Magong

Magong (馬公) is the administrative capital and commercial hub of the Penghu archipelago, an offshore county in the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and mainland China. With around 63,000 residents, the port city contains roughly two-thirds of the county's population. Dating back centuries before the major development of cities on Taiwan's main island, Magong grew around seafaring trade and military outposts, leaving a legacy of Ming- and Qing-dynasty temples, coastal stone fortifications, and Japanese colonial architecture.

Travelers use Magong as the primary base for exploring the 90 islands and islets of Penghu. The city center concentrates markets, seafood halls, and historic alleyways within a short distance of Magong Port and the South Sea Ferry Terminal. Beyond the city, causeways and bridges connect Magong northward to Baisha and Xiyu, while passenger boats depart daily to southern outposts like Wang'an and Qimei.

Magong experiences a maritime subtropical climate shaped by seasonal monsoons. Summers are sunny and hot with daytime temperatures averaging 28°C to 33°C (82°F–91°F), moderated by ocean breezes. Winters from November to March are dominated by the fierce northeast monsoon, bringing relentless winds of 30–60 km/h (19–37 mph) and cooler temperatures around 15°C to 20°C (59°F–68°F), which severely limit maritime activities.

By Plane

Penghu Airport (MZG), formerly known as Magong Airport, is located in Huxi Township, about 7 km (4.3 miles) east of Magong city center. It handles domestic flights operated by UNI Air and Mandarin Airlines:

• Taipei Songshan (TSA): 50 minutes, 10–15 flights daily, NT$1,800–2,400 ($58–$77 USD).
• Kaohsiung (KHH): 35–40 minutes, 8–12 flights daily, NT$1,400–1,900 ($45–$61 USD).
• Taichung (RMQ): 40 minutes, 6–10 flights daily, NT$1,500–2,000 ($48–$64 USD).
• Tainan (TNN): 30 minutes, 2–4 flights daily, NT$1,300–1,700 ($42–$55 USD).
• Chiayi (CYI): 30 minutes, 1–2 flights daily, NT$1,300–1,600 ($42–$51 USD).

From the airport, the Penghu Airport Express shuttle bus runs to Magong Bus Terminal for NT$30 ($0.95 USD). Taxis wait outside arrivals; a trip to downtown Magong takes 15 minutes and costs NT$250–350 ($8.00–$11.20 USD).

By Train

No train service. There are no railways on the Penghu archipelago.

By Bus

No direct bus service operates from mainland Taiwan due to the ocean crossing. Travelers on mainland Taiwan can take the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) or Taiwan Railways (TR) to Chiayi or Kaohsiung, then connect by bus to the respective ferry terminal:

• To Budai Port (Chiayi): Chiayi Bus Route 7702 from Chiayi THSR Station takes 45 minutes and costs NT$130 ($4.20 USD).
• To Kaohsiung Port: Kaohsiung MRT to Gushan or Sizihwan Station, followed by a 10-minute walk or short taxi ride to the ferry berth.

By Car

Magong is situated on Penghu Main Island and is not connected to mainland Taiwan by bridges or tunnels. Drivers wishing to bring vehicles from Taiwan must take the Penghu Ferry (澎湖輪) roll-on/roll-off vessel from Kaohsiung Port to Magong Harbour. Vehicle one-way transport costs NT$2,000–3,500 ($64–$112 USD) for standard passenger cars.

On the island road network, County Highway 203 runs north from Magong across Huxi and Baisha to the Penghu Great Bridge and Xiyu (35 km / 22 miles, 45 minutes). County Highway 204 and 201 lead south to the Pengnan Peninsula and Shanshui Beach (15 km / 9.3 miles, 20 minutes).

By Ferry

Passenger ferries dock at Magong Harbour (馬公港) directly adjacent to downtown:

• From Chiayi (Budai Port): High-speed catamarans operated by Kai-Shiuan, Triumph, and Tai-Jing cross the strait in 70–90 minutes. Tickets cost NT$1,000–1,200 ($32–$38 USD) one-way. Services run multiple times daily from April to mid-October but pause entirely during the winter monsoon season.

• From Kaohsiung Port: The Penghu Ferry (澎湖輪), operated by Taiwan Navigation, provides year-round ro-ro passenger and vehicle service. The crossing takes 4.5 to 5 hours on daytime sailings (or 6 hours on overnight crossings). Economy passenger fares start from NT$860 ($27.50 USD), with sleeper berths from NT$1,200 to NT$1,700 ($38–$54 USD).

• On Foot: Downtown Magong, Zhongyang Old Street, Magong Harbor, and the Guanyinting waterfront sit within a 1.5-km radius and are easily explored walking between stops.

