Xizhi’s Kezilin Natural Swimming Pool is a scenic and beautiful swimming hole New Taipei City, offering a relaxing place to cool off from Taipei’s scorching summer heat that is close to nature. The swimming pool is a simple concrete dam on a small mountain stream. It has become a very popular place for locals to swim.

Historical Background:

There is not much info about Kezilin Swimming Pool on the internet. However, it sits within Keziling Tea Farm “柯子林茶莊,” so I assume the owners of Keziling Tea Farm made it to attract visitors. They have also been nice enough to let visitors come to the area and swim for free.

Hours:

24/7

Price:

Free.

Where to stay:

We recommend Fullon Hotel, which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home, which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 

Activities in Taipei:

There are many activities available to enjoy in Taipei, such as kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, and more activities, which you can book on Klook here or KKday here. 

How to get there:

By Bus: From Xizhi TRA station, take bus F910 up to Kezilin Station. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Car/Scooter: From provincial highway 5 in Xizhi, turn left up on Xinjiang Road and keep going up the mountain until it becomes Xiwan Road. Stop when you see the signs to Kezilin and go up the dirt road until you reach the swimming spot. There were many people who drove their car there, but parking spots are limited.
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Bicycle: 
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map:

Please see below:

See above.

Drone Footage:

Play

Play

Check out our 300th 360 panorama above.

Our Journey:

Despite being a long-time Taipei resident, it took me ten years of living here before I finally discovered this fun swimming hole in Taipei. I was surprised to see that it was packed when we visited. Obviously, it is a very popular free swimming spot for people who live nearby.

Lots of people are enjoying the river as seen from the parking lot.

There is also a metal shack here where old people, and probably the owners or very established locals hang out.

There are some rocky places to put your belongings here.

As you can see, there is a small parking area. I recommend taking a scooter here if possible. The swimming pool is quite large and deep. You may need to bring floaties for kids or people that can’t swim.

Another closeup on the pool. There are also lots of fish in there that will nibble at your feet.

Last view of the pool. Overall, it is an awesome secret swimming spot that is great fun in the summer. I highly recommend visiting if you get a chance.


Check out our full guide to Taipei here.

Green Island is the best diving location in Taiwan, and it also has amazing historical and geological sites to explore. Despite this, the only way for most tourists to get to Green Island is via a 50-minute ferry ride. There is an airplane option, but seats are limited and often booked months in advance. Many ferries travel to and from the island daily with plenty of extra seats available, and there are two ports to choose from. The whole process may seem complicated, but in this guide, we will make traveling to Green Island via ferry easy for you.

I have travelled the Green Island Ferry three times. There are a few things I wish I had known earlier regarding taking the ferry that would have made the trips easier, which is why I have created this guide.

Green Island Ferry Routes:

You can purchase boat ferry tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. 
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Green Island: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港） in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). However, to get there from Houbihu, you need to stop at Orchid Island, and the trip takes much longer. Ferries may be cancelled during Typhoons and winter months from October to March.

Taitung to Green Island 台東到綠島

This is the most direct route to Green Island and the route that most people take.

Ferry from Fugang Harbor (富岡漁港) in Taitung to Nanliao Harbor (南寮漁港) on Green Island:

• Price: 1200 NT (600 NT per single trip) 
• Total travel time: 50-minute trip one way
• Boats leave about every two hours, five times a day
• The first boat leaves Taitung at about 7:00 AM, and the last boat leaves Green Island at about 4:30 PM.

Ferry Boat costs:

There are also about three ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at about the same times for the same prices (1200 NT per person round trip/600 NT per single trip).
You can purchase tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here.

