Top 9 Attractions on Liuqiu Island
Liuqiu Island, also known as Lambai Island or Ryukuu Island, is a perfect place to spend a weekend or more from Kaohsiung City. This gorgeous island is a true gem of Taiwan with its caves and cliffs, relaxing beaches, delectable seafood and a colourful underwater world for divers.
The island was part of my two-week-long itinerary in Jan 2023, where I celebrated the Lunar New Year celebration in Taiwan like a local with my best friend, and explored some of the mountains and touristy spots around the island.
Be it a day trip, a weekend escapade or a week-long vacation, Liuqiu Island is a great place to break from the hustle and bustle of city life to recharge at your own pace.
I first visited Liuqiu Island in Jan 2023. This post contains affiliate links that cost nothing to you but support my blog! It may also be updated periodically. Cheers!
Getting to Liuqiu Island from Kaohsiung City
If you’re not already in Kaohsiung, book a seat on the high-speed rail to Zuoying Station.
Kaohsiung to Donggang
Private Transfer: Getting to Liuqiu from Kaohsiung without a car or scooter requires a bit more planning. The fastest and most efficient way is, needless to say, to hail an Uber or taxi. But this is also the costliest option. If not, Klook’s transfer from Kaohsiung to Donggang or Kenting is a deal to check out.
Shuttle Bus: The other option is this complicated route of grabbing a shuttle bus. Mariza from Hoponworld, who has extensively travelled around Taiwan, suggest taking a red MRT line to Kaohsiung Main Train Station (TRA), then to Spring Tourist Rental (春天旅遊汽機車出租) for a shuttle taxi to Donggang ferry terminal. You can read more about it here.
Public Bus: Take Bus 9117 or 9127 from Kaohsiung and get off at Donggang Station. Next, walk for about 10 mins to the port. For Bus 9189 (Kenting Express Line), get off at Dapeng Bay Station and change to Bus 503 towards the port.
Scooter: We took a scooter and travelled from Kaohsiung to Donggang – the ferry station. The journey was dusty and bumpy but a lot of fun. It took us almost an hour with a toilet break in between. The scooter went on board the ferry with us to Liuqiu.
Donggang Ferry to Liuqiu
There’s practically a ferry every hour from Donggang 東港 to Liuqiu 小琉球 from 7 am to 5 pm. Have a look at the official ferry website – it’s in Mandarin, so you would have to Google translate the page.
We scooted to the terminal and bought our return tickets there and then for NTD 950 from a vendor without even stepping into the building. So that’s NTD 400 per person for the return ticket and NTD 150 to bring the scooter over. The return tickets are valid for a week, which leaves you more than enough time to explore the island.
The journey from Donggang to Liuqiu is 30 minutes.
Cars have to be parked in Donggang.
Transport within Liuqiu
According to a travel pamphlet of Liuqiu, a KBUS Island Tour Bus brings tourists to major scenic spots. The cost for that? TWD 100 per day.
Or else, you could pick up a scooter or an e-bike to tour the island as the scenic spots are next to Huandao Road (the main road in Liuqiu).
Best Time to Visit
You can visit the island all year round, but generally, the best time to visit Liuqiu Island is during Spring (Mar-May) and Autumn (Sep-Nov), when the weather is milder and more comfortable.
The weather could get hot and humid in the Summer (Jun-Aug), with temperatures often exceeding 30 dC. Typhoons are also a possibility.
Winter months (Dec-Feb) are generally cold and rainy. I visited Liuqiu Island in Jan, and the weather was perfect – no rain! – for exploration. The temperature hovered around a nice cool 25-28 °C, which was perfect for shirts and shorts. The water was cold at 23-24 °C when I scuba-dived. As Winter is the quietest season, there weren’t many tourists around, and some businesses were closed.
Attractions on Liuqiu Island
Liuqiu island is small, and most attractions are very accessible from the main road. Rent an e-bike or scooter to get around the island!
Note: Tickets for Beauty Cave, Black Dwarf Cave and Wild Boar Trench are sold together for around NTD 120 per pax. All three sites have visiting hours, ranging from 7 am – 6 pm from Apr-Oct, and 7.30 am – 5 pm from Nov-Mar. Buy your tickets from any of the three sites.
