kenting national park tours

A Guide to Kenting National Park at the Southern Tip of Taiwan

Kenting National Park is Taiwan’s oldest national park . For Taiwanese, Kenting (墾丁, pronounced ken ding ) is synonymous with beaches, water activities, April long weekend , and partying.

Kenting is the closest thing Taiwan has to a beach town . There’s nowhere else in the country where you can see night market vendors wearing beach attire as they mix cocktails, with techno music blasting from loudspeakers behind them (see my Kenting Night Market guide for that!)

But there’s more to Kenting that the above – including some stunning coastal scenery , hiking trails, waterfalls, and wildlife.

Kenting is one of my favorite places to visit in Taiwan . I’ve been there half a dozen times, several of those for going to Spring Scream music festival (which no longer exists, but helped to make Kenting famous).

In this article, I’ll cover it all – how many days you need, how to get there, things to do, the best beaches, activities, tours, and what to eat. I’ll also recommend the best hotels and resorts at each beach, or you visit my guide to where to stay in Kenting .

Table of Contents

Kenting National Park Introduction

Kenting National Park occupies the tip of Hengchun Peninsula in Hengchun Township of Pingtung County .

Hengchun (恆春) is the main town in the area and most visitors drive through it just before reaching the famous beaches of Kenting, including Kenting Main Beach, the location of Kenting Night Market.

Hengchun is known for its old city wall (恆春縣城, built 1879) with four ancient gates, some of the best preserved ones in all of Taiwan.

In 1883, Eluanbi lighthouse was built at the southern tip of Taiwan, after many shipwrecks occurred there. It one of the few fortified lighthouses in the word – it has a protective wall due to regular attacks by local aboriginal tribes after it was first built.

Kenting National Park was established on January 1, 1984, making it the first one in modern Taiwan (earlier, the Japanese had made a national park in what is now Taroko National Park).

Kenting reached peak popularity among locals in the 2000s and early 2010s. During that time, it became the party capital of Taiwan for the 4-day April long weekend. Taiwanese would flock there for Spring Scream (春吶), an alternative rock music festival.

Over time, other festivals and beach parties popped up on the same weekend, including the electronic music-focused Spring Wave.

In 2008, the Taiwanese film Cape No. 7 (海角七號) was filmed in Kenting. Then in 2012, scenes in Ang Lee’s Life of Pi were also filmed there (Lee himself, one of the most famous people from Taiwan , was born in Pingtung) These made Kenting even more popular.

Around the mid 2010s, Kenting’s popularity started declining . As rock music became less popular, Spring Scream music festival tapered off. I went to a few of the last ones, and it was tiny compared to earlier years. In 2016, Spring Wave was held in Taipei instead of Kenting.

As budget flights from Taiwan to Japan proliferated, many Taiwanese started choosing Japan instead of Kenting for their holidays – they price of getting to Japan from Taipei is often cheaper! (see my list of budget flights )

To keep the music festival tradition alive, the Pingtung government now puts on the free Taiwan Music Festival (台灣祭) on the main beach in Kenting during April long weekend. Kenting remains popular, but just not quite as popular as it used to be.

Kenting Orientation

Most people access Kenting from Kaohsiung on the west coast of Taiwan. Even if you’re coming from Taitung on the east coast, you’ll most likely cross over to the main road on the west coast to get down to Kenting.

Going south down the west coast, you’ll go through Checheng and Hengchun . There are a few attractions in and near Hengchun, including a weekend night market, old city gates, and capybara and sika deer parks .

Kenting National Museum of Marine Biology (Kenting Aquarium) is on the coast west of Hengchun. Although it’s quite a ways from other sights in Kenting, it’s part of the national park – a thin strip of national park extends up the coast to it.

Shortly after Hengchun, the highway enters the national park and reaches Nanwan (a small but popular beach) and then Kenting Main Beach .

This is Kenting’s largest beach community. Taiwanese call “墾丁大街” (or “ Kenting Main Street ”). It is home to Kenting Night Market and the largest concentration of restaurants and hotels in the national park.

Just north (inland) from Kenting Main Beach, Kenting National Forest Recreation Area (墾丁國家森林遊樂區) has some cool walks and caves.  

Snorkeling and scuba diving tours take place near the seafood harbour called Houbihu (後壁湖), which is west of Nanwan and Kenting Main Beach.

East of Kenting Main Beach, the next points of interest are Xiaowan (a small beach with beach bar and a couple resorts), Sail Rock Beach , and Eluanbi Lighthouse .

After Eluanbi, the highway follows the coast north to some lovely coastal lookouts called Longpan and Fengchuishan . After a remote surfing beach called Gangkou, the highway veers inland for a big loop back to Hengchun – I’ll recommend a cool waterfall with natural infinity pool around here.

Because Kenting lies in the tropical south of Taiwan, it’s warm enough to swim in the ocean-year round . Come in winter and you’ll find the beaches pleasantly crowd-free.

The 4-day long weekend at the beginning of April is the busiest weekend of the year in Kenting (read my guide to visiting Taiwan in April ). That’s when Taiwan Music Festival takes places and when many Taiwanese go for a mini spring break. It can already be very hot in Kenting my April.

From April till the end of summer, Kenting remains busy, especially on weekends, then it tapers off again in fall. Try to come on weekdays for less crowds and lower room rates.

Like anywhere in Taiwan, Kenting can be affected by typhoons anytime from July to October.

How Much Time Do You “Need” for Kenting?

In my Taiwan Travel Planning group , travelers often ask how much time they need for Kenting. My answer to that is –  how long do you want to spend on a beach? For me, I could happily spend a week just suntanning and drinking on the beach every day.

If you’re just going to squeeze one night in Kenting into your itinerary, I don’t think it’s worth the trip. If you’re coming here mainly to add some beach time to your otherwise busy Taiwan itinerary, then give yourself at least one full day for the beach (i.e. spend two nights in Kenting) .

Add one more full day if you want to do any sightseeing , such as Kenting Aquarium, animal places, hiking, Eluanbi lighthouse, etc). In other words, I think 3 nights (2 full days) is the ideal amount of time for enjoying Kenting’s attractions and beaches.

And if you’re staying in a nice resort with a pool, make sure to also include some time to actually enjoy the resort’s facilities – otherwise, why bother?

A Note about Expectations

Even though Kenting is said to have the best beaches in Taiwan (personally I think the offshore islands like Penghu have even better ones), you can’t compare them to beaches in countries like Thailand or the Philippines .

Kenting Main Beach is pretty, but you aren’t even allowed to swim there. And for beaches where you can swim (Baishawan, Nanwan, Xiaowan, and Sail Rock), on busy days they are usually packed with people, umbrellas, noisy jet skis , and so on.

Even though Kenting is a national park, don’t be surprised if you see some garbage on the beach , some corrugated metal roofs blown off my typhoons, and mass tourism activities , like go-karting ( see here ), animals zoos ( see here and here ), banana boats ( see here ), and so on.

As for water activities, the snorkeling , scuba , and surfing in Kenting is just OK , not great. Try Green Island for better snorkeling and scuba. For surfing, I’ll recommend a good spot at the end of this article, or try Dulan area of Taitung for a bigger surfing scene.

So why still come to Kenting? For me, I still love Kenting for its stunning coastal scenery . Nothing beats riding a bike, electric bicycle, or scooter along it.

I also enjoy love the casual and party-esque vibes (don’t expect anything too crazy!) in Kenting town and seeing Taiwanese let loose on their holidays.

I think it’s important to enjoy Kenting for what it is, and don’t compare it to other places with more stunning beaches (it won’t win) or more engrained beach culture (like almost anywhere in Southeast Asia).

Getting to Kenting

Kenting is not on the main train line around Taiwan. If you go, consider it as small detour from your round-Taiwan loop , or a “beach break” in your otherwise rushed itinerary.

By Car or Scooter

If you’ve rented a car ( I recommend renting here ), the drive from Kaohsiung to Kenting usually takes about 1.5 hours , but can take as long as 3 hours during peak traffic (holidays, rush hour, etc.) See my guide to driving in Taiwan .

You can also rent a scooter in Kaohsiung here . Expect it to take a bit longer to reach Kenting by scooter than by car.

Note: I once tried to rent a scooter in Fangliao (after taking the train over from Taitung), but wasn’t able to find a shop there willing to rent one to me (even though I have a Taiwanese license).

If you’re driving from Taitung on the east coast , the fastest way is to take Highway 9 across the island to the west coast, and travel south from there.

A slower but scenic route from Taitung is to take a combination of small roads, including 199, 26, and 200 down to the eastern end of Kenting. There are almost no people or signs of civilization on this route. The road is sometimes very narrow, but cars can still fit. And it even passes through a small desert !

You can also hire a driver to explore Kenting or take this Kenting day tour from Kaohsiung .

By Public Transportation

The best way to get to Kenting is to take the HSR to Zuoying station in Kaohsiung (see my HSR guide and order discounted tickets here ) then ride the Kenting Express shuttle bus to Kenting ( order tickets here ).

The traveling time to Kenting by bus is around 2 hours , but it can take longer on busy days. You can see the bus schedule here . Redeem your voucher or buy tickets from the Kenting Express Counter near Exit 2 of the HSR station.

Taxi drivers often hang out around the station trying to entice passengers. They’ll sell one seat in a shared taxi for around TWD 600 , about double the price of the bus.

If there’s a long wait for the bus, it’s not a bad deal. Usually, they drive quite fast (like borderline dangerously fast) so they can squeeze in more trips in one day. I’ve done this several times with my friends – we don’t mind splurging on the ride for those extra hours on the beach.

From central Kaohsiung city , it’s still going to be fastest if you ride the MRT to Zuoying then catch the Kenting Express from there. However, another option is to ride the TRA train from Kaohsiung station to Fangliao then catch the Kenting shuttle from there.

If you’re coming from Hualien or Taitung on the east coast, ride the train to Fangliao , then board the Kenting Express shuttle bus there. Exit the train station, walk straight to the main street, turn left, and purchase a ticket from the bus station here . Then you’ll need to cross the street and wait for the Kenting bus here .

There are a few direct trains from places on the east coast to Fangliao. However, you’ll get more time options if you buy two separate tickets – point A (such as Hualien or Chishang ) to Taitung station, and then Taitung to Fangliao. That’s because some trains only do the east coast. See my guide to buying train tickets in Taiwan for more info.

Getting Around Kenting

For some holidaymakers, just choosing one beach and staying there is sufficient. However, if you want to do some sightseeing in the area or visit multiple beaches, you’ll need to take the bus or drive between them.

Kenting Shuttle Buses

Besides the Kenting Express shuttle from Kaohsiung, there is a network of shuttle buses which ply the Kenting area.

There are four shuttle bus lines , with three of them meeting in Hengchun (see route map above). You can buy a one/two-day pass on the same Klook page as the Kenting Express bus from Kaohsiung, or you can swipe EasyCard to ride the buses.

Here’s a table showing the bus lines and their main stops:

Renting a Bike or Scooter

There are many shops hiring out bicycles, electric scooters, and regular scooters on Kenting Main Street. Book your scooter in advance here. A license is not required for the electric scooters, but they won’t be powerful enough to get you up the steep hill to Kenting National Forest Recreation Area or to travel very far.

For regular scooters, like anywhere in Taiwan, you will most likely need and International Driver’s Permit (IDP), and some shops may additionally require proof that you are licensed to drive motorcycles in your home country (either an A stamp on the IDP or motorcycle endorsement on your home license).

Main Beaches (and where to stay at each one)

Here I’ll introduce the five main beaches in Kenting from west to east, plus my recommended hotels at each one.

Baishawan Beach

Baishawan (墾丁白沙灣, not to be confused with Baishawan in New Taipei City ) literally means “white sand beach” even though sand is actually golden. It is the westernmost main beach in Kenting National Park.

Because it is a 10 to 15-minute drive off the main highway to, Baishwan is more off-the-beaten-track than the other main beaches. There are only about half a dozen guesthouses here and a couple restaurants – that’s it.

This beach’s main claim to fame is that some scenes from Life of Pi were shot here . When it’s not busy, I personally think it’s the most beautiful of Kenting’s main beaches – that’s why I chose it for my list of best beaches in Taiwan.

However, don’t expect anything too pristine . At busy times, this beach still has umbrellas, water activities, and crowds, just like all the other beaches at Kenting. But it does retain a more remote and less “resorty” vibe than the others.

If you’re driving or taking the bus from Kenting Main Beach to Kenting Aquarium, you could make a stop at Baishawan on the way .

Baishawan is on the Kenting shuttle bus Blue Line , between Hengchun and Nanwan/Kenting Main Beach.

Where to Stay

I recommend Baisha 31 B&B (see on Booking / Agoda ), a friendly guesthouse which is only a short walk from the beach.

South Bay (Nanwan)

South Bay (南灣 or Nanwan ) is right at the point where the highway from Kaohsiung and Hengchun reaches the coast in Kenting National Park.

This beach is very popular for lounging under an umbrella, swimming, and beach activities like banana boats and jet skis.

There’s also a small bar right on the beach . Overall, even though there are no big resorts near this beach, the beach itself has beach resort vibes.

The beach is pretty but can get very crowded at peak times. Another downside is the large nuclear power plant visible on the right side of the bay – maybe try not to think about it…

With several great B&Bs and hostels, a few restaurants, and a 7-Eleven right across the street, Nanwan has everything you need for a relaxing beach holiday .

If you want to go into Kenting main town for the night market, that will be just 10 minutes on any bus passing by. Buses run till late.

The Kenting Express from Kaohsiung will stop at Nanwan. It’s also on the Orange and Blue shuttle bus lines .

There are 20+ small B&Bs and hostels right across the highway from the beach. Most have options with balconies facing the sea.

The First Nanwan Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda ) has capsule-style dorms, while Meet You Nanwan (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a kid-friendly choice.

For a reliable guesthouse with balcony rooms, try Cat at Greece (see on Booking / Agoda ), Summer Delight (see on Booking / Agoda ), or Pii Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda ). The latter also has a five-bedroom house for available for groups.

Kenting Main Beach & Night Market

Often when people say “Kenting”, they are referring to the main town and beach here. This is the largest community in the national park and its longest beach .

Notably, though, you are technically not allowed to swim at this beach. This means the beach is also pleasantly free of umbrellas, jet skis, and so on. If you play in the water a little, especially at the beach’s far ends, probably nobody will say anything. Just be careful, as the tides can be strong and there’s no lifeguard.

Kenting Village lines both sides of the highway a few blocks inland from the eastern half of the beach. There you’ll find dozens of hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars.

At night, the street comes alive with Kenting Night Market every night of the year. Besides the usual night market snacks, you’ll also find at least a dozen cocktail stalls, which often blast techno music to set the vibe.

At the eastern end of the night market near Xiaowan (see next section), there’s a more chill vibe. Several food and cocktail trucks play reggae music, with seating available.

On a normal night, the night market isn’t too crowded. But on April long weekend or other busy weekends, the crowds can become so thick that they take over the whole highway.

The Kenting Express from Kaohsiung passes through town, with a few different stops you can get off at, plus the Orange and Blue shuttle bus lines .

At the quieter western end of the beach, Chateau Beach Resort (see on Booking / Agoda ) is the only major hotel in Kenting that is actually right on the beach. However, its facilities are getting old.

On my most recent visit, I had a great stay at Kenting Moon Bay Hotel 月彎灣渡假旅店 (see on Booking / Agoda ), on a quiet street right across from the beach. Although my balcony had a sea view, I had to walk a ways down to access the beach due to a fence and stream between the hotel and the beach.

In town along the highway, Kenting Space Capsule (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a hostel option with cool space theme.

Gloria Manor (see on Booking / Agoda ) is one of the top luxury hotels in Taiwan . It’s not right in town but in a secluded spot up the hill towards Kenting National Forest Recreation Area. It has a pool and overlooks Kenting’s iconic Mount Dajian.

For family-friendly resorts, consider Xiaowan (see next section), which is right at the end of Kenting Main Street.

I put Xiaowan (小灣 or “Little Bay”) in its own entry, but it’s just a few steps past the end of Kenting Main Street. Xiaowan is a small beach just east of Kenting Main Beach , with a small peninsula between them called Frog Rock (青蛙石).

Two big resorts are here. Both of them have private paths or tunnels under the highway to Xiaowan beach. However, the public can also access and use the beach by taking a small flight of stairs down from the highway – watch for the sign that says 小灣沙灘 on an upright surfboard.

Swimming is allowed at this beach and there’s a small bar on the beach. It’s romantic at night.

For a small adventure, walk from Kenting Main Beach to Lover’s Beach (情人灘 here ), a small hidden beach on the peninsula between Main Beach and Xiaowan.

The Kenting Express from Kaohsiung goes here, plus the Orange and Blue shuttle bus lines .

There are two resorts at Xiaowan: Caesar Park Kenting (see on Booking / Agoda ) and Howard Beach Resort Kenting (see on Booking / Agoda ).

Both resorts have seen better days, but between the two of them, Caesar Park is a little nicer. The resorts are right next to each other, with Caesar Park being the closer one to town – it only takes 5 minutes on foot to reach the eastern end of Kenting Night Market.

Both resorts are kid-friendly, with lots of activities, swimming pool, and beach access.

Sail Rock Beach

Sail Rock Beach (船帆石沙灘 or Chuanfan Beach) is named after a large sail-shaped coastal outcrop 500 meters down the coast from the beach.

This beach is similar to South Bay in terms of size, popularity, and amenities – meaning it can also get quite crowded at busy times. It also has one 7-Eleven and 20+ B&Bs across the highway from it, plus a few resort options.

One downside here is that it’s a little further away – you’ll have to travel past Kenting Main Street to get here. But as a result, it does feel a little more away from it all than South Bay or Main Beach.