Ferry Boat Times:

• 7:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 8:20 AM arrival to Green Island.
• 8:30 AM departure from Green Island, 9:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
• 9:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 10:20 AM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
• 10:30 AM departure from Green Island, 11:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
• 11:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 12:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
• 12:30 PM departure from Green Island, 9:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
• 13:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 14:20 PM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
• 14:30 PM departure from Green Island, 15:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
• 15:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 16:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
• 16:30 PM departure from Green Island, 17:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
• *Note: the above times change according to the seasons. There may only be one boat per day during winter (October to March), or cancelled altogether, while all the boat times may be available during summer break and weekends (except during Typhoons).
  Please double-check which times are available before you go:
  Feiyu Company Timetable: https://ferry.tw/time-table/lyudao
  Green Island Star No. 3 Timetable: https://greenstar.okgo.tw/multimedia4.html

Taitung/Pintung to Orchid Island to Green Island 屏東到蘭嶼到綠島

This route is ideal if you want to visit both Orchid Island and Green Island. However, the whole trip takes about 5.5 hours and can be very rocky. Also, during the winter months (October to March), the route can be cancelled.
Booking to visit Green Island via Houbihu can be hard, and I don’t recommend taking that route unless you can speak Chinese or have a Chinese-speaking friend with you (the boat schedules are not as predictable).
For most tourists wanting to visit Green Island, I suggest departing from Taitung.

Ferry from Fugang Harbor (富岡漁港) in Taitung via Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island:

• Price: 2400 NT. You can purchase ferryboat tickets at a discount on Klook here or KKday here.
• Total travel time: Over 5.5 hours with stops on Orchid Island and Green Island
• Boats leave about every two hours
• The first boat leaves at about 7:00 AM, and the last boat leaves at about 4:30 PM.
• Your round-trip ticket may include a stop at Green Island. Make sure the second ticket stops in Green Island, because not all do. Usually, the Green Island stop is on the afternoon Ferry that leaves Orchid Island at 3 PM.
• There is no single ticket between Green Island and Lanyu. It needs to be included in a package to or from Taiwan.
• Booking a ticket from Houbihu to Orchid Island may be difficult. I could not find a place to buy them online at the time of writing this blog. A safer option would be to buy a ticket from Taitung to Orchid Island that circles back to Green Island.

Ferry from Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung via Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island:

• Price: 2400 NT. You can purchase ferryboat tickets at a discount on Klook here or KKday here.
• Total travel time: Over 5.5 hours with stops on Orchid Island and Green Island
• Boats leave about every two hours
• The first boat leaves at about 8:00 AM, and the last boat leaves at about 4:50 PM.
• Note you will need to purchase two tickets: Houbihu to Orchid Island, then Orchid Island to Taitung. Make sure the second ticket stops in Green Island, because not all do. Usually, the Green Island stop is on the afternoon Ferry that leaves Orchid Island at 3 PM.
• There is no single ticket between Green Island and Lanyu. It needs to be included in a package to or from Taiwan.
• Booking a ticket from Houbihu to Orchid Island to Green Island may be difficult. I could not find a place to buy them online at the time of writing this blog. A safer option would be to buy a ticket from Taitung to Orchid Island that circles back to Green Island.

Ferry Prices:

There are two ferry companies that operate this route. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the same time for the same price (2400 NT per person round trip/1150 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.

Ferry Times:

7:30/7:00 AM departure, 9:30 AM arrival to Lanyu.
12:00/12:30 PM departure, 3:00 PM arrival to Lanyu.
9:30 AM departure from Lanyu, 11:30 arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
3:00 PM departure from Lanyu, 5:00 PM arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
Usually, the boat that stops on Green Island departs at 3 PM.
Both ferry companies depart and arrive at the same time at both locations.
You can purchase ferryboat tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.

Taitung’s Fugang Harbor 富岡漁港

One of the hardest decisions for us was picking which ferry time to leave. We decided to visit in October when there were fewer people but still warm temperatures. However, there were also fewer ferries. Because we were traveling with kids, we couldn’t leave too late or early from Taipei, so we stopped halfway in Hualien and spent a night there. We planned to take the 3:30 PM ferry to Green Island, but we got an early start and ended up driving down to Fugang Harbor in time for the 1:30 PM Ferry. 

Parking next to Fugang Harbor is pretty much impossible unless you want to pay someone nearby 200 NT a day. I ended up parking up the hill on a country road for free for four days, and my car was fine when I got back. 
We got to the main ticket hall, picked up our tickets, went to the bathroom, and then waited in the hot sun for the boat to arrive. 
You can purchase ferry boat tickets for a discount through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here.

