Penghu — 90 Islands in the Taiwan Strait
& Summer Travel Without Rush

Shrimp, clams, squid, and fish caught the same morning from the surrounding waters. Restaurants along Magong harbour serve it fresh throughout the day at prices dramatically lower than Taipei. No middlemen, no refrigeration delay — this is the primary reason Taiwanese people come to Penghu.

Pale purple sorbet made from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus that grows wild across Penghu. Sweet with a very light sourness, and unlike anything you'll eat anywhere else in Taiwan. Sold throughout Magong Old Street and at roadside stalls across the island. NT$30–60.

A Penghu staple breakfast: rice congee with fresh seafood — shrimp, clams, or fish — lightly salted. Local shops open from 5am, packed with fishermen before dawn. Skip the hotel breakfast once, find a street-side congee shop, and order what the regulars are having.

A dense, moist cake made with brown sugar — rich, fragrant, and nothing like a standard sponge. It comes fresh (eat within a day or two) or packaged to travel. The packaged version is Penghu's most popular souvenir by volume — sold in shops throughout Magong. Get the fresh kind if you're eating it on the island.

Squid caught from Penghu's surrounding waters, grilled or pan-fried whole or in sections. The flavour — naturally sweet, tender — is noticeably better than squid brought to the main island. Available at market stalls and roadside grills across Magong. A whole squid for NT$80–150.

The main commercial street of Magong has it all in one walk: cactus ice cream stalls, brown sugar cake shops, fresh seafood restaurants, souvenir stalls selling packaged island goods. Open all day with the atmosphere peaking in the evening when more stalls set up and the street fills with locals and visitors alike.

The heart of Jiaoxi's hot spring culture — a public park with steaming channels and foot-soaking pools fed by the town's signature sodium-bicarbonate spring. Completely free, open all day, and one of the most pleasant ways to spend an hour in Taiwan.

Three tiers of waterfall dropping a combined 100 metres through forested mountains above Jiaoxi. The lower tier is an easy 10-minute walk from the trailhead car park; the upper tiers require a moderately strenuous 45-minute hike. Rewarding and rarely overcrowded before 10am.

Yilan's tea-growing slopes glow a deep jade green in spring and early summer. The Dongshan (冬山) area tea gardens offer a quiet antidote to the tourist circuit, with small teahouses serving freshly-picked Yilan oolong and views across the Lanyang Plain to the sea.

A striking Pritzker Prize-associated building whose form echoes the tilted rock strata of the local coastline. The exhibition inside covers Yilan's natural history, indigenous Kavalan heritage, marine ecology, and the county's rice and tea farming traditions in unusually thoughtful depth.

The distinctive volcanic island 10 km offshore that forms the visual centrepiece of the Yilan coastline. Dolphin and whale-watching boats depart from Wushih Harbour (Wai'ao) in the morning from April to October. Bottlenose dolphins are reliable; sperm whales are occasionally seen.

The go-to surf spot for Taipei's wave-riders — consistent swells, board rental shacks, and a much less crowded environment than beaches closer to the capital. Not ideal for swimming (rip currents present), but surfing lessons are available from the beach operators for beginners.

A preserved Qing dynasty commercial street flanked by traditional shophouse facades, temples, and small family businesses. Famous for the cow tongue biscuit bakers and its historic Dongshan River lantern festival connections. Quiet compared to Luodong — pleasant in the morning.

Yilan City's beloved public park celebrating the illustrated works of Jimmy (幾米), one of Taiwan's most treasured picture-book artists. Large bronze sculptures from his most famous stories dot the park. Genuinely touching whether or not you know the books — a favourite with all ages.

Taiwan's most celebrated whisky distillery, producer of bottles that have beaten Scotch benchmarks in international blind tastings. Free guided tours run throughout the day with tasting samples. The on-site shop has expressions not sold anywhere else. Book ahead for weekend tours.

A large, well-maintained living museum of Taiwanese folk arts — traditional opera, puppetry, craft workshops, and old-street architecture on a riverside setting. More engaging than it sounds; allow 2–3 hours. Conveniently located next to Silks Place Yilan hotel.

A flat, scenic cycling route that traces the Dongshan River through rice paddies and along the riverbank, passing the National Center for Traditional Arts and connecting to the Luodong Forest Park. Bikes are easily rented from shops near Luodong Station. Best in the golden-hour light of late afternoon.

One of only two naturally-occurring cold carbonate springs in the world (the other is in Italy). Water stays at around 22°C year-round — bracingly cold in summer, surprisingly appealing in comparison to the county's hot springs. Public pools and private tub options are available in town.