A Romantic Island-Hopping Adventure in Beautiful Taiwan

Penghu boasts unique architecture featuring millions of years of basalt formations and ancient stone houses, while Kinmen and Matsu are home to military tunnels. Green Island and Orchid Island feature breathtaking natural wonders such as dramatic sea erosion caves. The surrounding islands of Taiwan are rich in cultural heritage and blessed with exceptional natural scenery, making them must-visit travel destinations.

The Penghu archipelago features towering columnar basalt formations and a series of spectacular sea erosion features — including sea stacks, sea caves, sea trenches, and wave-cut platforms — creating a world-class seascape unlike any other. In the military-influenced regions of Kinmen and Matsu, various military tunnels can be found everywhere. These underground facilities, hand-dug by stationed soldiers, were designed primarily to “preserve combat strength underground while maximizing firepower above ground.” As for Green Island, tens of thousands of years of tectonic movement, uplift, and tidal erosion have resulted in a shoreline full of peculiar rocks and formations. Strolling along the coast, you can admire the unique sea erosion landscapes while also enjoying the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.

The buildings in Matsu inherit the architectural style of eastern Fujian — their square layouts resemble seals when viewed from afar. Houses built from granite still retain their old-world charm, making first-time visitors feel as though they’ve entered another country. In Kinmen, century-old Western-style buildings and traditional houses are common, adorned with intricate plasterwork, brick carvings, clay sculptures, and wood carvings on ridges, brackets, doors, and windows. The multi-themed three-dimensional designs and vibrant colors make every corner a delightful surprise. In Penghu, due to strong winds, houses are relatively low-rise, and construction materials are usually sourced locally. Wealthier families would directly quarry hard basalt to build their homes, while ordinary households would transport coral reefs from the intertidal zone to shore using ox carts. As a result, stone walls made of xS(石古) stone, mixed basalt and xS(石古) stone houses have become a unique architectural feature of Penghu.

Island homestays now come with international flair — whether it’s Mediterranean Greek style or North African French ambiance, there's something for every romantic taste. Aside from the exotic styles found in Penghu and Green Island, some traditional Western-style houses and old residences in Kinmen and Matsu have been converted into homestays for visitors. These century-old buildings often feature delicate plasterwork, brick carvings, clay sculptures, and wood carvings, along with ornate brackets and windows lining the ridges, bringing pleasant surprises to guests.

Orchid Island is home to unique underground houses invented by the Tao people to withstand strong winds. In Yeyin Tribe in western Orchid Island, some underground houses are open for tourists to stay in. However, these traditional dwellings are often teeming with mosquitoes at night, making them less comfortable for most people.