There is some shade as you wait in line if you get there early. The boat finally came, and we were able to board. 

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

Nanliao Harbor 南寮漁港

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

Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung

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

We took the Green Island Star No. 3 (綠島之星3號) to Lanyu, which sucked; it was way too hot, A/C had problems, and there were huge waves. Coming back, we took a different boat from the same company, the Green Island Star (綠島之星), which was much cooler and more comfortable. This line has three ships that run from Kenting to Orchid Island to Green Island, then to Taitung, and back again.

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

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

Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island

We were anxious to get off the boat. There is room for you to store your luggage at the back of the boat. Then, after getting your luggage, you have to walk on a boardwalk to get to shore. Our hostel owner was waiting for us in a van at the dock, along with about 20 other hostel owners. We had to wait for the crowds to clear before we could move. There are also many scooter rental places next to the harbor entrance.

I have never taken the last ferry leg between Green Island and Orchid Island, so that will be a tale for another time.

Map of Ferry Harbors in this Blog

The map above shows the four ferry harbors in this blog: Fugang Harbor (富岡漁港) in Taitung to Nanliao Harbor (南寮漁港) on Green Island, Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung, and Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island.

How to Buy Ferry Tickets to Green Island and Orchid Island (怎麼買傳票去綠島或蘭嶼):

There are a few ways to buy ferry tickets:

• Klook: Taitung to Green Island
• KKday: Taitung to Green Island, or Houbihu to Lanyu/Orchid Island to Green Island
• Trip.com: Taitung to Green Island
• Feiyu Company Website: No English
• Kaixuan Company Website: Very limited English
• Green Island Star Website: Very limited English
• Book through your Hotel/Hostel owner
• Buy tickets in person at the counter (credit cards are accepted)

We recommend buying through Klook here or KKday here because they sell tickets at a discount, for quite a bit cheaper than buying through the company website or the counter.

Getting to Green Island By Plane

The only planes to and from Green Island come from Taitung City in Southeastern Taiwan. From Taipei, there are daily flights from Songshan Airport to Taitung, where you can switch to Daily Air which will take you the rest of the way to Green Island.
You can book discount tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here. 
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day by Daily Air Corporation from about 8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Green Island takes about 15 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be canceled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. 
Costs: NT 1428 to Green Island and NT 1360 from Green Island.

Getting around the island:

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

Scooter Rental:

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

Car Rental:

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

By Bicycle: 

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

Where to Stay:

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

Tours and Activities:

There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, and other tours on Green Island. You can search for tours on Klook here or KKday here. 
You can also book discount tickets to Zhaori Hot Spring on KKday here. 
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

Tourist Guide to Green Island:

Green Island is a paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Once a prison for political enemies of the KMT, it is now a tourist hotspot. It is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in Taiwan, one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world, and it also includes amazing volcanic rock formations and scenery all around the island. In this blog, we will explain how to get there, what to do, where to go, and how to enjoy this island.
Check out our full tourist guide to Green Island here.

For more of Taiwan’s outer Islands, you can check out our full guides to Xiaoliuqiu here, Penghu here, Kinmen here, Matsu here, and Orchid Island here.

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

Orchid Island has the best-preserved aborigine culture in Taiwan, and it also has an amazing coastline, great diving and snorkeling, and historical and geological sites to explore. Despite this, the only way for most tourists to get to Orchid Island is via a 2-hour ferry ride. There is an airplane option, but seats are limited and often booked months in advance. Many ferries travel to and from the island daily with plenty of extra seats available, and there are two ports to choose from. The whole process may seem complicated, but in this guide, we will make traveling to Orchid Island via ferry easy for you.

I have travelled the Orchid Island Ferry twice. There are a few things I wish I had known earlier regarding taking the ferry that would have made the trips easier, which is why I have created this guide.

Orchid Island Ferry Routes:

You can purchase boat ferry tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. 
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Green Island: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). You cannot get to Orchid Island from Green Island that I know of.

Taitung to Orchid Island 台東到綠島

This is the most direct route and the shortest route to Orchid Island, and the route that most people take.