The Kenting Express from Kaohsiung goes here, as well as the Orange shuttle bus line .

For a guesthouse with sea-facing balconies, Sasa Nor Lamour B&B (see on Booking / Agoda ) is right across from the beach. For a more secluded option, Hotel Everyday Life (see on Booking / Agoda ) is further down the coast near Sail Rock, but rooms also have sea views.

Kenting 4 Sisters Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a beautiful property with amazing views. It’s a little ways from the beach, but they offer a shuttle. Guests rave about the amazing breakfast.

Fullon Resort (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a resort option with pool. Red Garden Resort (see on Booking / Agoda ) has Balinese vibes.

Other Things to Do in Kenting National Park

Besides the beaches, here are some more fun things to do in Kenting. Again I’ll cover these in the order you’d encounter them coming in from Kaohsiung.

National Museum of Marine Biology

Kenting Museum of Marine Biology (國立海洋生物博物館), also commonly called Kenting Aquarium, is Taiwan’s largest aquarium.

The aquarium is in a remote spot on the coast west of Hengchun.

Some highlights of the aquarium include whale-shaped water fountains for kids to play in, a simulated underwater shipwreck , sea stars and hermit crabs you can touch, beluga whales , and a giant tank filled with sharks and rays.

I personally found this aquarium to be a little dated ( Xpark in Taoyuan is smaller but has much newer facilities).

A lot of facilities here looked quite old or were out of order when I visited. The huge water tank was darker and murkier than the one at Xpark, so it was harder to get a good picture of it. Yes, this aquarium is huge, but I found a lot of space there is just filler.

From Kenting Main Street, it’s a 30-minute drive or 45-minute bus ride on the Orange Line .

If you do make the trip out there, book your tickets online here. They also offer a penguin encounter and overnight sleepover experience .

Kenting Capybara Park

The small Capybara Park (墾丁鹿ㄦ島水豚生態園區, location ) is outside the national park, just before Hengchun when you’re driving down from Kaohsiung. It is one of the best places in Taiwan to meet capybaras , the world’s largest rodent.

This was probably my best capybara experience in Taiwan – it’s nowhere near as busy as Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm in Yilan .

Besides interacting with and feeding the capybaras, you can see sika deer, giant tortoises, and a dedicated capybara shrine. And unlike any other capybara place in Taiwan, you can swim with the capybaras here (extra fee). Book your tickets here .

Paradise of Deer

Near the capybara place, there’s also this similar and longer-running one called Paradise of Deer (鹿境梅花鹿生態園區, location ) focusing mainly on sika deer, but they also have a few capybaras.

Note that if you’re visiting with kids, the deer can be a little aggressive as they try to get food from the tourists. My kids didn’t love visiting them because of this. The capybaras are actually much more chill.

There are some cute deer stuffies for sale. You can book tickets online here .

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Houbihu

If you join any snorkeling tour ( like this one ) or scuba diving ( like this one ), they will most likely take you to the shore just south of Houbihu Seafood Harbor (後壁湖), not to one of the beaches in Kenting, where the waves are too big.

The main snorkeling and scuba spots are here , here, and at Little Bali (小巴里島岩), which is also a semi-secret swimming spot.

Maobitou Park

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Kenting is Maobitou Park (貓鼻頭公園). Mao (貓) means cat , so there’s a large cat statue here (and I found a couple live cats lazing around, too).

The view from the observation deck is nice. You can see the most of the Kenting coastline from here on a clear day. When I visited, this place was busy with busloads of domestic tourists, so I didn’t love it.

There’s a TWD 30 entry fee. You can get there on the shuttle bus Blue Line .

Guanshan Sunset Viewing Park

Many local visitors go to Guanshan Sunset Viewing Park (關山夕照觀景園) to watch the sunset. This is an elevated spot between Baishawan and Kenting Aquarium.

After reading the reviews, I decided not to bother. You need to pay and it sounds like it gets crowded . You can only get here by car or scooter.

I once enjoyed a lovely sunset view from Eluanbi Lighthouse (see below), which is also on a hill with view down the coast, so that is a decent sunset alternative which is accessible by bus.

Otherwise, sunset is a nice time to be on pretty much any beach in Kenting, though all of them face south.

Kenting National Forest Recreation Area

Kenting National Forest Recreation Area (墾丁國家森林遊樂區) is a beautiful slice of pristine nature only a few minutes’ drive from Kenting village.

The large park features walking paths through the jungle (I spotted several macaques and huge butterflies!)

The forest here is growing atop an uplifted coral reef with unique karst topography. This includes some cool coral reef tunnels and caves – the most impressive of which is Fairy Cave .

There’s also a elevated Viewing Tower. It provides an expansive view looking down on the jungle canopy, coast, and mountains in all directions, including iconic Mt. Dajian. There’s even a small restaurant with a view inside.

It takes 1-2 hours to walk to the above two spots and back to the entrance, or longer if you visit even more caves and features in the park. Entrance is TWD 150.

Unfortunately, you’ll need a car or scooter to get here. Buses don’t go and it’s too steep for electric bicycles.

Shadao Ecological Reserve

Between Sail Rock Beach and Eluanbi Lighthouse, you’ll notice a small parking lot for Shadao Ecological Reserve (砂島生態保護區). The parking lot here overlooks a stunning, pristine beach which is inaccessible to the public . It is a nesting ground for sea turtles and other wildlife.

Although you can’t get to the beach, the coast in front of the parking lot is fun to explore . There are rows upon rows of coral pools here where you can spot crabs or even (carefully, as the coral is sharp) take a dip in the water.

Once many years ago, when my friends and I were hungover between two days at Spring Scream music festival, we spent a whole day lazing in the sun and pools here. And yes, we all got sun burns.

Eluanbi Lighthouse

Eluanbi Lighthouse (鵝鑾鼻燈塔) is a historic lighthouse dating to 1883. The fortified white lighthouse a symbol of Kenting and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Taiwan .

While you can’t enter the lighthouse itself, the hill-top park around it offers stunning views down the coast – these are the grounds where the legendary Spring Scream music festival used to be held.

There are several trails down to lookouts beside the sea, including one to the actual southernmost point of mainland Taiwan . Entrance to the area is TWD 60 and there’s a huge parking lot with some small shops and a 7-11 just around the corner.

One trail leads to Longkeng Ecological Reserve (龍坑生態保護區), but this can only be visited on a guided tour. Bookings can be made here (Mandarin only).

There are a few small B&Bs near the lighthouse – we used to stay in them for going to Spring Scream, but today I wouldn’t stay here because there’s no beach nearby. There are several campgrounds near the lighthouse – search 露營區 on GoogleMaps to find them.

Eluanbi the last stop of the Kenting Express from Kaohsiung and the Orange shuttle bus line before they turn around and go back.

Longpan Park

Just up the coast as it veers north from Eluanbi, Longpan Park (龍磐公園) has a small boardwalk trail to an amazing view up coast . It’s a must-stop, but once you’ve seen the view, that’s about it.

None of the Kenting shuttle buses come here or to the next spot. There’s an infrequent bus from Hengchun (only 3 per day) – in other words, the only viable way to get here is to drive or ride a bike.

Fengchuisha

Fengchuisha (風吹沙) offers another fine view further up the coast. There are beautiful coastal sand dunes here . Once when I visited many years ago, the sand dune were even blowing onto the highway.

Gangkou & Jialeshui

Not many visitors make it past Fengchuisha these days, especially ever since Gangkou Suspension Bridge (港口吊橋) further up the coast closed. When I visited Kenting for the first time in 2008 with my friends, we rode scooters up to this point (see below pic).

On my most recent trip, I had a look, and the once popular bridge is totally falling apart, so I don’t know if it will ever be fixed.

There’s a small and remote surfing community at Gangkou Beach (港口海灘). Try this surf hostel if you want to check it out. Swimming is not allowed on the beach, but this spot has the best surfing in Kenting.

You can get there on the Green Line from Hengchun – get off at stop G16 . From Kenting Main Beach, you’d have to take the bus to Hengchun first then transfer to the green line.

Ride the same bus to the last stop, G17 , for Jialeshui (佳樂水). This is a remote but picturesque stretch of coastline with cool rock formations.

Qikong Waterfall

If you like adventure activities and getting off the beaten-track, drive to Qikong Waterfall (七孔瀑布). Qiking means “7 holes”, as there are seven pools of water below waterfalls which you can hike up to here.

You can swim in several of these pools. The waterfalls form natural infinity pools , which you can climb down into using ropes.

You only have to hike 5-10 minutes to reach the first two, but the trail is a little tough and requires some scrambling and hanging onto ropes.

An elderly man living next to the parking lot charges TWD 20/60 for scooter/car parking. If you drove this far from Kenting Main Beach, then consider continuing on Highway 200 all the way to Hengchun, making a big loop, instead of driving back the way you came. That’s what I did! 

You could get here by bus (Green Line from Hengchun to Chunxing Intersection stop here , stop G6 on the bus route map), but then you’d have to walk 40 minutes up the car road to reach the trailhead.

What to Eat in Kenting

Where you eat in Kenting will be dictated by where you stay.

At Nanwan , Pizza Rock (run by a fellow travel blogger) and Piccolo Polpo Italian Restaurant stand out.

Kenting Main Street has by far the most dining options, not to mention Kenting Night Market. See my Kenting Night Market guide for all my food stall recommendations.

For sit-down restaurants, there are a lot of international options, including Singaporean , Indonesian , Thai , Korean , Japanese , Italian , and Tex Mex . There are also several quick fry (Taiwanese seafood) restaurants.

For fresh seafood, you can consider driving or riding the bus over to Houbihu Fishing Harbor . Two buildings here right beside the harbor are full of fresh seafood restaurants.

However, when I visited on my own, I wasn’t able to buy a small plate of sashimi as a snack (the pictures were so tempting!) – all the restaurants have minimum orders. They basically want you to sit down for a full meal, unlike many other seafood markets in Taiwan, where you can just buy smaller samples. It’s on the shuttle bus Blue Line.

If you stay at Sail Rock Beach , there are only a few cafes, a 7-Eleven, this seafood restaurant , and this small restaurant down the highway .

Near Eluanbi, this little restaurant has some of the best seafood in Kenting, but it’s out of the way.

In Hengchun , Hengchun Night Market takes place on weekends only. Vegetarians may consider going to Hengchun for the unique dragon fruit wraps with veggie meat and other dishes at this vegetarian restaurant.

Near the vegetarian restaurant, this famous vendor sells delicious deep fried green onion cakes with egg ( dan su bing ). There are also some popular mango shaved ice shops around it.

A special local variety of water chestnuts (菱角) are sold around Fangliao and Checheng. You may see shops selling them along the highway. Locals call them “bats” due to their bat-like shape – watch for signs with a bat-shaped symbol.

Eryanping & Tea Mist Trail: Two Amazing Hikes En Route to Alishan

Visiting taipei & taiwan in january 2024, 2 thoughts on “a guide to kenting national park at the southern tip of taiwan”.

Thanks so much for all your detailed guides. They definitely help give peace of mind when planning a trip to Taiwan.

My husband and I will be travelling to Taiwan in March 2024 and I am wondering how important it is to book bus tickets from Fangliao -> Kenting for the 9189 Kenting Express bus ahead of time (or if it is possible to even book this ticket online ahead of time?) or if it is fine to just buy the tickets once we arrive same day? We will be travelling on a Tuesday in March. Thank you for your help!

I don’t think it’s even possible to book. You just show up and buy a ticket then board the next bus that passes by.

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20 Awesome Things to Do in Kenting National Park, Taiwan

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

Kenting National Park in Pingtung county lies at tropical, southern tip of Taiwan. It is the country’s prime holiday spot, attracting long weekend crowds to its golden beaches.

There’s a whole lot more to Kenting than just the beach, from scuba diving and other water activities to night markets, capybaras, hikes in pristine nature.

In this article, I’ll introduce a more enough Kenting sights and activities to fill many weekends – take your pick and start planning your next vacation in the sun! I’ve also got a more general guide to visiting Kenting on my other website, TaiwanObsessed.

Table of Contents

Kenting National Park Quick Tips

Here are some general tips for planning your Kenting trip.

When to Visit

• Kenting is tropical, so it’s warm enough to swim in the sea year-round.
• Winter is very quiet and crowd-free. Spring, and especially the long weekend at the beginning of April , are very popular, so try to avoid weekends. Summer is also busy but oppressively hot. Fall is also lovely and crowd-free.
• Spring Scream and some other past music festivals made Kenting the country’s spring break party capital. Nowadays, the local government puts on a free music festival on Kenting Main Beach on that weekend.

Getting There

• The best way to get to Kenting is to take the Kenting Express shuttle bus from Zuoying HSR station in Kaohsiung. The ride takes 2-3 hours.
• If you’re coming from the east coast of Taiwan, take the train to Fangliao, where you can board the above bus. Buy your ticket here in Fangliao , then cross the street and catch the bus here .
• Once you’re there, either stay put at the beach you chose or explore the national park on the network of local buses. You can buy a day pass for these buses (same link as the Kenting Express bus above). See a map of the bus routes here .
• You can also rent electric bikes (no license needed) or scooters (IDP needed) from several shops in Kenting village.

Orientation

• Hengchun in the largest town in the area. You’ll drive through it just before reaching the national park. Three of the local bus lines start here.
• Kenting Main Beach/Village is in the middle of the national park. It has the highest concentration of hotels and restaurants, plus Kenting Night Market. The beach is nice but swimming is not technically allowed.
• To the west of Kenting Main Beach, South Bay (Nanwan) is a smaller beach which allows swimming. Further west, Houbihu is the main snorkeling/scuba spot, Baishawan Beach is more remote, and National Museum of Marine Biology (Kenting Aquarium) is quite a ways down the coast.
• Each of Kenting Main Beach, Sail Rock Beach (Chuafang Rock) is another swimmable beach, while Eluanbi Lighthouse is at the actual southern tip of Taiwan.
• After the lighthouse, the road follows the coast north past some coastal parks, then loops back to Hengchun and Kenting Main Beach.

Where to Stay in Kenting

For even more details and suggestions than I’ll provide here, please visit my Kenting accommodation guide .

Kenting Main Beach (墾丁大街) is the most popular place to stay in Kenting. It has the most restaurants, hotels, a nice beach, and night market.

I recommend Kenting Space Capsule (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) for low budget or Kenting Moon Bay Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) for mid-range travelers.

For a resort option, I recommend Caesar Park Kenting (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ). The resort has a pool and direct access to a small beach called Xiaowan, which allows swimming and has a beach bar.

Gloria Manor (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) is the most luxurious hotels in all of Taiwan – it’s in a secluded spot up the hill from town.

At South Bay , the first beach the bus will pass when arriving at Kenting, I recommend First Nanwan Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ), Meet You Nanwan (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) for families, or Cat at Greece (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ).

At Sail Rock beach , I recommend Sasa Nor Lamour B&B (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) for proximity to the beach, Red Garden Resort (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) for Balinese vibes, and Kenting 4 Sisters Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor) or Fullon Resort (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ) for a fancier getaway.

Things to Do in Kenting

 Now it’s time to get down to business – what are the best things to do in Kenting National Park? I’ll start with Kenting Main Beach, then sections on Hencgchun and the areas to the west and east of Main Beach.

Kenting Main Beach Area

You could enjoy a whole weekend stay in Kenting National Park without actually leaving the main beach area. Here are some ways to pass the time.

Stroll Kenting Main Beach

Kenting Main Beach (墾丁海水浴場) is the longest beach in Kenting National Park, at almost 2 km from end to end.

While there are no lifeguards and swimming isn’t technically allowed here, some people will still play in the water, especially at the far ends where no one will notice. Because of the rule, the beach here is pleasantly free of motorboats and jetskis like the other beaches in the park. It’s especially nice around sunset.

The main town is just up from the eastern half of the beach – locals call it “Kenting Main Street” (墾丁大街).  

From the eastern end of the beach, you can follow a small road then path to the secret Lover’s beach (情人灘, here ) on a cape called Frog Rock.

Watch the Sunset at Small Bay Beach Bar

Small Bay (小灣 or Xiaowan) is a small beach just east of Main Beach and Frog Rock. It is mainly used be Caesar Park and Howard Resort , both of which have private paths to it.

However, the general public can swim here, too, and there’s even a proper Beach Bar (rare in Taiwan!) Umbrellas can be rented for small fee.

To get to the this beach, just walk east along the highway through Kenting town. Just past the end of town and the night market, watch for an upright surfboard sign on the beach side of the road. Beside it, there’s a short staircase down to the beach bar and beach.

Have a Cocktail at Kenting Night Market

Kenting Night Market is Taiwan’s southernmost night market. It is also the only night market in the country that has decidedly beach party vibes.

There’s no other night market where you can see vendors wearing beach attire. It definitely has the highest concentration of take-away cocktail stalls, many of which blast electronic music to set the vibe.

Locals will tell you that Kenting Night Market is “expensive”. As a visitor, though, you probably won’t notice any difference from other night markets in Taiwan.

The night market runs along either side of the highway in the town area. Click here to find my recommendations on what to eat at Kenting Night Market .

Get into Nature at Kenting National Forest Recreation Area

While Kenting itself is a national park, it also has a National Forest Recreation Area (墾丁國家森林遊樂區) inside it (other famous National Forest Recreation Areas in Taiwan include Alishan and Taipingshan ).

The park features walking trails through the jungle (I spotted many macaques!) and several coral reef tunnels and caves. The best one is Fairy Cave. Another highlight is the tall viewing tower, which provides a commanding view of the whole coast, jungle canopy, and surrounding mountains. Budget around 2 hours of walking to visit these.

The park is only a 7-minute (uphill) drive from the western end of Kenting town (watch for the large arch entrance gate). Unfortunately, buses don’t go up there and the road is too steep for electric bikes, so you’ll have to try to find a ride in town. Entrance is TWD 150.

