absolutely need to. Renting scooters should be sufficient for most travelers. 
Shuttle Bus:You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

Where to Stay:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide here.

Map:
​Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Taiwan 台灣旅遊指南英文介紹

1/9/2025

1 Comment

 
Picture
Thinking of coming to Taiwan? In this blog, we will share insider tips for planning a great vacation here.
Taiwan is the most friendly country in the world for foreigners and one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Many have called it the best-kept secret in Asia. Taiwan is not usually known as a travel destination, mainly because of PRC China which tries to downplay its existence and the fact that the Taiwan Tourism Bureau does not do a very good job. We will try to make up for that with this blog.
​
Table of Contents
  • When to go:
  • How to get there:
  • Tours:
  • Where to stay:
  • How to get around in Taiwan:
  • Map:
  • Taiwan's Outer Islands 台灣的外島
  • Taiwan's East Coast 台灣東海岸
  • Taroko National Park 太魯閣國家公園
  • Kenting 墾丁
  • Alishan 阿里山
  • Sun Moon Lake 日月潭
  • Beitou Hot Springs 北投溫泉
  • Tamsui 淡水
  • Wulai 烏來
  • Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山國家公園
  • Pingxi Railway 平溪支線鐵路
  • Taiwan's Northern Coast 台灣北海岸
  • Taipingshan 太平山
  • Maolin 茂林
  • Keelung 基隆
  • Taipei City  台北市
  • New Taipei 新北市
  • Yilan County 宜蘭
  • Hualien 花蓮
  • Taitung 台東
  • Pingtung 屏東
  • Kaohsiung 高雄
  • Tainan 臺南
  • Chiayi 嘉義
  • Yunlin 雲林
  • Changhua 彰化
  • Nantou 南投
  • Taichung 台中
  • Miaoli 苗栗
  • Hsinchu 新竹
  • Taoyuan 桃園

When to go:
The best time to go they say is anytime!
There is always a part of Taiwan that is great to visit at any given time of year.
However, most areas are most comfortable around May when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons.
​The typhoon season lasts from around June to October. The tourist 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.

How to get there:
By Plane:
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on Trip.com or CheapO Air. You can also search for cheap flights in Taiwan here and here. 
You can also book discount tickets for domestic flights within Taiwan on KKday here. 
By Boat: 
There is a ferry boat between Kinmen and Xiamen, China. That is the only commercial way I know of to travel to Taiwan by boat.

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, Surfing, Speed Boating, Glamping, River tracing, Paragliding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Whale Watching, ATV / 4-wheeling, Paintballing, Water Biking, Glamping, Cycling, Ziplining, Horse Riding, and many others, which you can book through Klook here or KKday here.

Where to stay:
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com are also good choices. 

How to get around in Taiwan:
By Train:
You can take a train ride around the entire island in about 8 hours. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By HSR:
Taiwan’s HSR runs from north to south along the west coast of Taiwan, and is perhaps the fastest mode of transport available. You can book discount tickets via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here. 
By Bus: 
Busses leave hourly from most major cities. You can book inter-city bus on Klook here.
By Scooter:
You can rent a scooter on Klook or KKday. Scooter rental is about 300 NT per day. You can check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Car:
You can also rent a car for about 1500 NT per day. 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. 

Map:
​Please see a map below of all the places we have blogged about in Taiwan:

