Xiao Liuqiu is the small island located in the Taiwan Strait, not too far southeast of Kaohsiung City. In recent years, the island has seen an explosion in numbers of tourists (mostly young local Taiwanese) who make the short journey by fast ferry to its shores to dive, snorkel, eat seafood, or just ride a […]
The Islands
The Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait
Facts About Penghu in Taiwan Ninety little islands make up the Penghu archipelago, off the Western coast of mainland Taiwan, longitudinally wedged between Taichung and Tainan. The island group may also be referred to as The Pescadores Islands of Taiwan, the name given to it by Portuguese explorers. Unlike the Taiwanese mainland, Penghu’s geography has lent itself […]
Orchid Island – Complete 2021 Travel Guide
Welcome to the wild side of Taiwan! Point straight southeast from Taitung, travel for 50 miles or so and you’ll find yourself on Orchid Island (Lanyu 蘭嶼 in Chinese), a popular tourist spot to get as far away from mainland China as possible. The island of 3,000 or so people is rich in aboriginal culture […]
A Travel Guide to Matsu Island in the Taiwan Strait
Facts About Matsu (Mazu) Island The Matsu Island archipelago contains 19 islands that, like Kinmen, are far closer to mainland China than to Taiwan. Still, they are part of Taiwan politically. The island group is named after the Fujianese goddess Matsu (alternatively spelled Mazu), who manages the seas and offers safe passage across them. Also like […]
My Crazy Adventure on Lanyu, Taiwan
Why would anyone go to Orchid Island during a typhoon!? Last year, I had one hell of a crazy (read stupid) adventure on Lanyu (Orchid Island) with my friend Ben… We were sitting at my restaurant, in Taichung, it was around 5 or 6 o’clock in the evening, we were sipping beers and chatting, then the […]
Travel Guide to Kinmen Island in Taiwan
Facts About Kinmen (Jinmen) Kinmen, except for maybe Hong Kong or Macao, is the closest you can get to Mainland China without actually stepping foot on the landmass. In spite of being a mere 6 kilometers from Fujian Province’s Xiamen city and 187 kilometers from Taiwan, the Kuomintang (KMT) Party managed to hold on to […]
Green Island Taiwan Travel Guide
Green Island isn’t on the to-do list of most visitors to Taiwan, but I believe it deserves more attention then it’s actually getting. The island is quite small, but it’s still one of the most spectacular places I have seen in Taiwan. Check out the best hotel on the island! Green Island is a perfect […]