Hengchun Area

Hengchun is the largest town in the Kenting area. You’ll drive through it just before reaching the national park. There are a few things to do in and around Henchun. It’s also the starting point of the shuttle bus orange, blue, and green lines, so it’s a transportation hub.

Make Capybara Friends at Capybara Paradise

In the last few years, capybaras (the world’s largest rodent, from South America) have become hugely popular in Taiwan. There are dozens of places to meet capybaras around Taiwan , but this spot in Kenting is one of the best.

Luyu Island Capybara Ecological Park (墾丁鹿ㄦ島水豚生態園區, here , also called Kenting Capybara Paradise) is a small capybara petting zoo along the highway just north of Hengchun (you’ll pass it about 10 minutes before reaching Kenting).

I enjoyed this capybara center more than others because it wasn’t too busy, there were lots of capybaras, and there’s even a capybara shrine. The capybaras are surprisingly chill creatures. And, if you really want to get down to business, you can pay extra to swim in a pool with the capybaras!

There are also a few sika deer and giant tortoises on site. The ticket includes a discount on ice cream at the end.

Meet Sika Deer at Kenting Paradise of Deer

Near the capybara place, Kenting Paradise of Deer (鹿境梅花鹿生態園區) is a very similar place but more focused on the deer (although they have a few capybaras, too.

While Taiwan’s sika deer are beautiful creatures, I don’t love visiting them at tourist attractions like this. They can be become a little aggressive when trying to get the food you’re given to feed them, so young children are sometimes afraid of them.

Anyways, if you’re into deer, they do sell some cute deer stuffies, and of course, ice cream, too.    

See the Henchun Old City Gates, Old Street, and Night Market

For history buffs, Hengchun has some of the best-preserved old city gates in Taiwan. Henchun South Gate is the one you’re most likely to pass on the way through town – it’s in the middle of a traffic circle. But there are also north, east, and west ones.

Hengchun Old Street (恆春古城魅力商圈) has lots of food stalls in the daytime, while Hengchun Night Market (恆春夜市) is on Sundays only. It’s more local than Kenting Night Market.

West of Main Beach

You can ride the Kenting shuttle blue line to explore several spots along the coast west of Kenting Main Beach.

Be Lazy at South Bay

South Bay (南灣 or Nanwan) is a smaller beach west of Kenting Main Beach. If arriving in Kenting by bus or car, you’ll pass South Bay first before reaching Main Beach.

South Bay is popular for lying under umbrellas on the beach, swimming, and water activities. There’s a small bar on the beach. Right across the highway, there’s one convenience store and around 20 small guesthouses.

South Bay is close enough to Main Beach that you can easily hop on a bus for five minutes to go to the night market. But it’s small enough that you barely have to do any walking.

One downside of this beach is the nuclear power plant on the side of the bay – just try not to think about it…

Besides the blue shuttle, the orange one also stops here before heading towards Hengchun.

Feast on Seafood at Houbihu Harbor

Houbihu Harbour (後壁湖) is the main fishing harbor in Kenting National Park. You can see collections of traditional Taiwanese fishing boats docked in the harbor.

The main reason to come here is to eat a meal of super fresh sashimi and other seafoods. Two buildings here contain around a dozen simple seafood restaurants.

Unfortunately, you can just buy a snack, like a small tray of sashimi just to try it (like at most other seafood markets in Taiwan). When I visited, I found none of the restaurants would let me do this, even though they had pictures advertising such dishes.

All of them have a minimum charge – basically they want you do sit down for a full meal, not just a snack to go.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Houbihu

The coast just south of Houbihu is the main snorkeling and scuba diving spot in Kenting National Park.

I don’t recommend to just show up at one of the shops, though, as they aren’t near the beach. Instead, book your snorkeling or scuba experience online , then follow the instructions for how to meet up with them.

Overlook the Coast at Maobitou Park

Maobitou (貓鼻頭公園) is a coastal park which is very popular among large tour groups (for that reason, I didn’t really love it).

A short walk there leads to a few cliff-top observation decks. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Kenting Main Beach and even Eluanbi Lighthouse.

Because mao (貓) means “cat”, there are a few cat statues, and I did manage to spot one (live) cat by the snack stalls.

Get Away from it all at Baishawan Beach

Baishawan is the most remote of the “main” beaches on the Kenting coast. Compared to Nanwan, Main Beach, or Sail Rock Beach, it only has a handful of accommodations and no 7-Eleven (the horror!)

This beach’s main claim to fame is that a scene from Life of Pi was filmed here (director Ang Lee, one of the most well-known Taiwanese celebrities , was actually a native of Pingtung!)

Don’t expect a totally pristine beach, though. It still has the usual umbrellas, jet skis, and a bit of trash.

Meet Sea Creatures at National Museum of Marine Biology

National Museum of Marine Biology (國立海洋生物博物館 or “Kenting Aquarium”, see official site ) is the largest aquarium in Taiwan.

Some highlights at the sprawling complex beluga whales, a simulated underwater shipwreck, a huge tank filled with sharks and rays, and whale fountains for kids to splash around in.

While it is undeniably large, I personally found that a lot of the space there is just filler and the facilities are getting old. I had a better experience at the smaller but much newer Xpark in Taoyuan , which is also much easier to get to.

You can also feed penguins there or even spend the night in the aquarium !

Kenting Aquarium is quite a ways down the coast from the rest of Kenting. It feels like you’ve left the national park, but it’s actually still in the park because a thin strip of national park extends down the coast to it.

The blue line does go all the way there, but it’s a long ride.

East of Main Beach

There are a few more attractions along the coast east of Kenting Main Beach. The Orange Line shuttle bus and Kenting Express from Zuoying (Kaohsiung) go as far as Eluanbi Lighthouse before turning back, so that’s the furthest most tourists make it.

If you drive, you go further up the coast and even make a big loop back to Hengchun and Kenting Main Street.

Beach Vacay at Sail Rock Beach

Sail Rock Beach (船帆石沙灘 or Chuanfang Beach) is named after a large sail-shaped rock down the coast from it. The beach is similar in size and popularity to South Bay, but minus the nuclear plant.

You’ll find all the beach activities here, too, but no bar (don’t worry, there’s a 7-11). There are also a couple dozen guesthouses and a few resorts near the beach.

The downside is that you’ll have to travel a little further to get here – or you may see its remoteness as a plus.

See Kenting’s Prettiest Beach at Shadao Ecological Preserve

The most beautiful beach I’ve seen in Kenting National Park is at Shadao Ecological Reserve (砂島生態保護區). There’s only one catch – you can’t go on it. This is an ecological/wildlife reserve, including a nesting ground for sea turtles.

Still, you can admire the beach from the small parking lot here. You can also play on the coast next to the parking lot, which has some cool water pools formed by coral reef – just watch your step!

Stand on the Tip of Taiwan at Eluanbi Lighthouse

Eluanbi Lighthouse is Taiwan’s most famous landmarks and a symbol of Kenting National Park. The historic lighthouse is fortified (to protect it from attacks in the past by local aboriginals) and dates to 1883.

The large grassy hill around the lighthouse offers stunning views along the coast. You can also follow a series of trails down through the grounds of the former Spring Scream Music Festival. One of them leads to an observation deck on the true southern tip of Taiwan.

There’s a TWD 60 entrance fee and it’s closed on Mondays. The Kenting Express from Zuoying (Kaohsiung) and the Kenting Shuttle Orange Line end here before turning back.

View Coastal Sand Dunes at Longpan and Fengchuisha

If you drive, you can go further up the coast to Longpan Park (龍磐公園). A short boardwalk trail leads to an impressive viewpoint of the coast.

Past it, another view with coastal sand dunes is at Fengchuisha (風吹砂).

Go Surfing at Gangkou Beach

The best place to go surfing in Kenting is at remote Gangkou Beach (港口海灘). There are a handful of surfer’s hostels like this one in a tiny village nearby.

Swimming is not technically allowed on the beach due to the strong current.

You can get here by riding the Green Shuttle Bus from Hengchun. It’s one of the last stops. The terminal stop is Jialeshui, a coastal park which few tourists ever make it to.

Swim Under Waterfalls at Qikong

After Gangkou, Highway 200 veers inland and loops back to Hengchun. By car or scooter, you can veer off the highway to Qikong Waterfall (七孔瀑布, literally 7 Holes Waterfall).

This is a stream with a series of waterfalls which you can swim under. It only takes a few minutes to follow the trail up through the jungle to the first one, but the second and third ones are the best. You’ll need to use the ropes to pull yourself up some steeper parts.

The swimming holes are natural infinity pools, where you can gaze into the jungle from the top of a waterfall. This is a true hidden gem!

An old man charges a small fee (20 for scooter or 60 for car) for parking here at the trailhead . You could get here by bus if you take the Green Shuttle from Hengchun to Chunxing Rd. Intersection and then walk 45 minutes up the road to the trailhead.

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The Best Things To Do In Kenting National Park, Taiwan (2023)

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: March 2, 2023

Categories Taiwan

Kenting National Park is one of the 9 National Parks in Taiwan and is located on the southern tip of Taiwan.

Kenting Park is known for its lush forests and splendid beaches and after 3 days in the city of Kaohsiung , we felt it was time for some nature.

So we made our way down to the beautiful green Kenting National Park, which was one of the highlights of our one-month trip in Taiwan .

Altogether we spent 3 days exploring Kenting on a scooter, but we could easily have stayed longer as there are many things to do in Kenting National Park!

Top things to do in Kenting National Park, Pingtung County

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

What is the best time to visit Kenting National park

We visited Kenting in May , which in my experience is a great time to visit as temperatures are (usually) still below 30 degrees Celsius and there isn't much rain.

The summer months (June until September) in southern Taiwan can be very hot and typhoons may occur. During winter (December until February) the average temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius but it can be as low as 10 degrees. It can be very windy as well.

Altogether, the best months to visit Kenting are March until May and October/November.

Plan your Taiwan trip like a pro with these tools: ? Pick up an EasyCard for cashless payments and to use public transport. ? Book discounted tickets for Taiwan's high-speed rail. ? Stay connected with a  Taiwan Wifi router . ? Plan your journey with the  T aiwan Lonely Planet . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Klook or Get Your Guide . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

How to get around Kenting National Park

How to travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting?

It's very easy to get to Kenting National Park from Kaohsiung because of the great public transport system in Taiwan.

We hopped on the Kenting Express bus from Kaohsiung Main Station (buses also leave from Zuoying Station), and it took about 2.5 hours to get to Hengchun township.

Buses depart pretty much every 30 minutes, however, if you want to make sure you can travel on a certain date I recommend making a reservation online .

Note that you will have to pick up your actual ticket at the Kenting Express Line counter at one of the two Kaohsiung stations (KHH Airport or Zuoying High Speed Rail Station).

Alternatively, you can also book a private transfer from Kaohsiung to Kenting .

How to get around Kenting National Park?

The best way to get around Kenting is by your own transport ( rental car or scooter). Our plan was to rent a regular scooter, but in Taiwan, that's not easy to do as a foreigner.

Rules are strict and you either need a Taiwanese license or an International Drivers License which clearly states you can drive a motorcycle .

We have an International Driver's License, but we don't have a license to drive a motorcycle and thus rented an electric scooter instead.

This was no easy feat either because the shop owner did not speak any English.

With the help of a friendly girl who was in the scooter rental shop too we eventually managed to get an electric scooter for 500NT per 24 hours.

You can find the location of the scooter rental place on the map below.

Kenting itinerary

Wondering where to go in Kenting? In the Kenting map below, you can find the Kenting attractions we visited during our 3-day itinerary in Kenting National Park, as well as our hostel ( Kenting Light Blue Bed and Breakfast ).

Click here for the interactive map.

What to do in Kenting National Park

• Rent a scooter
• Explore Hengchun town
• Admire the four old city gates in Hengchun
• Drive around Longluan Lake
• Visit Maobitou Park
• Watch the sunset on the West Coast of Kenting National Park
• Eat your way around the Hengchun night market
• Explore Kenting village
• Drive around the South and East Coast of Kenting National Park
• Eat more delicious snacks in Henchung

Kenting tourist attractions: day 1

What to do in hengchun.

After getting our electric scooter (read more below on how to rent one), the first thing we did was make a circle around Hengchun town. The 4 old city gates are still standing and we drove through them all!

From Hengchun town we drove to Longluan Lake, passing through beautiful green fields and open grassland.

Longluan Lake

It was already late in the afternoon and we were the only ones at the lake.

Maobitou Park

We stopped to admire the ocean views and interesting rock formations at Maobitou Park, one of the most scenic spots in the area.

Because we arrived after 5 pm there was no entrance fee, however, usually, the fee is 60NT.

West Coast of Kenting National Park

From Maobitou Park we followed the main road along the west coast, enjoying a beautiful sunset on the way…

What to eat at Hengchun night market

We ended our first sightseeing day with a stroll over the Hengchun night market.

Pro tip: park your bicycle or scooter before entering the market. It can get very busy making it impossible to maneuver through the crowds with a scooter.

There are many food stalls serving delicious local cuisine and tasty snacks at the Hengchun night market. We sampled some fried chicken, noodles, and some meat sticks. Of course, we washed everything down with bubble tea.

If you've got more time, also visit Kenting Night Market for more local snacks and street food.

Kenting things to do: day 2

Kenting town and kenting's beautiful beaches.

On our second day, it was only a short drive south to the town of Kenting where we passed some of the most beautiful beaches.

Pictured above is Little Bay Beach, which is perfect for swimming, relaxing, or catching the sunset (when visiting in the evening).

And not just white sandy beaches, but some rough and rocky ones too. The color of the water was breathtaking.

South and East coast of Kenting National Park

We made a very scenic route through Kenting National Forest Recreation Area, Sheding Natural Park, the South Coast (be sure to stop at Eluanbi park, Eluanbi Lighthouse, and the Southernmost tip of Taiwan) and East coast (Longpan Park).

As you can see in the picture below it was very busy on the provincial highway.

From the east coast, we drove back to Hengchun and ate more delicious street food. A perfect end to our second sightseeing day!

Kenting National Park things to do: day 3

Our third day in Kenting National Park went a little differently than planned. You see, our electric scooter didn’t agree with our plan of crossing the hills between Manzhou Township and Hengchun.

The drive to Manzhou Township went smoothly but there our problems began…

For the first couple of kilometers, our scooter bravely tried to conquer the increasingly steep hills. But we climbed slower and slower until our scooter said POOF and came to a stop.

We tried to revive it, but nothing worked.

We had no other option but to drive slowly downhill without any power.

Eventually, we made it back to the foot of the hills. Which was still in the middle of nowhere …

Lucky for us David, the awesome owner of our Kenting accommodation , came to our rescue! With his help, we were able to restart the scooter.

Unfortunately, this ended our scooter road trip, we didn't dare to give the hills another try. So much for electric scooters.

Instead, we drove back to Hengchun and sampled some more local dishes.

Kenting National Park travel budget

I've written about our travel budget for Taiwan  and our budget for Taipei , Kaohsiung ,  Tainan , and Hualien .  Compared to those budget breakdowns, our average daily costs for Kenting National Park were slightly higher.

The main reason for the higher daily budget is that I've included the costs to travel from Kaohsiung (and back) in this budget breakdown.

The second reason for the slightly higher average daily budget is we rented a scooter to explore Kenting. That being said, we still only spent  €70 per day for us as a couple.

Where to stay in Kenting on a budget

Looking for the best place to stay in Kenting? While there is lots of accommodation available in Kenting town, consider staying in Henchun instead.

Hengchun feels less touristy but does have all the facilities you need within easy walking distance. We stayed in Hengchun as well and I preferred this location over Kenting town.

Also, I highly recommend staying at Kenting Light Blue Bed and Breakfast :

• It's very centrally located : 50 meters to a Kenting express bus stop, 50 meters to 7-11 & Family Mart, and 50 meters to an electric scooter rental shop.
• We had a very large room with super comfortable beds (tiny downside: we had 2 single beds instead of a double).
• The shared bathroom was very clean and towels were included.
• On the 1st floor, there is a hot and cold water dispenser.
• What really made our stay was David, the awesome guy who runs the B&B. He helped us out with all our questions and as I said above, he even came to our rescue when our electric scooter died on a hill that was too steep. Mind you, we were 20km away from the B&B in an area where nobody spoke any English, I'm not sure what we would have done without his help.
• Altogether, this great place offers excellent value for money and I would love to stay there again.

Kenting what to do: in conclusion

That wraps up this Kenting National Park travel itinerary, I hope it has given you an idea of what to see in Kenting during your trip!

I always love having my own wheels and Kenting is the perfect place for a scooter road trip: beautiful, green, great roads, nice vibe, and plenty of places to see.

I hope this Kenting trip itinerary will inspire you to visit the natural wonders of Kenting National Park in Taiwan, it's really worth a visit!

Looking for more Taiwan travel inspiration? Read my posts about Taichung , Taitung , and the best day trips from Taipei .

This post was updated in January 2023 .

Saturday 16th of November 2019

Hi Lotte. Thank you for your excellent blogsite. Very well put together and very useful information. I'm planning my visit for next year and you really helped. I also like your interactive map. Thank you. Ken

Monday 18th of November 2019

Thank you very much for your kind words, I'm happy to hear the Kenting post has helped you plan your trip:-) Have a great time in Taiwan,

Wednesday 17th of July 2019

He Lotte! We are also Dutch. Going to Taiwan for the summer with our 7 year old son. We have arranged the International driver’s license. And the man from the ANWB wrote also mopped on the document :-) We were thinking about taking the bicycle helmet with us for or son because last year we didn’t find any helmet that fitted correct. Think that would be oke? This week I have some drivers lessons because I never been on a scooter myself:-) If you have any tips for us let me k now! We also staying in Hengchung. I’m vegetarian…is that a big problem in Taiwan? All I see is meat dishes:-) Love hearing from you!