Read More
1 Comment

Taiwan’s Outer Islands (台灣外島之旅游指南) – Guide to the Best Island Vacation Spots

12/13/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
Taiwan’s outer islands are some of the most beautiful and scenic places in the whole country, and each of them can be considered a secret paradise. You can find the best beaches, snorkeling, and diving on these islands. You can also find rich and important historical sites here. Transportation may be difficult, but you will never regret visiting Taiwan’s outer islands, and no trip to Taiwan should be complete without doing it.  In this blog, we will introduce the main outer islands in Taiwan that are open to tourists (there are 166 islands in Taiwan, this blog only covers a few), point out their unique traits, and compare them to each other.  This way you can best prepare for your trip to the outer islands, and at the same time know what you are missing out on. All the outer Islands are great, and I highly recommend visiting them all if you can.
​
Table of Contents
  • When to visit:
  • How to get there:
  • Where to stay:
  • Tours:
  • Map:
  • Major Outer Islands in Taiwan
  • Xiaoliuqiu Island 小琉球
  • Green Island 綠島
  • Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼
  • Turtle Island (Guishan Island) 龜山島
  • Keelung Islet 基隆嶼
  • Matsu Islands 馬祖列島
    • Matsu – Beigan Island 北竿島
    • Matsu – Nangan Island 南竿島
    • Matsu – Daqiu Island 大坵島
  • Kinmen 金門
    • The Main Island of Kinmen 金門
    • Little Kinmen (Lieyu) 小金門 (烈嶼)
    • Dadan Island  (大膽島)
  • Penghu Islands 澎湖群島
    • ​Penghu – Qimei Island 七美鄉
  • Bonus: The three islands are connected to Taiwan by bridge
    • Heping Island 和平島
    • Sanxiantai 三仙台 
    • Qijin Island 旗津
  • Other Islands not included above:
  • General Scientific Comparison of the Islands:
    • Comparison and Analysis of Taiwan's Outer Islands from a Foreign Tourist Perspective:
      • Best Islands for snorkeling:
      • Best Islands for diving:
      • Best Islands for Culture:
      • Best Beaches on Taiwan's Outer Islands:
      • Best Islands for Food:
      • Best Islands for Exploring:
      • Best Place for Island Hopping:
      • Easiest Islands to get to:
      • Islands with the best weather year-round:
      • Islands with the best accommodation choices:
      • Most family-friendly islands:
      • Most extreme and exciting islands:
        • Totals:
    • Twitter online poll:
  • Final Comments:
When to visit:Xiaoliuqiu Island 小琉球: Anytime! Xiaoliuqiu is a tropical island that has warm water and temperatures (above 25 degrees Celsius) year-round. 

Green Island 綠島: The month of May is the best time to go to Green Island and Orchid Island when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons.

Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼: The month of May, same as Green Island above. 

Turtle Island (Guishan Island) 龜山島: March-November. Boat tours are generally closed from December to February due to rough seas and cold weather. 

Keelung Islet 基隆嶼: Boats to Keelung Islet are only available from April to October due to northeasterly winds in the winter.

The Matsu Islands 馬祖列島: We recommend going to Matsu between April and June when you can see the “blue tear” phosphorescent microbes in the water.

Kinmen 金門: Autumn is said to be the best time to visit Kinmen, when there are still warm temperatures and not too much rainfall. 

Penghu 澎湖群島: Spring to Autumn. Winters are rather miserable.
How to get there:Xiaoliuqiu Island 小琉球 
By Boat: The only way to get there is via ferry from Donggang or Kaohsiung. You can purchase a tickets at Donggang Fishing Harbor (東港漁港), or through a tour agency such as Klook here or here, or KKday. You can also check out our Xiaoliuqiu Ferry Guide here.

Green Island 綠島 
By Plane: The only planes to and from Green Island come from Taitung City in Southeastern Taiwan. Costs: NT 1428 to Green Island and NT 1360 from Green Island. You can purchase tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or a similar website.
By Boat: Ferry prices are about 1200 NT per person round trip/600 NT per single trip.
You can purchase tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or a similar website.

Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼 
By Plane: The only planes to and from Orchid Island come from Taitung. Costs: NT 1428 to Lanyu and NT 1360 from Lanyu. You can purchase 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) (2300 NT per person round trip/1150 NT per single trip). You can purchase tickets through a tour agency such as Klook or a similar website.

