[Family Travel]Penghu Fireworks Festival!A 4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary

Penghu Bay, oh Penghu Bay, Grandma’s Penghu Bay... Sun, sand, waves, and cacti... We’re back in Penghu again, Up!

Every summer, we bring DouDou and DiDi back to Penghu, our “maternal home,” for a vacation. Actually, it’s more because Daddy wants to go fishing in Penghu!Daddy is passionate about fishing and loves coming here the most.

Whenever friends know that DouDi’s mom is a “Penghu local,” they start bombarding her with questions about traveling there. Common questions include: What’s fun in Penghu? How do I plan a self-guided trip? Transportation, accommodation, car rentals... and so on. As a local, of course I highly recommend everyone to visit Penghu.

You can plan a 3-day, 2-night or 4-day, 3-night trip to Penghu!Penghu isn’t super big, but it’s not tiny either—a 3-day, 2-night trip won’t be enough. I’d suggest going for 4 days and 3 nights, at least then you’ll cover all the must-sees.
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If possible, I’d recommend traveling independently so you can freely plan your schedule. If you get lost, you can ask locals or use Google Maps on your phone—it’s all very convenient. For larger groups, joining a tour might be better for easier control and to save on hassle.

Once you’ve set the date and number of travelers, book your flights/ferries first (they’re hard to get during peak season). After confirming your tickets, book your hotel/accommodation, then plan your itinerary. For independent travel, you must do your homework—study Penghu’s map, identify must-visit attractions and local foods..., then incorporate what you want to do and eat into the plan.

In “Penghu,” the main focus is on Penghu Main Island, plus some smaller islands you can visit. Penghu’s peak tourist season runs from March to September each year—summer is perfect for a trip here.

The annual Penghu Sea Fireworks Festival takes place from April to June each year.
■ Event Dates: 2017/4/20 – 6/22
■ Location: Guanyin Pavilion, Magong City
■ Event Time: 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM (every Monday and Thursday)

Generally, Penghu can be divided into four main areas for exploration: the Main Island, South Sea, North Sea, and East Sea.
Main Island Loop → Magong City Area, South Loop, North Loop, East Loop, Night Squid Fishing, Ocean Ranch.
South Sea Scenic Spots → Qimei Islet, Wang’an Islet, Husi, Tongpan.
North Sea Water Activities → Jibei Islet, Yuanbei Islet, Xianjiao for water sports.
East Sea Ecology → Snorkeling, sea fishing, coral reef exploring, cruising to uninhabited islands.

The itinerary could include one day in the South Sea, one day in the North or East Sea, and two days cycling around the Main Island. The Main Island loop can be split over two days—one day simply isn’t enough!

After finalizing your main activities, insert additional sights, then adjust based on your daily energy levels, weather, and time. Basically, you’ll cover these spots—you just have to decide how to mix and match them, Up!

The Main Island can also be divided into four zones: City Area, East Loop (Huxi), South Loop, and North Loop:
■ East Loop: Kuibi Mountain (Moses Parting the Sea), Guoye Sunrise, Lintou Park, Aimen Beach.
■ South Loop: Suogang Stone Tablet, Shanshui Beach, Fenggui Cave, Shedou Mountain Rest Area.
■ North Loop: Xu Family Village Murals, Zhongtun Wind Turbines, Tongliang Ancient Banyan, Cross-Sea Bridge.

Whale Cave / Xiaomen Geological Museum, Dayi Temple / Crab Museum, Wangmen / Dive Sites / Uninhabited Islands. Historic Houses, Dayeye Basalt, Niuxin Mountain, Xitai Fortress, Xiyu Lighthouse. (Fishing Platform Island Lighthouse)

City Area: Tianhou Temple, Central Street, Four-Eye Well, Guanyin Pavilion, Zhongzheng Road Shopping District, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chrysanthemum Island Star, Penghu Living Museum, Pan Anbang’s Former Residence, Zhang Yusheng Story Museum.
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Pick the sights you want to visit, then plan your routes using Google Maps—Google is so handy!

When scheduling, align with flight or ferry times for accuracy. If the schedule feels too rushed, you can cut some activities. Flights with early departures and late returns let you explore more.

Every summer when we return to Penghu, we always play the part of tourists and explore the island.
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