By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

Penghu’s tourism has repeatedly received international recognition. Following its selection as one of the “Top 10 Secret Islands” in the Lonely Planet travel guidebook in 2010 and being listed among the “World’s Most Beautiful Bays” in 2014, it made headlines again this March when it was the first destination from Taiwan to be featured in a global online booking brand’s “Emerging Asian Travel Destinations of the Year,” sharing the honor with eight other cities including Yubu in Japan and Sokcho in South Korea. To further promote Penghu’s precious cultural and natural ecological resources, the Ministry of Transportation launched the “Penghu Fresh Fun” campaign. This year, not only are the stone weirs, geological parks, and lighthouse-themed workshops expanded, but special “Slow Travel in Penghu” and “Barrier-Free Itineraries” have also been designed for seniors and people with disabilities. A total of five themed experience tours are being offered, aiming to attract a more diverse range of visitors to Penghu.

The “Penghu Fresh Fun” campaign is entering its fourth year, and this year it has expanded both the frequency and content of the themed experience workshops. In addition to the previous three major themes — stone weirs, intertidal zones, and lighthouses — which integrate local natural landscapes, cultural features, and ecological education, and have been very popular with visitors, this year continues the spirit of the event with a series of activities including the “Stone Weir Jibei Themed Experience Workshop (One Day),” “Geological Park Themed Experience Workshop (Two Days),” and “Lighthouse Themed Experience Workshop (Two Days).” For the geological park workshop, in addition to the existing “Kueibishan” theme, this year a new “Hujing & Tongpan” workshop has been added, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of the “Hujing Clear Abyss.” Additionally, the lighthouse theme includes a new evening lighting ceremony at Yuwengdao Lighthouse on Xiyu Island, where visitors can enjoy the sunset against the backdrop of Taiwan’s oldest lighthouse.

To encourage seniors to take a slow journey through Penghu and enable people with disabilities to explore the outdoors, the “2015 Penghu Fresh Fun” campaign has introduced two new tours: the “Active Leisure Tour” and the “Barrier-Free Family Fun Tour in Penghu.” The Penghu Administration stated that visiting Penghu is not just about water activities. By connecting cultural sites such as traditional houses, old forts, and historical stories across Xiji Islet, Qimei Island, and Penghu Main Island, visitors can also enjoy an intellectually enriching and relaxing experience. Two-day slow travel and six-day in-depth tour options have been planned for seniors. For those with disabilities or mobility issues, a new two-day “Love Has No Barriers: Explore Penghu” tour has been launched this year, and accompanying persons will receive a NT$500 discount. The Penghu Administration also emphasized that in addition to developing sustainable tourism locally and conserving the ecosystem, creating a fully accessible travel environment is a future goal of “Penghu Fresh Fun.”

The “2015 Penghu Fresh Fun” features five themed experience workshops and special tours, with a total of 26 sessions available. These include the Stone Weir Jibei Themed Experience Workshop, Geological Park Themed Experience Workshop, Lighthouse Themed Experience Workshop, Active Leisure Tour, and Barrier-Free Family Fun Tour in Penghu. Each session is limited to 20 participants. This year also sees the return of a limited photography tour in collaboration with photography experts Teacher Qianqian, Teacher Yang Ansheng, and Uncle Jerry, inviting everyone to capture the beauty of Penghu through their lenses.
 

2015 Penghu Sea Fireworks Festival Lights Up the Starry Sky