Turtle Island (Guishan Island) 龜山島 
By Boat: The only way to get to Turtle Island is by boat from Wushih Harbor in Yilan. You can purchase a ticket at the harbor or book online in advance via Klook or KKday.

Keelung Islet 基隆嶼 
By Boat: In order to get to Keelung Islet, you first need to make your way to Badouzi Harbor (see map below). Next, you have to take a boat to the island. There are multiple ferry boats running to Keelung daily from April to October. You can book tickets on Klook here or KKday here. 

The Matsu Islands 馬祖列島 
By Plane: The easiest way to get around the islands is to take a plane/boat to Nangan and then go island hopping from there. Nangan is the main transportation hub for all the islands. 
By Boat: There are daily ferries from Keelung Harbor that usually take an overnight trip to Nangan, passing through Dongyin Island. 

Kinmen 金門 
By Plane: The only way to get from Taiwan to Kinmen is via an airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Penghu, and Kaohsiung.
By Boat: You can reach Kinmen from Xiamen at Wutong Port (五通碼頭) or Quanzhou at Shijing Port (石井碼頭), connecting at Shuitou Port (水頭碼頭).

Penghu 澎湖群島 
By Plane: There are daily flights from Taipei Songshan, Rates can range from around 2200-6000 NT for a round trip.
There are also flights to and from Chiayi, Tainan, Kinmen, and Chimei.
By Boat: There are daily ferries from Chiayi and Kaohsiung. A one-way trip takes about 4 hours from both locations. A one-way ferry from Kaohsiung costs about 900 NT for just a reclining seat, and a one-way ferry from Chiayi costs about 1000 NT.
You can book ferry boat tickets on Klook here. 
Where to stay:Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
Tours:There are many tours available on the islands, including scooter rentals, boat tickets, and other activities. For more information, book with Klook here or KKday here. 
Map:

Read More
0 Comments

Beishan Broadcasting Tower 北山廣播墻

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Beishan Broadcasting Tower (aka Beishan Broadcasting Wall) is a tower on the north central coast of Kinmen used by the military to broadcast messages, propaganda, and music across Xiamen harbor to communists on the other side. The tower still sends broadcasts daily, and is a unique wartime relic that is definitely worth visiting.

Background:
The tower has 48 speaker holes and can broadcast up to 25 kilometers away. The tower was built as part of "physiological warfare" to the other side. Every day the broadcasting tower still plays messages to China, including Teresa Teng's music (鄧麗君), a Taiwanese singer who was one of the most influential and famous Mandarin speaking singers of her time.

Broadcasting times:
09:00-09:45
10:30-11:00
13:00-13:30
14:00-14:30
15:00-15:45
16:00-16:30

Hours: 24/7

Price: Free:


Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

Map: Please see below.

Read More
0 Comments

Zhaishan Tunnels 翟山坑道

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Zhaishan Tunnels (aka Jhaishan Tunnels) are winding military tunnels running underground in Kinmen connecting to the ocean. During the Chinese Civil War, they were used to protect ships from bombing raids. The tunnels are open for tours, and besides having great acoustics the tunnels are also strikingly beautiful.

Background:
​The tunnels were completed in 1966, but due to budget constraints the tunnels had to close in 1986. I assume this is because the tunnels required constant dredging. The tunnels were made into a national heritage park and opened for tourists in 1998. The tunnels are over 350 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 3.5 meters high.

Hours: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Price: Free

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: Take Zhuhai West Road Sec. 3 out of Kincheng south to Guguang lake. Follow the brown signs to the tunnels; there is a large parking lot and park in front of the entrance. You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

​Map: Please see below: 

Read More
0 Comments

Battle of Guningtou Museum 古寧頭戰史舘

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
The battle of Guningtou was of the largest and perhaps the important fight that fended off PRC invasion in Kinmen and Taiwan. It began with thousands of communist troops boarding ships and invading Kinmen, gaining ground quickly. However, the PRC troops were pushed back and captured, proving to be an important victory for the ROC army and preventing the PRC from advancing to Taiwan. 