Ferry from Fugang Harbor (富岡漁港) in Taitung to Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island:

• Price: 2400 NT. You can purchase ferryboat tickets at a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 
• Total travel time: 2.5 hours (unless you stop on Green Island on the way back), and 3 hours back.
• Boats leave about every two hours
• The first boat leaves at about 7:00 AM, and the last boat leaves at about 12:30 PM.
• There are only about 2 boats that leave a day, or more, during the peak season.

Ferry Prices:

• Price: 2400 NT for a round trip, or 1200 for a single trip. The Ferry boat that leaves at 3 PM to Taitung is likely to stop at Green Island. You can purchase ferryboat tickets at a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 

Ferry Times:

7:30/7:00 AM departure, 9:30 AM arrival to Lanyu.
12:00/12:30 PM departure, 3:00 PM arrival to Lanyu.
9:30 AM departure from Lanyu, 11:30 arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
3:00 PM departure from Lanyu, 5:00 PM arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
Usually, the boat that stops on Green Island departs at 3 PM.
Both ferry companies depart and arrive at the same time at both locations.
You can purchase ferryboat tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 

Ferry From Orchid Island to Green Island

• If you want to visit Green Island too, make sure the second ticket stops in Green Island, because not all do.
• Usually, the trip to Green Island departs at 3 PM.
• There are usually only tickets from Orchid Island to Green Island, not the other way around.
• In general, there is no single ticket between Green Island and Lanyu. It usually needs to be included in a package to or from Taitung.
• Booking a ticket from Houbihu to Orchid Island to Green Island may be difficult. I could not find a place that sells this route online at the time of writing this blog. A safer option would be to buy a ticket from Taitung to Orchid Island that circles back to Green Island.

Pintung to Orchid Island 屏東到蘭嶼

This trip is only two hours, compared to 2.5 hours on the Taitung to Orchid Island route. There are also usually more times and boats available. However, during the winter months (October to March), the route can be cancelled.

Ferry from Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung via Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island:

• Price: 2400 NT. You can purchase ferryboat tickets at a discount on KKday here. 
• Total travel time: Over 2 hours
• Boats leave about every two hours
• The first boat leaves at about 8:00 AM, and the last boat leaves at about 4:50 PM.

Ferry Prices:

There are two ferry companies that operate this route. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the same time for the same price (2400 NT per person round trip/1150 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 

Ferry Times:

7:30/7:00 AM departure, 9:30 AM arrival to Lanyu.
12:00/12:30 PM departure, 3:00 PM arrival to Lanyu.
9:30 AM departure from Lanyu, 11:30 arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
3:00 PM departure from Lanyu, 5:00 PM arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
Usually, the boat that stops on Green Island departs at 3 PM.
Both ferry companies depart and arrive at the same time at both locations.
You can purchase ferryboat tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 

Taitung’s Fugang Harbor 富岡漁港

One of the hardest decisions for us was picking which ferry time to leave. We decided to visit in October when there were fewer people but still warm temperatures. However, there were also fewer ferries. Because we were traveling with kids, we couldn’t leave too late or too early from Taipei, so we stopped halfway in Hualien and spent a night there. We planned to take the 3:30 PM ferry to Green Island, but we got an early start and ended up driving down to Fugang Harbor in time for the 1:30 PM Ferry. 

Parking next to Fugang Harbor is pretty much impossible unless you want to pay someone nearby 200 NT a day. I ended up parking up the hill on a country road for free for four days, and my car was fine when I got back. 
We got to the main ticket hall, picked up our tickets, went to the bathroom, and then waited in the hot sun for the boat to arrive. 
You can purchase ferry boat tickets for a discount through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here.

There is some shade as you wait in line if you get there early. The boat finally came, and we were able to board. 

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

Nanliao Harbor 南寮漁港 on Green Island

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

Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung

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

We took the Green Island Star No. 3 (綠島之星3號) to Lanyu, which sucked; it was way too hot, A/C had problems, and there were huge waves. Coming back, we took a different boat from the same company, the Green Island Star (綠島之星), which was much cooler and more comfortable. This line has three ships that run from Kenting to Orchid Island to Green Island, then to Taitung, and back again.

