I started visiting Taiwan’s outlying islands many years ago, but seeing all of them has proven more difficult than I expected. Two in particular have been the most challenging.
I’m speaking, of course, about Orchid Island and Green Island, known in Chinese as Lanyu and Lyudao, respectively. Among other things that separate these islands from others like Kinmen and Penghu is the physical complication of reaching them.
But more on that in a second. The Lanyu vs Lyudao debate is about so much more than whether you win the flight lottery, or have to suffer through one of Asia’s most notoriously rough ferry rides.
Why It Took Me So Long to Visit Lanyu and Lyudao
I first hatched the idea of visiting Orchid and Green Islands in 2020, back when my exploration of offshore Taiwan began. Unfortunately, even though Taiwan-proper had yet to lose its shit over covid-19, certain outlying islands (namely Lanyu and Lyudao) had put in place restrictions that would’ve made this difficult, to say the least. So I put off visiting them until sometime after covid.
Due to how long Taiwan’s borders stayed closed, my first realistic opportunity came in 2023, when I planned to split around a week between these islands that November. Unfortunately, I made a critical error (there is no direct ferry between the islands, or at least there wasn’t then), which made my plan untenable. Thankfully, when I rebooked from 2024, I booked flights the entire way.
Ways to Compare Lanyu with Lyudao
Nature
Both of these islands are naturally stunning, although I’d say that Green Island is more traditionally “beautiful,” with better beaches, calmer seas and more obvious touchstones. Lanyu seems rougher, though that matches its spirit, which feels to be barely clinging onto the end of the earth. Both islands are scuba hubs, whether you choose Lanyu or Lyudao.
Culture
This is an important distinction of Orchid Island vs Green Island. While Green Island is as Taiwanese as the mainland, Orchid Island is inhabited primarily by Tao aborigines. As a result, whether in terms of architecture, culture or in some cases language, Lanyu is a definitely departure from the rest of Taiwan, while Lyudao is something of a continuation.
Attractions
It’s not accurate to say that these islands don’t have tourist attractions, even if they’re mostly natural landforms. Indeed, it’s impossible to say whether Lanyu’s top spots (Warship Rock, Iranmeylek Bay and the Green Green Grassland among them) are “superior” to the Little Great Wall, Sleeping Beauty or Zhaori Hot Springs on Lyudao. But they’re all cut from a similar (and non-touristic) cloth, I’d say.
Cuisine
Comparing Green Island or Orchid Island on this front, meanwhile, you have to decide what you want. There’s plenty of amazing seafood on both islands, from squid, to clams, to fresh fish. On the other hand, Lanyu is famous for flying fish (Fēiyú in Chinese), which gives so many meals on the island a singular feeling you just don’t get on Lyudao, in my opinion.
Getting there and around
Both of these islands require a trek from Taipei—a flight or train to Taitung, and then another flight or ferry from there. It’ll take you half a day in the best case, and maybe all day. Maybe two days, if your flight or ferry onward from Taitung gets canceled! Once on the island of your choice, most people rent a motorbike to get around, though I was extra and ended up renting cars on both.
The Best Time to Visit Lyudao and Lanyu
Climate-wise, these islands are relatively similar to Taitung. They’re warm most of the year, although this is never guaranteed during some months (January and February especially). As is the case in Taitung and in Taiwan in general, it can always rain and it often does. Which means that if you’re agnostic to rain (and, more ideally, chilly weather), you can basically visit Lanyu and Lyudao 365 days per year.
More ideally, given how many activities in Lyudao especially center around the water, it’s probably best to visit during Taiwan’s scorching hot summer months of June, July and August. However, do note that whether you choose Lanyu or Lyudao (or both), this is also the peak of typhoon season, so you don’t just have to prepare for “normal” rain—a trip-ruining deluge, while not likely, is completely possible.
Other FAQ About Lanyu and Lyudao
Is Green Island or Orchid Island better?
It honestly depends what you are looking for. Orchid Island is better if you’re looking for a true departure from the rest of Taiwan, and an experience unlike any you’ve had, maybe anywhere in the world. Green Island, meanwhile, is best for fierce natural beauty and traditional ecotourism activities.
Is there a flight from Green Island to Orchid island?
There is no flight directly from Green Island to Orchid Island. Rather, you need to fly from Green Island to Taitung and then connect there. Thankfully, flight schedules on Daily Air usually allow you to do this with only a minimal layover, making it a pretty seamless experience.
Are Green Island and Orchid Island the same?
Orchid Island and Green Island are not the same. Orchid Island is much farther away from the mainland than Green Island, and is populated primarily by Tao aboriginies, who give the entire place a unique culture, look and feel. Green Island is closer to mainland Taiwan both geographically and in terms of culture, even though its beauty is fiercer than what you find on most of the main island.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to comparing Lanyu vs Lyudao, the short answer is that you should visit both islands, if you can. The long answer is that there are key differences—exciting differences, frankly—between these two jewels in Taiwan’s crown. Lanyu feels shipwrecked and lost at sea, unlike anywhere else in the world let alone Taiwan, as if you’ve traveled to the end of the earth and lived to tell about it. Green Island is like Taiwan in miniature and distilled, more beautiful and intense and eclectic but also far simpler, with less of everything to go around. Get more insights like these when you hire me to plan your Taiwan trip.