Now you can learn more about this important battle by passing through the town of Guningtou and visiting the Guningtou Battle Museum. 

Background:
During the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist ROC forces started to withdraw to Taiwan. According to PRC strategy, Kinmen and Matsu had to be taken before an attack on Taiwan. The PRC originally thought that there were only 2,000 troops on Kinmen, but in reality there had 40,000 troops, as well as air and sea support. The PLA sent 19,000 troops to Kinmen that were supposed to take the island in a number of days.
On October 26th, 1949, the initial wave of PRC troops were shot up by the ROC and many of their wooden boats destroyed, but were able to push there way into Guningtou with help from a second wave of reinforcements. In total, only 9,000 of the original 19,000 troops landed on Kinmen. The next day a bloody battle was fought in the village of Guningtou, and with the help of air support, the PRC forces were pushed back to the beach. By the third day, all of the PRC troops had surrendered, proving ultimate victory for the ROC army for the battle.  In total, 1,267 ROC troops were killed, 3,873 PRC soldiers were killed and 5,175 were captured. 
For more information regarding the battle, see the Wikipedia article here. 
The outcome of the battle proved to be a morale boost for ROC troops that had been losing over and over to PRC forces on the mainland. It effectively stopped the PRC from advancing toward invasion of Taiwan, because in 1950 the Korean War started, demanding much of their manpower, buying time until the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty was signed in 1955, offering protection by the United States. against PRC invasion of Taiwan. Because of this, the battle laid the groundwork for the status quo between China and Taiwan as we know it today.

Hours:
Every day, 8:30 AM -5 PM

Price:
Free

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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:
Take Huandao West Road North out of Kincheng and continue to Guningtou Village. Follow the signs and turn right after you come to Beishan Old House to reach the museum. 

​Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Little Kinmen Hujingtou Battle Museum 小金門湖井頭戰史舘

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
The area around Hujingtou in the island of Little Kinmen (aka Lieyu 烈嶼) is full of historical significance. It was the closest front line in Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War, only 5 KM from Xiamen. Now the museum and displays in the area are open to tourists who can experience what it was like to be on the front lines during the standoff between the PRC and KMT forces. 

Background:
The Hujingtou Battle Museum was built in 1988 , and features a castle like building, including moats and cannons on display. The museum details battles that occured on little Kinmen such as the Da Eer Battle and the August 23 Artillery Battle (aka Second Taiwan Strait Crisis) in which the PRC and KMT forces battered each other with artillery fire for 4 weeks, killing roughly 800 soldiers in total. The battle resulted in a stalemate, with neither side gaining any ground and the Chinese using up all their ammunition. 
The Battle Museum also conspicuously leaves out history of the 1987 Lieyu Massacre in which ROC forces shot and killed 19 Vietnamese shipwrecked fisherman and tried to cover it up. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM every day
​

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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:
From Kinmen, drive across the giant bridge over to Liyeyu (Little Kinmen) Island, or take the ferry from Shuitou Harbor. The fort is on the northeast corner of the island.
By Scooter or Car: You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

​Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Kinmen Maoshan Tower 茅山塔

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Maoshan Tower is an ancient pagoda dating to the 14th century AD that sits on top of a hill on the southwest side of Kinmen Island. From the top of the hill, one can see pristine views of the Xiamen Harbor, the Taiwan strait, and Kinmen Island. The hike takes about 10 minutes and is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Kinmen.