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

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

Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island

We were anxious to get off the boat. There is room for you to store your luggage at the back of the boat. Then, after getting your luggage, you have to walk on a boardwalk to get to shore. Our hostel owner was waiting for us in a van at the dock, along with about 20 other hostel owners. We had to wait for the crowds to clear before we could move. There are also many scooter rental places next to the harbor entrance.

I have never taken the last ferry leg between Green Island and Orchid Island, so that will be a tale for another time.

Map of Ferry Harbors in this Blog

The map above shows the four ferry harbors in this blog: Fugang Harbor (富岡漁港) in Taitung to Nanliao Harbor (南寮漁港) on Green Island, Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung, and Kaiyuan Fishing Port (開元漁港) on Orchid Island.

How to Buy Ferry Tickets to Orchid Island (怎麼買傳票去綠島或蘭嶼):

There are a few ways to buy ferry tickets:

• Klook here: Taitung to Orchid Island
• KKday: Taitung to Orchid Island, or Houbihu to Lanyu/Orchid Island to Green Island
• Trip.com: Taitung to Orchid Island, or Houbihu to Orchid Island
• Feiyu Company Website: No English
• Kaixuan Company Website: Very limited English
• Green Island Star Website: Very limited English
• Book through your Hotel/Hostel owner
• Buy tickets in person at the counter (credit cards are accepted)

We recommend buying through Klook here or KKday here because they sell tickets at a discount, for quite a bit cheaper than buying through the company website or the counter.

Historical and Cultural Background of Orchid Island:

Orchid Island became inhabited about 800 years ago by the Tao indigenous people (達悟族) (aka Yami people 雅美族, which is a name coined by the Japanese, but the native people prefer Tao), who are thought to have traveled from the Batanes Islands in the Philippines, which are a little less than 200 KM away, cut off by the Bashi Channel. However, Orchid Island is very different than the Philippines.
Beginning in 1644, some Dutch Sailors were sent to investigate the island, and some settled there among the natives. Because of this, the Island was known as Red Head Island (紅頭嶼) by the Chinese and the Japanese.
After the Dutch were defeated in Taiwan, Lanyu was claimed but not controlled by the Qing Dynasty.
The Japanese claimed the Island shortly after the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, but protected it as an “ethnological research site” and forbade outsiders from entering.
After the Republic of China took over Taiwan following the end of WWII, it continued to ban visitors to the island until 1967, after which tourists were allowed to enter, and public schools were built there.
Christian missionaries began preaching and living on the island starting in the 1950s, and now basically all native people on the island are Christian (mixed with traditional beliefs). However, Christianity was introduced much earlier, starting with the Dutch in the 1600s, although to a lesser extent.
In 1982, a nuclear waste storage plant was built on the south side of the Island without the islanders’ consent, causing protests from the inhabitants. Also, because of this, the Island inhabitants receive free electricity.
The island is volcanic in nature, with the last major eruption being over 5 million years ago. The highest mountain is 552 meters (1,811 feet).
Currently, there are 2,400 people permanently living on the island, 90% of them being of native Tao descent.

Tao Culture:

The Tao people number about 2,000 living on Orchid Island, with about another 2,000 living on the Taiwan mainland. The Tao people rely on the sea for survival, and much of their traditions and lifestyle are centered on fishing.
The Tao people are mostly Christian, but also still practice many of their traditional beliefs. However, their ancestral religion included a pantheon of Gods.
Traditional roles for men are fishing, while roles for women include harvesting taro and sweet potato and weaving. The men usually fish at night or early morning and rest on traditional wooden platforms during the day.
Boats are made from planks of wood and are painted red, white, and black. The boat usually has human figures, waves, and the traditional sun image (red and black circles and sun rays), which is said to ward off evil spirits. Boats are considered sacred and the ultimate human creation. There is also a launching ceremony for new boats in which traditional clothes and headgear (such as silver helmets for men and wooden hats for women) are worn, pigs are slaughtered, and the boat is lifted into the air multiple times before being set in the water. Traditional clothes include loincloths and vests for men, and aprons and vests for women. Young people on the street usually do not wear traditional dress.

