The Island of People — The Origins of Orchid Island
Orchid Island lies off the southeastern coast of Taiwan and is a volcanic island by geology. The island is home to a small indigenous community — the Tao people (also known as the Yami) — who possess a uniquely rich way of life and cultural heritage. Their world-renowned Flying Fish Festival, tatala plank canoes, and traditional semi-subterranean dwellings are cultural treasures found nowhere else on earth, and they hold profound significance within Taiwan's broader indigenous cultures. In the Tao language, the island is called Ponso no Tao, meaning "Island of People." In the Southern Min (Hokkien) dialect, the name was rendered phonetically as "Hongtou Yu" (Red Head Island) or "Hongdou Yu" (Red Bean Island), before being officially renamed "Orchid Island" in 1947 after the orchids that grow abundantly there.
Tao indigenous culture is one of the must-see highlights of any visit to Orchid Island
The entire island features a grand and imposing landscape, with rocks predominantly composed of black volcanic stone. The island's highest peak, Hongtou Mountain, rises to nearly 552 m — taller than Taipei 101! Situated in a tropical zone and lying along a frequent typhoon track, the island has high temperatures and abundant rainfall, giving it a warm and humid oceanic climate. The period from February to May offers the most stable weather conditions, while July through October brings the risk of typhoon-driven storms — so do keep a close eye on the weather forecast when planning your trip!
How to Get to Orchid Island
There are three ways to get there:-
Take a train to Taitung Railway Station, then transfer by taxi to Fugang Fishing Harbor to board a ferry bound for Orchid Island (the most popular option).
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Take a bus to Houbihu Fishing Harbor in Hengchun Township, Pingtung, then board a ferry bound for Orchid Island.
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Fly from Taitung Airport on Daily Air Corporation to Orchid Island Airport (tickets tend to sell out quickly, so book well in advance).
Circumnavigate Orchid Island in Just 90 Minutes!
Mountains and tropical forests blanket the entire island, while the coastal circumnavigation road stretches roughly 35 km and the central cross-island highway runs 4 km. The route is straightforward enough that you don't need GPS — even the most directionally challenged traveller can make it around without getting lost (laughs). On a scooter, one full loop takes just 90 minutes. That said, there is only one petrol station on the whole island (located near Kaiyuan Harbor in Yeyou Village), so remember to fill up before you head out!
Watch Out! Animals Roaming the Roads!
All around Orchid Island you'll find free-roaming dogs, cats, chickens, goats, and wild boars kept by local residents. Herds of goats graze lazily by the roadside, or even clamber up onto rest pavilions to gaze out at the sea — utterly adorable in their gentle, unhurried way!
As the sun sets and night falls, slow down and keep your eyes wide open on Orchid Island's roads, where streetlights are few and far between! Every evening the island transforms into a party for reptiles and all manner of creatures. Sharp-eyed visitors may spot mysterious sideways-scuttling beings hurrying across the road with eggs clutched in their claws — that's right, land crabs! The summer months mark peak breeding season for land crabs, so take extra care when driving through the area.
Here, the islanders and the animals share their lives together, dividing up everything that nature provides — an inseparable bond on this island. To the people of Orchid Island, these creatures are far more than livestock or economic assets; they are treated with genuine appreciation and gratitude.
Let Your Imagination Run Wild!
As a volcanic island, Orchid Island has been sculpted by weathering, erosion, and tidal forces into a spectacular variety of landforms — sheer cliffs, sea caves, and other geological wonders. Famous landmarks include Jade Princess Rock, Twin Lions Rock, Warship Rock, and Tank Rock. Whether they actually look like their namesakes is entirely up to your imagination!
Give Me a Table with an Unbeatable Ocean View!
When you're on an island, you'd better do as the islanders do — treat your eyes to sweeping ocean vistas while you treat your taste buds to great food! All the eateries recommended below offer open-air, sea-view seating. A heads-up to all food lovers: make sure you've got proper sun protection before heading out, or you'll come back a few shades darker than you left! (laughs)
In the sweltering tropical heat, the moment you step off the boat and out of the harbour, a wall of heat hits you — so naturally, the first recommendation has to be something refreshingly cool: shaved ice and frozen treats!
Located in Yeyou Village, 『Island Residents Ice Cream Shop (島民冰菓店)』 is about a five-minute walk from Kaiyuan Harbor in the direction of Langdao. On weekends and during the peak summer season, expect long queues. The shop's most distinctive feature is its four husky dogs, which wander cheerfully among the tables and sprawl lazily at your feet while you eat — many visitors come precisely for them. Daily offerings of cakes and desserts are limited in quantity and the shop closes early once sold out, so check the shop's Facebook page before making the trip to avoid disappointment.
Every corner of the shop reflects the owner's charming attention to detail — flying fish flags hung on the pillars are inscribed with "I'm on Orchid Island," framed by a backdrop of clear blue skies and azure sea, making it an irresistible photo spot for visitors. A few low tables with floor cushions let you sit at ground level. In addition to desserts, the shop also sells ocean-themed creative merchandise — be sure to snap some photos between bites!
