Travel to Penghu with books and exchange tokens with like-minded people

By Wei Ruyu, compiled and reported

What kind of sparks can fly when reading meets travel? Now, when you visit Penghu, you can donate, swap, or borrow books to add more imagination to your journey—leave behind your love and share it with someone you connect with.

Travelers who wish to participate in this “Travel with Books – Penghu’s Book-Sharing Journey” can donate, swap, or borrow books at two fixed locations: the service desk at Magong Airport Tourist Service Center and the souvenir shop at the Penghu Living Museum. As long as you bring a book with you on your trip, within 7 days of arrival, present your flight (or ferry) ticket stub, sign at the book-swap location, and you can donate one book (limit one) to exchange for another. The book you receive is an exchanged token and does not need to be returned. If you don’t have a book to bring, the service desk also offers a one-book borrowing service during your stay. However, you must register to return the book at the book-swap location before departure. When swapping or borrowing books, you may add marginalia, stamps, or seals on the title page to leave a personal touch to share with someone you connect with.

Director Zhang Longcheng of the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration said: “Nowadays, many people’s travel styles have shifted toward leisure-focused stays. Many backpackers abroad always travel with books—it's worth Penghu learning from and promoting. When you come to Penghu, find a cozy spot to read and relax—it’s a wonderful way to enjoy your time. With Penghu’s conditions, it can definitely lead the way in offering such travel experiences.” The campaign is expected to run until March 31, 2012. Books donated by travelers should be in good condition, without missing pages or damage, and whether they contain annotations or not is acceptable. However, religious scriptures, exam preparation books, textbooks, reference books, promotional materials, magazines, computer books, comic books, rental bookstore publications, audiovisual materials, and romance novels are excluded.

Magong Airport Tourist Service Center Service Desk

Tel: 06-922-8115

Service Hours: 8:00–18:00  No days off

Penghu Living Museum

Tel: 06-921-0405 ext. 6111

Business Hours: 9:00–12:00, 13:00–16:30  Closed on Thursdays