Saturday 20th of July 2019

So great you are traveling to Taiwan with your son! I'd definitely take the bike helmet with you as I'm pretty sure there are no helmets in suitable sizes available at rental shops. Driving a scooter isn't hard, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it quickly:-)

Regarding vegetarian dishes, there are lots of options available (such as vegetable dumplings or tofu dishes) but you should check before ordering. As not everybody speaks English I'd download Google Translate and use this in restaurants to make sure you are ordering a meatless dish.

Have a great trip! Lotte

Monday 8th of October 2018

Hi Lotte! My boyfriend and I were wondering if we can rent only one electric scooter for both of us ? Because he's the only one having the international driver's license! Thank you!! Stephanie

Saturday 13th of October 2018

Hi Stephanie,

Yes, no worries! We also only rented one electric scooter for the two of us:-) Enjoy your trip to Kenting!

Saturday 24th of February 2018

Hi Lotte, Thanks for your great blog, it's helped my girlfriend and I plan our upcoming trip to Taiwan a lot! We plan to hire electric scooter too. I was wondering if you hired one scooter for both of you or you hired a scooter each? I don't want to over load the scooter. Thanks again! Anthony.

Hi Anthony,

Thanks, happy to hear you like my blog! About the scooter, we rented only 1 scooter for the two of us but like I mentioned in the article, it died on a steep hill so it may be better to rent one each;-). Have a great trip! Lotte

Saturday 6th of January 2018

Hey, thanks so much for the informative post! Just wondering, if i do not have an international driver's license can i still rent an electric scooter? and do you think it is safe for a first time rider( i'm a student doing a solo trip). Was there a minimum age for rental as well?

Monday 8th of January 2018

Thank you for your comment and I'm happy you liked the post! I do think you need an International Drivers license (or a Taiwanese license) as they are pretty strict in Taiwan. Perhaps if you have a license in Chinese that would be okay too since they would be able to read it. The rental company did not accept our Dutch licenses but with the international one we could rent the electric one.

There was no minimum age as far I am aware of but please know the owner of the rental shop only speaks Chinese and we communicated with him via a friendly girl who was also in there and kindly translated for us. Taiwanese people are super-friendly and willing to help so if you can't make yourself understood try Google translate or asking for help from someone nearby;-).

Enjoy! Lotte

Kenting Day Tour from Kaohsiung

Travel directly to Kenting from Kaohsiung! This is our recommendation for the best of Kenting’s coastline and Kenting National Park in one day. Start off your day with a pleasant stroll along the Jialeshui Scenic Area; be blown away by the beauty of Longpan National Park; take a trip to Taiwan’s Southernmost Point; have fresh seafood in Houbihu; admire the life-like structures of Maobitou; relax in the beautiful Baisha Beach; before ending the day with a unforgettable sunset.

• Child safety seat available
• English service available
• Private tour, flexible pick-up time
• Up to 8 guests per vehicle only. More than 8 guests require 2 or more vehicles.
• Pick up at Kaohsiung City

Hotel, BnB or any place within the city

Eluanbi Park is special, because it represents the most southern point of Taiwan. Eluanbi Park features unique scenery of coral walls alongside greenery, as well as a stunning lighthouse. There is even a monument marking Taiwan’s southernmost point.

Next, Longpan Park presents a change in scenery along the coastline. Blue waters meet fields of green, and when the wind blows, endless waves are formed, making for a therapeutic sight. Aside from the greenery, there are cliffs and various rock formations to admire.

Start your day off right! The sights at Jialeshui refreshes your body and mind. While you stroll along the coastline, enjoying the ocean breeze, you will notice Jialeshui’s uniquely shaped rocks crafted by Mother Nature herself, after years of wind and water erosion. You will also meet the stunning Shanhai Fall, a 30 metre coastal fall.

How does fresh seafood for lunch sound? Houbihu is the largest fishing port in Kenting, so you’d definitely get your fill of the freshest seafood. Besides food, you can also participate to various water activities and sports like parasailing! We highly recommend you try them out, although probably before you have a filling lunch!

Maobitou is famous for the rock formation in the sea that resembles a crouching cat. Even if you don’t see that resemblance, Maobitou is still a beautiful and worthwhile place to visit. The scenery here captivates visitors from all over the world.

Time to kick back and relax! You’ve had a long day, so let the crashing waves and golden sand relax and refresh you. Baisha Beach is also sandwiched between coral reefs, so there’s plenty to explore.

Watching the sunset in Guanshan is a must if you’re in Kenting. It is considered one of the best places to watch the sunset. Only a short climb is needed to enjoy the view!

• Drop off at Kaohsiung City

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Kenting Day Tour - Kenting National Park.

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• Dedicated consultation, real-person customer service who is familiar with Taiwan’s food, attractions and accommodation (Chinese + English service)
• Customized chartered car, professional local driver, flexible itinerary, assistance in booking local restaurants
• Comfortable trave, without worrying about transportation, parking, or weather.

⊛ Suitable for family travel with both elders and children. ⊛ We will arrange different vehicle types based on the number of people. ⊛ Ideal for those who lack time to plan their itinerary and transportation.

Introduction to chartered bus routes

• route a: sweating it out kenting > snorkeling > sandboarding > water activities > surfing > kenting street, • scenic appreciation route b: kenting > kenting national park > jialeshui > fengchuisha (blowhole) > longpan park > eluanbi lighthouse > sail rock > kenting street > overnight stay in kenting, • parent-child excursion route c: kenting > dapeng bay (dapeng bay bridge/qifeng wetland (lake-circling boat or small-scale racing car experience) > oyster shell island > kuhuo village, linbian township > fangliao railway art village > accommodation in kenting.

►Duration: One-day tour

►Itinerary Time: 10 hours

►Location: Kenting

►Driver speaks: Mandarin Chinese

1. Kenting custom charter tours, where professional drivers pick you up directly from your hotel, reducing transit time and significantly enhancing the quality of your travel experience.

2. Explore the coastal charm of Kenting, delving into attractions such as Kenting National Park, Jialeshui, Fengchuisha, Longpan Park, Eluanbi Lighthouse, Sail Rock, Dapeng Bay, and more.

3. Experience the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes Taiwan has to offer.

Kenting Street Food: Various cocktails, Taiwanese snacks (sweet potato balls, salt and pepper chicken), and Kenting seafood.

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Itinerary introduction

►kenting national park.

(Attribution: WEI, WAN-CHEN)

►Jialeshuei

Located adjacent to the vast Pacific Ocean, the sandstone and coral reefs here have undergone erosion from the relentless waves and strong winds, creating various peculiar rocks and formations such as frog-shaped rocks, rabbit rocks, spherical rocks, square rocks, and honeycomb rocks. One can't help but marvel at the incredible craftsmanship of nature.

(Attribution: 姜 明雄 )

►Fengchuisha

Fengchuisha is located on the Jia-e Road, between Eluanbi and Jialeshuei recreational areas. The red soil and sand mixture here, collected by rain in the summer, forms a sand waterfall. In the winter, the northeast monsoon blows sand from the coastal slopes to the top, creating the unique landscape of blown sand under this reverse process. The sand dunes stretch continuously for 1,500 meters.

Situated between Eluanbi and Fengchuisha, the limestone plateau boasts rich and unique limestone landscapes, including cliffs, seeping holes, and limestone caves. The expansive views, coupled with a light pollution-free environment, make it an ideal spot for stargazing, watching the sunrise, and enjoying distant views of the Pacific Ocean.

(Attribution: 綾小路 葵 )

►Eluanbi Cape Lighthouse

Eluanbi Cape Lighthouse is the southernmost lighthouse in Taiwan and also has the longest light projection distance. The tower is a white circular structure surrounded by fortifications, making it the only armed lighthouse in Taiwan. The surrounding area is Goose Nose Park, where you can leisurely stroll after enjoying the lighthouse's view.

►Kenting Street

When in Kenting, the must-visit spot at night is Kenting Street. The entire street is occupied by street vendors offering a variety of delicious snacks. You can indulge in various local delicacies, shop for souvenirs, or choose a relaxed bar to experience the vibrant nightlife of Kenting Street.

►Water activities at Nanwan and Houbihu are popular attractions

Nanwan and Houbihu are renowned water activity destinations in Kenting, offering a plethora of options such as parasailing, snorkeling, banana boat rides, and jet skiing. Perfect for beating the summer heat, visitors can fully enjoy exhilarating experiences in these areas.

►Tai Pang Wan

Tai Pang Wan encompasses three-dimensional spaces on land, sea, and air. It is actively promoted as an internationally acclaimed coastal leisure and resort destination in Asia. The diverse range of activities includes sailing experiences, speedboat rides, canoeing, windsurfing, and even an international-standard go-kart racing track.

Attribution: 準建築人手札網站 Forgemind ArchiMedia

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16 things to do in Kenting in and around Kenting National Park | Travel Guide

Posted on February 26, 2021 | Julie J. |

Last Updated on December 11, 2023

After having spent most of my Taiwan trip in big cities, visiting Kenting was like a breath of fresh air. If you dislike big cities and want to escape the crowds and pollution, Kenting is the right place for you.

There, I discovered that Taiwan was actually beautiful and had a lot of natural wonders to explore , starting with Kenting National Park. There are actually many things to do in Kenting – where you’ll find impressive tourist attractions and many breathtaking natural sights.

The peninsula is famous for the Kenting National Park, a large protected area including beautiful beaches, many natural wonders, and a few nice trekking trails . Don’t expect a regular National Park with an entrance where the headquarters are and from where you can start trekking, see it more like a protected area encompassing most of the peninsula.

There are plenty of other things to do in Kenting besides visiting the park. You’ll find gorgeous beaches, lush natural areas, and weird natural phenomena within the protected area, as well as a bit further, outside of the park.

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Map of Kenting National Park attractions and tourist spots

How to Plan Your Visit to Kenting

Kenting is located at Taiwan’s southern tip and has been protected from heavy development, it boasts several protected areas and natural parks. I recommend staying at least 3 days to fully explore the area. You’ll need to rent a car or motorbike as public transportation is not ideal. You can also join a tour or hire a driver .

The easiest would be to stay in Kenting Township, where there are plenty of accommodations to choose from. From there you can easily visit Kenting’s top tourist attractions and natural wonders as it’s a central location. In the evenings, the main street turns into a 2 km night market , full of delicious street food.

The best way to explore Kenting National Park and beyond is to drive around the peninsula where you’ll see several viewpoints and nice beaches. Kenting has a lot of beautiful places to visit, you could stop every 100 meters and see something different every time.

There are so many things to do in Kenting!

Read on to discover all the best things to do in Kenting, how to get to the tourist attractions, as well as useful travel tips to plan your trip to Kenting National Park.

Best things to do in Kenting National Park – Top Kenting Tourist Attractions:

1 – white sand bay – bai sha beach.

This beach is where some of the scenes from Life of Pi have been filmed and I understand why the director chose this spot. The beach is just amazing, especially compared to most Taiwanese beaches. The water is crystal clear, not too wavy, so perfect for swimming, and the sand is clean and thin. The beach is far from the road, so the place is really quiet, there’s no big building and the beach’s surroundings are mostly left wild.

There are a couple of hotels nearby and a campsite right in front of the beach. You can rent chairs and umbrellas as well as organize water activities. You can also rent paddles and explore the coast. Visiting Bai Sha Beach is one of the best things to do in Kenting, it’s a must-see.

Entrance fee: Free

2 – Maobitou Park

Near Baisha Beach, you can also visit Maobitou Park, famous for its corals sculptures, one representing a cat about to jump (entrance fee: 30 NTD). The park also offers nice views of the ocean. It’s a nice thing to do in Kenting but I wouldn’t recommend visiting it if you’re short on time or if it’s not on your way.

3 – South Bay, Namwan Beach

If you like beaches and have time to spare, pay a visit to South Bay also known as Nanwan Beach . The scenery there is stunning and the sea perfect for surfing especially during the winter and spring. There are also areas where you can swim safely .

It’s a bit more developed than Baisha Beach with guesthouses, convenience stores, bars, and restaurants. The southern part is the busiest, head to the north if you’re looking for some peace and quiet. The beach can get pretty crowded with locals during weekends and national holidays, especially as spending some time relaxing there is one of the top things to do in Kenting.

You can easily access South Bay from Kenting via public transportation. If you like water activities, make sure to book a water sport package giving you access to up to 8 rides with jet skiing, banana boat, and more.

If you like to surf, you can also check out Jialeshui , a scenic little village only 20 km east of Kenting and one of the top surfing spots in the country.

4 – Wanlitong Beach

Wanlitong Beach might not be Kenting’s prettiest beach but it’s one of the quietest and probably the best ones for snorkeling. You can rent snorkeling gear near the beach and just swim to the reef . The reef there is well-preserved and colorful, with many fishes swimming around.

5 – Jialeshuei Scenic Area

This place is famous for its rock formations . Along a 2 km road, you’ll see many sculptures made by the ocean, with a bit of imagination you might be able to spot some animals.

The guide only speaks Chinese, but if you have someone to translate for you, you’ll realize they are obsessed with frogs, every 10 meters they’ll point a rock looking like a frog, even with a good imagination I couldn’t spot half of them.

You can choose to walk by yourself or take the free shuttle that will stop at every interesting point. The end of the road is the most spectacular with the biggest rocks and many cliffs.

Jialeshuei Scenic Area entrance fee: 100 NTD – Open every day from 7 AM to 5 PM.

6 – ChuHuo Eternal Flame

Apart from being beautiful, ChuHuo is famous for its small fires coming out of the ground . The area is full of natural gas, which leeks to the surface and ignites, but don’t worry it’s not dangerous. The size of the flames depends on the season, the best time to visit is during summer and dry weather. You can just make a quick stop here on your way to Hengchun.

7 – Sheding Natural Park

This other protected area is great for trekking and you’ll find many caves to visit right along the main path . Sheding Natural Park used to be the land of the Paiwan people, one of Taiwan’s most predominant aboriginal tribes.

Nature there has been really well preserved, you’ll see many different types of plants as well as animals, especially butterflies. If you’re lucky (or hire a local guide) you might spot glowing mushrooms, Formosan Sika Deers, land crabs, and tree frogs.

Sheding Park is less frequented than Kenting National Forest Recreational Area so it’s a nicer experience, with more peace and quiet. The park is also wilder and trekking there is one of the best things to do in Kenting if you’re looking for a less frequented place.

Entrance fee: free

8 – Eluanbi Lighthouse and Park

In the southernmost part of Taiwan, the Eluanbi lighthouse is a must-stop on your visit to Kenting. The lighthouse in itself offers nothing special, but the park around it is worth a stroll. Along the main path, you’ll find many viewpoints of the ocean and surrounding mountains, as well as several caves and rock formations.

The site is of archaeological importance as a couple of prehistorical tools have been found there. Count at least 2 hours if you want to fully visit the park.

Nearby, don’t forget to stop at the Southernmost tip of Taiwan and take a selfie next to the sign. It’s a 20-minute walk from the lighthouse, it’s also a good spot to watch the sunset.

Eluanbi Lighthouse and Park entrance fee: 60 NTD – Open every day from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM.

9 – Hengchun Township

Visiting Hengchun is one of the best things to do in Kenting if you’re interested in culture. There are plenty of things to do in Hengchun, you can start by walking around the old commercial district .

Around town, you’ll find 4 ancient gates , the city wall is still intact in some places and some of the gates are still in use and well preserved. Hengchun is the only fortified city in Taiwan with its 4 gates still standing, it’s also an important historical site.

10 – Monkey Cave

In Hengchun, you can also visit the Monkey Cave . Nowadays you won’t see any monkeys and even less a cave. It’s now just a big coral rock, you can climb to the top. The area used to be covered with water, that’s why you’ll find coral so far from the sea.

A lot of legends surround what used to be a cave, several earthquakes destroyed it and modern life chased the monkeys to less developed areas.

11 – Beer Museum

Not far from the city center, you can visit the Beer Museum , they also craft beers here but you cannot visit the factory. To me, the museum is not worth the 100 NTD entrance fee, but if you drink beer it’s fine because you get a free beer.

Just seeing the bar area is sufficient, that’s where most of the interesting things are, and the entrance is free. On one of the walls, you’ll see thousands of beer glasses forming the word “BEER”. On another one, you’ll see a huge replica of the Mona Lisa made only with beer tags.

12 – Longluan Lake

On your way back from Hengchun, you can drive by Longluan Lake, taking in the scenery and passing through lush fields.

13 – Mount Turtle – Gueishan

Nearby, you can also go to  Gueishan , also known as Mount Turtle, the 15-minute hike to the top will bring you to amazing views of the ocean and of the surrounding mountains. The entrance fee is 60 NTD. This place is not on most tourists’ routes so it’s really quiet and you won’t see many people there. It’s also a good spot to watch the sunset.

14 – Sail Rock

Sail Rock, also known as Nixon’s head, is famous for resembling a US president, some people also see a sailboat about to depart. You can make a quick stop on your way back from the lighthouse. You can also stroll around Chuanfanshi’s colorful streets , boarded by cute cafés, and let’s be honest, weird architectural and design choices.

15 – Go Diving

Kenting features some of Taiwan’s top diving spots with beautiful reefs, colorful fishes, and impressive shipwrecks. You can book a diving trip from the main street in Kenting or at most beaches nearby. The dive sites near Kenting are quite challenging as there’s usually a strong current but there are a couple of beginner-friendly spots as well.

Going on a diving or snorkeling trip is one of the best things to do in Kenting during the dry season.

