Green Island
Pacific Diving + One of 3 Saltwater Hot Springs in the World

The best beginner snorkelling site on the island, and arguably the most accessible reef in Taiwan. Water is shallow and clear enough to see coral from the shoreline without even putting on a mask. Expect parrotfish, clownfish, squid, and green sea turtles on most morning visits. MuyuTime B&B sits within walking distance, making this the easiest "wake up and dive in" experience on Green Island. Entry is just NT$100 and equipment can be rented at the site.

Green Island's flagship dive site for intermediate and advanced divers. Visibility reaches 15–25 metres on good days. Regular sightings include blacktip reef sharks, hawksbill and green sea turtles, eagle rays, and lionfish. Between April and June, whale shark encounters are occasionally reported — rare, but real. Multiple dive shops in Nanliao run morning and afternoon guided tours with all equipment included. Book the day before in peak season.

One of only three saltwater hot springs in the world that sit directly beside the open ocean. The other two are in Japan and Sicily, Italy. Open-air pools at 53°C face east across the Pacific. The defining experience is arriving before dawn and soaking in the warm saltwater as the sun rises precisely in front of you over the horizon. The sulphurous mineral scent, the warm water, and the vast empty Pacific are a combination found nowhere else on earth. Entry is NT$250 and pools open at 04:00 to accommodate sunrise visitors.

The waters around Gongguan on the island's south side are home to resident green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles that swim in the shallows from dawn to mid-morning. Sightings are frequent from April to September — this is not an arranged encounter but wild turtles living on their natural reef. A licensed local guide is required both for your safety and to protect the turtles from harassment. Prices include mask, fins, wetsuit, and a briefing on responsible wildlife interaction.

The most important cultural site on Green Island — a former political prison operating from 1951 to 1987 where thousands of Taiwan's pro-democracy activists were incarcerated, including intellectuals, artists, and politicians who later became central figures in Taiwan's democratic transition. The site is now a UNESCO-recognised human rights memorial with bilingual exhibitions that explain Taiwan's "White Terror" period without flinching. Entry is free. Allow 90 minutes. Come here and you will understand modern Taiwan in a way that no other attraction can teach.

Every visitor to Green Island arrives here and the harbour village is where island life actually happens. Guesthouses, dive shops, scooter rental stands, and seafood restaurants cluster along the short main street. An informal night market runs from around 18:00 to 21:00 in peak season — fresh-caught grilled fish, barbecue squid, oyster omelettes, and the island's locally brewed beer. This is where you rent your scooter, buy reef-safe sunscreen, and ask the guesthouse owner which dive operator they personally recommend.

Two volcanic sea stacks on the island's east coast that have become its most-photographed natural features. Sleeping Beauty Rock (睡美人岩) — when viewed from the right angle — has the unmistakable silhouette of a woman lying on her back looking skyward. Pekingese Dog Rock sits a short distance further. The viewing area faces west across the Pacific and transforms into one of Taiwan's finest sunset platforms from around 17:30. No entry fee, no crowds after 19:00, and nothing separating you from the horizon.

A natural limestone cave that islanders have revered for centuries because a stalactite formation inside its main chamber bears an unmistakable resemblance to Guanyin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. What began as a geological curiosity became a functioning shrine, and local fishing families still come to pray before voyages. The cave is cool, quiet, and atmospheric — a 20-minute walk from the main road through light forest. The contrast with the sunny beach culture outside makes it feel like entering a different world entirely.

The definitive Green Island experience. A single coastal road circles the island for 16 km — not one traffic light in its entire length. Rent a scooter and you can complete the loop in two uninterrupted hours, or take all day stopping at every pull-out and beach. The route passes every major attraction naturally: Nanliao harbour, Shilang diving area, Guanyin Cave, Sleeping Beauty Rock, the hot spring, and the human rights memorial. At the right time of day, you will have entire stretches of cliff-edge Pacific road entirely to yourself.

Sitting 33 km out in the Pacific with no city lights anywhere near the horizon, Green Island is one of the darkest sky locations in Taiwan. On clear moonless nights from April to September, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye — not a faint smear but a proper galactic band stretching overhead. No telescope required. The best spots are the southern beaches away from Nanliao's harbour lights. Lay on warm sand, listen to the Pacific, and look up. The app SkyView or Stellarium will identify what you are seeing.