Kenting National Park

Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園) occupies the extreme southern tip of Taiwan, on the Hengchun Peninsula in Pingtung County. It is one of Taiwan's first national parks and remains among the most popular, famous for its beautiful beaches, lush tropical vegetation, coral coastline, and dramatic geology. It is worth being clear about the names: Kenting is the wider area — townships, beaches, and resorts — while Kenting National Park is the protected landscape set within it, encompassing both coastal zones and inland forest.

The park is geologically remarkable. The Kenting National Forest Recreation Area, the showcase inland section, sits 150–300 m above sea level over 466.8 hectares of uplifted coral limestone. Once below the sea, the rock has been weathered into stalagmites, stalactite caves, columns, notches, and grottoes — formations such as the Fairy Cave, Silver Dragon Cave, Labyrinth Forest, and One-Line Sky. The forest holds more than 1,200 plant species across a three-layered canopy of trees, shrubs, and ground cover, and is regarded as Taiwan's only tropical botanical garden and one of the world's finest. Wildlife is abundant: butterflies, birds, reptiles, troops of Formosan macaques, and, each autumn and winter, large flocks of migratory raptors including goshawks, honey-buzzards, and grey-faced buzzards.

The climate is tropical and warm year-round, making the park a popular cool-season escape. During typhoon season the waves can turn dangerous and all the beaches may be closed, so the cooler, drier months are the safest and most comfortable time to visit.

By Train

There is no railway into the park. The standard rail approach is the High Speed Rail (HSR) to Zuoying in Kaohsiung — around 90 minutes from Taipei. From Zuoying, the Kenting Express (Line 88) bus runs to the Kenting area 24 hours a day. Reserve HSR tickets ahead for weekend travel, as trains often sell out.

By Car / Road

Long-distance buses link the Kenting area with the rest of Taiwan. UBus runs from Taipei toward the south (around NT$430, 5–6 hours). From the Kaohsiung bus terminal, line 9188 reaches Hengchun and Kenting for about NT$350 in roughly 2½ hours, with regular and express services. Along the coast, buses 101, 9117, 9127, 9188, and 9189 connect Fangliao and Fangshan to the area for NT$112–150. Note that some park sections, including the Kenting National Forest Recreation Area, are not served by public bus — a scooter or car is needed to reach them. Rental cars can be collected at HSR Kaohsiung Zuoying station.

A rented scooter is essential for exploring the park: the coastal viewpoints, beaches, and forest area are spread far apart, and there is no through public transport between them — the Forest Recreation Area in particular has no public bus. Scooters are cheapest in Hengchun, from around NT$300 per 24 hours; in Kenting they run NT$500–800, mostly electric models with an 80–100 km range. Riders need a Taiwan or international motorbike licence, and helmets are legally required. Cars can also be hired. Check prices and inspect the bike before riding off.

• Kenting National Forest Recreation Area (墾丁國家森林遊樂區) — The park's signature inland attraction: a tropical forest of coral-limestone caves, columns, and grottoes, including the Fairy Cave, Silver Dragon Cave, Labyrinth Forest, One-Line Sky, and Falling Banyan Valley, plus a 300-year-old Chinese pistache. No. 201, Gongyuan Road, Kenting. Open 08:00–17:00; parking NT$20–50, entry NT$100/150 weekday/weekend. The walk out to the "First Ravine" is the most rewarding part. (Some caves may close intermittently — check at the entrance.)

• Sheding Natural Park (社頂自然公園) — A free trail of about 1½–2 hours through gorges with views toward the southern tip; a small parking fee applies.

• Longpan Park (龍磐公園) — A scenic clifftop of green coastline formed by the coast slumping and eroding in stages.

• Eluanbi Lighthouse (鵝鑾鼻燈塔) — Set in a coastal park with easy seaside hiking trails. Admission NT$40.

• Southernmost Point of Taiwan — A sculpture marking the island's southern extremity; a favourite sunset spot. No admission, parking NT$50.

• Maobitou (貓鼻頭) — A black-cliff coastal area with a cat-shaped rock; parking NT$10–50, entry NT$30/15 full/concession.

• Fongchueisha Dune (風吹沙) and Chuhuo Eternal Fire (出火特別景觀區) — A large coastal dune and a field of continuously burning natural-gas vents.

• Forest and gorge hiking — Walk the trails of the Forest Recreation Area and Sheding Natural Park through caves, gorges, and tropical canopy.

• Beaches — Swim at South Bay (南灣) on Nanwan Road or the remoter White Sand Bay (白沙灣); beaches may close in rough weather and typhoon season.

• Wildlife watching — Look for Formosan macaques in the forest and, in autumn and winter, migratory raptors riding the thermals over the peninsula.

• Surfing and water sports — Surf at Nanwan or Jialeshui with operators such as Afei Surf and FuDog Surfing; jet skis can be rented at the busier beaches (around NT$1000/30 min at peak times).

The park has limited dining; eating is best done along the Kenting strip's night-market food row or in Hengchun town, both a short scooter ride away, where fresh seafood, grilled squid, Taiwanese snacks, and tropical fruit are abundant. Bring snacks and water for time spent inside the Forest Recreation Area.

There are no bars within the park; the Kenting strip outside has a lively pub and bar scene, and tropical-fruit juices and bubble tea are sold throughout the area by day. Carry plenty of water for hikes. Do not drink tap or stream water straight; use bottled or boiled water.

There is no major accommodation inside the park; visitors stay along the Kenting resort strip or in Hengchun. Options range from backpacker hostels — including Balinese-style hostels run by Afei Surf in Nanwan and Jialeshui — through mid-range hotels to beachfront resorts.

There are no significant shopping areas within the park itself; stalls and shops cluster along the Kenting strip just outside, selling beachwear, souvenirs, snacks, and tropical-fruit products, with everyday markets in Hengchun town. Carry water and supplies for forest hikes, where shops are scarce.

• Kenting — The resort townships immediately around the park; beaches, the night market, and nightlife.
• Hengchun — About 10 km / 20 min north; a walled historic town and the best base for scooter rentals.
• Sichongxi — Roughly 15–20 km / 30 min north; a hot-spring resort valley for a relaxing soak.
• Donggang — Around 50 km / 1 hr north; a fishing port famed for bluefin tuna, with the ferry to Liuqiu.
• Liuqiu — Via Donggang's ferry; a coral island known for sea turtles and snorkelling.
• Kaohsiung — About 2–2½ hr north by bus; a major port city with metro, museums, and night markets.