Brief Historic Background:
There are three ancient towers in Kinmen: Wentaibao Tower, Daoying Tower, and Maoshan Tower. The towers were originally built in the Ming Dynasty by Jiang Xiahou 江夏侯 under the Hongwu Emperor (1368-1398 AD) for military purposes to ward off pirates, and to act as landmarks for ships (kind of like lighthouses). Maoshan Tower was built in 1387 AD.
The tower also served as target for the PRC during the 823 Artillery War in 1958, killing many soldiers stationed around the tower. To make it less of a target for the communists, it was taken down for a few years. During deconstruction, a few people were crushed by the stones (the local people said this was due to the wrath of the ancestors). However, sometime around the end of martial law in Taiwan, the tower was rebuilt to its current form.
The tower was struck by lightning in 1997 causing some damage, so the Kinmen City Government installed a lightning rod on top of the tower.

Hours: 24/7

Price: Free


Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: On Kinmen Island, take Xihai Raod Section 1  西海路一段 south past Shuitou Village and you will see it on top of a prominent hill.
You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus:
You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

​Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Shuitou Village 水頭村

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Shuitou Village is perhaps the most visited historical village in Kinmen. It features mansions from some of the wealthiest merchants in Kinmen at the time, preserving western style mixed with traditional Southern Min style architecture. Walking through this village gives you a unique time-period view of Kinmen's history.

Background:
Shuitou Village has been inhabited for over 700 years. In it's prime, it was the richest village in Kinmen. The western style mansions (Yanglou 洋樓) in the village built by rich merchants are among the best preserved and extravagant on the island. These mansions are available for tours daily. Among the most famous buildings are Deyue Gun Tower, Jinshui Elementary School, and the Huang Family Ancestral House. Most of the people in the town were either fisherman or farmers, being close to the major wharf on the island (Shuitou Wharf). 

Hours: 24/7

Deyue Tower and Mansion Tour Times: 09:00、10:00、11:00、14:00、15:00、16:00, and open for visits 8:30 AM -5:00 PM every day. 
​

Other Tours and Activities in Kinmen:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: From Kincheng, take Xinhai Raod Sec. 1 south to Shuitou village. The tower will be hard to miss. You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. ​

Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Jiugong Tunnels 九宮坑道

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Jiugong Tunnels (aka Siwei Tunnels 思維坑道) are the most impressive tunnels on Little Kinmen, and extremely similar to the Zhaishan Tunnels on Kinmen Island. Originally built to protect ROC ships from bombing raids, the tunnels actually go through the island, connecting the ocean from each side.

Background:
Jiugong Tunnels were completed in 1965 to protect ships, connecting Jiugong Pier to Luocu Fishing Harbor. The tunnel connects these by going under a hill on the south side of Little Kinmen. The tunnels are 790 meters long and 11.5 meters high, feature 5 underground piers, 4 exits to the sea, and in its prime it could fit up to 52 ships in the tunnels.

Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM every day

Price: Free

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: From Jiugong Pier turn left, and go south on Binhai Boulevard to the end of the road. The tunnels will be on the right. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. ​

Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Kinmen Land Mine Museum 地雷展示館

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
The Kinmen land mine museum lies on the island of little Kinmen (Lieyu), and uses space from the disused bunkers of "Tiehan Fort and “Yongshi Fort." The exhibition provides a full explanation of the history of landmines not only in Taiwan but in the entire world. It also provides a real life, and rather frightening, experience for its visitors. 

Background:
The Land Mine museum was finished in 2014, using tunnel space in the old "Tiehan Fort" (鐵漢堡) and “Yongshi Fort" (勇士堡). These two forts were fitted with anti-aircraft cannons, artillery storage, and tank storage. They both survived bombing raids from the mainland.
The exhibit takes you through underground tunnels that connect these two forts. 
After the Chinese Civil War, there were many land mines left over in and around Kinmen. Most all of these land mines have been carefully removed. However land mines still cause casualties to innocent people worldwide; this museum goes on to explore these problems as well as land mine cleanup efforts throughout the world. 


