Orchid Island

Green Green Grassland in Lanyu is an uplifted coral reef terrace located on the southern end of the island, renowned for its expansive grasslands and magnificent coastal scenery. Due to long-term weathering, the soil is rich in minerals like iron and magnesium, creating a unique reddish-brown geological landscape. The grassland's appearance changes with the seasons: lush green in spring and summer with blooming wild lilies and chrysanthemums, and turning yellowish-brown in autumn and winter due to the northeastern monsoon winds. This vast, open area offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the distant islet of Lesser Lanyu, making it an excellent vantage point.

Beyond its natural terrain, Green Green Grassland is full of life and vitality. Visitors can spot Lanyu's endemic goats and free-roaming cattle grazing peacefully, creating a unique scene against the backdrop of the sea and sky. This location is a popular spot for watching the sunset, as the sky turns a brilliant golden hue when the sun dips below the horizon. At night, with minimal light pollution, it becomes a perfect spot for stargazing and admiring the Milky Way.

The Lanyu Lighthouse, built in 1982, is situated on a hill at the northwestern tip of Orchid Island (Lanyu), making it the highest-altitude lighthouse in Taiwan, at 209 meters above sea level. With its prominent white, circular structure, the lighthouse stands out beautifully against the surrounding green landscape and the deep blue sky.

Orchid Island Weather Station is situated in the mountainous area of Orchid Island (蘭嶼島)and is accessible via the highway that runs across the island. The Weather Station is famous for being the best look-out place for getting a view of Orchid Island. Weather Station was constructed during the Japanese colonial era in order to observe the movements of typhoons in the Pacific Ocean. At that time, it was called Red Head Island Weather Station (紅頭嶼測候所). During the Second World War, it was severely damaged by the US Army but was renovated after the war, most sections being restored from the original Japanese model, although one ruin where the roof has collapsed still remains.

Weather Station is not just suitable for observing weather. Because of its panoramic view, it is also the prime spot for watching sunrise or sunset, or star-gazing. On a summer evening, one of the best things to do is to ride your scooter here and lose yourself staring at the Milky Way. Staying here overnight to wait for the morning sunrise is also very memorable. Because the road to Weather Station is bumpy and unlit by streetlights, you need to be careful if you drive here at night. It is recommended that you park your scooter at the turn-off to Weather Station and walk here by foot.

Do you know where you can catch the first sunrise of a New Year in Taiwan? In fact, it is not Hualien or Taitung, but Dongqing Village on Orchid Island (蘭嶼), which is also called I-va-zo-ga, meaning “the place where the sun rises earliest”. Dongqing Village is located on the north east coast of Orchid Island. It is the furthest village from Kaiyuan Habor (開元港) and the airport, located between Langdao Village (朗島部落) and Yeyin Village (野銀部落). When you first drive into Dongqing, the giant colored tree trunk near the shore will catch your eye. Sometimes you can see the aboriginal summer fishing boats lying on the beautiful rocky beach, apparently ready to spring to attention to catch fish at any time. In the morning, this is the best place to witness sunrise on Orchid Island. In the evening, compared to the much busier area near Kaiyuan Harbor, the beach at Dongqing is more serene and comfortable. On the way to Dongqing Village from Langdao Village, there is the famous Lover’s Cave (情人洞), as well as a secret spot recommended by the locals. While in Dongqing, you don’t need to worry about getting hungry. All meals, from breakfast to a midnight snack, are tasty. Take it from us, those who come to Dongqing won’t necessarily see it as “travelling” or “being a tourist”, but more as a wonderful “way of life”.