Beauty Cave (美人洞)
Beauty Cave, located at the northwest corner of Liuqiu Island, was constructed by the township office in 1975. The 700 m-long trail is one of the three natural sites on Liuqiu Island. The cave faces the sea and is surrounded by strange rocks, mainly prehistoric coral reefs pushed up by crustal movements.
There are 13 scenic spots littered around the site separated by the main route, with names such as Heaven beyond Heaven (天外天) and Fairy Spring (仙人泉).
Be prepared to duck under some low caves, and don’t forget to marvel at the fossilised corals and shells stuck on the rock walls.
Wild Boar Trench (山豬溝)
Wild Boar Trench is the second nature reserve after Beauty Cave from the main road. Make sure you still have the ticket with you!
The trail leads to a beautiful trek through wooden walkways within a secluded valley of towering banyan trees, creepers and large leafy Alocasia. Since the trail is mostly sheltered from the hot sun, it is a great place to take a respite and enjoy the forest bath.
Black Dwarf/ Spirit/ Devil Cave (烏鬼洞)
Black Spirit Cave is the last scenic site on the island worth visiting – the views are even better than the Beauty Cave.
Without looking at the Chinese characters, I initially thought the cave was named after turtles 烏龜 (Wū guī), which sounds like 烏鬼 (Wū guǐ) – black spirit. Besides, we all know Liuqiu is famous for its native green turtles as well.
Well, this nature site, unlike the previous two, comes with a sad story.
When the Dutch left Taiwan, formerly called Formosa, in 1661, some black slaves escaped and hid in the caves. When the British arrived years later, the slaves burned, looted and massacred the British. The British warships decimated the population hidden within the complex cave systems by burning the caves in oil. Since then, the cave has been named the Black Spirit Cave for the slaves who died within.
Of the three nature sites we have visited, the Black Spirit Cave is, hands-down, the most complex and fun site to explore. Dedicate about 30 minutes to tunnel through the narrow caves and marvel at the crashing waves. Be warned: some areas can be rather dark.
Sanfu Ecological Trail (杉福生態廊道)
The Sanfu Ecological Trail, located right next to The Wild Boar Trench site, is a hiking trail that offers stunning views of the ocean and the surrounding landscape. The corridor was once a military base that still holds previous military fortifications. Its outdoor viewing platform is also a fantastic place to catch the sunset, owing to its perfect location.
The White Lighthouse (白燈塔)
The Liuqiu Island Lighthouse, located on the southeastern corner of the island, was built in 1929 by a fishermen’s association during the Japanese colonial period. The 11.6 m tall building was badly damaged during World War II. Restoration work in 1952 brought it back on duty, guiding ships through the Taiwan Strait.
Old Banyan Tree (百年老榕樹)
Located a short distance from The White Lighthouse, this massive century-old tree is a marvel for some quick photos. You could also trace a hidden trail behind the tree towards an unobstructed view of the coastline.
Sunset Pavilion (落日亭)
Not just a wonderful place to catch the sunset, the Sunset Pavilion is perfect for stargazers or photographers into astrophotography.
Vase Rock (花瓶石)
A must-see for anyone coming to Liuqiu Island. The name befits the rock column that stood awkwardly on the coast. Greens grew abundantly on top of the vase, while the waves worked their way with the bottom. Check the tidal schedules before your visit!
Snorkelling or Diving in Liuqiu Island
There are plenty of dive schools and packages for your underwater exploration. If you have your snorkelling gear, hit the beaches of Vase Rock 花瓶石, Secret Beach 厚石魚澳, Beauty Beach 美人沙灘 and Zhongao Beach 中澳沙灘 for some exploration. If not, sign up for a snorkelling package and explore the sea. Diving and snorkelling aside, you could also try water activities like sailing, kayaking, and Stand Up Paddling. Make sure you check the tides and inform someone beforehand.
For my underwater exploration, I dived with Liuqiu Dive.
Accommodations on Liuqiu Island
There are plenty of accommodations, depending on your budget and preferences. Below are the finest three.
