Xiaoliuqiu (aka Little Liuqiu, Lamay Island, or Lambai Island) is a small island paradise off the southwestern coast of Taiwan. The island is known for its clear water, amazing coral reefs, white sand beaches, and quiet laid-back atmosphere. Only a short half-hour boat ride from the Taiwan mainland, the island is easily accessible. In addition, the island is small enough that you can round the entire island by scooter in a matter of minutes.
Historical Background:
In 1622, a Dutch ship crashed on the island, two years before the Dutch began to rule Taiwan, and all but one of the crew members were killed by the aboriginal tribe living on the island at the time.
In retaliation, the Dutch sent a force to massacre the natives on the island. 300 men, women, and children were suffocated alive in a large cave, and the rest of the people were put into slavery by the Dutch. This was known as the Lamey Island Massacre. Later Chinese people began inhabiting the island in 1645.
Later the island fell into Qing, Japanese, and ROC rule.
Currently, the island is a township of Pingtung County with a population of over 10,000 people. Most of the people on the island rely on fishing and tourism for a living.
The island also has one of the largest concentrations of temples in Taiwan.
Xiaoliuqiu started to become a major tourist destination after 2004, reaching over 400,000 tourists per year.
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)
- Do not get near or touch sea turtles
- Do not enter regulated inter-tidal zones without a licensed guide (see more below)
- Always snorkel or dive with a buddy
- Have fun
Regulated Inter-tidal Zones:
In 2015 restrictions were placed on the inter-tidal zones in Xiaoliuqiu so that only those with a licensed guide could visit them and swimming is prohibited. These restrictions apply specifically to the following areas:
- Dafu Harbor inter-tidal zone (north of Dafu Harbor)
- Yanziping Beach
- Shanfu Harbor Inter-tidal zone (north of Shanfu Harbor)
- Gebanwan (Venice Beach)
There are other inter-tidal zones that are not regulated.
When to go:
Anytime! Xiaoliuqiu is a tropical island that has warm water and temperatures (above 25 degrees Celsius) year-round. However it is a little cooler and windier during the winter, and you should be sure to avoid Typhoons during summer (ferries will be canceled if there is a Typhoon).
However, it can get really crowded during summer break in July-August, so go during the off-season to avoid the crowds.
Tours:
You can book multiple tours such as snorkeling, scuba diving, SUP experience, Kayak Sailing, submarine ride, and more through Klook or KKday, such as the Xiaoliuqiu Experience Pass.
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.
Some places we have stayed at that I recommend are Yujing 6.8, which is a four-story house near Dafu Harbor (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), Boliu B&B (柏琉民宿) which is also a nice newly renovated hostel right on the main street near lots of restaurants (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), Haichan Hostel which is a traditional three-sided Taiwanese mansion near the beach (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Baisha Bay B&B which is a great place near the main harbor that is only one story so there are no stairs (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). All of the owners of these places were very helpful, and even helped me to move my luggage and rent scooters.
Some hostels require that you 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), but you should not have to do this if you book through Agoda or another hotel booking site.
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
How to Get There:
The only way to get there is via ferry from Donggang or Yanpu Ferry Terminal in Pingtung. The ferry ride takes about 25 minutes. There is a ferry leaving from Donggang roughly every half hour from 7 AM to 5 PM.
Taking the Ferry:
Ferry from Donggang Harbor (東港漁港) to Baishawei Harbor (白沙尾漁港) on Xiaoliuqiu:
- Price: 450 NT
- Total travel time: 25-minute trip
- Boats leave about every 30 minutes
- The first boat leaves at about 7:00 AM and the last boat leaves at about 4:30 PM.
Ferry from Yanpu Harbor (鹽埔漁港) in Pingtung to Dafu Harbor (大福漁港) on Xiaoliuqiu:
- Price: 450 NT
- Total travel time: 25 minutes
- 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.
Parking: There is free scooter parking and paid car parking at the fishing harbor (30 NT per car), but the fishing harbor does not allow overnight parking. Overnight parking near Donggang Fishing Harbor can cost up to 180 NT per day, but parking at Yanpu Harbor is usually free.
Public transport: There are many shuttles to and from Zuoying HSR station that leave hourly. The cost is about 200-300 NT per trip.
You can book tickets to Kaohsiung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, and then take a shuttle bus.
You can book a shuttle bus from Zuoying HSR Station to Donggang on Klook here or KKday here. The ride takes about an hour.
For more detailed information regarding transportation and ferry schedules, please check out our Xialiuqiu Ferry Guide here.
Scooter Rental:
Gas Scooters:
Price: expect 300-400 NT per day.
