Taitung & Green Island

The blue coast of Taiwan's "back mountains": hot-air balloons over Luye Highland, cycling through the rice fields along Chishang's Mr. Brown Avenue, Sanxiantai and surfing at Dulan on the East Coast, plus snorkeling and the Zhaori undersea hot spring on Green Island.

Taitung County lies in southeastern Taiwan and is known as Taiwan's "back mountains", backed by the Central Mountain Range to the west and facing the Pacific Ocean to the east. It has the highest proportion of Indigenous residents of any county in Taiwan. This destination covers Taitung City, the southern part of the Huadong Valley (East Rift Valley), the East Coast along Provincial Highway 11 and offshore Green Island (Orchid Island is listed as a separate destination).

Areas to explore: ① Taitung City: the Railway Art Village and the Tiehua Music Village, Taitung Forest Park and Seaside Park, and the National Museum of Prehistory, plus a tourist night market on Sundays; ② Huadong Valley: hot-air balloons at Luye Highland, Chulu Ranch, the Guanshan loop bike path, Mr. Brown Avenue and Dapo Pond in Chishang, and daylily blooms on Liushidan Mountain in late summer; ③ East Coast: Jialulan, Dulan village, the Jinzun surf break, Donghe Bridge, Chenggong Fishing Harbor and the eight-arch bridge at Sanxiantai; ④ South Link Line: Zhiben Hot Springs and Zhiben Forest Recreation Area, Jinzhen Mountain in Taimali and Duoliang Station; ⑤ Green Island: a 13 km ring road, snorkeling at Shilang, the Zhaori undersea hot spring, the Pug and Sleeping Beauty rocks, the White Terror Memorial Park and the lighthouse.

Best seasons: June–August brings the Luye hot-air balloon festival and peak snorkeling season on Green Island; August–September is daylily season; autumn and winter are ideal for soaking in the Zhiben hot springs and surfing on the East Coast. July–October is typhoon season, when ferries and flights are suspended during storms; from October to March the strong northeast monsoon often halts ferries to Green Island and seasickness can be severe.

Getting there: from Taipei, the TRA Puyuma or Tze-Chiang express takes about 3.5–4.5 hours to Taitung Station, or fly about 1 hour to Taitung Fengnian Airport. Sights in the county are spread out, so renting a car or scooter is recommended. Ferries to Green Island leave from Fugang Fishing Harbor (about 50 minutes), and there are also small planes; on the island, rent a scooter to circle it (a valid driving license is required).

Suggested length: 4–5 days: 1–2 days in the valley, 1 day on the East Coast and 1–2 days on Green Island. Note: independent travel to Taiwan by mainland Chinese residents remains restricted by cross-Strait policy, so check the latest entry permit rules before you travel.

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Itineraries