Flying Fish Festival:

There are three basic seasons on Lanyu: one is the flying fish season, when flying fish can be easily caught and used, and lasts from February to May. The other seasons are from May to October and from October to February, when flying fish cannot be caught for ceremonial use. There are many taboos during the flying fish season, which are discussed below.
The Flying Fish Festival lasts from about March to October, when flying fish are caught. During this time, many ceremonies take place, such as the beginning of the festival, the plentiful harvest, etc. During the festival, there are multiple migrations of flying fish species near Lanyu. There are many taboos during this time, especially when it comes to catching and eating flying fish, which are the main source of life for the Tao people.

Weather and Climate:

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

When to go:

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

Taboos:

General Taboos:

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

Flying Fish Season Taboos (February to June):

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

Basic Courtesy:

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

How to get to Orchid Island by Plane:

You can book discount air tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here.
The only planes to and from Orchid Island come from Taitung.
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day by Daily Air Corporation from about 8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Lanyu takes about 25 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be canceled due to high winds or unfavorable weather.
Costs: NT 1428 to Lanyu and NT 1360 from Lanyu.
You can purchase plane tickets through a tour agency such as Klook or a similar website.

Getting around the island:

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

Tours:

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

Scooter Rental:

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

Car Rental:

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

Bicycle Rental:

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

Accommodation:

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

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

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

Tourist Guide to Orchid Island:

Orchid Island (not to be confused with the Fijian Island of the same name), known in the local Tao language as Ponso No Tao (Island of the people), and in Chinese as Lanyu (蘭嶼) is a secret indigenous people’s paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. It is different than any other place in Taiwan and has the best-preserved indigenous culture anywhere in the country. If Taiwan’s best tourist activity is experiencing the culture of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, then Lanyu has the best tourist experience anywhere in Taiwan.
Check out our full travel guide to Orchid Island here.

For more of Taiwan’s outer Islands, you can check out our full guides to Xiaoliuqiu here, Penghu here, Kinmen here, Matsu here, and Orchid Island here.

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

Green Island is a paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Once a prison for political enemies of the KMT, it is now a tourist hot spot. It is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in Taiwan, one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world, and it also includes amazing volcanic rock formations and scenery all around the island. In this blog, we will explain how to get there, what to do, where to go, and how to enjoy this island.

Background:

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

Weather and Climate:

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

When to go:

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

Rules to Consider:

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

How to get there:

By Plane:

The only planes to and from Green Island come from Taitung City in Southeastern Taiwan. From Taipei, there are daily flights from Songshan Airport to Taitung, where you can switch to Daily Air which will take you the rest of the way to Green Island.
You can book discount tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here. 
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day by Daily Air Corporation from about 8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Green Island takes about 15 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be canceled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. 
Costs: NT 1428 to Green Island and NT 1360 from Green Island.

By Boat:

You can purchase boat ferry tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. 
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Green Island: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港） in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). However, to get there from Houbihu you need to stop in Lanyu, so I will focus this blog on departing from Fugang Harbor. There are also about three ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the about same times for the same prices (1200 NT per person round trip/600 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
1200 NT per person round trip (600 NT per single trip) from Taitung. Ferry companies have roughly the same price.
Ferry Boat Times*:
7:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 8:20 AM arrival to Green Island.
8:30 AM departure from Green Island, 9:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
9:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 10:20 AM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
10:30 AM departure from Green Island, 11:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
11:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 12:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
12:30 PM departure from Green Island, 9:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
13:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 14:20 PM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
14:30 PM departure from Green Island, 15:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
15:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 16:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
16:30 PM departure from Green Island, 17:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
*Note: the above times change according to the seasons. There may only be one boat per day during winter, while all the boat times may be available during summer break and weekends. Please double-check which times are available before you go.
You can purchase tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here.

Check out our expanded and in-depth Green Island Ferry Guide here!