• Scooter: The standard mode for touring the island. Rental shops surround Magong Harbor and Minzu Road, charging NT$350–500 ($11–$16 USD) per 24 hours. Foreign drivers must present an International Driving Permit (IDP) with motorcycle endorsement (A or A1 stamp) and a passport.

• Car Rental: Local agencies and national operators (such as IWS and Carplus) offer compact cars for NT$1,500–2,400 ($48–$77 USD) per day.

• Public Bus: The Penghu County Public Transport Office operates local bus routes from the central Magong Bus Terminal (16-1 Minzu Road). Key routes include the North Ring Line (Route 203) to Xiyu and lines serving Huxi and South Penghu. Standard fares cost NT$20–60 ($0.65–$1.95 USD), payable by EasyCard, iPASS, or cash.

• Tourist Shuttle Bus: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (台灣好行) operates dedicated sightseeing loop routes from Magong Bus Terminal, including the North Ring Route and the Huxi Route. Day passes cost NT$300–400 ($9.60–$12.80 USD) and include an on-board guide.

• Taxis and Apps: Taxis use meters or fixed zone fares. Rides within the city center cost NT$100–150 ($3.20–$4.80 USD). Day charters for touring the main island run NT$2,500–3,500 ($80–$112 USD). Use the 55688 app (Taiwan Taxi), FindTaxi, or hail vehicles at ferry terminals and the airport. Real-time bus arrivals can be tracked using the Bus+ app or Taiwan iBus.

• Penghu Tianhou Temple (澎湖天后宮) — Taiwan's oldest surviving Mazu temple, with recorded origins dating back to the late 16th century (Ming dynasty). Features hand-carved wooden beams, stone dragon pillars, and an ancient stone stele from 1604 commemorating the departure of Dutch commander Wijbrant van Waerwijck. Location: No. 19, Zhengyi Street. Open daily 07:00–17:30. Entry: Free.

• Zhongyang Old Street & Four-Eyed Well (中央老街與四眼井) — Magong's oldest commercial thoroughfare, paved with red bricks and lined with traditional Minnan shopfronts. At the northern end sits the Four-Eyed Well, a communal freshwater well dating from the Ming dynasty with four separate stone apertures designed to allow multiple residents to draw water simultaneously without accidents. Location: Zhongyang Street. Open 24 hours. Entry: Free.

• Duxing Tenth Village Cultural Park (篤行十村) — The oldest military dependents' village in Taiwan, converted from Japanese army officer quarters into an open-air cultural park. It houses the Chang Yu-sheng Memorial Museum (張雨生紀念館) and Pan An-pang Memorial, honoring two famous Taiwanese musicians who grew up here. Location: No. 2, Xinfu Road. Open daily 08:00–18:00. Entry: Free.

• Penghu Living Museum (澎湖生活博物館) — A regional ethnography museum displaying Penghu's maritime heritage, traditional stone-weir fishing models, Matsu festival traditions, and island architecture across three exhibition floors. Location: No. 327, Xinsheng Road. Open Fri–Wed 09:00–17:00 (closed Thursdays). Entry: NT$80 ($2.55 USD).

• Jinguitou Fortress Cultural Park (馬公金龜頭礮臺文化園區) — A Qing-dynasty coastal battery built in 1887 by General Liu Mingchuan to defend Magong Harbor against foreign warships. Features underground subterranean tunnels ("Secret Path of the Penghu Battle"), observation bunkers, and artillery emplacements. Location: No. 10-2, Jieshou Road. Grounds open Wed–Sun 09:00–17:00 (closed Mon–Tue). Entry: Free for park grounds; NT$30 ($0.95 USD) for guided tunnel tour.

• Shuncheng Gate & Old City Wall (順承門與澎湖廳城) — The small west gate of the 1889 Qing-era Penghu fortress wall. Visitors can climb the stone steps to walk atop the ramparts for views over Magong Harbor. Location: Intersection of Zhongshan Road and Jieshou Road. Open 24 hours. Entry: Free.

• Penghu Reclamation Hall (澎湖開拓館) — Housed in the 1935 Japanese-era governor's official residence, featuring a fusion of Western and traditional Japanese residential architecture, wooden verandas, and exhibits detailing the historical migration and settlement of the archipelago. Location: No. 30, Zhiping Road. Open Wed–Sun 09:00–12:00, 13:30–17:00 (closed Mon–Tue). Entry: NT$30 ($0.95 USD).

• Watch the Penghu International Fireworks Festival — Staged at the Guanyinting waterfront from late April through June on Monday and Thursday evenings (with select weekend dates). Drone formations create patterns in the night sky over the Xiying Rainbow Bridge followed by a 15-minute fireworks display over the bay. Free access along the seawall; arrive by 19:30 for a prime viewing position.

