Penghu Islands, Taiwan
By Theresa Yiju Lin
Because of the geographic position, Taiwan is an island that relies heavily on airplanes for international travel.
One way that tourist can visit Penghu is by air. There are four main airlines including Far Eastern Air Transport, Mandarin Airlines, TransAsia Airways and Uni Air, which provide frequent flights from the main island to Penghu. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the Makung Airport depending on the departing cities. The airfare is between NT$900 and NT$1,500.
The Web sites of the four main domestic airlines:
The other way to visit Penghu is by sea. There are several companies that operate ferries between the main island and Penghu. Taiwanline Taihua Ferry provides transportation between Kaohsiung and Makung. Taian Ferry goes between Kaohsiung, Chimei and Wangan. Alishan Ferry travels between Chiayi and Makung. Haiyen Ferry serves the passengers between Tainan and Makung. Jingfong Ferry goes between Yunling and Makung. The traveling time can be twice longer than flying, and a round-trip ticket usually costs between NT$1,100 and $2,200.
The two main ferry companies:
There are many ways to get around in the main island of Taiwan, as well as in the Penghu Islands. It is highly recommended to discuss the travel plans with professional travel agent. Many travel agencies provide free consultations, and it is common for tourists to speak with them before trips because sometimes the agents can find better deals to help reduce the cost.
As long as the visitors arrive at the Penghu Islands, it is much easier to go from places to places. There are several ways to go sightseeing. Airport shuttles, Tour buses, car and motorcycle rentals and cabs are available in town. Residents and tourists usually use ferries to visit the islands. Hitchhiking is a possibility too if you desire more excitement. People are very friendly in Penghu. The cost for the transportation is between NT$150 and NT$2,500 per day, depending on the services you choose.
Penghu must-sees
Penghu is a town full of surprises. The officials described the following places as the magnificent sceneries in Penghu. In these locations, city tours and water activities are both available.
Almost every famous location in Penghu has a tale. The fairy’s footstep on the peak of the Wangan Island is one of the main attractions. The tiny mark of a footstep leaves a piece of evidence that the fairy visited this land. The gorgeous sunset near the Kuanyin Pavilion in Shiyu had its reputation since the Ching Dynasty. The Chipei Island (the Pearl of the North Sea) is a resort renowned for its frequent appearances on the silver screens.
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| Windsurfing with the sunset near the Kuanyin Pavilion |
The oldest Matsu Temple in Taiwan, Tienhou Temple, is a first-class historical architecture and another wonderful place to see is the town. The town under the sea, Huching attracted world famous Graham Hancock, the author of a number of bestselling investigations of historical mysteries, to visit Penghu in 2001. Hancock studied the site and found the evidence of human activities since about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. The research changed Penghu’s history.
Some people said that if tourists do not hear the ocean’s sounds in Penghu, they never really visit the islands. Therefore, the tour guides suggest listening to the ocean waves at the Whale Cave of Hsiaomen. It is an extraordinary experience!
Other attractions such as folk festivals molded Penghu’s character. Matsu, the goddess of the sea, will cruise her territory to bless Taiwan with a long time of peace and good weather. Every two to three years on her birthday, March 23 on the lunar calendar, she will finish the trip and return to Penghu to celebrate a completion of one tour. This is one of the biggest events of the islands.
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| Rice Turtle |
For more interesting tourist resorts in Penghu, visit the official Web site at http://penghu.phhg.gov.tw/.