This time I ordered the regular menu item "Handmade Taro Ice Cream" — slow-cooked local taro blended with milk, fresh cream, and egg yolks, served atop a bed of shaved ice. The sweetness and silky smoothness of the taro paired with the fluffy shaved ice base is wonderfully refreshing without being cloying. Matcha lovers absolutely must try the "Uji Kintoki Shaved Ice" — matcha poured over plump, generously portioned red beans, with red bean paste packed throughout the shaved ice itself. If you feel the matcha flavour isn't intense enough, there's a small cup of matcha concentrate on the side to add in. Eating ice cream, gazing at the sea, and playing with dogs — three wishes granted all at once, don't you think?
Island Residents Ice Cream Shop (島民冰菓店)
Address: No. 296-7, Yeyou Village, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County
Tel: 0975 667 868
"Wenwen Taro Ice (雯雯芋頭冰)" in Hongtou Village is the perfect pitstop on your circumnavigation ride. With a red roof, blue-and-white painted walls, and wind chimes made from seashells that chime softly in the ocean breeze, this open-air eatery has all the laid-back island-getaway vibes you could want.
We recommend the "Wenwen Special Blend" — a combination of taro ice cream and caramel mung bean smoothie that is both cool and refreshing. If you're a taro fan, you can also order the "Taro Ice Cream" à la carte: made from locally grown Orchid Island taro, it has a dense, velvety texture and an intensely rich aroma, with tiny pieces of taro throughout that make every bite satisfying — just thinking about it makes our mouths water! Beyond the food, you can also pick up some souvenirs and send a postcard to friends and family back home.
Wenwen Taro Ice (雯雯芋頭冰)
Address: No. 20, Hongtou Village, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County
Tel: 08 973 2586
"Traveller Rover (旅人 Rover)" in Yuren Village is the ideal spot to watch the sunset over the sea with a drink in hand. The menu covers all-day brunch, fried snacks, smoothies, and a selection of alcoholic beverages. The outdoor terrace seating is perfect for sun-seekers who love the sea breeze, and there's a "Moai statue" photo corner that no Instagram enthusiast should miss. This is a place where you often run into travellers from near and far, working-holiday helpers who've come to Orchid Island on a work-exchange arrangement, and even local residents — all gathering under a star-studded sky to sip cocktails at the bar, sharing their life stories without pretence or pressure, connected by the magic of this little island.
Traveller Rover (旅人 Rover)
Address: No. 56, Yuren Village, Orchid Island Township, Taitung County
Tel: 0933-089849
Time to Dive!
Scuba diving pairs perfectly with an underwater camera to capture all kinds of stunning subjects — photo credit: 歐大
Orchid Island's dive sites are divided into four main zones corresponding to the island's villages. Because the island is sizable, travel time between dive sites should be factored into your dive plan — finding the right dive shop and sorting out transport in advance will make your entire dive trip far more comfortable.
Hongtou Village to Yuren Village
The nearshore area is mostly sandy bottom and can be affected by the southwest monsoon, which tends to coat coral surfaces with sediment, making the underwater topography relatively featureless. However, as you move farther from Hongtou Harbor, the terrain gradually diversifies with distance from shore. The area around Sitiaogou (Four Gullies) features a prominent headland topography; in summer, currents can reach 1–3 knots, and the corners of the rock walls are prone to generating downcurrents and upcurrents — divers must pay close attention.
Notable dive sites: Badaiwan Shipwreck, Yixiantian (Heaven's Crack), Badaiwan Aquarium, and the outer reef off the airport.
Yeyou Village
This zone is characterized by gravel and sandy shores, though hard corals are still present in reasonable densities. As it sits on the southwestern side of Orchid Island, this area becomes the top choice for try-dives and training once the northeast monsoon sets in. In some spots the dramatic topographic relief has given rise to impressive aggregations of both hard coral and soft coral. Most sites here are easily accessible by shore dive.
Notable dive sites: Blue Cave (藍洞), Yeyou Fault (椰油斷層), and the Old Kaiyuan Harbor (開元舊港).
Langdao Village
Located on the northern side of the island, this is the zone most accessible via shore diving. The nearshore topography is dominated by fringing reef, with hard corals massing densely between 3 m and 15 m depth. Rich biodiversity, combined with varied terrain — including narrow reef crevices that divers sometimes need to squeeze through — makes this area particularly distinctive. However, as it faces the island's northern side, diving here is not recommended once the northeast monsoon begins.
Notable dive sites: Twin Lions Rock, Hen Rock (母雞岩), and Jade Princess Rock.
Dongqing Village
The dive sites in this zone are renowned for their dramatic topographic relief — at times the underwater scenery resembles a mountain range, evoking a truly exhilarating sense of awe. Sites such as Yongxing Reef feature dense aggregations of coral and fish, making them ideal for underwater photography. Yenyin Small Canyon (野銀小峽谷) and Yixiantian (Heaven's Crack) also showcase natural corridor formations that are well worth exploring. As these are all deep sites, dive boats typically do not drop anchor, making precise control of neutral buoyancy absolutely essential.
Notable dive sites: Yongxing Reef, Guandong Rock (關東石), and Dongqing Bay Garden (東清灣花園).