If you are looking for a budget choice, check out the dorm I stayed in! Liuqiu Dive Hostel has shipping containers strategically stacked to form an artistic hostel. The rooms – capable of holding eight – are air-conditioned with a dehumidifier. There’s a privacy curtain for each bunk. Couples or friends can book two singles in a bunk. I like their hot showers and the overall chill vibes. This is the perfect place to wind down after some exploration or a couple of dives.
Looking for a truly indulgent getaway? Check out Natural Manor strategically located close to the pier and Vase Rock. The ensuite rooms are beautifully furnished, with some having a private balcony facing the sea.
Wien Art Villa is possibly the strangest – or coolest, depending on how you look at it – hotel on the island. Imagine living in a clay-sculpted apartment but life-sized. From the lobbies to the rooms, they each exude their own personalities. The hotel serves continental breakfast and has a pool – if you’re tired of the sea…
Food on Liuqiu Island
When in Taiwan, you eat. Slurp up all those noodles, and chomp down on all those delicious rice dishes! Like what I did in Jiufen!
Here are some of the eateries and cafes we visited during our travels, including some popular ones that weren’t open during our visit below (boohoo!).
You’re on an island, so of course, seafood is a must. But our short stay and season of travel disallow that. Better luck next time!
Hongtai Beef Noodles Restaurant 宏泰牛肉麵
The food was fantastic. We had beef noodles, dry chicken noodles, and an appetiser consisting of braised egg, kelp and meat roll.
Marianne Shaved Ice 瑪麗安創意冰品
Hit and miss. The strawberry shaved ice we had was too sweet, milky and artificial to my liking. But their strawberry daifuku was unexpectedly good.
Visit the shop in summer when the Taiwanese mango season is in full swing for some delicious mango shaved ice. Yums.
Kebuke Tea Shop 可不可熟成紅茶
We shared a cup of cold red tea and were transported to heaven on a hot day.
Kebuke Boba Tea Shop has a beautiful interior and a selection of brewed tea. Prices range from 30 to 65 NTD.
Good Thai Restaurant
Errs on the pricey side, but the food was good.
My friend wanted to show me what Taiwanese-style Thai food tasted like. Their Tom Yum soup was tasty but could be warmed up. NTD 200 for a small plate of stir-fried cabbage was mind-bogglingly expensive!
Hong Mama Breakfast Shop 洪媽媽早餐店
A cosy mom-and-pop breakfast shop with over 30 years of history to satisfy your Taiwanese taste.
The place was packed in the morning!
We had freshly made warm soy milk, omelette, Chinese pancake and a huge meatball in gravy.
Family Huang Sesame Twisters 黃家小琉球麻花捲
We bought some twisted rolls – a speciality snack of Liuqiu island – home as souvenirs.
Twisted rolls are twisted doughs fried or baked and seasoned with flavourings – e.g. sugar, chocolate, sesame, and seaweed. Family Huang shop isn’t the only one around selling the rolls, but it was the only one open when we were there.
Mr Wang’s Handmade Twisted Roll 王老師手工麻花捲
Mr Wang’s Twisted Roll is said to be the birthplace of Liuqiu’s twisted rolls. The shop, located in a discreet corner of the island, is popular amongst visitors and locals for its crisp texture and assorted flavours.
Liuqiu BBQ King 小琉球燒肉王
I did not try this restaurant as a table full of BBQ meat felt too much for me after a hot day of exploration.
The all-you-can-eat buffet has over 50 dishes – meat, seafood, and vegetables – to choose from.
However, due to its reasonable price and plethora of good food, the restaurant is highly popular and crowded. You must queue on-site as they do not take reservations.
Conclusion
Liuqiu Island may be small, but there is plenty to keep you entertained for days, especially if you are a diver. If not, 2 days is sufficient to catch the sunrise and sunset and soak in some sea air.
From caves to beaches, the island also boasts several small and unique eateries and dessert cafes to cater for everyone.
The island is a perfect spot for digital nomad wannabes, sea lovers, and those seeking a relaxed pace of life.
Eateries and cafes aside do visit and support the small businesses selling homemade trinkets and turtle memorabilia. Some can be rather creative!
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