Hours: 8:00 - 5:00 very day

Price: Free

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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:
From Kinmen, drive across the giant bridge over to Liyeyu (Little Kinmen) Island, or take the ferry from Shuitou Harbor. The fort is on the northeast corner of the island.
By Scooter or Car: You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Kinmen Qing Dynasty Military Headquarters 金門清朝總兵署

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
The Qing Military Headquarters in Kinmen is the oldest and one of the best preserved buildings from the Qing dynasty in Taiwan. The complex is completely renovated into a museum, and is full of exhibits, showing visitors exactly what life was like during the Qing dynasty, as well as providing historical background to Kinmen and the surrounding area.

Background:
The building itself was built in the 1600s during the Ming Dynasty for the scholar Xuxie (許獬) as a library. During the reign of the Kangxi Emporer starting in1662 (during the Qing Dynasty), the building was transformed into the military headquarters for Kinmen. After the ROC lost the Chinese Civil War, they used the building for government purposes until it was made into the police headquarters in 1958. In 1991 the building was made into a historical monument. In 1995 it was abandoned by the police, and by 2004 renovations had stared on the building. In 2012 the renovations were completed, and the Kinmen Military Headquarters during the Qing Dynasty reopened as a museum.

Hours: 9 AM to 10 PM every day.

Price: Free

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: The building is in the center of Kincheng near Kincheng Old Street, on Wujiang Street No. 53 (浯江街53號). You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. ​

Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Deyue Gun Tower 得月樓

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Deyue Gun Tower in Shuitou Village was once the highest building in Kinmen, originally built by a wealthy merchant to defend against pirates and thieves. The intricately decorated tower and surrounding buildings were also a sign of wealth and power to the rest of the island. It is one of the most visited attractions on the island, and guided tours are offered daily.

Background Information:
Deyue Tower was built in 1931 by a wealthy trader in Shuitou Village, Huang Hui-huang, by architect Chen Nan-An at a price of 13,000 Silver Yuan. Chen Nan-an also built a mansion for Huang Huihang which sits behind the tower. Mr. Huang was a wealthy trader throughout Indonesia and Southeast Asia, and so he was a target for theft. The island had a problem with constant pirate raids, so protective measures needed to be put in place. 
The tower was meant to be able to have a good view of Shuitou Pier, where most of the pirate attacks originated.
During Taiwan's martial law period, Deyue Tower and the surrounding mansions wereoccupied by KMT troops and used as a defensive outpost in case of invasion.
From what I can tell, the tower appears to have never seen any real action, but it certainly worked as a deterrent to pirates and thieves in the area.


Hours: 8:30 AM -5:00 PM every day. 

Free Guided Tour Times: daily at 09:00、10:00、11:00、14:00、15:00、16:00

Other Tours and Activities in Kinmen:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: From Kincheng, take Xinhai Raod Sec. 1 south to Shuitou village. The tower will be hard to miss. You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Juguang Tower 莒光樓

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Kinmen's Juguang Tower is like an introduction for the rest of the island. Much of the island's history and culture can be understood just by a quick walk through these halls. The tower also provides a nice view of Kinmen and Xiamen Harbor.

Background:
Juguang Tower was completed in 1953, originally built to commemorate the battles of Guningtou and the 823 Artillery War (aka Second Taiwan Strait Crisis), two battles in which the KMT forces held back the Communists from invasion. It was built in Nanjing style, the original capital of the ROC. The tower is three stories high with galleries and historic exhibits throughout its halls. Now the tower also has many exhibitions featuring the local art and culture of the Kinmen people.  Often it is the first stop for tourists visiting Kinmen.

Price: Free!

Hours: 8 AM - 10 PM every day.

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 Scooter or Car: Take Xihai Road Sec. 3 south out of Kincheng, then turn left onto Xianheng Road. You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

Kinmen Oucuo Beach 歐厝沙灘

8/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Share

Tweet
Picture
Oucuo Beach is perhaps the nicest beach in Kinmen. It features a long flat white sand beach and beautiful views of the Taiwan Strait. Also, there is also an abandoned army tank stuck in the sand there that is popular for visitors if you can find it.

