Discovering Lanyu by accident ☵ Why Lanyu, also known as Orchid Island? Why just the farthest of all Taiwanese Islands? The cause might have been an encounter in Hualien, a small city on the northeastern coast of Taiwan, where the …Continue readingEuropean tourists’ view of Lanyu

Growing tourism Lanyu, also known as Orchid Island, Taiwan, was one of the 52 top tourist destinations of the world as featured by the magazine New York Times in 2014, including a mention as a world-class diving paradise. The tourist …Continue readingLife on Lanyu today

Ponso no Tao, the Orchid Island, Lanyu It is Taiwan’s most eastern part and second-largest satellite island and the home of the Tao. The picture above shows an overview from south to north (drone photo taken from “Little Lanyu”). Lanyu …Continue readingThe Island

Do you have time for hiking, cycling or a boat trip? Or do you prefer the easy and fast way of doing a tour by scooter around the island (36 km)? Just have a look and enjoy some photos of …Continue readingLanyu’s Attractions

Sea turtle research of the NTOU Since 1997 the sea turtle research team of the National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU, ntou.edu.tw) has been visiting Lanyu Island from June to September. Around 10 people are in this team, including postgraduates, college …Continue readingSea turtles of Lanyu

Tao’s new boats ceremony in July On the day before the date of the new ship’s launching ceremony in July (see Tao calendar), the crew must be dressed up for the personal invitations to friends and family. On the morning …Continue readingNew boat launching ceremony

The flying fish season is the most important hunting and fishing season of the Tao tribe. Capturing flying fish is the most crucial thing for local people. Flying fish has also become the basis of Tao social organization, ritual culture, …Continue readingFlying fish season

The lunar year of the Tao is divided into 3 seasons: 1) Teyteyka, the hot season which is a period for collective celebrations and the time for building -> from July to November 2) Amian, the cold season “when everyone stays put” -> from …Continue readingCalendar of the Tao

Are there sea turtles nesting on Lanyu island? What about different species of sea turtles? Are they all protected? These and more questions we want to ask and try to give answers. We would like to introduce you to these …Continue readingSea turtles in the Pacific

Millet harvest season ceremony At the beginning of the year the time of the millet harvest festival is decided by the elders who need to inform everyone. The millet harvest festival is held around June. All millet planting members will …Continue readingTraditional ceremonies

Lanyu has six tribes, including the Yeyou, Fisherman, Hongtou, Langdao, Dongqing, and Yeyin. The six villages have their own different migration history, myths, legends and cultures and still show a high degree of autonomy. It is up to the tribes …Continue readingThe 6 Villages of Lanyu (Orchid Island)

Lanyu – home of the Tao Lanyu (Orchid Island) is home to the Tao, also known as Yami, an ethnic minority group who migrated to the island from the Batan Archipelago (modern day Philippines) 800 years ago. The island is …Continue readingPonso no Tao – island of the people (Irala)

Subtropical – hot & humid Lanyu is located in the range of the subtropical monsoon climate, with wet, humid summers and short, relatively mild winters. It’s mainly affected by the southwest monsoon that starts in May and ends in late …Continue readingWeather and Climate

Traces of Volcanic Activity Since 3.5 million years up to about 20,000 years ago Lanyu has been transformed several times by volcanic eruptions. . Most of Lanyu is covered by thick piles of dark-colored vesicular volcanic rocks (geol. “cenozoic andesites”) …Continue readingGeology of Lanyu (Orchid Island)