You can book a scooter for a discount through Klook here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
In general, you will need a local scooter license or international driving permit (IDP), however, if you don’t have these it may still be possible to rent a gas scooter from a friendly scooter rental shop.
Be sure to book your rental in advance, especially during summer weekends. Ask for help from your hostel owner if needed.
Helmet-wearing is not very much enforced, but it’s still the law, and you should definitely wear one for your own safety.
Electric Scooters: If you do not have a local scooter license or international driving permit (IDP), then you can still rent an electric scooter to get yourself around the island. Electric scooters do not require a license in Taiwan.
You can book an electric scooter on Klook here or KKday here and here.
Bicycle Rental:
Riding a bike can be a great way to circle Xiaoliuqiu. You can circle the entire island is less than an hour.
You can ship a bicycle to Xiaoliuqiu for about 100 NT per round trip on the ferry.
There are not many bicycle rental options on Xiaoliuqiu besides electric scooters, so it may be easier to rent a bike in Donggang and ship it over. Usually, bicycle rentals are only about 100-200 NT per day. You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here.
You can book an electric scooter on Klook here or KKday here and here.
You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
Cost of a Trip to Xiaoliuqiu:
Ferry ride: about 410 NT per round trip, about 30 minutes. The public ferry goes to Dafu Fishing Harbor (大福漁港), and private ferries go to Baishawei Fishing Harbor (白沙尾漁港). There are ferries that leave at least hourly from about 8 AM to 5:00 PM. You can purchase tickets at Donggang Fishing Harbor (東港漁港), or through a tour agency such as Klook here or here, or KKday.
Hotel / B&B rooms: about 2000-6000 NT per night. This will be the most expensive part of the trip.
Scooter rental: about 400 NT per day. There is a gas station on the back side of the island.
Snorkeling: about 300 NT per hour
Scuba diving: around 2500 NT for 2-3 hours
SUP experience: About 1000 NT for half a day.
Kayak Sailing experience: about 2000 NT for 2 hours.
Submarine adventure: about 2000 NT.
Total cost of a 4-day trip to Xiaoliuqiu for two people: 9,000 NT – 30,000 NT depending on the hotel and types of activities you choose.
Map:
Please see below:
Drone Footage:
Our Journey:
We have visited Xiaoliuqiu three times, once in 2014, once in 2016, once in 2020, twice in 2022, and once in 2023, for a total of six times. I’m going to try to blend all these trips into one blog post.
In October 2016, we visited for two days and drove a scooter to the ferry dock. We parked our scooter near the ferry with no problems. We bought tickets and rented scooters when we got there with no problems.
In September 2020 we visited for four days. We drove by car to the ferry dock. I learned on the spot that the cheap 30 NT parking was not allowed overnight. So I went to the nearest parking garage which was 180 NT per day, but a nice man there at the entrance talked me into parking in his driveway for 500 NT for four days. We barely made the ferry on time, which for some reason was 30 minutes (usually the ferries are always on time). We booked our ferry ticket and scooter together on Klook, so it was a total of 1950 NT for two adult round-trip tickets, a child round-trip ticket, and a scooter rental for four days. I thought it was a good deal.
Some places we have stayed at that I recommend are Yujing 6.8, which is a four-story house near Dafu Harbor, Boliu B&B (柏琉民宿) which is also a nice newly renovated hostel right on the main street near lots of restaurants, Haichan Hostel, which is a traditional three-sided Taiwanese mansion near the beach, and Baisha Bay B&B which is a great place near the main harbor that is only one story so there are no stairs. All of the owners of these places were very helpful, and even helped me to move my luggage and rent scooters.
Snorkeling 浮潛
Xiaoliuqiu has some of the best snorkeling (浮潛 Fú qiǎn) in Taiwan. There are snorkeling rental shops and tours all over the island, the usual price being 300 NT for an hour tour per person. If you don’t know where to go, you can book on Klook, KKday, or ask your hostel owner and they will be able to hook you up.
After only an hour of snorkeling, I got a little seasick. We were holding onto a life raft and bobbing up and down with the waves, which did not sit well with my stomach, so we hit the beach.
The lesson here is to find a day with calmer waters to go snorkeling especially if you get seasick easily.
Gebanwan (Venice Beach) 蛤板灣 (威尼斯沙灘)
360 view of Geban Bay, one of the best beaches on Xiaoliuqiu. Can you find the sea turtle in the water? Unfortunately…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Monday, September 14, 2020
Or you can check out our 360-degree view of the area above or here.