16 – Kenting Forest Recreational Area

Kenting Forest Recreational Area is the best place in Kenting National Park to hike and explore caves . This protected area was once an undersea coral reef and was turned into a botanical garden centuries later by the Japanese. Walking around, you’ll pass by intriguing limestone caves, narrow canyons, and cliffs, seeing ancient banyan trees and maybe spotting a few macaques.

There are a lot of amazing viewpoints along some of the paths and an observation tower in the middle of the park from which you can see the whole peninsula.

Entrance fee: NT$ 150 – Open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM

Is Kenting worth visiting?

Definitely YES, Kenting is worth visiting! First off because it’s different from the rest of Taiwan and it’s where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Visiting Kenting’s tourist attractions is a nice change to visiting Taiwan’s huge cities like Taipei, there you’ll find a lot of natural attractions, as well as cultural activities to join. There are so many things to do in Kenting National Park and around!

Kenting National Park Itinerary

Kenting is worth spending at least a day, but I would recommend staying at least two days. You can spend half a day to a full day trekking in Kenting Forest Recreational Area and a second, renting a scooter and going around the peninsula. You could easily visit all the tourist attractions listed above within a day.

You can spend a third day at the beach if you’re there during summer.

How to get to Kenting from Taipei?

In Taipei head to Taipei Main Station where you’ll take an HSR high-speed train to Kaohsiung. Then, from the train station, take an express shuttle bus to Kenting. The bus from Kaohsiung to Kenting takes 2,5 hours, buses depart every 30 minutes.

How to get around Kenting?

The easiest way to visit Kenting is to rent a car or scooter, you’ll need a Taiwanese or international license for each of those (the driving license you have must state you can drive a scooter). If you don’t have the right driving license, you can rent an electric scooter without it, as it’s not mandatory to have a license to drive those.

You can also hire a private driver for the day, just ask your hotel about it or negotiate with a cab driver – or go through a tour .

Some places can also be reached by bus, but not all of them so it’s not the optimal solution to get around Kenting.

What to do in Kenting at night?

One of the best things to do in Kenting is to visit the night market along the main street where you can sample some local delicacies as well as international dishes with a local twist. You should also check out the funky truck bars and grab a cocktail or two there. You’ll find them near the Howard Plaza Hotel. All of the trucks serve original drinks and have unique decorations.

You can also catch the sunset at Little Bay Beach while having a drink.

What’s the best time to visit Kenting National Park?

If you want to avoid heavy rainfalls and hot weather, the best time to visit Kenting is from March to May and in October and Novembe r. This being said, you can visit Kenting year-round and you should be fine (unless you’re unlucky enough to be there during a typhoon).

Where to stay in Kenting National Park – Best accommodations

There are plenty of accommodation options in Kenting for all budgets, from quirky backpackers to luxurious resorts and everything in between.

For backpackers, check out Kenting my Home and Kenting Original Hostel . Both are super well located, with a cool design and a lot of common space to meet fellow travelers and hang out. They offer female-only and mixed dormitories, Kenting Original Hostel has bunk beds and Kenting My Home has capsules (not a good option if you are claustrophobic but great for privacy).

For something nicer, check out Bai Sha Tan Cottage (don’t let the name confuse you, it’s not on Bai Sha Beach and there are no cottages), the hotel is conveniently located in the city center near Kenting National Park. The rooms are spacious and modern with a balcony. Breakfast is included and most of the staff speaks good English.

If you want to splurge, check out Gloria Manor , it’s a bit excentered but the view is just spectacular. The rooms are beautiful and they have a big ocean-view garden with a pool. Breakfast is included and the restaurant serves tasty international as well as local dishes.

Related posts to help you plan your trip to Taiwan:

• Taiwan Complete Travel Guide – Everything your need to know to plan your trip to Taiwan: budget, best places to visit, food, best time to visit, and much more…
• Best day trips from Kaohsiung – Kaohsiung is the biggest city near Kenting, It is worth stopping for a few days, the city is full of cultural activities and the county is rich in natural activities as well.
• Taitung’s best tourist attractions – If you’re planning on visiting Taiwan’s East Coast after Kenting and want to discover Taiwan’s vibrant aboriginal culture, you should definitely include Taitung in your itinerary.

Useful Travel Resources:

• 18 travel essentials to pack to help you save space and travel lighter.
• Staying at a hostel – Everything you need to know + what to pack + hostel etiquette.
• Getting over the fear of traveling alone – How to solo travel like a pro.
• 30+ secret budget hacks to save money when traveling so you can travel more!

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Kenting National Park

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Introduction

Kenting National park is the first national park in Taiwan with 15206.09 hectares on sea and 18083.50 hectares on land.Kenting National Park is and enormous park which obtains 33,289.59 hectares in total with lush tropical forests and abounding plants and birds inside the park. Red-tailed shrike, red-bellied eagle, grey-faced buzzard and orioles fly to Kenting National Park from August every year to the spring next year.

Environmental Education Theme

Prolific ecological resources are in the park, such as coral reefs, limestone terrain, coastal forests, tropical monsoon forest and pre-historical marine sites that are rare natural landscapes in Taiwan. The diversified geologica and topographical environment along with the special weather of the area composed complex marine/mountain plant communities. Animals and plants in Kenting National Park are distinctive and thus is the ideal place to do an eco-tourism.

You can also go

Kenting forest recreation site or Sheding Park → Chunfanshi → Shell sand exhibition centre → Longpan park → Fongcheshua → Shuiwaku → Jialeshuei → home

Eluanbi lighthouse → Sisal Hemp industry historical exhibition centre → Longluan lake centre → Westcoast parkway → home

Source of Article: Tourism Department of Pingtung County Government

The Taiwan-tour.tw ® Web Site © 2013-2024

Must-see attractions in Kenting National Park

Kenting Forest Recreation Area

Kenting National Park

Once an undersea coral reef, this forest area is now a quirky landscape of limestone caves, narrow canyons and cliff walls strangled with the roots of…

Sheding Nature Park

This well-protected expanse of scrubby hills and open grasslands is a favourite with picnickers, hiking families and ecotourists. A pathway runs through…

Eluanbi Lighthouse

Kenting's best-known landmark – a still-functioning lighthouse built in the 1880s – is at Eluanbi Cape, the southernmost end of Taiwan's Central Mountain…

The admission fee buys you a half-hour tour-bus ride (and back) along a 2.5km-long stretch of coral coastline, as the driver explains to you the monikers…

Taiwan's Southernmost Point

Just so you can say you've been to Taiwan's southernmost point, there's a stone marker showing exactly that. It's about 1.2km southeast of Eluanbi Park…

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• Kenting & Kaohsiung

From Kaohsiung to Kenting, the most direct route  isn’t necessarily the one tourists will want to take. Those curious about Taiwan’s agricultural interior or its indigenous tribes should allot the better part of a day to slow driving through the pineapple fields and rice paddies of the lowlands, perhaps stopping for a vegetarian lunch at the imposing Buddhist complex called Fo Guang Shan, or a look at the artisans’ studios in Sandimen . From there, Road 185 is a splendidly bucolic approach to Taiwan’s southernmost region.

A popular pit-stop on the way to Kenting, the little town of Hengchun is notable for having preserved most of the 19th-century city wall which protected it from bandits, rebels, and head-hunters. Less than 10 minutes’ drive away, there’s a beguiling natural phenomenon. Chuhuo (literally ‘out comes the fire’) isn’t the only spot in southern Taiwan where natural gas seeps through cracks in the Earth and burns throughout the year, but it’s certainly one of the easiest to visit. Come after dark for the best photos, but don’t get too close as the heat can be intense!

For late-afternoon arrivals coming from Kaohsiung or points north, it makes sense to detour to Guanshan. This ridge isn’t especially high, but it’s perfectly positioned for watching the sun sink into the placid waters of the Taiwan Strait.

The main resort area has a string of beaches, each with its own character. For those coming from Kaohsiung, first up is Nanwan (‘South Bay’), a 600 m-long stretch of sand where jet-skiing, banana-boating, and other forms of excitement await those who find simply swimming and sunbathing a bit dull. Sleeping options near here include the Chateau Beach Resort . Sheltered by two headlands, Xiaowan (‘Little Bay’) is the beach closest to the centre of the resort. From here, it’s just a short stroll to the restaurants and watering holes  that line Kending Road.

Sand, sea, and ecosystems

The beach facing and named after Chuanfan Rock is much liked. The rock itself is a squarish column which American visitors say resembles the profile of the late former US President Richard Nixon. Continuing southeast, one comes to Shadao Beach, where there are no crowds because the national park takes its environmental-protection mission seriously. The foreshore is off-limits to the public as it’s ecologically unique; the little on-site exhibition hall (free admission) explains why, and provides a good introduction to aspects of Taiwan’s beautiful yet rugged coastline.

That said, the ocean isn’t gentle in every part of Kenting National Park. At Jialeshui in the east, the forces of erosion have created an extraordinary selection of wind- and wave-sculpted rocks. Nearby Nanrenshan Ecological Protection Area is utterly different, a sprawling reserve dedicated to low-altitude primeval forest and para-tropical rainforest. Lucky visitors may spot the rare (and unique to Taiwan) Coxing’s white-bellied rat, while the green-fingered will revel amid the reserve’s 1,000-plus plant species.

Kenting’s sea, sand and sunshine are wonderful, but those who feel they’re getting too much of a good thing may well be tempted by a pair of shaded retreats in the hills just behind the beach resort. There’s something very soothing about the lush monsoon rainforest inside Kenting National Forest Recreation Area. From the observation tower, the Pacific Ocean, Bashi Channel and Taiwan Strait are all visible.

Sheding Nature Park is just as good, and there’s no admission charge. A mix of grasslands, mixed forest and uplifted coral reefs (including two narrow gorges kids love to squeeze through), it’s more wilderness than park. Macaques and Formosan sika deer often put in an appearance. Serious ecotourists should consider timing their visit to coincide with October’s raptor migration, and planning ahead carefully to obtain permits for the region’s ecological protection areas.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s southern metropolis

Those embarking on a full circuit of Taiwan will enjoy spending a night or two in Kaohsiung just before or after Kenting. This metropolis of 2.74 million has a more-than-decent range of accommodation and eating options . Perhaps the most intriguing sights in the city proper are Shoyoen, a recently renovated and reopened Japanese-period heritage building, and the Former British Consulate at Takow. The latter is a relic of the era when Victorian diplomats and merchants could muscle their way into foreign markets. Located near the main nightlife district, its commanding views over the ocean and harbour makes it an excellent late afternoon stop. A fine way to soak up the city’s maritime character is to jump on one of the ultra-frequent ferries between Sizihwan and Qijin. The former is a small fishing harbour near the Former Consular Residence that’s easily reached by bus or metro. The latter is a island community notable for a 340-year-old temple and a string of seafood restaurants.

More information about Kenting & Kaohsiung

• Getting To & Getting Around Kenting
• Accommodation & Food in Kenting
• Getting To & Getting Around Kaohsiung
• Accommodation & Food in Kaohsiung

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2 Days in Kenting, Taiwan: Itinerary with Top 17 Things to Do

Kenting National Park, Taiwan: top things to do

Visiting Kenting ,  Taiwan ,  means discovering  the most visited national park on the island.

With its  heavenly beaches  and  splendid natural landscapes , we understand better why  Kenting Park  is truly a must for a  trip to Taiwan!

In this  complete guide , I have prepared for you all  the things to do and see in Kenting . I will also give you  all the practical information and advice  on how to organize your visit.

And at the end of the article, you will find  my selection of the best hotels to sleep in  according to your budget as well as a  map with all the places not to be missed.

So,  where to go and what to do in Kenting?

Table of Contents

Kenting Park: a must-see for a stay in Taiwan

What to do and see in kenting.

As there are many places to visit, we will start with  the things to absolutely see  during your  visit to Kenting National Park.

1. Kenting Forest Recreation Area

In the heart of Kenting National Park, I suggest you go for a walk in  the forest part of the park.

Several  well-marked paths  allow you to  discover the tropical forest and its fauna . Keep your eyes  peeled for monkeys and birds endemic  to the island. There are also some  caves  where you can observe  stalactites and stalagmites. 

Don’t miss  the park’s tower , the top of which offers a  panoramic view of the entire south of the island.

Access to the Kenting Forest Recreation Area is chargeable , between NT$100 and NT$125. At the entrance, you will be given  a map of the site with the paths.

Tips for your Kenting itinerary:

During your  tour in Taiwan , you will notice that there are tons of places marked  “recreation areas” . These are  developed areas with parking, toilets  and  marked trails  which lead to one or more places of interest.

If you see “recreation area” on the map, you are sure that there is always  a nice little walk to take  or  a viewpoint to admire.

Access can be paid or free.

2. Jialeshuei Area

Jialeshuei  is located on  the east coast of Kenting.

The area brings together several  rocks in the shape of animals  (frog, pig) or unusual rocks sculpted by erosion. One of them even represents  the exact shape of the map of Taiwan . At the end of the route, we discover the  Jialeshui waterfall.

This visit is done  only in a small shuttle  containing around twenty people and with  comments and stops  to locate the rocks.

It takes  around 1/2 hour  for  NT$80 per person  + car parking at NT$50.

3. Gangkou: Surfing in Kenting

If you want  to go surfing  during your stay in Kenting, head to  the place called Gangkou.

After passing this small  town with a few restaurants , and before the Jialeshuei site, you will find  several beaches where all the surfers gather  to tame the wave.

No underwater rocks and warm water in all seasons, and you will have  the best surf spot in Southern Taiwan!

In Gangkou, it is also possible to  rent kayaks  and enjoy a  beautiful view of the bay by taking the suspension bridge  (NT$20).

Trying surfing is truly a  must-do activity in Kenting.

4. Fongchueisha

Visiting Kenting  also means enjoying some very  beautiful views.

At Fongchueisha, a  clear panorama of the coast  awaits you.

If you take a  road trip to Taiwan , you will notice that this part of the coast is really different from the rest of the island, there is less jungle and vegetation.

It makes the landscape truly unique and for me it is  one of the most beautiful panoramas in southern Taiwan.

5. Longpan Park

Just past Fongchueisha, you will have  another beautiful view  of the Pacific Ocean at  Longpan. 

Be careful not to get too close to the edge of the cliffs as the rock is very crumbly and it is often very windy.

If you are an early riser, feel free to head to Longpan for sunrise.

6. The Southernmost Point of Taiwan

Then continue on the road past Longpan and you will arrive at the  southernmost point of Taiwan.

A short  walk of around 1/4 hour,  most of which is in the forest, will allow you to reach  a monument  built on a wooden platform and symbolizing the end of the island. You can  admire the rocky coast and the Pacific Ocean.

Paid parking at  NT$50.

7. Eluanbi Park

This is one of  the most famous places to visit  in Kenting National Park:  Eluanbi Park and Lighthouse.

You will get there by always following the same route after having discovered the southernmost point.

This large park allows  you to walk in the middle of the jungle  along  developed paths.  There are also some unmissable places with  specially shaped trees and caves  .

Several belvederes also offer  beautiful views of the sea and the volcanic rocks  torn by the wind.

The other attraction of the park is its  small white lighthouse , which you can climb to the top to  enjoy the panorama . There is also a small museum next door.

Entrance to Eluanbi Park costs  NT$60 per person  + car parking at NT$40 (scooter NT$10). The park is generally  open every day  (except closed Mondays) from  7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m./6:30 p.m.  depending on the season.

8. The Beaches of Kenting

If many people choose to  visit Kenting  during their  stay in Taiwan , it is mainly to  enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches.

They are very popular because you can  swim all year round  on this part of the island. Taiwanese love to come to Kenting for their vacation. And it must be said that they are right because these are truly  the most beautiful beaches in Taiwan!

Here are the beaches  where you can go swimming in Kenting:

• Baisha Beach or White Sand Bay:  a large sandy beach where you can rent jet skis or go banana riding. It is also very popular for snorkeling. For me, it is the prettiest beach in Kenting.
• South Bay/ Nanwan:   a long sandy beach + water activities. It is the most popular and the most touristy. This is where you will find the majority of hotels and restaurants.
• Little Bay Beach:  a small beach located before the village of Kenting arriving via the Eluanbi road.

Not to mention a real beach, you also have several  famous spots for snorkeling  in Kenting: at  Sail Rock,  towards  Banana Bay  or at  Little Bali Bay.

Some scenes from the  film “Pi’s Odyssey” , which won 4 Oscars, were  filmed on Baisha beach.

9. Maobitou Park

Maobitou  is located in the  southwest of  Kenting National Park.

The attraction of the park is its  rock in the shape of a cat  which is about to pounce on its prey, which also earned it its name. Maobitou actually means  “Cat Nose” . This rock is  THE selfie spot  for all Chinese tourists!

Apart from this rock formation, you will also find in Maobitou some  beautiful views of the sea and the  Taiwan Strait.

The place is renowned for being one of the  best places in Kenting to watch the sunset. 

Paid parking at  NT$40  (scooter NT$10). Entrance to Maobitou Park is free.

10.Hengchun

Hengchun  is the  only small town  located within the national park.

There isn’t much to do in Hengchun, apart from a  quick tour of the old town  surrounded by its walls.

The fortified city is above all a  good base for visiting Kenting . There are  restaurants, hotels  and there is a  night market  every Sunday evening.

If you have children, you can also take them to see the island’s  endemic deer at  “Paradise of Deer”.  They will be able to feed them and take care of them.

Just  a few kilometers north of Hengchun , you can see a rather unique phenomenon:  an eternal fire.

Thanks to the presence of an  underground gas pocket , the  Chuhuo  area is home to several  small fires that burn constantly.

If you can, it is better  to see it at night  so that it is more spectacular but personally I did not find it essential and not that interesting. There was only a small flame when I passed.