Background:
Oucuo Beach is named after the nearby Oucuo Village, the traditional settlement of the Ouyang
(歐陽) family, who started the settlement during the Ming Dynasty around 400 years ago. The area around the village has been a coastal defense station since the Ming dynasty all the way into the Chinese Civil War.
One main attraction on the beach is the abandoned M18 army tank sitting in the sand on the south side. The US based M18 Hellcat tank was sold to the ROC after production stopped in 1944, and served a crucial role in holding back the communists during the Chinese Civil War.
I'm not sure why this tank was abandoned on the beach; maybe this is a military secret. But it has soon become an Instagrammer's paradise and a top attraction in Kinmen.

Hours: 24/7

Showers: 
Only foot wash (free), no showers.
There are bathrooms next to the foot wash. See below for photos.

Tours:
There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. 
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide 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 scooter/car: Take Jinshan Road south of Kincheng until you reach Oucuo Village. The beach can be reached via a narrow concrete road going south behind the village. You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
You can rent a car for Kinmen on 
KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday 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. 

​Map: Please see below:

Read More
0 Comments

     Author 作家

    I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. ​This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country.
    -Larry


    我來自美國, 我對台灣生活、工作和旅行有很豐富的經驗。我曾須艱辛地學習許多有關台灣的事情。但我已經了解到,台灣是世界上最適合外國人居住的地方之一。這個部落格不代表台灣每個外國人的意見。我只是想幫助其他人了解更多關於這個美麗的國家。
    -拉瑞