Unfortunately on our trip in 2020, the road down to Gebanwan was under construction so we could only view it via drone. But that didn’t stop some other people from trespassing. Here are some photos from our trip in 2014:
We first visited Gebanwan in 2014 and it was the highlight of our trip. Later in 2015 restrictions were placed on the inter-tidal zones in Xiaoliuqiu so that only those with a licensed guide could visit them and swimming is prohibited. This is to protect the sea creatures in the inter-tidal zones. Although Gebanwan is an inter-tidal zone, it is not regulated, but in general, it is not very safe to swim here. It is a really nice beach though.
White Lighthouse 白燈塔
“The White Lighthouse also called Liuqiu lighthouse stands on the top of a hill in southwestern Liuqiu at 22′ 12’48’ north latitude and 120′ 21’55’ east longitude. It was built in 1929. The lighthouse is white in color and round in shape and is made of concrete. It is 10 meters tall from base to tip and flashes every 2.2 seconds day and night. The light can be seen up to 20 nautical miles away. Like the lighthouse at Eluanbi, it helps guide ships navigating through the Taiwan Strait and the Bashi Channel and is thus an international lighthouse. Under the bright sun, the white lighthouse stands out vividly against the blue sky, presenting a very different impression from its bright flashes of light at night.”
Hundred Year Old Banyan Tree (百年老榕樹)
Haizikou Harbor 海子口漁港
Shanfu Fishing Harbor (杉福漁港)
I think the most fun part about that island was us just randomly driving all around on those scooters, and going full throttle down the streets.
360 degree view of Shanfu Harbor on Xiaoliuqiu Island, another great swimming spot. This is also the location of our logo. Below there are two sea turtles in the water but they may be hard to see. #杉福漁港 #小琉球
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Or check out the 360 panorama above or via this link.
Shanfu Intertidal Zone 杉福潮間帶
Shanfu Ecological Trail (杉福生態廊道)
The Shanfu Ecological Trail is a short trail that follows an old military bunker and has a great view of the ocean.
Originally the trail here went from Shanfu Harbor to the bunker and beyond, but is now closed off.
“Guide to Shanfu Ecology Corridor”
“The Shanfyu Ecology Corridor runs for more than 400 meters between Duzaiping and Shanfu Fishing Harbor. In the old days, its entrance was a restricted gun emplacement; military control has been removed now, but the space inside is still well preserved. The trail follows the seashore all the way, giving visitors access to all kinds of special sea-eroded landscapes such as pillars, notches, and potholes. The path is lined by coastal vegetation such as the beach morning glory, necklace pod, Timor allophones, silver Messerschmitt, and beach naupaka, which not only add color to the sea-eroded terrain but also attract all kinds of insects. When the tide is out this is an excellent place to observe the intertidal life including crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and waterfowl. In addition, the trail faces to the west, making it perfect for watching the sunset from Liuqiu.”
360 degree view from above the old artillery emplacement on the west side of Xiaoliuqiu. This bunker used to have huge…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Thursday, February 9, 2023
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
Old Gun Emplacement / Fort
Flower Vase Rock (花瓶石)
360 degree view from Flower Vase Rock on Xiaoliuqiu Island #花瓶石 #小琉球
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Monday, September 7, 2020
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
In addition, rainwater percolating through cracks in the surface of limestone produces corrosion and gradually forms limestone caves that are narrow at the top and broad on the bottom. The most representative of this type of corroded terrain on Liuqiu is the Wild Boar Trench.”
Baishawei Harbor 白沙尾漁港
Kayak Sailing experience: about 2000 NT for 2 hours.
Submarine adventure: about 2000 NT.
Zhong’ao Beach (中澳沙灘)
A 360 degree view of Zhong’ao Beach in Xiaoliuqiu, it’s the most accessible and largest sandy beach on the island. It’s…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Wednesday, September 9, 2020
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
Yuchengwei Intertidal Zone (漁埕尾潮間帶)
Yufu Harbor (魚福漁港)
View from Yufu Harbor in Xiaoliuqiu. After six trips to the island, this is the first time that I went snorkeling at…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Wednesday, March 1, 2023
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
Lobster Cave (龍蝦洞)
Xiaoliuqiu Aquarium (小琉球海生館)
Price: 160 NT per person.
Was it worth it? I think so. It was a fun part of the trip since we didn’t do any serious snorkeling in 2020.
Sunrise Pavilion (旭日亭)
87 Highlands (八七高地)
360 degree of Xiaoliuqiu (Lamay Island) from the air, just to give you an idea of how big (or small) it is. The island…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
There is one scooter rental shop up the hill right in front of the harbor.
