Alishan sees its best visibility in 28 years — Penghu visible to the naked eye, even as far as Taipei 101 (85大楼)!

▲ Zhushan offers a distant view of Wansuishan as well as the night scenes of Penghu, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. (Photo / Authorized by Huang Yuanming)

ReporterYan Xintong/ Comprehensive Report

Penghu Islands can be seen from Alishan now! Volunteer Huang Yuanming from the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration said on Facebook on the 4th that he climbed to Zhushan Observation Deck and could clearly see the Penghu Islands, breaking his 28-year observation record there — and it’s also the first time he’s photographed them. He happily shared that in the past he could only glimpse the night view of Penghu from afar, but this time he could distinctly see the Penghu islands.

Under good visibility conditions, you can see Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and even Penghu, with the farthest sights being the 85 Sky Tower in Kaohsiung and the Hsingda Power Plant. Huang Yuanming said these photos were all taken at around 5 p.m. on June 3rd at Zhushan Observation Deck, capturing the sunset scenery.

▲ Zhushan offers a distant view of the seas off Chiayi and the night scene of Penghu. (Photo / Authorized by Huang Yuanming)

▲ Zhushan offers a distant view of the seas off Chiayi and the night scene of the Penghu Islands. (Photo / Authorized by Huang Yuanming)

As the fireworks display in Penghu can be seen, Huang Yuanming has also offered some simple photography tips for beginners:

He said that photography isn’t actually very difficult — the key factor is whether the weather cooperates on the day. The weather is crucial, especially how long the good visibility will last. Sometimes visibility is great in the morning but fog rolls in by afternoon, making it impossible to see. In other words, what matters is the “timing of the shoot,” not the overall daily weather.

He also advised people to do their homework before photographing the Penghu Fireworks — check the weather forecast in advance. For example, if the fireworks are at 9 p.m., look at the satellite cloud maps, real-time visibility, and current weather information between 5 p.m. and evening. If the skies over the main island are clear and no clouds are expected to cover the area by nightfall, then the chances of clearly seeing the Penghu fireworks are higher.

Regarding equipment, Huang Yuanming said the longer the telephoto lens, the better — a DSLR or super-telephoto lens isn’t absolutely necessary. Even a regular camera with 20x zoom can work. Exposure time should be 10 to 30 seconds, and manual mode control is needed. If there’s no manual mode, at least exposure compensation is required. Most importantly, a tripod is a must — even railings or car roofs won’t suffice.

Huang Yuanming believes those with experience in night photography have a higher chance of success. He suggested practicing night photography beforehand because shooting tiny fireworks from a distance is different from photographing fireworks up close. He recommended trying a night shot somewhere at the foot of the mountain first — if a 20-second exposure feels fine, then decide whether to go up the mountain. That way, you won’t end up disappointed.

Photos provided above: Huang Yuanming
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