Getting around the island:

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

Scooter Rental:

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

Car Rental:

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

By Bicycle: 

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

Where to Stay:

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

Tours and Activities:

There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, and other tours on Green Island. You can search for tours on Klook here or KKday here. 
You can also book discount tickets to Zhaori Hot Spring on KKday here. 
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

Map:

Please see a map of places we will cover in this blog below:

Our Journey:

We have been to Green Island once. We planned to go there on our first round island trip to Taiwan in 2014, but at the time we did not have as much cash and it would have added too much time and cost to our trip so we skipped it then. 
We finally visited in October 2021, and it was the last major outer island for us to visit. We saved the best for last. 
I should also mention we were traveling with two toddlers. Let me assure you, if you take toddlers on the ferry ride, they will throw up, and it will be miserable (there are no seasick pills available for toddlers). To avoid that, try and take the plane. Other than that this trip was pretty amazing. 

Drone Video:

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

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Snorkeling Video:

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

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Okay, let’s begin with a list of places you should visit!

Fugang Harbor 富岡漁港

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

There is some shade as you wait in line if you get there early. The boat finally came, and we were able to board. 

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

Nanliao Harbor 南寮漁港

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

I will now introduce the island starting from Nanliao Harbor and moving clockwise. 

Green Island Old Street 綠島老街

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

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

Last rays of sun over the ocean. 

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

Green Island Airport 綠島機場

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

The plane is coming into the land as seen from the old street.

Green Island Lighthouse 綠島燈塔

Near the airport is Green Island Lighthouse

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

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

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

Another view of the lighthouse.

Wuyouku 烏油窟

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

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

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

Chaikou Snorkeling Area 柴口浮潛區

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

Be careful to only go snorkeling and diving here at low tide and low winds, and bring a buddy. If you go at high tide, the waves will eat you alive here. There is also some sand here but not much.

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

Gongguan Rock 公館鼻

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

Gongguan Fishing Harbor 公館漁港

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

View of the right side of the port.

General Rock and Triple Rocks 三峰岩及將軍岩

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

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

Elephant Rock 象鼻岩

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

Green Island White Terror Memorial Park 白色恐怖綠島紀念園區

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

I find it ironic that the dictator responsible for the white terror massacre and unjust imprisonment of prisoners here (Chiang Kai-shek) is still proudly displayed on a pedestal here. There are also quite a few abandoned buildings and cells that you can explore. 

Outside wall and guard tower that once kept prisoners inside. 

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

Swollow Cave (Yanzidong 燕子洞)

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

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

There are also some swimming and snorkeling holes here too. Inside the cave, you can see remnants of the amphitheater and stone steps. There is also an interesting eye-shaped light that enters the cave.

Green Island Marine Research Station 綠島海洋研究站

Part of the old prison had been converted into the Green Island Marine Research Station, which is run by Academia Sinica. This is off-limits to tourists.

Ch’ou-Ch’in Reservoir 綠島酬勤水庫

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

Niutoushan (Cow Head Mountain) 牛頭山

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

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Or check out a 360-degree view of the area above or the link here.

Guanyin Cave 觀音洞

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

View of the Guanyin-shaped rock worshiped by the locals. Be careful not to hit your head on a rock while exploring the cave, it is not very high.

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

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

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

Youzihu 柚子湖

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

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Or check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or the link here.

Laogu Stone Village 咾咕石古厝

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

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

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

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

Wangong Dong Sea Cave 彎弓洞

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

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

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

Another view of the cave.

Near Wangong Cave there is also a secret swimming spot, which is really only swimmable at high tide. The swimming spot sits in between these rocks and it is a really pointy, rocky, walk to get there.

View of Youzihu to the south via drone.

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

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

Last view of Youzihu from the plateau above.

Little Great Wall 小萬里長城

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

View of Niutoutshan in the distance from the trailhead.

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

View of Haishengping Valley.

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

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

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

Another view of the coastline below.

View of the open ocean from the top.

View of Youzihu.

Closeup on the rock formations at Youzihu.

View looking back down the trail.

View looking south from the top pavilion.

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

Haisenping 海蔘坪

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

And this is where I saw the sunrise.

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

Sun rising into the clouds.

Sun disappears behind the clouds.

