Whereas I arrived to its “sister” island Lanyu during a torrential downpour and in spite of a canceled flight, there was not a cloud in the sky my puddle jumper approached Lyudao (aka Green Island) from Taitung.
There had been drama—a power-hungry loser at the airport had made me check an item that I knew for a fact was permissible as carry-on luggage—but apart from that, it could not have been a more beautiful day for flying. Nor could Lyudao have been any more resplendent once I touched down there.
In fact, I was quite literally not prepared for just how much the island’s beauty would knock my socks off, which is part of why I’m writing this Lyudao Green Island Taiwan itinerary. I’ve come to think of Lyudao as Taiwan in miniature, and a more distilled version of the main island as a result.
How to Get to (and Around) Green Island
Before I delve deeply into my Taiwan Green Island itinerary, I should explain something more fundamental. Namely, how to get to the island in the first place. As is the case with nearby Lanyu, you have two basic options: Flight and ferry. The flight (which you must book well in advance via Daily Air) takes just 15 minutes, while the ferry (which departs from Fugang Fishing Harbor) takes around an hour.
Once you’re on the island, there are a few options as to how to get around. Most people rent a scooter, though I didn’t; I don’t consider myself proficient enough to ride one safely. I instead rented a car, though these are in admittedly short supply. The road around Lyudao is (mostly) flat enough that I guess you could technically rent an ordinary bicycle, though I’ve never put this into practice.
What to Do in Green Island
Start at the Little Great Wall
I’ll be honest. Although I love the real Great Wall, the nomenclature of Green Island’s Little Great Wall had me less than excited about it. Yet when I arrived here, I audibly gasped because of how beautiful the scene was. And not just because of how it resembled its namesake from the road. No, the views down to the various beaches and bays (one of which I’ll dive deeper into in a couple of paragraphs) offered additional allure.
(Or with sunrise at Zhaori Hot Springs)
One of the most famous places on Taiwan Green Island is a hot spring in the southeastern corner of the island. Allegedly, it’s one of only a few in the world that flow directly out of the ocean. While this is cool in theory, in practice it is less so, because you’ll need to access the spring via a decidedly artificial pool. Still, I’d be lying if I said the sunrise over Zhaori Hot Springs wasn’t pretty.
Stare into Green Island’s Blue Eye
Remember how I mentioned looking down from the Little Great Wall, and being amazed by what I saw? To the south there were a variety of land and water formations, including my personal favorite Sleeping Beauty. To the north, on the other hand, was a constellation of gorgeousness that includes the so-called Blue Eye, a sea cave that provides incredible absolutely incredible framing for the beach just outside it.
(And take a dip in a natural swimming pool)
Across this beach (which, do note, is a coral beach—don’t wear flip flops like I did) is a natural swimming pool, where you can enjoy a dip in the waters of the ocean, without the crazy currents carrying you out to sea. Then again, Lyudao Green Island is also famous as a scuba diving destination, so you can absolutely dive deep into the sea if you so choose.
Discover local culinary culture
On one hand, Lyudao doesn’t have a signature dish (aka flying fish) like Lanyu does. On the other hand, there’s plenty of delicious seafood to enjoy on Green Island, presuming you’re OK either with begging the staff to prepare you smaller portions (as a solo traveler, assuming you are on), or can get your money’s worth with larger portions of squid, clams and other delights meant for bigger groups.
Where to Stay in Green Island
Unlike Lanyu, where homestays are basically all that’s available in terms of lodging, Lyudao does have some proper hotels. I stayed at the Zhudeng 1965 Hotel. While, on its face, a fairly standard tourist hotel (if a very new and clean one, especially by Taiwanese standards), it seemed downright luxurious after two nights in a room in some person’s house over on Orchid Island.
Most Lyudao hotels, however, are geared toward scuba divers. I don’t dive (often), so I didn’t go under the sea when I was in Lyudao (although I may on future trips). Had I, however, I probably would’ve stayed at Moon’s Diving House, which irrespective of its convenience for sub-sea explorers is one of the highest-rated accommodations on Green Island.
Other FAQ About Visiting Taiwan’s Green Island
Is Green Island, Taiwan worth visiting?
Green Island is absolutely worth visiting. And I say this as someone for whom it was a secondary priority, after Lanyu, at least during the planning phase of my trip. Green Island has perhaps the fiercest beauty in all of Taiwan, and manages to feel like both a miniaturized version of the main island, as well as a singular and unforgettable destination.
How long to stay in Green Island?
On one hand, it takes a while to reach Green Island. You’ll need to get from Taipei (or wherever else in Taiwan you happen to be traveling) to Taitung, and then go either by ferry (one hour) or flight (15 minutes) to Green Island. Because of this, most people stay a minimum of two nights, though I’ll be honest: You can see most of the island in one full day.
How do I get to Green Island from Taipei?
To reach Green Island from Taipei, first travel to Taitung, either via domestic flight from Songshan Airport, or by train from Taipei Main Station. You can then go by plane (on Daily Air) or ferry (from Fugang Fishing Harbor) to Lyudao, which is less than an hour away in either case.
The Bottom Line
The first conclusion I hope this Lyudao Green Island Taiwan itinerary leads you to? Green Island is absolutely worth visiting, whether on its own or in conjunction with nearby Orchid Island. The second conclusion I hope you’ll reach is that Lyudao is like a distilled version of Taiwan itself, with a more concentrated beauty that overwhelms you at every turn. The only place I’m on the fence is regarding how long you should stay—I spent two nights; in retrospect I think that might’ve been too long. Regardless, I do hope you’ll hire me to plan your Taiwan itinerary, so I can put everything in perfect proportion.