At least  parking and access are free , so if you drive past, why not.

12. Cikong Cascades

Continuing on the road after Chuhuo and taking the left fork, you will reach the start of the path leading to  Cikong Waterfalls.

The path, which at times requires  climbing using ropes  (and yes it’s quite sporty!), provides access to  several natural swimming pools  fed by waterfalls. Stop whenever you want for a well-deserved  refreshing swim !

This is one of the few places in Kenting that is still a little off the beaten track, as you have to walk a bit to get to the first pools and waterfalls. Bring at least some sneakers to go there.

13. The National Marine Biological Museum/Kenting Aquarium

If you are doing this  Kenting tour with your children , I recommend taking them  to visit the National Marine Biological Museum.

It is  the largest aquarium in Taiwan . In particular, you can  observe whales, belugas, sharks  and of course all kinds of  tropical fish. 

And for those who would like  to treat themselves to a VIP experience , I even suggest spending  the night at the aquarium!

You can  visit the museum with a guide  once all the other tourists have left and  sleep just below the glass tunnels  where the animals roam. Dinner and breakfast are also included in the price.

14. Other Activities to Do in Kenting

If you want to add some  cool activities  to this list of things to do in Kenting, I recommend:

• An all-inclusive package of 8 water activities in Kenting.

The best way to  spend a fun day  doing  towed tubing ,  banana  boating and  jet skiing.  There are also several  inflatable platforms  on the water.

Access is unlimited  and you can do as many tours as you want!

• A 2.5 hour cruise  to enjoy the sea and admire the Kenting National Park from another angle.
• A first dive.

What to do around Kenting National Park?

As the park is located  in the very south of Taiwan , it is a little isolated.

We can’t really say that there are things to see around Kenting but I have prepared for you my  selection of the closest places to visit  (which are still at least 1 hour 45 hours away by transport).

15. Kaohsiung

It is  the largest city located around Kenting  and the 3rd largest in Taiwan.

It is approximately  1 hour and 45 minutes by car from the national park.

Things to see and do in Kaohsiung:

• Discover  the Tiger and Dragon Pagoda  on Lotus Lake
• Climb  the Sky Tower  and enjoy the panoramic view
• Stop at  Formosa metro station  and admire its dome of light made up of 4,500 glass panels
• Stroll around  Cijin Island
• Take a walk or boat ride on  the Love River
• Visit Bywood and Sugar Factory,  an old disused sugar factory left as it is with all the machinery.

16. Liuqiu Island (or Lambai Island)

This very small island is located  in the northeast of the national park.

To reach it, you will first have  to go to Donggang  (about 1 hour 20 minutes by car) and  take the boat . The journey takes  only 30 minutes.

To  visit Liuqiu , which is only 7 km², it is best to  rent a scooter, electric bike  or small golf cart when you arrive.

You can then  go around the island , stop  to swim on the beautiful beaches  and enjoy water at least 25° all year round.

Liuqiu is also famous for  its snorkeling spots  where you will have the chance to  observe sea turtles  and swim with them.

17. Taitung

Taitung  is the largest city around Kenting located  on the east coast of Taiwan . It is still  more than 2 hours away.

There aren’t necessarily many attractions to see in Taitung but many travelers choose to stop there during their  itinerary in Taiwan  because it is  the ideal stopover to spend 1 night.

The city is indeed located  between the Taroko Gorges and Kenting Park  and there are not really any other major cities on the route.

If you have some time to  visit Taitung,  you can  stroll through the Taitung Forest Park , visit  the National Museum of Prehistory  and enjoy one of the  3 night markets  for dinner.

Accommodation in Kenting

To visit Kenting National Park, you have  2 places to stay:

• Hengchun,  the largest city in the park.
• Kenting Street,  a long seaside road where you will find only restaurants and hotels.

In both cases, try to  book your hotels in Kenting as far in advance as possible  because it is really touristy and a lot of Chinese and Taiwanese come there on vacation.

To help you choose, I have prepared  my selection of the best hotels to stay in Kenting:

Best accommodation in Hengchun

• HUA B&B:  located 300 meters from the old city walls. Very spacious and warm double room from €50, breakfast included. The best: close to the center, bike rental, warm welcome.
• Chillax Inn B&B:  located 2 minutes drive from the old town. Design and warm room from 60€, breakfast at 5€. The best: the comfort, the great welcome, the good breakfast.  A very good choice for accommodation in Kenting National Park. 
• Kenting Amanda Hotel:  located between Hengchun and Kenting Street. Surprising hotel for Taiwan since the decoration is Moroccan! The rooms are really nice and recreate the Arabian Nights atmosphere very well. From 95€, breakfast at 11€. The pluses: the Spa, the indoor swimming pool, the garden, the decor.
• Kenting Ocean Paradise Resort:  located west of Hengchun, by the sea. Very large rooms with terrace and sea view from 160€, breakfast included. The pluses: the view, the calm, the private parking.
• Kenting Grand Bay Resort Hotel:   located in the old town. This hotel is particularly suitable for a stay with children thanks to these family rooms starting from €130 per night, breakfast included. The extras: the huge games room with ball pool, climbing wall, slide, the large indoor swimming pool, the children’s swimming pool.  This is the ideal hotel for a family vacation in Kenting!

The best hotels in Kenting Street

• Kenting My Home:  Hostel located just 3 minutes walk from the beach. Dormitory bed from €20, breakfast at €3. The pluses: the impeccable cleanliness, the location to enjoy the beach, the friendly staff.  The best cheap accommodation to stay in Kenting!
• Kenting Sea Wall 112:   located 100 meters from the beach. Modern and comfortable double room with large bay windows and balcony overlooking the sea from €50, breakfast included. The best: the location, the view, the friendliness of the staff.  An excellent choice for where to stay in Kenting!
• Bai Sha Tan Cottage:  located 250 meters from Little Bay. Double room with balcony and comfortable bedding from €70. The pluses: the staff speaks French, the rooftop, the geographical location.
• Hotelday+ Kenting:  located 5 minutes from the beach and night market. Spacious and well-equipped double room from €85, breakfast included. The most: the swimming pool, the varied breakfast, the friendliness of the staff.
• Caesar Park Hotel Kenting:  located opposite the beach, this 5* complex offers large rooms with large bay windows and a balcony with sea or garden views, from €170, breakfast included. The pluses: the large swimming pool, the private beach with deckchairs and parasols, the excellent breakfast.  This is our recommendation for a luxury stay in Kenting!

How to visit Kenting National Park: practical information

To finish organizing  your visit to Kenting Park,  I will now give you  some practical information,  particularly on how to get around Kenting.

To discover all the places of interest in Kenting, you will  need a means of transport.  Here are the different options:

Visiting Kenting by car  allows you to be  completely independent  and go everywhere. You won’t have  any problems parking,  there are parking lots at all the spots.

And there is no risk of getting lost since almost all of Kenting’s must-see attractions are located along the main road or are well signposted.

To rent a car in Taiwan, you need  an international license  in addition to your “normal” driving license.

The  scooter  has the same advantage as the car:  moving everywhere and easily. 

You will find  scooter rentals in Hengchun and Kenting Street . Don’t hesitate to ask your hotel for advice, they will always have someone to recommend.

You will have the choice between  2 types of scooters:

• Those with gasoline  which require an international license and the mention ticked above stipulating that you can drive a two-wheeler.
• Electric scooters  for which you do not need an international license because they are limited to a maximum of 35km/h.

Several  shuttle buses  crisscross the national park and reach  the main places to see  that I mentioned above.

A  day pass  allowing  unlimited travel  costs around  NT$100.  It is also possible to  take the 2-day pass. 

You will find the bus  route map , stops served and  timetables  by clicking here:  Kenting Shuttle Bus Timetable.

During my  trip to Taiwan , I noticed that there were  a lot of cycle paths  and that this means of transport (outside of the big cities) was quite popular.

You will find  bike rental companies in Kenting  if you want to discover the park by pedaling. The roads are rather flat and in good condition but Kenting being still vast, you will not be able to do everything, unless you plan to spend 3 days there.

And it still remains a little dangerous with the many buses, scooters and cars circulating.

How many days to visit Kenting?

I recommend that you plan  at least 2 full days  to visit the national park. And even more, if you want to quietly enjoy the beaches.

When is the best time to visit Kenting?

The  best time to visit Kenting  is from March  to May.  It’s warm but not stifling and the water temperature is perfect.

Between June and September , I recommend  that you avoid Kenting and even Taiwan  in general. Quite simply because it’s  typhoon season  and it’s scorching hot!

From October to February , you can also  visit Kenting Park  but it is possible that you will be treated to  rain and especially quite a bit of wind.

The water temperature is not that cold (at the beginning of February people were swimming) but the currents can be very strong and swimming is not recommended. But if you want to discover the places without spending your days at the beach, it can be a good option.

How to get to Kenting?

As I told you,  Kenting is located in the very south of the island , completely opposite to  the capital Taipei,  which is located  in the very north.

So I end this Kenting guide by giving you the  different ways to reach the national park.

From Kaohsiung

From Kaohsiung , it takes  about 1 hour 45 minutes  to drive 110 km to Kenting National Park. Still  departing from Kaohsiung , you can also  take the bus  to go to Kenting.

The  Kenting Express Bus  departs from  Kaohsiung Airport  and  Zuoying High Speed ​​Rail Station . There are buses approximately  every 30 minutes.

It takes about  2 hours to go to Kenting by bus  from Kaohsiung. The bus stops at Hengchun and Kenting Street.

There is no  train between Kaohsiung and Kenting.

From Taipei

To  go to Kenting from Taipei,  you will first need  to take the train to Kaohsiung.

There are  2 types of trains:

• The HSR  (High Speed ​​Train) which allows you to cross a large part of the island  in just 1h30!
• The classic train  (Normal Train) which takes  between 5 and 6:30 hours. 

Once  you arrive in Kaohsiung , you can  follow the instructions  I gave you just above for the bus.

From the east coast of Taiwan (Taroko/Hualien/Taitung)

From Hualien  (towards Taroko Gorge)  and Taitung , you will have to  take the train to Fangliao,  a town located 1 hour south of Kaohsiung.

From Hualien, the train journey takes between 4 to 5 hours, and from Taitung, around 2 hours.

In Fanglio,  you will then have to  take the bus  at the  Fangliao Station Bus Stop  to go to Kenting. It takes  about 1 hour  to reach the national park.

By car, Taitung is a 2-hour drive from Kenting.

Kenting National Park Tourist Map

To help you visualize the places a little better, I have made a   tourist map of Kenting   listing all the places to see and which I mention in this article. You can view the map legend by clicking the button at the top left with a small arrow.

And you, are you planning to visit Kenting during your stay in Taiwan? 

Are you going to Taiwan? Read also:

• 1 Week Taipei Itinerary: Top 25 Things to Do
• Top 23 Things to Do in Taiwan

Jennifer Bringardner

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• Location Name: Pickup from your hotel in Kaohsiung or Pingtung, or Kaohsiung railway stations or airport. Includes lunch, mineral water and insurance. Return Location: Return to your hotel in Kaohsiung or Pingtung, or Kaohsiung railway stations or airport.
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• jst20232023 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unforgettable tour through the heart of Taiwan Our family of 4 had an amazing 12 day tour of the heart of Taiwan arranged by the professional team from Life of Taiwan. Our point contact was responsive before, during, and even after the trip, and planned an amazing itinerary with thoughtful touches based on our family's interests. Our bespoke tour included the Alishan region, Sun Moon Lake, Taroko Gorge, the East Rift Valley, Kenting, and more, with excellent accommodations and restaurants/dining throughout. Of course, the highlight of our trip was a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Luye Highlands during the Taiwan International Balloon Festival. We very much enjoyed our journey with our energetic and fluent English-speaking guide who helped to make sure that the tour fit our family's pace. Our guide was flexible when the weather was not always cooperative, and was a wealth of information about the best local eats and viewpoints. As a bonus he seemed to be an avid photographer and helped us capture fabulous family photographs along the way! We shared many of our escapades via an online album with friends and family back home in the US, and it seems that many of them have since added Taiwan as a destination on their own travel bucket lists! We would definitely recommend the team at Life of Taiwan for anyone (including families!) looking for a well-curated visit to the beautiful "Ilsa Formosa" Read more Written September 7, 2023
• 757zacharyc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Incredible, thoughtful, and action-packed We had an excellent time with Hsi Hua, going through the central mountain ranges of Taiwan. We visited Sun Moon Lake, Lugu, Alishan, and a dozen other stops along the way. I really appreciate how Mark and Maggie created a really in-depth tea tour for us to shoot video and photography. You can tell that their relationships are what drive their business. They have a wide range of close-contacts and I am so thankful that they were able to share with us. We especially appreciate our guide's ability to improvise in the moment and take us to see things as we learn about and express interest in them. He managed to accommodate our many curiosities and still stay on schedule -- not an easy task! I'll definitely work with Life of Taiwan again in the future and will be recommending them to anyone who asks. Read more Written September 6, 2023
• mikebayarea 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing family trip in Taiwan Our family (parents and young adult children) did a two week tour that included Taipei, Hualien, Taroko, sun moon lake, and Tainan. We stayed at some really incredible hotels like the Mandarin Oriental in Taipei, the Lakeshore hotel at the Taroko Gorge National Park, and the Lalu on Sun Moon Lake. We did a wide variety of activities from touring the Kavalan whiskey distillery, hiking to waterfalls, visiting a coffee and tea plantation, eating at a 3-star Michelin restaurant, painting and launching sky lanterns in a small picturesque village. We had a great drive and tour guide (Joe) that orchestrated everything, picking us up at our hotel in the morning, and returning us in the evening, and handling everthing in between. Overall, the trip was excellent and exceeded our expectations. Read more Written August 24, 2023
• rwcf2023 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Beware: racist against foreigners My experience with this travel agency was absolutely appalling. I am an American visiting Taiwan this summer, and I contacted Life of Taiwan for a 4-day trip to Taroko Gorge. During the phone call, I was shocked and deeply offended when I overheard one of their staff members making a racist remark about me in Mandarin, completely unaware that I could understand the language. This incident revealed a disturbing lack of professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and basic respect. It is both disappointing and unacceptable that a company entrusted with creating positive travel experiences could display such shocking behavior. I guess they're more than happy to take your money and trash you behind your back. Read more Written August 23, 2023
• Irene R 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private, Customized Tour with Exceptional Service I loved our Life of Taiwan experience so much that I felt compelled to write my very first Tripadvisor review. I'm usually a DIY traveler, but trying to coordinate logistics from the U.S. with limited Chinese language skills for a 7-day/6-night trip around Taiwan for a multi-generational group of 8 people (ages ranging from 15 to 80) proved overwhelming. I was using Nick Kembel's super helpful online Taiwan Travel Guide, and he recommended Life of Taiwan for private, customized tours. I admit, being used to DIY travel, the cost at first gave me sticker shock; but now that we've completed our tour, I can say with 100% confidence that the price was 100% worth it. My initial inquiry email was answered by Mark (the company's founder). I had 1 phone call with Mark early in the process to get a lot of questions answered (since this was my first time using a tour company like this), otherwise all the planning was done via email with Mark and Maggie (a tour designer). They were both incredibly professional, courteous, responsive, and attentive. I described my ideal tour (essentially Life of Taiwan's "9-Day Classic Tour" with customizations and without Taipei, which we explored on our own), and they quoted me a per-person-per-day price range. I chose a value on the lower end of the range, and they provided me with a detailed, personalized itinerary complete with site descriptions and photos. The itinerary was made available online as a web page, so it was easy to share with the rest of my group. I acted as the point person, collecting feedback from others and then going back and forth with Mark and Maggie until the itinerary was exactly what we wanted. Having everything planned in advance by Life of Taiwan truly allowed me to sit back and enjoy the trip stress-free!! So what did we get for the price of our tour? Our tour included a very spacious and comfortable mini tour bus with a professional driver (whom we called A-Long) who was clearly skilled in driving both Taiwan's busy city streets and narrow, winding mountain roads. The tour bus was stocked with water bottles, umbrellas, even emesis bags for the zigzagging mountain roads. (These came in handy for one of our teenagers, who quickly acclimated after temporary initial discomfort.) We had excellent hotel accommodations, and the price included all entry tickets needed along the way. It also included 1-3 meals per day, averaging 2 meals a day. All food arranged by Life of Taiwan - including both restaurant meals and some snack/tea experiences - were wonderful. Per the Terms & Conditions listed on their website, the full cost of the tour was due 30 days in advance of the tour's start date. Of course, the cost also included our amazing guide Joe, who was friendly and knowledgeable. He expertly ensured that our tour went smoothly, even when we unexpectedly veered off-schedule. More than once, when we were unable to see a particular site on the scheduled day (due to poor weather or lack of time), because we had 2 days at each location, Joe was able to incorporate the missed site into the next day's schedule. (One place we made 2 attempts to see, but were foiled by heavy rain one day, and traffic control the next; though we ended up missing the site, I really appreciated the effort.) When a restaurant was unexpectedly closed, Joe made a seamless on-the-spot transition to another location which met our needs just fine. Other days, when we had extra time in our schedule, Joe gauged our interest in a couple nearby options, allowing us to choose a destination not listed on our itinerary, or to have some rest time before the next scheduled event; even after just a couple days, he had a good understanding of our group's tastes and desires. Joe was especially attentive to bathroom breaks, and we never drove more than 1.5 hours in one stretch. Finally, as a photo fiend, I especially appreciated that Joe took fantastic group pictures for us, always making the suggestion at the best vantage points and taking beautifully framed photos. I should mention, too, that our visit to Tainan included a "walking tour and food adventure" with a local guide who was just as friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled as Joe. Our group had 2 members with food allergies, both allergic to tree nuts and one additionally allergic to sesame. As you can imagine, managing a sesame allergy in Taiwan was difficult, made even trickier because apparently the use of "xiang you" - literally, "fragrant oil" - is very common, but many people don't know it's made from sesame! Joe helped relieve us of the heavy burden of allergy management by clearly communicating with restaurant staff to ensure safe meals for all our tour members. The level of service provided was truly remarkable. In one case, a few hours after we checked out of a hotel, the hotel contacted Joe about an item left behind; the item's owner hadn't even realized it was missing yet. Joe arranged for the item to be returned by having the hotel deliver it to the final hotel on our tour! The last day of our tour actually involved 3 members leaving earlier than the rest to catch a flight out of TPE; Maggie's planning and Joe's execution meant that these 3 people were able to make the most of their last day sightseeing while still getting to the high-speed rail station on time and having an effortless transfer via driver to the airport - the HSR tickets & transfer were included in the cost, and everything went off without a hitch! Having Life of Taiwan plan our tour as a road trip, with stops along the way, also allowed us to see much more of Taiwan than we would have seen if we had planned it on our own, using trains between cities. Even if we drove ourselves, we never would have attempted the Central Cross-Island Highway on our own, with its challenging roads and traffic control schedule, yet our hike up Hehuanshan, located en route, turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. So what was not included? As described in the Terms and Conditions, the cost does not include driver or guide tips, so that needed to be budgeted separately. Also, we paid for our own lunch and/or dinner some days; Joe always made time for meals and suggested local places to eat with typical Taiwan prices. I absolutely recommend Life of Taiwan to anyone looking to experience a tour of multiple destinations around the island. Even if you're usually a DIY traveler, if you have the means, it's definitely worth considering a private, customized tour with LIfe of Taiwan. Read more Written July 29, 2023
• FamilyVacationer123 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Private Tour of Taiwan Maggie and the staff at Life of Taiwan did an excellent job creating a 10 day private tour for our family. Maggie listened carefully to all my thoughts on where we wanted to go and things we liked to do and came up with a suggested itinerary. She was quick to respond to any changes or additions I wanted to make, and really worked with us to come up with a great trip. Our son is adopted from Taiwan, and part of the trip was a visit to his orphanage and his birth mother, and Maggie was great at organizing both - even though they are definitely not activities that are part of any normal tour package. She also has some wonderful and unique contacts, such as the night she arranged for us to spend in a Zuo village with a couple who run an NGO working with the Zuo. We spent the night in a private home, ate dinner and breakfast with the couple in small local restaurants run by the villagers - a fantastic night. For us, the best part of the trip was our incredible guide, Stephen. He really got to know us over the course of many days spent together, quickly changing up plans and itineraries if he felt like something on the schedule wasn't going to work. Parking a van in most Taiwanese cities can be very challenging, so Stephen was always dropping us where we wanted to be while he went to park the van, and then making sure we had a comfortable place to wait in the shade while he picked it up. He looked after us every step of the way. Most important of all, Stephen was willing and able to serve as our translator when we met our son's birth mother, and helped us communicate with her though some very personal and difficult questions and conversations. From the time we landed to the time we left, there was very little we had to worry about - other than where to eat the occasional dinner on a night where that wasn't covered by the tour, but our hotels were always in spots teeming with great places to eat. Maggie and Stephen made sure we were well looked after the whole time, and we saw a lot of incredible sights, and got to many parts of the country that would have been incredibly hard to reach on our own. Thank you for an amazing experience!! I highly recommend Life of Taiwan to anyone visiting this wonderful, diverse, and beautiful island! Read more Written July 16, 2023

