Living in Taiwan is surely an overall pleasant experience but staying in Hsinchu can be a little hectic at times. Some examples of that could be the crowded streets with too many scooters, no sidewalks, the city center deprived of many places to rest. I found myself in a situation where I wanted to travel somewhere to have a feeling of big open spaces and to have the comfort of being far away from humanity. Perfect time? Long weekend after midterms. Perfect destination? Penghu!
Why Penghu? During the spring semester of 2022 covid cases drastically accelerated, international flights still were not a possibility because of rigid regulations of many countries and Taiwan’s strict policy on quarantine. Therefore, going to Islands surrounding Taiwan felt like the perfect choice.
The best reason to visit Penghu
My plan was spread out for three days but cut short a little short by traveling back and forth by airplane. Traveling to Penghu is very fast and straightforward. It’s very easy to take a plane from Taipei or Taichung. It is also a possibility to take a ferry from Taichung, but I was advised against that option because of passengers often feeling seasick. I traveled from Taipei on Friday and the flight itself took around an hour to arrive at Penghu Airport in Magong – the biggest city in Penghu. Even though my schedule allowed for only one activity on that day it was still a busy day in Magong. The best reason to visit Penghu is to go to beautiful beaches, which there are plenty of – a stark comparison to Taiwan where many are away from cities like Taipei or Hsinchu. First stop was Shanshui beach. Water sports like SUP’ing makes for a great way to spend time on water without getting wet and to experience a spectacular sunset.
The Xiyu township
On the second day - Saturday, we left the Magong city around noon and had a much better view than expected. The goal of the second day was to reach the most remote part of Penghu connected by bridges – the Xiyu township and visit notable places on the way. First stop was the Baisha township with the Tongliang Buddist temple, an incredible temple hidden in the shadows of trees that grow into the temple's structure! Following by the Penghu Great bridge which connects the vast distance between the islands of the archipelago. At the end of our trial the overarching goal was to pay a visit to Penghu Columnar Basalt Nature Reserve, a stone wall which is the remains of the volcanic eruption and a truly unique sight. For the rest of the day, I spent time in Erkan Historical Village, a remote area with unique architecture, a village that features traditional temples, homes and businesses.
All good things came to an end
On the final day before the flight, I took the final trip to Magong city’s historic area: Zhongyang Old Street. This street is home to the earliest commercial residences on the island. It is full of old brick houses with wooden doors and red lanterns. Built in the style of the past Dynasties. The alleys around this area are filled with restaurants and cafes.
Finally, all good things came to an end. I returned to Taiwan and Hsinchu, but the trip went as planned. It was a much needed breath of fresh air and long overdue rest. I learned that Islands or ROC are well worth visiting and should not be neglected in your summer planning. I wish to go there again if time allows it.
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