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

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

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

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

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

Morning sun behind the clouds.

Sleeping Beauty Rock 睡美人岩

As explained above, Sleeping Beauty Rock reminded me of Moana. Once you see it, you can’t un-see it.

View looking toward the Little Great Wall from the beach.

Pekingese Dog Rock 哈巴狗岩

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

Closeup of Sleeping Beauty Rock.

View inside the cave.

The water here is pristine.

Looking into the cave.

Looking back at the great little wall.

Behind Sleeping Beauty Rock, there are two more sea caves. I only explored one.

View of the entrance to the two caves.

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

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

View looking back at the cave entrance.

Another view of Sleeping Beauty Rock.

Walking back toward the little Great Wall.

Pine trees growing on the beach, perhaps washing up from the western United States?

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

Dinosaur spotted on the trail.

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

Huge banyan tree growing on a rock near the village.

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

Confucius Rock 孔子巖

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

Hot Spring Village 溫泉村

On this shore, you will find Hot Spring Village.

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

Also, there are usually goats grazing here.

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

Also saw a water buffalo here.

Guoshan Old Trail 過山古道

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

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

Ocean View Trail 綠島觀海步道

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

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

Zhaori Hot Springs 朝日溫泉

Zhaori (or Chaori) Hot Springs is one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world. It is truly a world-class location worth checking out. The hot springs have also been turned into hot tubs and swimming pools above, and below is a more close-to-nature experience.
Admission is usually 200 NT per person. 
You can also book discount tickets to Zhaori Hot Spring on KKday here. Unfortunately due to the pandemic, the hot springs closed for a while and threatened to shut down permanently. Thankfully it opened up again when we came, even if it was only open partially. 

Another view of the hot spring from above. 

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Or you can look at the 360-degree panorama of the area above or the link here.

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

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

View of the pools to the left.

View of the pools to the right.

Large hot tub pool in the center. 

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

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

Giant laval pillar on the beach.

Looking back at the pools.

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

Fanchuanbi Grassland 帆船鼻大草原

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

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

There is also a 360-degree viewing platform here.

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

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

Ziping 紫坪

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

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

Ziping Campground 紫坪露營區

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

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

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

Da Bai Sha Beach 大白沙

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

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

There was also a diving boat here.

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

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

View of the sand on the beach.

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

People walking on the concrete bridge.

More Instagrammers.

A lone swimmer.

Walking in the sunset.

View under the water at the beach. You can see an angelfish.

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

Fudi Dongtian 福地洞天

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

The road here passes through a sea cave.

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

There are also a few large caves here.

View inside the cave.

People came fishing here at night.

Another view at dusk.

Also near there we came across this concrete pipe hotel.

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

Shilang Snorkeling Area 石朗潛水區

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

Levee and the street behind.

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

Starry night with Taiwan in the distance.

The stars here were bright and beautiful.

Venus and other stars.

The Milky Way was barely visible.

Another view of Taiwan from near the lighthouse. 

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

Last view over the island before we boarded the ferry.

Conclusion:

This concludes our journey to Green Island. The ferry journey back to Fugang Harbor was worse than the way over. We put our luggage on some seats downstairs and moved upstairs, and by the time we came down all our luggage was strewn all over the place. Then we drove 5 hours back to Taipei. Compared to other Islands, Green Island was much easier to explore. There is pretty much nothing stopping you from jumping into the ocean anywhere, and tourists can go pretty much anywhere on the island. Green Island probably has the most amazing natural scenery and rock formations of any other island I have seen in Taiwan. It also has great snorkeling and lots of places to dive. Zhaori Hot Spring is world-class, and going there alone is worth the entire trip. But there are no nice fine sandy beaches, and the journey there is rough and bumpy unless you take a place.

Places and things we missed:

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

There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, and other tours on Green Island. You can search for tours on Klook here or KKday here.

Hopefully, this blog was helpful to you. Good luck on your journey to Green Island!
You can check out more photos of Green Island in our original post here.

For more of Taiwan’s outer Islands, you can check out our full guides to Xiaoliuqiu here, Penghu here, Kinmen here, Matsu here, and Orchid Island here.

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