The Complete Guide to Green Island, Taiwan

Green Island is a beautiful island not far off the eastern coast of Taiwan. A tiny island, with just over 3000 residents makes this a great peaceful escape from a busy urban life. Make your way out to Green Island with our comprehensive guide to get the most out of your trip to this beautiful island.

Transportation

Green Island (Denny Mobile)

There are a couple of ways you can get to Green Island:

1. Plane

Plane in Taitung Airport (鵬智賴)

You can take a flight from Taitung Airport to Green Island for about 15 minutes, only at NT1028 (USD $33). As the aircraft is tiny, the seats are limited to 19 passengers so you should book your seats in advance.

Taitung to Green Island: 08:10am, 8:50am, 12:15pm, 1:00pm, 4:20pm

Green Island to Taitung: 8:50am, 1:00pm, 5:00pm

2. Boat

Boat to Green Island (Kenny Mobile)

Most people arrive to Green Island via a boat. If you are lucky, you might even encounter dolphins next to your boat during your voyage, one of the many rare experiences in Green Island.

Getting to the boat:

Drive to Taitung’s Tomioka Pier
Take a train to Taitung Railway Station, then transfer by taxi

More information:

During the peak season (June to October), the boat will come around every 2 hours or so. During the off peak season, there will only be three shifts going toGreen Island. It’s highly recommended that you check the schedule out in advance.
Each boat ride is about 40 to 60 minutes.
Return trip: NT 920 (USD $29)
One way ticket: NT 460 (USD $14)

Traveling Around Green Island

Motorbikes in Green Island (Visualage)

Most Taiwanese get around the country via motorbikes so naturally, the most effective way of getting around Green Island is by motorbike. You can admire the scenic views of the sea and sunset while riding along the roads on your way down the mountain.

Rental price: NT 300 (USD $10)
Pumping petrol: A complete trip around Green Island is about 20km, NT 100 (USD $3) of fuel is enough to travel around Green Island twice. The island’s only gas station is in Nanliao Village and its operating hours are 8:00 – 17:00.

Food in Green Island

Fresh seafood in Green Island (Beatrice Wei)

Although at first glance, Green Island looks like it’s filled with typical Taiwanese stores selling stir fried food, ice cream and breakfast, they actually come with a twist! Green Island is famous for their distinctive seaweed flavoured eats.

1. Seaweed Ice

Seaweed ice (Susan5443)

Yes that’s right, seaweed ice is a thing in Green Island! Seaweed ice is a unique flavor like marmite — you either love it or hate it. We recommend you ask the owner for a taste test before purchasing to prevent food wastage in case seaweed ice doesn’t suit your tastebuds.

2. Seaweed Omelette

Seaweed omellete (小薛)

A famous dish in Green Island, the added flavor of seaweed gives your typical omelette a refreshing taste!

3. Venison

Venison specialty shop (Susan5443)

Deers were on the edge of extinction at a point due to excessive hunting and habitat destruction on Green Island. Thankfully, the introduction of deer farming saw the number deers multiplying and they became the main source of economy for occupants of Green Island, evident by the abundance of shops selling dry or fried venison throughout Green Island.

4. Dried Fish

Dried fish (We make noise!)

It’s known for a fact that there’ll be no lack of seafood in Green Island. In addition to eating freshly caught fish, you can buy all kinds of dried fish to satisfy your seafood cravings.

Green Island Attractions

Map of attractions on Green Island

Food and transportation aside, the highlight of Green Island is obviously their attractions! There are a surprisingly great quantity of activities you can partake in along the coast of Green Island filled with rocks and stones.

1. Pug and Sleeping Beauty Rock

Pug and Sleeping Beauty Rocks (wsifrancis)

Taiwan, nature and rocks pretty much come together — Green Island is no different. Accompanied by pristine oceans, Pug Rocks (left) Sleeping Beauty Rock (right) are two prominent rocks of Green Island.

2. Guanyin (Kuanyin) Cave

Guanyin Cave (Wei – Te Wong)

Located in a natural cave on Green Island is a stalagmite that resembles Guanyin (sometimes also spelt as Kuanyin), the Goddess of Mercy. This cave, dedicated to Guanyin, is Green Island’s most important religious site.

Worshippers hanging their wishes on the archway of Guanyin Cave(Benson Meng)

Tourists and local often hang their wishes at the Chinese-styled archway entrance of Guanyin Cave after making their prayers and seeking blessings from the Goddess of Mercy.

3. Green Island Human Rights Memorial Park

Green Island Prison (VisualAge)

Surrounded by sea, Green Island is an isolated island that holds a dark history as the largest political prison during the Chinese Civil War, better known as White Terror, from 1950s to 1980s. Its interior is divided into two sections, New Life Correction Center and Green Island Reform and Reeducation Prison.

A room in Green Island Prison (Carol Lin)

With the Chinese ideology of “better to arrest a hundred innocent people than let one guilty person be free”, a dozen people were locked in this tiny enclosed area to re-educate their political beliefs. Re-education, another word for torture, includes splashing prisoners with sugar water, allowing ants to climb all over their bodies.

Now that the steel doors of Green Island Human Rights Memorial Park is opened to public, you can have a first-hand experience of the grim atmosphere in these political prisons that robbed many prisoners of war their youth and innocence.

4. Undersea Hot Spring

Undersea hot springs (Sci)

We’ve heard of underwater world, but an undersea hot spring? You probably never heard of them because of how rare undersea hot springs are. There’s only three undersea hot springs in the world — Italy, Japan, and right here on Green Island, Taiwan.

Undersea hot springs 權鋒葉

Uhhh, hot springs and relaxation, do we need to explain more? Soak in the hot spring and enjoy the sea breeze brushing against your face while you watch the sunset. Accompanied by the sound of the waves as the sun gives way to a magnificent night sky, there’s no better way to end your day.

Green Island Activities

Coast of Green Island (yenjwang)

Other than Green Island’s attractions, KKday has a few activities on the island to recommend. For an authentic Green Island experience, you shouldn’t miss these activities!

1. See the Sunrise

Coast of Green Island (Joel Fukuzawa)

The hot springs, located on the east side of Green Island, are one of the best places to catch the island’s charming sunrises.

Sunset at Green Island (Joel Fukuzawa)

The sight of a tangerine glow gradually splashing across the skies greets you every morning while you listen to the serene sound of waves crashing upon the coasts — trust us, with the sunrises in Green Island, there’s no place you’d rather be.

2. Eco-Trail at Night & Stargazing

Stick insect (Benson Meng)

Go on a eco trail at night for a close walk with Mother Nature. If you’re lucky, you might spot a wild deer or this large stick insect found only in Kenting and Green Island!

Light house in Green Island Joel Fukuzawa

Green Island has very little light pollution, making it the perfect spot for stargazing. You can even spot the Milky Way and Big Dipper here — need we say more? If you catch a shooting star, don’t forget to make a wish!

3. Snorkelling

Snorkelling (Kenji Wang)

Put on your life jackets, it’s time you jump into Green Island’s clear waters! After all, isn’t that what Green Island is known for? Under the guide of a coach, you can go close to the colourful corals as well as the different fishes of the sea.