1-Day Kenting National Park Private Tour in Taiwan provided by Life of Taiwan

Asia , Beach Guides , Taiwan · May 14, 2022

15 Unmissable Things to do in Kenting, Taiwan

Beyond the neon lights, scooter waterfalls and bustling city life is Taiwan’s little slice of paradise ~ Kenting (墾丁). Situated at the southern tip of Taiwan in Pingtung County, Kenting is the island’s premier beach destination and a huge must on any Taiwan itinerary.

With white sandy beaches, turquoise water, lush tropical forests, stretched-out seaside cliffs and a bustling night market, Kenting has a lot going for it! While most visitors only visit Kenting on a quick weekend getaway, you should definitely stay longer if you can. Why? Because Kenting is stunning and there are loads to do!

In this guide, I’ll share the very best things to do in Kenting, plus all my insider’s tips to make your Kenting trip all the easier .

Ready to find out what to do in Kenting? Let’s dive right into the very best things to do in Kenting!

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Table of Contents

15 Absolute Best Things to do in Kenting

Hit the beaches.

Kenting is home to some of the  most beautiful beaches in Taiwan . And as a result, it’s a paradise for beachgoers and sun seekers with dreamy white beaches, palm trees, and warm tropical water. 

There are several fantastic beaches in Kenting, with  Nanwan  (South Beach) and  Little Bay  (opposite the Caesar Park Hotel) among the most popular. Other popular swimming spots include Kenting Beach (along Dawan Road), Sail Rock (in Chuanfanshi) and my ultimate fave Baisha (White Sand Beach).

Since Kenting’s beaches are quite spread out, you’ll definitely need wheels to access places like  Nanwan ,  Baisha , and  Sail Rock . But if you’re just sticking to the main tourist area, you can easily walk to  Kenting Beach  and  Little Bay . 

Apart from just chilling on the beach or taking a dip in the warm waters of the Luzon Strait, most of the beaches also offer a wide variety of water sports activities – think jet ski rides, banana boat rides, SUP, and snorkeling. 

Kenting is also a popular  diving  spot, so don’t forget to bring your favorite  dive camera  along to capture the diverse marine life here! If surfing is your thing,  Jialeshui  (roughly 20km east of Kenting) is one of Taiwan’s best surf spots.

Check Out the Eluanbi Lighthouse

Eluanbi Lighthouse , also known as “The Light of East Asia,” is one of the top 8 landmarks in Taiwan. Interestingly enough, it is also one of the few manned lighthouses in the world.

To this day, the tower is armed, and a trench surrounds it. You might even spot a few gun holes in the walls if you stroll around a bit. There’s also a great little museum filled with memorabilia and old photographs where you can learn more about the lighthouse’s history.

The lighthouse is also home to beautiful gardens and sweeping ocean views. So if you fancy a picnic, this is the perfect spot!

Entrance fee: NTD 60 per adult

Parking fee: NTD 10

See Chuanfan Rock

Chuanfanshi is one of our favorite areas to stop by in Kenting. The main road, Chuanfan Road , is lined with some pretty peculiar and colorful accommodation options. If you are a shutterbug, you can easily get lost in the weird color combinations and diverse themes here – from Greek to Industrial to even a very bizarre rock-shaped house.

Apart from the colorful architecture, Chuanfanshi is home to one of Taiwan’s most iconic landmarks – Chuanfan Rock, also known as Sail Rock. The limestone rock resembles a sailboat setting sail and has been shaped by years of erosion.

Chuanfanshi is a great place to watch the waves come and go, wander along the promenade, or bake in the sun at Sail Rock Beach . The beach is relatively small, but it’s a nice swimming spot, and there are some great water sports activities on offer if you’re into that kind of thing. The best part? It’s not nearly as crowded as Nanwan.

See the Southernmost Point of Taiwan

Just a stone’s throw from the Eluanbi Lighthouse is the Southernmost point of Taiwan . The footpath is 1500m long, and it only takes about 20 minutes to reach the end. There’s a neat little structure signifying the point and some incredible ocean views.

Admire the Views at Maobitou

Maobitou , best known for its “crouching cat” rock formation, lies on the southeast corner of the Hengchun Peninsula. It offers magnificent ocean views and unique natural landforms such as seashore coral reefs, caves, and ditches.

The panoramic views are best enjoyed in the early morning before the crowds gather and at sunset.

Entrance: NTD 30 per adult

Wander Around the Harbor

Although Houbihu Harbor isn’t huge, it’s a great place to stroll around, snap pics of the fishing boats or watch the boats come and go.

Like most harbors in Taiwan, the Kenting Harbor sells freshly caught fish every morning. There is also a fantastic seafood restaurant in front of the market’s entrance. Diving, snorkeling, and boat ride packages can be purchased here too. And if you want to take a quick dip, there’s a nice little white shell sand beach nearby,

Eat Your Way Th r ough the Kenting Night Market

Kenting Night Market is one of the most famous night markets in Taiwan and a huge must-visit place! 

The night market offers all the usual local snacks you’ll find at any other market across the island (stinky tofu, fresh fruit, sausages, bubble tea, banana pancakes, etc.), but the food tastes so much better here! Plus, it has a fantastic selection of fresh and tasty seafood – oysters, giant squid, clams, tiger prawns, sea urchins, and all kinds of fish; you name it!

There are lots to try here, but some must-eat street food include the Korean spicy pork seaweed rolls and the barbecued oysters. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the  croffles – absolute heaven! 

The market is huge and lines both sides of Kenting Street. Most vendors start to open up around 5 pm, and it gets crazy busy from 7 pm onwards. Come hungry, wear comfortable walking shoes, and get ready to join the scrum!

Grab Drinks at the Funky Truck Bars

Another unique attraction in Kenting is its quirky roadside truck bars. 

Truck bars in Kenting are quite a big deal, and each one is unique with its own colorful decorations, funky playlist, and an array of boozy drinks.

You’ll find the best ones near the Ceasar Park Hotel , opposite Xiaowan Beach . Definitely check out the super laid-back  Alex Reggae Bar . The cocktails are amazing, and there’s ample seating scattered around the truck where you can sit back and enjoy a boozy cocktail while listening to Bob Marley. 

Take in the Views at Longpan Park

Roughly five minutes drive from the Eluanbi Lighthouse, you’ll find one of the best examples of Taiwan’s rugged coastline – Longpan Park .

The sprawling roadside area offers sweeping views over the Pacific Ocean, towering cliffs, and grassy hills of Kenting National Park. It’s quite popular among photographers, sunrise chasers, and stargazers, making it a must-visit attraction in Kenting.

The local authorities have recently made some good changes here, so the trail is much safer now than it used to be. The first section is now fitted with a wooden walkway, and the viewing area has been leveled out. Just a heads up – it’s quite windy here, so don’t go too close to the edge and keep an eye out for the signs which mark the most dangerous areas.

Visit the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium 

Another great place to go in Kenting is the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA) . 

Located in the   northwestern corners of Kenting National Park in Checheng Township, NMMBA covers more than 60 hectares making it the largest aquarium in Taiwan. 

What really makes NMMBA such a hot spot is that it houses a diverse range of aquatic life, both large and small. A 16-m whale shark, dolphins, sailfish, belugas, and penguins are just a few of the incredible marine animals you can see up close here. Other highlights include the Coral Kingdom Pavilion, housing an 84-meter underwater tunnel filled with colorful coral, and the Giant Kelp Tank.

With multiple displays, educational activities, and even sleepover tours for those that really want to get acquainted with the underwater world, it’s a great place to take the whole family. However, since the aquarium is a popular tourist attraction in Kenting, it’s best to grab your tickets online to avoid disappointment. Entrance to the aquarium is NTD 450 per adult.

Kenting aquarium is roughly 30 minutes drive from Kenting Town and is also easily accessed by bus. Bus 101 (Kenting Orange Line) departs every hour from Kenting and takes about 45 minutes. 

Relax at Baisha Beach

As already mentioned, Kenting has a whole host of incredible beaches. But there’s one beach, in particular, that stands out from the rest – Baisha .

Baisha is on the peninsula’s western side, away from all the crowds. The famous “Life of Pi” beach features a stunning 500m long strip of soft sand mostly formed by shells and dreamy turquoise water. 

There are hardly any waves here, so it’s the kind of place where you can float on the water or swim for hours. If you’re looking for something a bit more thrilling, enjoy a jet ski or banana boat ride. The drivers really go wild, so get ready for some fun! 

You can rent umbrellas and chairs for NTD 300 a day. And at the northern end of the bay, there’s a cute little bar where you can get everything from freshly cracked coconuts and ice cream to boozy cocktails and ice cold beers.  

Watch the Sunset at Guanshan Cafe

Just a short drive from Maobitou is the top sunset viewing spot in Kenting, Guanshan.

Here you’ll find a lovely little outdoor cafe (see  Google Maps ) with breezy decks overlooking the ocean where you can sit back and watch the sun dwindle under the horizon. You’ll need to buy a ticket (NTD 100) to enter, but you can use it for any snacks or drinks on the menu. They don’t serve alcohol here but have all the usual drinks and a small selection of light snacks. 

It gets crowded, so make sure you get there at least an hour before sunset to grab a seat. And bring bug spray! 

Stop by Shell Beach

Shell Beach or Shadoa is a beautiful 220-m long white shell sand beach that you simply have to visit. 

The beach is an ecological reserve, which sadly means visitors can’t access its sandy shores. But you can walk along the viewing deck and even down to the rocky shore to admire it a bit closer. What really makes this beach so unique is that 97.7% of the sand here is formed from seashells and coral debris. 

Make sure to also pop into the exhibition center to view the shell sand up close and learn a little more about the ecology of Kenting’s gorgeous beaches. 

Eat Ice Cream at Day by Day

Nothing beats delicious ice cream on a hot summer’s day in Taiwan . And if you happen to be exploring Route 26, you should definitely pop by Day by Day (see  Google Maps ). 

Day by Day is located just past Shell Beach, on the same grounds as the cool Ocean Day by Day Hotel. The cute vintage ice cream truck serves lip-smacking delicious ice cream and drinks, and there’s an outdoor area with lots of room to enjoy your treats as you gaze over the ocean.

The ice cream truck is open from 12 pm to 5 pm. You have to buy an entry ticket (NTD 90), but it can be used to purchase goodies at the truck. Try the Gang Kou Milk Tea Ice Cream and the Sparkling Mango Ice Cream Float – both are delish! 

Have Sundowners at YagouBlue Rooftop 

If you continue along Route 26 towards Jialeshui, make a pit stop at Xinghai Fishing Harbor. It’s a nice spot to watch the fishing boats come and go, but there’s also an amazing little rooftop cafe here, YagouBlue Rooftop (see  Google Maps ). 

The cafe overlooks the harbor, and it’s a great place to have a coffee and some dessert while watching the sunset. This Kenting hidden gem is quite small, so it can be hard to get a seat. Therefore if you want to go, it’s best to phone ahead (08-8801198) to check if they have any seats available. Reservations aren’t allowed. 

The cafe is only open from 3:30 pm to 6 pm, weather permitting. 

How To Get to Kenting

Kenting is easy to reach with Taiwan’s excellent public transport system. Like elsewhere in Taiwan, buses and trains are frequent and reliable modes of transport. However, the only way to get to Kenting from Taipei or other parts along Taiwan’s western coast is to use a combination of transport modes.

First you’ll need to get to Kaohsiung . And the easiest way to do that is to take the HSR to Zouying Station (the very last stop on the high-speed rail). Once you get to the high-speed rail station, getting to Kenting from Kaohsiung is pretty straightforward. There are several ways to travel, but the easiest one is to take the Kenting Express Bus . The ticket office is located at Exit 2 of the HSR station.

Kenting Shuttle Bus return tickets cost NTD 600 and are open-ended, meaning you can use the return ticket anytime. The bus drivers do not speak much English, but there are random announcements in English. So, be sure to listen carefully. You could also check with your accommodation (before arriving) which stop to get off at.

Tip: If you only want to buy a one-way bus ticket, I highly recommend using an Easy card as it works out a lot cheaper.

How To Get Around Kenting

Getting around Kenting village is extremely easy, as most of the shops, restaurants, and even the beach (Little Bay) is a short stroll from  Kenting Street . 

However, the majority of the main attractions in Kenting, such as Maobitao, Longpan Park, and Chuanfanshi will require transport.

If you haven’t rented a car, the easiest way to get around Kenting is by scooter. There are tons of scooter shops scattered around town where you can rent a motorcycle for TWD 450-550 a day. I highly recommend Feng-Xiang Motorcycle Rental (see Google Maps ). The owner speaks excellent English and is super friendly and helpful.

You will need a valid local license or an international driver’s license for a scooter to rent a scooter in Kenting (and everywhere else in Taiwan). If that is not an option for you, you may still be able to rent an electric bike (at some shops).

Alternatively, the local bus runs along the main road, which will get you to Chuanfanshi and Nanwan Beach but not to places like Maobitou. Grab a 1 or 2 day pass here . To see places a bit further afield, joining a tour will be your best bet.

Where to Stay

Kenting has no shortage of great accommodation options , from cheap hostels to boutique hotels to luxury beachfront resorts.  I’ve written an entire guide on exactly where to stay in Kenting , but if you’re in a rush here are a few pointers.

Most people stay in the heart of Kenting, near Kenting Street . And, if it’s your first visit to Kenting, it’s best to do the same. That way, you’ll be right in the center of town, with lots of shops and eateries around you.

It is, however, imperative to know that Kenting is a popular holiday destination for locals and tourists alike. And as a result, it is often crowded , especially on weekends and special holidays.

If crowds aren’t for you, rather stay along Dawan Road . Other great areas with minimal crowds include Chuanfanshi and Nanwan , but it’s best to have transport when staying there.

Recommended Hotels near Kenting Street:

• Budget: Hido Hotel
• Mid-range: Kenting Sea Wall 112 or Howard Beach Resort
• Lux: Caesar Park Hotel or Chateau Beach Resort

Recommended Chuanfanshi Hotels :

• Budget: Jin Yan Hostel
• Mid-Range:  Chuanfan Haku Beach Days Inn
• Lux:   866 Oceanic View Villa

Where to Eat in Kenting

Besides the night market, there are a couple of other nice places to eat in Kenting. Here are some of my favorites.

