Kenting: top things to do, hidden gems and key tips

Take the Kenting Express, bus 9189, from Zuoying high-speed rail station: about 2 hours 20 minutes, NT$401. Give Kenting two days. Six of its sights charge entry, NT$30 to NT$150; the coast, Longpan Park and most beaches are free.

How long have you got?

• One day: Eluanbi Lighthouse at Taiwan’s southern tip, Longpan Park’s clifftop grassland and the reefs at Maobitou.
• Two days: add the Kenting National Forest Recreation Area, Baisha beach, and a night eco tour at Sheding.

When are you going?

• October: grey-faced buzzards migrate south through the peninsula, more than 10,000 a day at the peak, and settle to roost in the evening in Manzhou. Peak days vary: in 2020 they were 10, 16 and 17 October.1Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw
• October to April: the luoshan feng, a downslope wind off the winter monsoon, hits the peninsula’s west side in gusts that have overturned scooters and cars.2Dapeng Bay NSA (opens in a new tab)dbnsa.gov.tw Ride carefully, and swim at Baisha, which is sheltered from the winter wind.

Top things to do

• Eluanbi Lighthouse and Park: Taiwan’s southernmost point, NT$60. Open 06:30 to 18:30 from April to October, and 07:00 to 17:30 from November to March.3Kenting National Park (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.twTip The Eluanbi bus stop is about 400 m away.4Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Longpan Park: grassland on the Pacific cliffs, with sinkholes and limestone caves. Free and open around the clock.5Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw
• Kenting National Forest Recreation Area: a Japanese-era tropical garden of caves and hanging banyans. 08:00 to 17:30, NT$150.6Kenting National Park fees (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.tw
• Maobitou Park: a coral-reef coastline of caves and pinnacles, NT$30. 08:00 to 17:30 from April to September, to 17:00 in winter.7Kenting National Park fees (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.tw
• Baisha: a 400 m bay of white coral sand, sheltered from the winter wind.8Kenting National Park (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.tw

Do this instead

• Instead of a return ticket and day passes: if you’ll ride the Kenting Street Bus on two days, buy the NT$750 bundle of a 9189 return and a two-day Street Bus pass. Bought separately, the return is NT$600 and each day pass NT$150. Book it through the MAXA travel agency (opens in a new tab).9Pingtung Bus (opens in a new tab)ptbus.com.tw

Hidden gems

• Sheding night eco tour: two hours from 19:30, looking for glowing mushrooms, fireflies and frogs, NT$300 to NT$500.Tip Book ahead; tours need at least six people.10Kenting National Park (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.tw
• Lungluan Lake: a reservoir for migrating birds, with a free bird exhibition and telescopes.11Kenting National Park (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.tw
• Chuhuo: natural gas burning out of cracks in the ground.Tip Go in the dry winter; summer mud often blocks the vents.12Kenting National Park (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.tw

Getting there and around

• Bus 9189: collect a boarding card at the counter at exit 2 of Zuoying high-speed rail station, open 07:45 to 19:30, and board from platform 2. NT$401 one way, NT$600 return.Tip Book online if you can; EasyCard riders can’t reserve and must queue at the counter.13Pingtung Bus (opens in a new tab)ptbus.com.tw
• Getting around: local buses stop near each park, and there’s a YouBike station at Eluanbi.14Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw

If it doesn’t go to plan

• Raining? Go to the bird exhibition at Lungluan Lake, or book a Sheding tour.
• Eluanbi busy? Longpan Park is a few kilometres up the coast, free and open all day.
• Emergency: call 119, or 112 if reception is poor.15Kenting National Park (opens in a new tab)ktnp.gov.tw