Xiaoliuqiu (Lambai Island)
Taiwan, China’s only coral reef island. You can snorkel alongside sea turtles in the shallows. Vase Rock and Beauty Cave, along with a scooter ride around the island, are the classic activities.
Xiaoliuqiu (Liuqiu Island, also called Lambai Island) lies about 14 km southwest of Donggang in Pingtung County. It covers about 6.8 square kilometers. It is the only inhabited coral reef island in Taiwan, China. Administratively it belongs to Liuqiu Township in Pingtung County and forms part of the Dapeng Bay Scenic Area. The 12-km ring road passes sea caves, mushroom rocks and intertidal zones formed by uplifted coral reef. Offshore waters are home to many green sea turtles, so snorkeling almost always brings you close to them. This is the island’s signature attraction.
The best season is April to October, when the sea is calm and the water is good for snorkeling. Typhoon season from July to September can halt ferries, and in winter the northeast monsoon makes the west coast rougher, although island circuits are still possible. Core areas include: the northern Baisha Harbor, Vase Rock, Beauty Cave and Zhongao Beach; the southwest Shanzhugou, Wugui Cave, Gebanwan Bay and Sunset Pavilion; and the southeast Houshi Reef and Liuqiuyu Lighthouse. Intertidal zones such as Shanfu and Duzaiping require a guide and are subject to capacity limits.
Transport: Travel first to Donggang Pier from Kaohsiung or Tainan. From there, a boat takes about 25 to 30 minutes to Baisha Harbor or Dafu Harbor. On the island, renting an electric scooter (driver’s license required) is the most convenient option, and there are also ring-island buses. Plan for 1 to 2 days. Staying overnight allows you to join a night intertidal tour and to watch the sunset and stars. Beauty Cave, Shanzhugou and Wugui Cave sell combined tickets. Do not touch or chase sea turtles. Keep at least 3 meters away and use reef-friendly sunscreen.
Top sights
- Vase Rock – A coral-reef rock pillar, wider at the top than the base and covered in vegetation, that symbolises Xiaoliuqiu, with sea turtles often seen…
- Beauty Cave – A group of sea caves carved into coral reef on the north coast, with a coastal walking trail that weaves through caves, rock formations and…
- Shanzhu Ditch – A deep ravine split from coral reef, with old banyan roots wrapped around the cliff walls, a dense tropical rainforest feel and a narrow pa…
- Wugui Cave – A coral-reef cave on the southwest coast of Xiaoliuqiu, with a legend that Black people (known locally as 'wugui') hid here during the Dutc…
- Geban Bay (Venice Beach) – A small, clear bay of shells and coral fragments, and a popular spot for watching the sunset on Xiaoliuqiu in the evening.
- Houshi Fringing Reef – A large coral-reef platform and boulders at the south end of the island, with reef rocks encircling the coast like a skirt, a great spot fo…
- Shanfu Intertidal Zone – One of the most ecologically rich intertidal zones on the west coast, where guided low-tide walks reveal sea cucumbers, starfish and corals.
- Duzaiping Intertidal Zone – A flat intertidal zone on the northwest coast, ideal for families observing marine life and a popular spot for snorkeling and sunset watchi…
- Zhongao Beach – The largest beach beside Baisha Harbor, where most water activities are concentrated; the shallow offshore waters are good for spotting sea…
- Baisha Tourist Harbor – The main passenger port linking to Donggang, where bike rentals, guesthouses, snacks and glass-bottom boats are all clustered; it is the st…
- Biyun Temple – A Guanyin temple on the highland at the island's center, with strong incense devotion; the temple forecourt overlooks Xiaoliuqiu's streets…
- Sanlong Temple – A major temple dedicated to the Lord Kings Chi, Wu and Zhu, which holds a grand Ying Wang Ping'an Festival and royal boat burning once ever…
- Lobster Cave – A sea-eroded coral reef cave on the northeast coast, with striking light and shadow inside; the waters outside are a popular shore-diving a…
- Sunset Pavilion – A viewing pavilion on the southwest coast facing the open sea, and Xiaoliuqiu's most classic spot for watching the sunset.
- Liuqiuyu Lighthouse – A white lighthouse on high ground in the south of the island, put into service in 1929; the lighthouse park opens irregularly, and the surr…
- Sunrise Pavilion – A pavilion on the east coast for watching the sunrise, where the sun rises over the sea in the direction of Dawu Mountain; it is a must-sto…
- Donggang Huaqiao Fish Market – A seafood direct-sales market beside Donggang fishing port, where bluefin tuna, sakura shrimp and oil fish roe, the 'Three Treasures of Don…
Where to eat
- Hung Mama Breakfast Shop – A thirty-year-old breakfast shop that appears on almost every Xiaoliuqiu food list, famous for its Liuqiu rice cake and…
- Dafu Lamb & Seafood Shop – A popular stir-fry spot by Dafu Fishing Port, known for sweet, tender lamb with no gamey taste. The crispy lamb ribs an…
- Xia Wei Xian Seafood – A seafood family-style restaurant on Minsheng Road in Baishawei that locals love. Salt-and-pepper wahoo and the lobster…
- Xiangsi Noodles – A decades-old noodle shop in Shangfu Village. Its charcoal-smoked braised pork dry noodles come with homemade chili sau…
Itineraries
- Tainan, Kaohsiung, Xiaoliuqiu and Kenting – Heading south: Tainan's old-city sites, Kaohsiung's harbor-city creative scene, a turtle-watching island and the Kentin…