• Walk Across Xiying Rainbow Bridge at Guanyinting — Stroll the 200-meter pedestrian arched bridge at sunset. At night, RGB neon tubes illuminate the arch in seven rainbow colors reflecting across the calm bay water. The surrounding Guanyinting Recreation Area includes oceanfront pathways, basketball courts, and shallow windsurfing launch points. Location: No. 7, Jieshou Road. Open 24 hours.

• Take Island-Hopping Day Ferries from Nanhai Pier — Board morning ferries at the Nanhai Visitor Center (南海遊客中心) to explore the southern Penghu islands. Popular day routes visit Wang'an Island to see the green sea turtle conservation center and traditional coral-stone houses of Zhongshe, and Qimei Island to view the basalt cliffs and the Twin Hearts Stone Weir. Day tours run NT$700–1,200 ($22–$38 USD) including boat tickets and scooter hire on the islands.

• Night Squid Fishing Tour — Board fishing boats departing Magong Harbor between May and September (departures at 18:30 and 21:00). Crew members instruct passengers on jigging for neritic squid under bright attraction floodlights. Fresh catches are prepared on board as sashimi or boiled with vermicelli noodles. 2-hour excursions cost NT$500–600 ($16–$19 USD) per person.

• Snorkel at Shanshui Beach and Suogang — Travel 15 minutes south of downtown to Shanshui Beach for bodyboarding, swimming, and paddleboarding along a golden sand bay. Nearby Suogang Harbor offers scuba diving excursions to Taiwan's underwater postbox, where divers can mail waterproof postcards from a depth of 6 meters. Snorkeling packages cost NT$600–900 ($19–$29 USD).

Magong's dining focuses on fresh seafood, local squid, pumpkin rice noodles, and dishes prepared with desert cactus and island peanuts.

• Maluyi BBQ Pork Rice (馬路益燒肉飯) — Operating since 1981, situated opposite Chenghuang Temple. Its signature dish pairs marinated, fried pork cutlets with seasoned minced meat over rice; the "double combo" adds a fried squid patty. Cuisine: Taiwanese comfort food. Price tier: Budget (NT$75–150 / $2.40–$4.80 USD per person). Location: No. 5, Lane 7, Zhongzheng Road / Guangming Road.
• Hua Cai Gan Nostalgic Restaurant (花菜干人文懷舊餐館) — Styled after an old Penghu fishing residence with retro stoneware and wooden benches. Serves traditional island recipes such as sun-dried cauliflower stir-fried with pork (the namesake dish), pickled cabbage fish soup, and pumpkin vermicelli. Cuisine: Traditional Penghu regional. Price tier: Mid-range (NT$300–550 / $9.60–$17.60 USD per person). Location: No. 4-2, Dongwenli.
• Lai Fu Seafood Restaurant (來福海鮮餐廳) — A family-run seafood restaurant specializing in daily wild catches from local fishing vessels. Highlights include pumpkin fried rice noodles, cuttlefish shrimp cakes, steamed red snapper, and teppanyaki squid. Cuisine: Penghu seafood. Price tier: Mid-range to Upscale (NT$400–800 / $12.80–$25.60 USD per person). Location: No. 185, Xinsheng Road.
• Ah-Bao Sausage & Sticky Rice Stall (阿豹香腸攤) — Popular street-food cart serving charcoal-grilled Taiwanese pork sausages and glutinous rice sausages (dachang bao xiaochang) alongside a simmering pot of Guan Dong Zhu (braised fish cakes, pork blood cake, and offal) with complimentary seafood broth. Cuisine: Street food / Snacks. Price tier: Budget (NT$50–120 / $1.60–$3.85 USD per person). Location: Intersection of Minquan Road and Renzhai Alley.
• Yifeng Soy Milk Shop (益豐豆漿店) — Traditional breakfast eatery serving freshly fried youtiao (dough sticks), flaky clay-oven flatbreads (shaobing) stuffed with eggs and scallions, and warm savory soy milk. Cuisine: Taiwanese breakfast. Price tier: Budget (NT$40–90 / $1.30–$2.90 USD per person). Location: No. 38, Wenhua Road.

