Orchid Island

Lanyu, or Orchid Island, is situated off the southeastern coast of Taiwan and, like Green Island, its neighbor to the north, was raised from the sea floor by the accumulation of volcanic lava. It has a moist and rainy climate, and its mountain areas (which occupy most of the island) are covered with dense rain forests that are filled with a great variety of plant and animal life. Coral reefs decorate the surrounding seas, and the Japan Current which flows past brings in large numbers of fish. This makes Orchid Island a paradise for fishermen and skin divers. The island is inhabited mainly by Tau tribespeople, the most primitive of Taiwan's aborigines, who still retain much of their traditional culture and lifestyle. Their traditional stone houses are build mostly underground to avoid extremes of temperature as well as the ravages of typhoons, and their Flying Fish and Boat Launching festivals are seen nowhere else on earth. In addition to savoring the beautiful island scenery, during a trip of Orchid Island you can also enjoy a glimpse into the fascinating Tau culture.

Kinmen

Lying just 2,100 meters off the coast of mainland China at the nearest point, this hilly island composed mostly of granite and has a history that derives largely from war. It can, therefore, be termed a "battlefield island," and it possesses unique battlefield scenery. But Kinmen is more; it also contains numerous traces of history, and the government has designated 21 historic sites within its small area. It also has large numbers of houses built in the traditional southern Fujianese three-sided courtyard style, giving it a rich atmosphere of times past.