• Amy’s Cucina  on Kenting Street makes some of the best pizza in Taiwan. Seriously. If pizza is not your thing, try the lasagne. 
• Bossa Nova Beach Cafe  in Nanwan   has a great selection of western and Asian cuisine. The food is reasonably priced, and the outdoor seating is amazing. Try the Caesar Nova salad!
• Lumi Cafe  is a cozy little cafe that serves vegan cakes and other sweet treats.
• Under Star Lab  is a lovely modern bistro with a tantalizing menu. Great for brunch!
• Magic Kitchen ( 魔法廚房複合式早餐) makes simple yet  oh-so-delicious  Taiwanese-style breakfast burgers, sandwiches, and  dan bing .
• Haku Cafe on Chuanfan Road is a cozy Instagrammable cafe overlooking the ocean. Don’t miss their croffles!
• Wild Kid Bar at Nanwan is an awesome spot to enjoy a boozy cocktail or an ice cold beer while watching the waves come and go.
• Alex Reggae Bar makes the most amazing barbecued chicken wings and pork ribs. You’ll need to wait a bit for your order, but it’s totally worth it!
• Pizza Swell is basically a food truck, but they make delicious pizzas. There are a few tables and chairs set up next to the truck, but for an awesome experience, walk down to Little Bay and enjoy your pizza on the beach!

Other Things To Do Near Kenting

If you have a few extra days to spare on your Kenting itinerary or want to see a bit more of Southern Taiwan, here are some places worth checking out near Kenting:

• Hengchun  is the closest town to Kenting. It’s famous for its Old Street and Ancient City Gate.
• Cikong Waterfall:  A secret cascading waterfall where you can actually swim! You’ll need to hike to get to the waterfall, but the effort will be worth it!
• Jialeshui  is a laidback surfer’s town where you can take surfing lessons, chill at the beach, or kayak along the Gangkou River. 
• Orchid Island/ Green Island:   Most people don’t know this, but you can actually take a ferry from Houbihu Harbor to Orchid Island and Green Island.  See details or book tickets here.  
• Kaohsiung:  Taiwan’s third largest city is the place to go if you’re into street art, cool cafes, riverside walks, and temple hopping. Check out my list of best things to do in Kaohsiung , this  2-day Kaohsiung itinerary , or this  Kaohsiung sightseeing ideas guide.
• Tainan:  Taiwan’s ancient capital city is a hub for foodies and culture seekers, with more than 1000 temples to explore! Find out what to do in Tainan here. 
• Xiaoliuqiu:  A tiny coral island where you can swim with sea turtles, lounge on dreamy beaches, go freediving or snorkeling, and explore some pretty impressive caves. Read my super detailed  Xiaoliuqiu guide  for more tips. 

What To Do in Kenting in Conclusion

Kenting is one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan, with so much to see and do! Whether you want to relax at the gorgeous beaches, see all the tourist spots, or try the snacks at the night market, a visit to Kenting will not disappoint.

Well, that wraps up this guide on what to do in Kenting! If you think I’ve missed any must-do things or popular Kenting attractions, let me know in the comments so that I can check them out on my next visit!

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June 7, 2017 at

I was born in Taiwan, but I immigrated to Canada when I was little. So still have not had a chance to visit Kenting, just yet. Your photos are super gorgeous though and that seafood looks so mouth-watering. I’m currently drooling in front of my laptop! Hahahaha.

Haha, thanks Jas! Hope you get a chance to come one day! 😊

June 8, 2017 at

I’ve been thinking of going to Taiwan. I had no idea the beaches were so beautiful. Makes me want to go!

June 1, 2023 at

Kenting has been on my bucket list for sme time already. But Taiwan applied some severe corona rules. What is the situation today. I am travelling through Hong Kong. Do I still need PCR test, or any special document to enter the country ?

June 5, 2023 at

Hey Patrick, Taiwan has scrapped most of its Covid rules, so no, you do not need a PCR test anymore to enter the country.

Excellent pics, well captured and equally well narrated….

Wow, this is great info. I’ve seen good airfare to Taiwan and thought about going, but I have been intimidated. With your post here and in the rest of your Taiwan section, I feel like I have all the info I need to have an amazing journey as you did. Amazing pics too.

July 24, 2017 at

Thanks Tara, Taiwan is totally worth checking out! It is also becoming a hot spot for solo travel; it’s easy to get around and super safe. Hope you get a chance to make it out here, one day!

Taiwan is a place I have always wanted to go! Really good tips – saving this post! 🙂

June 9, 2017 at

I don’t know about that seafood but that reggae bar seems up my alley. Never realized how beautiful Taiwan was. Would love to make a trip there with my husband for sure.

June 16, 2017 at

Haha! The seafood is great here! You should give it a try! 😉 Thanks for stopping by, Kellyn.

Fabulous guide! Makes me want to visit Tawain!

June 10, 2017 at

This is very interesting. I would normally see people post pictures of the city. It is nice to discover Taiwan’s wonderful coast as well.

I’ve never been to Taiwan but I’ve always wanted to go! The beaches look stunning and your photos are beautiful 🙂

Thanks! Hope you get a chance to make it out here, one day!

June 12, 2017 at

Really cool place with a lot of IG worthy spots. The Night market is another great attraction, but won’t beat Thailand on that I guess.

Thanks Gokul. Taiwan is famous for it’s night markets. They are a bit different than the ones in Thailand, but totally worth a visit!

Absolutely stunning! So picturesque! I’d take tons of pictures at Chuanfan rock! Street food looks sumptuous as well!

June 15, 2017 at

This post literally comes as a breath of fresh air. Do not see many posts about Taiwan, especially ones on the seaside places. Kenting looks enchanting. I cannot have enough of the sea, your pictures have captured the beauty of the sea to stunning effect. The lighthouse is another thing that absolutely fascinates me, always love them, they have such a romantic aura around them.

Thank you Sandy. You are so right – most posts focus on Taipei (which is an awesome city btw). But, if you go beyond the hustle and bustle of city life, you will discover some pretty neat little places.

Kenting is very beautiful. Although haven’t been here, but I aspire to. That lighthouse seems to be so beautiful. I will love to climb up there and get a view of the beautiful sea from there. I visited a similar one in Mahabalipuram, India this year and totally loved it.

June 17, 2017 at

Vitamin Sea is a must when you have water like that. I have always enjoyed lighthouses. There is just something about them that I always enjoy. Markets are always fun to peruse and people watch. Having fresh seafood is always great as well! Truck Bars is a very interesting concept. Can they set up anywhere?

Most of the truck bars are located on a small stretch between the main market and the Howard Plaza Hotel. They can basically set up anywhere along the main night market street, but the ‘rent’ will depend on the location.

The way you have captured your photos is lovely 🙂 The beaches look wonderful, I would love to visit Taiwan at some point!

Taiwan is so close to my country (Philippines) but I have never been there yet. The beach is stunning and those rocks are just magnificent.

Thanks Ricci! You should totally check it out! Especially with flights being so cheap between the Philippines and Taiwan – you could easily pop over for a long weekend. Hope you get a chance to make it out here, one day!

June 19, 2017 at

That water looks so inviting! I would love to dip into it right now and enjoy the beach life. Thank you for adding the map on your post, it always helps in understanding where the place is located. Very nice post!

Kenting seems to have many attractions to offer visitors. Of course, the Vitamin Sea is a must especially with those beaches and blue waters. I cannot get enough of the beach. The lighthouse is an interesting attraction as well that I would love to see. Great post. I have not read about Kenting prior to this and loved reading about it.

Thanks Riely! I’m a total beach bum too – I could lie on the beach for days, swim, snorkel and scuba…now, that’s utter bliss!

August 24, 2017 at

Kenting seems so charming! I’d love to visit and enter the Eluanbi Lighthouse. Any tips on how to avoid crowds?

August 29, 2017 at

Most sights in Kenting are pretty crowded throughout the year, no matter the season. But as a rule try going early in the morning or after 3pm in the afternoon to avoid the tour groups. 🙂

December 28, 2022 at

very informative and your pictures are beautifully taken. I went to a few of the places that you mentioned above, before reading your article and now it added more meaning to where I had been. Excellent job!

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Travels with Erica

A Solo Traveller's Guide to the World

How to Travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park

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Let’s talk about how to travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park. It is easier than you might think, so there is no excuse not to visit Kenting National Park!

Kenting National Park is one of the most popular day trips from Kaohsiung (although you could easily spend two to three days in Kenting). It is one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan and shouldn’t be missed!

One of the most frustrating parts of planning a day trip (at least for me) is figuring how to travel from one city to another. And that’s where this post comes in!

You’ll learn the easiest way to travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park.

Your day trip to Kenting National Park will be stress free after reading this post, and you can enjoy the beauty of Kenting without stressing about how to get there.

There are three ways to travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park. They all require taking the bus, and it is just a matter of whether you catch the bus at Kaohsiung Station or Zuoying Station (the high-speed rail station), or the airport. The express bus leaves from Xin Zuoying Station and is the most popular way to travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park.

PS: If you’re looking to take multiple day trips from Kaohsiung, you might want to check out my posts about Fo Guang Shan Monastery (one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been) and Cijin Island (a must for anybody visiting Kaohsiung).

Table of Contents

Before We Get Started

I hate figuring out how to travel from one place to another, but I love writing transportation guides for you!

I would love to have an all-in-one resource that goes over how to travel from one place to another, and that’s why I write them. Hopefully they make your travel experience better.

If you’re traveling throughout Taiwan, here are the transportation guides I’ve written to date to help you navigate Taiwan public transportation:

• How to Travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung
• How to Travel from Taipei to Hualien
• How to Travel from Taipei to Tainan
• How to Travel from Taipei to Taichung
• How to Travel from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei
• How to Travel from Kaohsiung to Hualien

Option One: Taking the Bus from Zuoying HSR Station

This is the best and most popular way to get from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park.

You can take the express bus, which is spacious and comfortable, and that is the reason it is such a popular choice for tourists and locals.

The bus ride from Zuoying Station to Kenting National Park takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic. It will take longer during rush hour and on weekends than it will during off-peak times on a weekday.

It isn’t uncommon for the buses to be delayed by 20-30 minutes so keep that in mind and budget your time accordingly.

How Much Does the Bus from Zuoying Station to Kenting Cost?

A one-way ticket costs on average 371 NT (or approximately $12.50 USD) .

Compared to other bus tickets in Taiwan, it is pretty expensive to take the express bus from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park, but it is so worth it! I’m guessing the bus is a little more expensive because it is taking you to a national park and one of the most beautiful places in all of Taiwan.

You can save a little bit of money by purchasing a return ticket. A return ticket costs 650 NT (or approximately $22 USD) .

Where to Purchase a Bus Ticket

You purchase your ticket at Zuoying HSR Station at a ticket booth.

Take Exit 2 towards the bus stop, and you’ll walk right into the ticket booth.

The bus from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park is one of the rare instances where you’re not able to use your transportation card and have to purchase an actual ticket from a ticket booth.

Your EasyCard will not work on this bus!

You have to purchase your ticket before you get on the bus, so you’ll want to leave enough time in your schedule to wait in line, buy a ticket, and get on the bus.

I suggest allotting 15 minutes to purchase a ticket. You probably won’t need that much time, but it is better to have extra time than be rushed and stressed about not catching the bus you want.

How Often Does the Express Bus to Kenting National Park Leave?

The express bus to Kenting National Park runs every 15 to 30 minutes from 8:30am to 7pm .

This means you can basically show up to the bus station whenever you want and not have to wait too long to catch a bus!

It is the perfect bus schedule for people who are laid back and want to go with the flow rather than plan exactly when they need to get on the bus because it only leaves every 90 minutes.

I recommend you try to get on an early morning bus. You’ll have more luck at avoiding traffic congestion, and you’ll have more time to spend at Kenting National Park if you’re only doing a day trip.

What About Getting Back to Kaohsiung from Kenting?

The express bus leaves Kenting National Park for Kaohsiung every 15 to 30 minutes from 8am to 7pm.

You do need to pre-buy your ticket before you get on the bus, which is the main reason you should purchase a return ticket rather than a one-way ticket.

Option Two: Taking the Bus from Kaohsiung Station

This is the second most popular way to travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park.

The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours, so there is no difference between the time it takes to get from Kaohsiung to Kenting whether you depart from Zuoying HSR Station or Kaohsiung Station.

You need to get on either bus 9117 or 9188 . Both take you to Kenting National Park. The difference is in where they drop you off. 9188 drops you further south, so if you want to explore the southern part of Kenting, this is the bus for you!

How Much Does the Bus from Kaohsiung Station to Kenting Cost?

The bus from Kaohsiung Station to Kenting National Park costs:

• 352 NT (approximately $12 USD) if you take bus 9117
• 362 NT (approximately $12 USD) if you take bus 9188

Unlike the express bus, you are not able to purchase a return ticket. You can only purchase a one-way ticket from Kaohsiung Station to Kenting.

It isn’t that much of an inconvenience, but it is something to keep in mind when you’re planning your trip and budgeting.

You can either purchase your ticket in cash on the bus or purchase it at the bus station before you get on the bus.

Both payment methods work well, and it comes down to your personal preference more than anything else.

If you only have larger bills and need to get change made, I suggest purchasing your ticket at the station rather than on the bus, so your bus driver doesn’t have to make a lot of change.

A Note About Where to Catch the Bus:

Both the 9177 and 9188 depart from Zhongshan Bus Station at Kaohsiung Station.

The bus station is located one block south of Kaohsiung Station on Jiangguo 2nd Road.

You won’t have any trouble finding the bus station. There are signs in Kaohsiung Station to point you in the right direction, and there will be a crowd of people heading towards the bus station.

Plus it is only one block away from Kaohsiung Station, so you should be able to see the buses as soon as you start walking towards the bus station.

If you’ve walked more than a block, you know you’ve gone the wrong way! But you shouldn’t have any issue finding the bus station.

How Often Does the Bus to Kenting National Park Leave?

The buses departing from Kaohsiung Station are less frequent than the express bus that departs from the HSR station.

There are currently 35 buses a day to Kenting National Park that depart from Kaohsiung Station.

The up side to the buses departing from Kaohsiung Station is that their hours of operation are much longer than the express bus.

The first bus departs at 4:15 am (yes, you read that right!), and the last bus departs at 10:30 pm.

This is perfect for the extra early birds (like me) who want to have as much time as possible at Kenting National Park and have no problem getting out of bed long before the sun is up.

A Note About Bus Time:

You can try to find an English version of the bus timetable online, but my recommendation is to use Google Maps.

Google Maps works really well in Taiwan, and you can easily and accurately find when the next bus departs and even plan your trip days in advance by changing your departure time in the app.

I rely heavily on Google Maps when I’m in Taiwan, and I love it. It makes traveling through Taiwan so easy, and it is nice to not to have to do any Googling to try to find bus timetables (that may or may not be up-to-date and accurate).

Option Three: Taking the Bus from Kaohsiung Airport

The final bus option (and the least popular) is to take a bus from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting National Park.

It takes two hours to travel from the airport to Kenting, so all three buses take about the same amount of travel time.

I don’t know whether or not there is a place to store your luggage on the bus, but if there isn’t, you can rent a locker at the airport if you’re coming back to Kaohsiung that evening.

How Much Does the Bus from Kaohsiung Airport Cost?

This bus is unique because the price you pay depends on how you pay.

• Cash: 367 NT (approximately $12 USD)
• Credit Card: 418 NT (approximately $14 USD)

It is nice to have the option to pay by credit card- especially if you’re running out of NTD cash. It is a little bit more money, but it is still cheaper than paying an ATM transaction fee to get some cash.

You can’t purchase a return ticket on this bus either, so a one-way ticket is the only option for you.

You have to purchase your ticket before you get on the bus to Kenting.

The ticket counter to purchase a ticket is located near the arrivals lobby near Exit 5.

The ticket counter is inside the terminal so don’t go outside looking for it!

The ticket counter is really easy to find, and you should be able to spot it at Exit 5. If you’re having trouble finding the ticket booth, you can always ask one of the airport employees roaming around or at the help desk.

But you shouldn’t need to because the ticket booth is so easy to find!

There are only eight buses a day from the Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting National Park.

They depart at:

If one of those time slots doesn’t match your schedule, you’ll have to head into Kaohsiung and catch a bus from either the HSR station or Kaohsiung Station.

Other Ways to Travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park

There are, of course, a few other ways you can travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park.

I’m not going to go to talk about them in this post because they aren’t all that common and/or cost a lot more money than I think they are worth.

• Renting a car/scooter and driving yourself
• Renting a taxi to drive you
• Going on a private tour

I hope this post illustrates how easy it is to travel from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park!

You now have no excuse not to visit Kenting and take in all its beauty!

I personally recommend taking the express bus from Zuoying HSR Station. I think it is the most convenient because it leaves on a regular schedule, is very comfortable, and you’re able to purchase a return ticket.

No matter what bus you choose to take, your trip from Kaohsiung to Kenting National Park will be stress free. You just need to get on the bus and get off once you get to Kenting National Park.

It doesn’t get any easier than that!

One final tip before I leave you to your Taiwan adventure:

The buses will be cold !

Taiwanese people enjoy having very cold and air conditioned buses and trains. I’m always freezing whenever I’m on a Taiwan public transportation even though it is hot and humid outside.

You might want to bring a scarf or something light to put over your arms to keep you a bit warmer. Otherwise your bus ride from Kaohsiung to Kenting might not be as enjoyable as it could be.

Related Posts

• How to Travel from Taipei to Tainan (Super Easy!)
• How to Get from Taipei to Kaohsiung
• 10 Practical Taiwan Travel Tips