• Cactus Fruit Treats & Drinks: Red prickly pear cactus fruit (Opuntia dillenii, known locally as xianrenzhang) grows across Penghu's dry rocky shores. Vendors across Zhongyang Old Street and Minzu Road press it into tart magenta juices and churn it into vivid pink ice cream. Popular vendors include Yi-Jia Cactus Ice and Daxiao Cactus Ice. Drinks and scoops cost NT$40–60 ($1.30–$1.90 USD).
• Penghu Grass Jelly: Yu Guan Yin Grass Jelly (玉冠嫩仙草) on Minsheng Road serves shaved ice made from frozen herbal grass jelly stock, topped with taro balls, sweet potato balls, and pearls (NT$50–70 / $1.60–$2.25 USD).
• Bars & Nightlife: Magong has a small selection of evening drinking spots. Freud Pub (No. 41, Zhongxing Road) serves draft beers, single malts, and cocktails with English menus. One House Taproom offers local craft beers and bar snacks. Beers cost NT$150–250 ($4.80–$8.00 USD), cocktails NT$250–350 ($8.00–$11.20 USD).
• Water Safety: Tap water in Penghu is treated reservoir and desalinated water; stick to boiled or bottled water for drinking.

Accommodation demand peaks from April through August. Reserve 2 to 4 months ahead during the Fireworks Festival and summer holidays. Rates drop by 40%–60% between November and March.

• Budget:
  • Bayhouse Hostel Penghu (北非花園青年旅館) — Located near Shanshui Beach (10 minutes south of the city center), offering clean dormitory bunks, bike storage, and communal kitchen facilities. Dorm beds: NT$600–900 ($19–$29 USD) per night.
  • The Formosa Backpackers (福爾摩沙背包客棧) — Centrally located near Magong Harbor and the bus station, providing air-conditioned sleeping capsules, laundry facilities, and scooter rental arrangements. Dorm beds: NT$700–1,000 ($22–$32 USD); private doubles: NT$1,400–1,800 ($45–$58 USD).
• Mid-Range:
  • MF Hotel Penghu (澎澄雅客 / 雅霖大飯店) — Modern hotel located 300 meters from Magong Harbor. Clean, spacious rooms with buffet breakfast, airport transfers, and bicycle hire. Nightly rates: NT$2,200–3,800 ($70–$122 USD).
  • Bowa Hotel (博華大飯店) — Practical city hotel on Zhongzheng Road steps from Central Street and restaurants. Standard double rooms with Wi-Fi and en-suite bathrooms. Nightly rates: NT$1,800–3,000 ($58–$96 USD).
• Upscale:
  • Four Points by Sheraton Penghu (澎湖福朋喜來登酒店) — 5-star harborfront resort featuring an infinity pool overlooking Magong Third Harbor, sauna, fitness center, Chinese restaurant, and international buffet. Nightly rates: NT$4,800–9,500 ($154–$304 USD).
  • Discovery Hotel (澎澄飯店) — Harborfront hotel adjacent to the Nanhai Ferry Pier and the Pier3 duty-free shopping complex. Offers sea-view suites, an infinity lap pool, Go Star indoor rock climbing gym, and airport shuttle service. Nightly rates: NT$4,500–8,500 ($144–$272 USD).

• Baisha Township (白沙鄉) (15 km / 9.3 miles north, 20 min by car or Bus 203) — Head north across the causeway to see the 300-year-old Tongliang Great Banyan Tree covering an entire temple courtyard, the Penghu Aquarium, and the northern harbor of Chikan for boat trips to Jibei Sand Spit.
• Xiyu Island (西嶼鄉) (30 km / 18.6 miles northwest, 40 min by car or Bus 203) — Reached via Baisha across the 2.5-km Penghu Great Bridge. Sights include the Daguoye Columnar Basalt rock walls, Erkan Traditional Preserved Village with coral-stone courtyard residences, and the 18th-century Yuwengdao Lighthouse.
• Wang'an Island (望安鄉) (45 min by ferry from Nanhai Pier) — A quiet southern island known for protected green sea turtle nesting beaches, the Green Turtle Tourism and Conservation Center, and panoramic views from Tiantai Hill.
• Qimei Island (七美鄉) (70–90 min by ferry from Nanhai Pier) — Penghu's southernmost inhabited island, known for the Twin Hearts Stone Weir (an ancient dual-heart shaped tidal fishing trap), Little Taiwan wave-cut coastal rock platform, and coastal sea cliffs.
• South Penghu Marine National Park (澎湖南方四島國家公園) (60–80 min by boat from Magong) — Covers the four southern islets of Dongji, Xiji, Dongyuping, and Xiyuping. Notable for the "Blue Cave" sea grotto on Xiji Island, preserved Qing stone villages, and coral reef diving sites.
• Kaohsiung City (高雄市) (50 min by flight or 4.5 hours by Penghu Ferry) — Southern Taiwan's major port metropolis, featuring the Pier-2 Art Center, Lotus Pond temples, night markets, and Taiwan High Speed Rail connections.