Kaohsiung & Penghu 3-Day Tour: The Unique Charm of Offshore Islands in the Off-Season

We arrived in Kaohsiung at 12:00 PM and started our journey at the **Tsukuyomi Maid Cafe** near the train station. We ordered a special set meal featuring a soda that changes flavor every time it's made and a chicken cutlet rice served with a 'love spell'. You can even take photos with the maids, though I'll keep those private!

In the afternoon, we visited the **FE21 Eslite Bookstore** and the magnificent **Kaohsiung Main Public Library**. Since our ferry to Penghu wasn't until 11:30 PM, we immersed ourselves in books and architecture until 10:00 PM before taking a 25-minute MRT ride to Hamasen to board the ship.

Because we booked only a week in advance during the off-season, flights were expensive ($3000 TWD) and the Chiayi Budai route was closed until April. We booked the **Kaohsiung-Penghu Ferry** (1/23 - 1/25). I expected a small, rocky boat with straw mats like in ancient times...

To my surprise, it was a massive vessel! It felt like a luxury cruise liner. You can even drive your car directly onto the ship.

We bought the Business Class tickets (~1900 TWD round trip). The seating area was spacious and comfortable.

Exploring the ship, we realized the 'bunks' were actually designed like a modern youth hostel. Next time, I think I'd prefer booking this sleeper option. It looked very cozy.

The ship facilities were impressive. There are viewing decks on every floor, clean showers, and a shop/restaurant that stays open from 11 PM to 1 AM.

After 6 hours of sleep, we disembarked at 6:00 AM in Magong, the bustling heart of Penghu. We visited the **Chenghuang Temple** first.

Walking through the empty morning streets, the architecture and atmosphere felt distinctively exotic, almost like being in a different country.

We visited the famous **Grandmother's Penghu Bay**, the setting of a very famous Taiwanese folk song.

We saw the famous **Guanyin Pavilion**. Fun Fact: In coastal areas, fishermen typically worship Mazu (Taoism) for safety at sea, while Buddhists worship Guanyin.

Car rentals open at 8 AM. **Important Tip:** International Driving Permits are accepted! Bring your passport and original license. Cost is ~1500 TWD/day. Ask for promos as they often partner with other businesses. **PLEASE GET INSURANCE** (you will see why later...). We rented a car and drove to our accommodation to rest.

After resting until 11 AM, we started our city and North Ring tour. First stop: **Magong Old Street**.

We visited **Penghu Tianhou Palace**, the oldest Mazu temple in Taiwan and the spiritual center of the island.

At 12 PM, we visited the **Rapunzel Lighthouse**. While the lighthouse itself wasn't breathtakingly unique, it was a peaceful spot to gaze at the sea.

At 1 PM, we drove across the **Penghu Great Bridge**. This is a must-visit. Driving across the ocean with azure water on both sides is a visual treat.

Before the bridge, we stopped at the **Tongliang Great Banyan**. The ancient banyan roots form a natural roof over the Baoan Temple. Watching cats groom themselves and roosters rest here felt like traveling back to my grandparents' era.

We crossed the bridge for the 3 PM feeding show at **Penghu Aquarium**. It was surprisingly fun! We collected stamps for prizes and the staff were great.

The view from the aquarium's observation deck is also quite stunning.

At 4:40 PM, we visited **Dream Beach**. Penghu has many unique beaches that serve as perfect pit-stops during a road trip.

We went to the **Baisha Swings** at sunset. In the off-season, this was paradise. No queues for photos, just the two of us owning the entire ocean view.

For dinner, we went to **Pier 3** and then stocked up on snacks at **PX Mart (Whole Lian)**. Penghu is very convenient with plenty of supermarkets. We skipped water activities and night fishing as it was too cold and we didn't have enough people.

Day 3 started at 9 AM with **Moses Parts the Sea**. The sea recedes to reveal a path to the small island. It's spectacular, though sunset views are also highly recommended.

Since our return ferry to Taiwan was at 3 PM, we took a 20-minute boat to **Niao Yu**. I expected a deserted island, but it's a huge town! This is the unusually large **Fude (Land God) Temple**.

The island is full of character, including traditional houses built with coral reefs.

We hiked the trail to see the famous Basalt formations, a geological marvel of Penghu.

A scenic view of the Dongkanto Lighthouse from the island trail.

<strong>Disaster struck.</strong> We returned to the pier at 1:20 PM for the 1:30 PM boat, but the captain refused us (saying it was full or for locals) and told us to wait for the 4:30 PM boat. We panicked—we would miss our 3:30 PM cruise back to Taiwan! We begged coast guards and police (who suggested we might have to sleep over!).

We finally managed to find a boat to take us back to the main island, but time was ticking away mercilessly.

We missed the cruise (wasting ~1000 TWD) and had to buy a last-minute flight back for 9 PM. To make matters worse, we scratched the rental car and—having forgotten insurance—paid a **6500 TWD penalty**. We flew back to Kaohsiung in 40 minutes. Despite the chaos and money lost, the trip was unforgettable. Next time: Ship *to* Penghu (sleep on board), Plane *back* (fast).