Flying Coast 飛行海灘
360 degree aerial view from the Feixing Coast 飛行海灘 on Xiaoliuqiu near Dafu Harbor. This is a secret spot with some of the best snorkeling and clearest water near the island. 🏝️ 🤿
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Sunday, August 18, 2024
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
Dafuting Natural Swimming Pool (大福亭天然游泳池)
360 degree aerial view from the “natural swimming pool” outside of Dafu Harbor on Xiaoliuqiu. It was some of the best…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Monday, June 26, 2023
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
Secret Beach (秘密沙灘)
360 degree view of Secret Beach, a small patch of sandy beach on Xiaoliuqiu’s southeast coastline. It’s not really a…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Wednesday, September 9, 2020
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via this link here.
Frog Rock 青蛙石
Yongan Bridge 永安橋
Sunset Pavilion (落日亭)
Lanhai Pavilion (藍海亭)
Devil’s Cave (烏鬼洞)
In retaliation, the Dutch sent a force to massacre the natives on the island. 300 men, women, and children were suffocated alive in this cave, and the rest of the people were put into slavery by the Dutch. This was known as the Lamey Island Massacre. Later Chinese people began inhabiting the island in 1645.
Later the island fell into Qing, Japanese, and ROC rule.
Wild Boar Trench (Sanzhu Trench) Ecological Trail 三豬溝生態步道
Meirendong (Beauty Cave 美人洞)
360 degree view of Meirendong Beach on Xiaoliuqiu Island. There is a nice small beach here and easy access to some amazing snorkeling locations. #美人洞 #小琉球 #台灣 #浮潛
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020
You can also check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or the link here.
Duzaiping Beach (肚仔坪)
This is Duziping Beach, the most pristine coastline on Xiaoliuqiu, because you can't visit here without a guide, and you…
Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Saturday, March 4, 2023
Or you can check out our 360-degree panorama of the area above or via the link here.
Tourist Information Center (游客中心)
- 631 species of fish
- 460 species of mollusks, which include creatures like clams, snails, and squid.
The reefs also host unique features such as coral formations resembling lobes, crowns, yellow cups, and mushrooms. These formations provide habitats for various marine life and contribute to the underwater landscape’s beauty.
The reef ecology supports:
- Fish populations: Including butterfly fish, groupers, and snappers.
- Algae abundance: Algae are critical for maintaining the health of coral reefs. However, excessive algae growth can indicate imbalances in the ecosystem.
Prominent viewpoints and natural attractions in Liouciou, related to the coral reefs, include:
- Flower Vase Rock
- Beauty Cave
- Sunset Pavilion
- Black Devil Cave
These areas allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of coral reefs and the biodiversity they support, contributing to Liouciou’s natural tourism appeal.”
Food (食物)
In this section, we will recommend our favorite food on the island.
Lizhu Rouyuan (麗珠肉圓)
Address: No. 58-1, Alley 1, Zhongshan Road, Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County 929
Here is the Google Map Link:
Sea Turtle Cakes
Address: No. 88, Minsheng Road, Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County 929
Here is the Google Map Link:
Quan Deguo Xiao Breakfast Restaraunt 全德國小早餐店
Address: No. 97, Fuxing Road, Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County 929
Here is the Google Map Link:
Huang Family Mahua Twists (麻花捲)
Here is the Google Map Link:
Hong Mama Breakfast Shop (洪媽媽)
Here is the Google Map Link:
Huama Ice Shop 花媽冰店
Here is the Google Map Link:
Haokeduo (好客多)
Here is the Google Map Link:
Xiaoliuqiu Agriculture Association Store 小琉球農會超市
Here is the Google Map Link:
Hostels We Recommend 我們推薦的民俗
Other Points of Interest
Typhoon Nepartak Damage
Sunrise Pavilion 日出亭
Ships passing in the night. One place that stuck out to me was a mango ice place that served their ice in sea shells, as well as providing sea shell spoons (海の家貝殼海藻冰 address: No. 61, Minsheng Rd, Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County, 929), but sadly they are now closed. They also had savory seafood-flavored ice, which was weird. Also, there were the usual street markets that you would expect to find in Taiwan with any Taiwanese food you could ask for.
We almost got lost trying to find the port home; there were three different harbors on the island, and it took us a while to find the third one. But we eventually made it back, wishing we had stayed longer.
For more detailed information regarding transportation and ferry schedules, please check out our Xialiuqiu Ferry Guide here.
You can book more activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, SUP experience, Kayak Sailing, submarine rides, scooter rentals, ferry boat tickets, and more through Klook or KKday.
For more of Taiwan’s outer Islands, you can check out our full guides to Penghu here, Green Island 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 Pingtung here, as well as our full travel guide to Taiwan here.