    Klook.com

    Categories
    ​類目

    All
    Aboriginal Culture 原住民文化
    Airports 機場
    Alishan 阿里山
    Amusement Parks 娛樂園
    Aquariums 海洋館
    Art 藝術
    Basic Info 基本資訊
    Beaches 海灘
    Beitou 北投
    Blogroll 部落格名單
    Bridges 橋梁
    Buddhism 佛教
    Business 商業
    Camping 露營
    Car Driving Test 考汽車駕照
    Car Rental 租氣車
    Caves 山洞
    Changhua 彰化
    Cherry Blossoms 櫻花
    Chiayi 嘉義
    Children Activities 小孩活動
    Chinese Film 中文電影
    Chinese Language 中文
    Chinese Literature 中文文學
    Circling Taiwan 環島
    City Parks 都市公園
    Click Bait 點擊誘餌
    Coal Mining 煤礦
    Confucius Temples 孔廟
    Cycling 騎腳踏車
    Cypress Groves 落羽松秘境
    Daily Life 日常生活
    Daoism 道教
    Disaster Tourism 災害旅遊
    Diving 潛水
    DIY
    DIY Activities
    Driving In Taiwan 開車
    Drone Flying 飛空拍機
    Dutch Era 荷蘭時期
    East Rift Valley 花東縱谷
    East Taiwan 東部
    English Teaching 英文教學
    Events 活動
    Festivals 節日
    Fish Foot Massage 溫泉魚
    Floral Sea 花海
    Food 食物
    Forts 堡壘
    Fruit 水果
    Geography 地理
    Geology 地質
    Golf 高爾夫球
    Green Island 綠島
    Green Island 綠島
    Growing Bananas 種香蕉日記
    Guest Blog Posts 客人部落格
    Hakka Culture 客家文化
    Hiking 爬山
    Historical Buildings 歷史建築
    Hot Springs 溫泉
    Hsinchu 新竹
    Hualien 花蓮
    Immigration/Visa 移民/簽證
    Japanese Era 日治時期
    Jiaoxi 礁溪
    Kaohsiung 高雄
    Keelung 基隆
    Kenting 墾丁
    Kingdom Of Tungning Era 東寧時期
    Kinmen 金門
    Lakes And Reservoirs 湖及水庫
    Lighthouses 燈塔
    Longdong 龍洞
    Luodong Night Market 羅東夜市
    Maolin 茂林
    Martyrs' Shrines 忠烈祠
    Matsu Islands 馬祖列島
    Mazuism 媽祖
    Miaoli 苗栗
    Migrant Workers 外籍勞動
    Monkeys 猴子
    Mountain Biking 越野
    Museums 博物館
    Nangang 南港
    Nantou 南投
    National Forest Recreation Areas 國家森林游樂區
    National Palace Museum 故宮
    National Parks 國家公園
    Natural Scenery 自然風景
    New Taipei 新北市
    Night Market 夜市
    Northern Coast 北海岸
    Not Taiwan 台灣以外的地方
    Nuclear Power 核能
    Offroading 越野
    Old City Gates 古城門
    Old Streets 老街
    Old Trails 古道
    Orchid Island (Lanyu 蘭嶼)
    Outer Islands 外島
    Paragliding 跳傘
    Penghu Islands 澎湖群島
    Pingtung 屏東
    Pingxi Railway 平息火車綫
    Politics 政治
    Qing Dynasty Era 清朝時代
    Railways 鐵路
    Recreational Farms 休閑農場
    River Tracing 朔溪
    Rock Climbing 攀岩
    Sailing 帆船
    Sand Dunes 沙丘
    Sanxia 三峽
    Scooter Driving Test 考機車駕照
    Scooter Rental 租機車
    Seafood Markets 海鮮市場
    Shiding 石碇
    Shilin Night Market 士林夜市
    Shinto Shrines 神社遺址
    Shinto Shrines 神社遺址
    Shopping 購物
    Sicao Green Tunnel 四草綠色隧道
    Smokestacks 烟囪
    Snorkeling 浮潛
    Sports 運動
    Starting A Taiwan Business 創業
    Sugar Factories 糖廠
    Sun Moon Lake 日月潭
    Surfing 冲浪
    Taichung 臺中
    Tainan 台南
    Taipei 101
    Taipei Zoo 台北動物園
    Taipei 臺北
    Taitung 臺東
    Taiwanese Spouse 台灣配偶
    Taiwan FAQ 臺灣常見問題
    Taiwan History 台灣的歷史
    Taiwan's Economy 台灣經濟
    Taiwan Temples 臺灣的廟
    Tamsui 淡水
    Taoyuan 桃園
    Taroko Gorge 太魯閣峽谷
    Tax
    Thailand
    Top 10 210692131321517
    Top-10-210692131321517
    Transportation 交通
    Transportation 交通
    Turtle Island 龜山島
    Turtle Island 龜山島
    Typhoons 颱風
    Typhoons 颱風
    Ultimate Guide 極限指南
    Urbex-22478240662550638570
    Urbex 城市探險
    Urbex 城市探險
    Waterfalls
    Weather 天氣
    Weather 天氣
    White Terror 白色恐佈
    Wildlife 野生動物
    Wildlife 野生動物
    Working In Taiwan 在台灣工作
    Working In Taiwan 在台灣工作
    Wulai Hot Springs
    Xiaoliuqiu 小琉球
    Xiaoliuqiu 小琉球
    Xitou 溪頭
    Xizhi 汐止
    Yangmei 楊梅
    Yangmingshan 陽明山
    Yilan 宜蘭
    Yilan 宜蘭
    Yonghe 永和
    Yunlin 雲林
    Yunlin 雲林
    Yushan (Jade Mountain) 玉山
    Zhonghe 中和
    Zoos In Taiwan 動物園
    Zoos In Taiwan 動物園

    RSS Feed


    120*600

    Archives 檔案

    January 2026
    December 2025
    November 2025
    October 2025
    September 2025
    August 2025
    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    120*600


    120*600


Planning your trip to Taiwan?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

  • Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn when it is not too hot or cold and less rainy
  • How to get there: Plane tickets via Trip.com
  • Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
  • Book tours and activities in Taiwan on Klook
  • Stay connected with a local SIM
  • Rent a car to explore distant sights

Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan 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.  
You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.