Summer is the perfect time to visit here: 8 must-visit, super photogenic spots in Green Island

Reporter Li Zi-yi / Comprehensive report

As summer approaches, isn’t it only right to plan a seaside trip? ETNEWS has specially selected 8 popular photogenic spots in Green Island. Not only does it offer azure seas, white sandy beaches, and mysterious blue caves, but there’s even a spot in the middle of the sea reminiscent of Hsinchu’s Sea Sound. This summer, head to eastern Taiwan and experience the unique charm of this island.

▲ The Sailboat Nose Prairie — every snapshot looks like a Windows wallpaper. (Photo / IG@fansway1121Provided. Do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

▲ The Sailboat Nose Prairie is incredibly vast. (Photo / IG@ihaotengProvided. Do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Sailboat Nose

Known as Green Island’s carpet, Sailboat Nose is another large prairie apart from Ox Head Mountain. Due to its higher elevation compared to the surrounding areas, you can overlook the nearby scenery and even see Orchid Island on clear days. In addition to its charming expanse of grassland, it’s also great for stargazing, birdwatching, and enjoying sunrises and sunsets.

Address: Southeast corner, Green Island Township, Taitung County

▲ Green Island’s Big White Sand — besides its stretch of white sandy beach, the diving trail gives off the illusion of being in the middle of the sea, just like Sea Sound, creating a dreamy feeling of walking into the ocean. (Photo / IG@_allaboutlucylinProvided. Do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Big White Sand

▲ On Instagram, Big White Sand is somewhat popular. Located at the southern tip of Green Island, it is the island’s largest and most beautiful beach, where the endless stretch of white sand along the shore is stunning. It’s also a diving area suitable for intermediate to advanced scuba divers. However, it’s not a particularly crowded tourist spot and still retains a bit of a tranquil atmosphere.

There’s a shallow-water trail on the sea at Big White Sand, which is not only ideal for observing tides and marine life but also highly photogenic. Be sure to take a photo on the trail here — during slightly high tide, it looks like you’re walking on water with blue skies and seas behind you, almost reminiscent of Sea Sound.

Address: Beside kilometer 13.5 of the circumferential road, Green Island Township, Taitung County

▲ Green Island’s Sunrise Hot Springs. (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Government)

Sunrise Hot Springs

One of the world’s three major submarine hot springs, Green Island’s Sunrise Hot Springs is truly rare. It’s a must-visit spot on Green Island all year round. There’s also a unique activity here — bringing ingredients to cook in the hot spring. The spring water is slightly salty, so food tastes good even without seasoning.

Many visitors recommend that the best time to soak in the hot springs is either early in the morning while watching the sunrise, or in the evening as the sun sets and the sky fills with stars. It’s cooler then, and the scenery is absolutely stunning.

The hot spring area features five open-air terraced hot spring pools covering about 450 pyeong, with both hot and warm pools. Swimsuits and swim caps are required to enter, and it’s a mixed-gender hot spring.

Address: No. 167, Hot Spring Road, Green Island Township, Taitung County

▲ % Heart ... seems to have a cave too. (Photo / IG@stellawuuuuuProvided. Do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Ox Head Mountain

Named for its resemblance to an ox’s head, Ox Head Mountain is one of only two large prairies on Green Island. Climbing up through the vast grassland to the top of the hill offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Green Island’s east coast. Every photo taken here looks like a Windows desktop of blue skies and green fields — no matter how you shoot it, it’s beautiful.

Address: Plateau protruding from the northeast corner, Green Island Township, Taitung County

▲ The pure white Green Island Lighthouse matches perfectly with the blue sky, white clouds, and green land. (Photo / IG@stellawuuuuuProvided. Do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Green Island Lighthouse

Originally named "Huoshao Island Lighthouse," the Green Island Lighthouse located at the northwest tip of Green Island has only been open to the public since September 2013. The tall, all-white lighthouse stands against the blue sky, white clouds, and vast greenery, creating a scene that looks like a painting. The Green Island Lighthouse is about 33.3 meters high, with a total of 150 steps. From the top of the tower, you can overlook the entire island and enjoy spectacular views.

Address: Zhongliao Village, Green Island Township, Taitung County, adjacent to the Nose Cape at the northwest point of Green Island
Tower opening hours: 09:00–17:00 (open until 18:00 from April to October), closed every Monday

▲ Yuzi Lake has no lake, but it hides a blue hole and a waterfall known only to locals. (Photo / IG@fansway1121Provided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement)

▲ The hidden gem of Yuzi Lake — the blue hole. (Photo / IG@_allaboutlucylinProvided, please do not take photos without permission to avoid copyright infringement)

Yuzi Lake

Although Yuzi Lake has no actual lake, it features waterfalls and a blue hole — hidden gems of Green Island known only through local guidance. To see the waterfall tucked away on the high cliffs, you’ll need to climb over rugged rocks and navigate through a natural rock-climbing area. Then, walking along the reef beach, you’ll discover the blue hole beneath the Little Great Wall. The lake water at the cave entrance is an incredibly vivid blue and crystal clear, allowing you to clearly see the yellow-green reefs underwater.

Address: North of Haishenping, Green Island Township, Taitung County

Haishenping

The bay nestled between the Little Great Wall and Sleeping Beauty Rock is Haishenping. The crescent-shaped fringing reef acts like a natural breakwater, and there’s also a white-sand beach along the shore — it's quite dreamy. This area is rich in intertidal and coral reef ecosystems, making it one of the popular spots for diving. In addition, it's highly recommended for stargazing and watching the sunrise or sunset at Haishenping, as it is the least light-polluted area on Green Island. You can even witness the sun slowly rising from the sea here.

Address: A bay about 80 meters below the east coastal highway of Green Island

▲ The Little Great Wall near Haishenping features endless scenic paths. Standing on the Sea-View Pavilion, you can enjoy panoramic views of the surroundings. (Photo / IG@fansway1121Provided, please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement)

Little Great Wall

Made of granite pillars, the Little Great Wall pathway offers unending scenic views. As you climb upward, the path leads to the Sea-View Pavilion at the coastal cape, where you can overlook popular attractions such as Sleeping Beauty Rock, Haba Dog Rock, Yuzi Lake, and Niutou Mountain.