Kenting National Park, established in 1984 as Taiwan's first national park, is located at the southern tip of the Hengchun Peninsula, covering an area of 32,631 hectares encompassing both both land and sea. This area boasts diverse ecosystems including tropical rainforests, coral reef coastlines, and limestone terrain. It is one of the few parks in Asia that protects both terrestrial and marine environments, and one of the few tropical climate reserves near the Tropic of Cancer globally.
The Hengchun Peninsula features a tropical monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of approximately 25°C, making October through April the most suitable months for travel with less rainfall and stable weather; summer (May to September) is hot but prime for water activities. The entire peninsula includes major attractions such as Kenting National Park, Liuqiu, and the Hengchun Ancient Town, making it Taiwan's only tourist region with both tropical rainforest and coral reef ecosystems.
Kenting National Park is one of Taiwan's largest national parks and the only one that includes both terrestrial and marine areas. Famous attractions within the park such as Longpan Grassland, Sand Island, Eluanbi Lighthouse, and Sail Rock are all free to visit, with only small car parking fees charged at NT$50 per instance.
Longpan Grassland, located beside Jia'e Road, is a vast limestone grassland offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Bashi Channel, making it an excellent spot for sunrise and stargazing. Sand Island features fine shell sand beaches and is one of Kenting's most famous beaches, with sand purity exceeding 87%. Eluanbi is Taiwan's southernmost point, and the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse, built in 1881, is one of Taiwan's oldest lighthouses.
Houbihu is Kenting's largest yacht harbor, offering diving, snorkeling, banana boat, and other water activities; Maobitou is known for its distinctive limestone terrain, named for its cat-like crouching shape; Sail Rock is a massive reef standing proudly along the coastline. Kenting Main Street is the busiest area on the island, active from 6 PM to late night, lined with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.
Liuqiu is Taiwan's most accessible coral reef island, reachable by ferry from Donggang in Pingtung in just 25 minutes. The island covers an area of 6.8 square kilometers, with a perimeter of approximately 14 kilometers. It is renowned for its extremely high occurrence of hawksbill sea turtles and green sea turtles, making it an important destination for snorkeling and ecotourism in Taiwan.
Snorkeling fees at Liuqiu vary depending on package content. Basic snorkeling packages (including equipment and instructor) cost approximately NT$500 to NT$800, diving experiences (including equipment and one-on-one instruction) cost approximately NT$1,000 to NT$1,500, and glass-bottom boat tours cost approximately NT$200 to NT$300. Several snorkeling operators on the island provide services, including established operators like New Ocean Recreation Center and other travel agencies emphasizing ecological tours.
Main attractions on the island include Meiren Cave, Ugui Cave, Geban Bay Beach, and Wanghai Pavilion. Meiren Cave is a coral reef cave formation, Ugui Cave is a historically significant rock cave, Geban Bay is one of the few beaches on the island, and Wanghai Pavilion offers panoramic views of the entire coastline. Ferry tickets between Donggang and Liuqiu cost approximately NT$200 to NT$250, with frequent departures during peak season, with a ferry every 15 minutes.
Hengchun Ancient Town, built in 1879, is one of the most completely preserved Qing Dynasty ancient walls in Taiwan, with a total wall length of approximately 2,600 meters. Four city gates remain intact: East Gate (Chaoyang Gate), West Gate (Xi'an Gate), South Gate (Mingde Gate), and North Gate (Gongchen Gate). The entire ancient town area is free to visit and is an important site for understanding Taiwan's Qing Dynasty history and culture.
Visitors can stroll along the Hengchun ancient walls and feel the traces of a hundred years of history; Hengchun Old Street preserves traditional Minnan architectural style, with many local snacks such as red bean ice and mung bean porridge. The filming location of Cape No. 7, "A-Jia's House," has been converted into a cultural creative shop with an admission fee of approximately NT$50, where visitors can explore film sets and purchase souvenirs. Hengchun Christian Church, built in 1913, is one of Taiwan's oldest Christian churches, featuring Gothic architectural style that forms an interesting contrast with the ancient town.
Spring Scream (Kenting Spring Festival), founded in 1995, is Taiwan's longest-running and largest outdoor music festival, held annually on Easter weekend, attracting tens of thousands of local and international music enthusiasts. It has become one of Asia's major music festivals.
Ticket prices for Spring Scream vary by type: single-day tickets cost approximately NT$1,200 to NT$1,500, and three-day tickets cost approximately NT$2,500 to NT$3,000. Early bird discounts are usually available for advance purchases. The venue is located on lawns near Kenting Main Street, featuring diverse acts including rock, electronic, and indie music from Taiwan and international artists.
Food stalls and camping areas are available on site, with camping fees of approximately NT$300 to NT$500 per person, providing basic bathroom facilities. Although some artists have criticized the hardware facilities and environmental issues in recent years, Spring Scream remains Taiwan's most representative music festival and is still the top choice for travelers who enjoy indie music and party culture.
Sizhongxi Hot Springs is located in Checheng Township, Pingtung County, and is Taiwan's famous sodium bicarbonate hot spring area, with water temperatures ranging from approximately 45°C to 60°C, known for its moisturizing effects on skin, and listed as one of Taiwan's four famous hot spring destinations. The hot spring area is approximately 30 minutes' drive from Kenting, making it a great place to experience southern Taiwan's hot springs.
The Sizhongxi area is the ancestral home of the Paiwan tribe, where visitors can experience Indigenous culture and cuisine. Jiadong Township is located in the southwestern part of Pingtung County and is an important Hakka settlement, preserving rich Hakka culture and traditional architecture, including historic houses such as the Hsiao Family Ancestral Hall and the Lo Family Ancestral Hall. These buildings witness the migration history of the Hakka population in southern Taiwan.
Traveling to Kenting from Kaohsiung, you can take the Kenting Express bus with a journey time of approximately 2 hours and a one-way fare of approximately NT$350; alternatively, you can take a train to Fangliao Station and then transfer to a bus. Self-driving from Kaohsiung takes approximately 2 hours with clear road signs along the way. From Taipei, you can take a train or inter-city bus directly to Kenting with a journey time of approximately 4 to 5 hours. Liuqiu snorkeling fees are approximately NT$500 to NT$1,000 including equipment and instructor guidance, and more economical options are available if you bring your own equipment. The Kenting Spring Festival 2026 is expected to be held on the Easter weekend in April, with ticket prices of approximately NT$1,200 to NT$2,500, available through the official website or ticketing systems like KKtix. Early bird discounts are usually available for advance purchases.
To compare the service quality and price differences among snorkeling operators in depth, you can refer to the Liuqiu Snorkeling Operator Comparison page; to plan a complete self-driving itinerary for the Hengchun Peninsula, you can check the Kenting Transportation Guide and accommodation recommendation articles; for any questions about climate and activity arrangements in different seasons, you can also refer to the seasonal travel guide for more detailed information.
