Tags: geography | island | tourism

Are you looking for a place where the waters are clear and the skies are blue, and countless stars stud the sky at night? Or would you like to wander through remote and picturesque fishing villages? Then pack your bags and visit the offshore islands of Taiwan!

Taiwan is located along the southeast coast of the Asian continent, on the fault line where the Euro-Asian and Philippine continental plates meet. This unique geographic location and frequent seismic activity, not only created an extremely diversified topography and natural environment on Taiwan, but also resulted in the diverse characters of its off-shore islands. Main off-shore islands consist of Penghu, Green Island, Orchid Island, Kinmen, Mazu, Turtle Island and Little Liuqiu as their locations, topographical characteristics, and human activity differ, each has its own unique scenery and culture. Therefore, each island offers something different, satisfying the varying needs of visitors, whether these have a natural, historical, or cultural nature, or simply consist of sightseeing, snorkeling, or sport fishing.
 

Penghu is Taiwan's largest offshore island and is situated in between mainland China and Taiwan. It actually comprises 64 small islands and has a combined coastline that stretches more than 300 kilometers. Each season has its own particular scenery, and rich natural and cultural resources are found here. The landscape here is characterized by basaltic rocks, coral reefs, marine erosions, and beaches, while the fishing culture and migratory birds add an extra dimension to the picture.

Green Island is located some 33 kilometers off the coast of Taitung in eastern Taiwan, and is a volcanic island where winds blow and waters eat away at the rocks all year round, creating a beautiful and diverse coast.

The Great Marine Wall on Green Island Photo by: Eugene Yeh

Green Island Lighthouse Photo by: Xi-Huang Lin

Morning on Green Island Photo by: Yang Ya-Jhu

Lanyu, or Orchid Island, is situated off the southeastern coast of Taiwan and, like Green Island, its neighbor to the north, was raised from the sea floor by the accumulation of volcanic lava. It has a moist and rainy climate, and its mountain areas (which occupy most of the island) are covered with dense rain forests that are filled with a great variety of plant and animal life. Coral reefs decorate the surrounding seas, and the Japan Current which flows past brings in large numbers of fish. This makes Orchid Island a paradise for fishermen and skin divers. The island is inhabited mainly by Tau tribespeople, aborigines who still retain much of their traditional culture and lifestyle. Their traditional stone houses are built mostly underground to avoid extremes of temperature as well as the ravages of typhoons, and their Flying Fish and Boat Launching festivals are seen nowhere else on earth. In addition to savoring the beautiful island scenery, during a trip of Orchid Island you can also enjoy a glimpse into the fascinating Tau culture.

Situated in the northeast corner of the Taiwan Straits and separated from mainland China by only a narrow strip of water, Mazu, like Kinmen to the south, is also made up largely of granite. Its scenery consists of sea-eroded terrain, natural sand and pebble beaches, sand dunes, precipitous cliffs, and other scenic features. In addition to its beautiful jagged coastline and the migratory birds that pass through and provide precious ecological resources, Mazu also offers traditional eastern Fujian villages built on mountainsides as well as defensive fortifications built by the military. 
 

Text and images are provided by Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation & Communications, R.O.C.