Xiaomen Whale Cave
小門鯨魚洞
A sea arch carved from basalt by waves on the north shore of Xiaomen Islet. Legend says a whale once stranded here, and it is a good spot to watch the sunset on the northern coastal loop.
Xiaomen Islet lies at the northern tip of Xiyu and is linked to Xiyu by Xiaomen Bridge. The entire island is made of basalt and forms part of the Penghu Geopark. Whale Cave sits on the island's northwest coast and is a sea arch (sea cave) formed by long-term wave erosion of the basalt. Legend says a whale once swam into the cave and stranded there, which gave it its name, and from some angles the arch looks like a whale. A coastal path leads to the cave entrance for viewing, and nearby are flat wave-cut platforms, basalt columns, and volcanic breccia that show the layers of Penghu's volcanic geology. The free Xiaomen Geology Museum on the island uses models and displays to explain how Penghu's basalt formed, and is worth visiting first. The cave faces northwest, so summer evenings are a good time to watch the sunset. Snack stalls near the trailhead sell cactus juice, fried rice cakes, and more. Getting there: about 5 minutes by car north from the Penghu Cross-Sea Bridge, crossing Xiaomen Bridge. Note: the reefs along the shore are sharp, so wear non-slip shoes. Do not approach the cave mouth or the shoreline when winds and waves are strong.
Opening hours
Open all day; geology museum approx. 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Zhuwan Dayi Temple
- Penghu Great Bridge
- Tongliang Great Banyan
- Erkan Historic Village
- Daguoye Columnar Basalt
- Houliao Heaven Road
- Penghu Aquarium
- Xiyu West Fort