It's all about the fun and romantic places in Penghu !!!

Penghu is a remote paradise off the west coast of Taiwan main island. An archipelago, it is the only county surrounded by ocean. The islands are marked by much natural scenery, and one can find romantic and unique venues not only found on the main island of Magong, but also on the many peaceful smaller islands within the region. If you love the ocean, the sun, and nature, Penghu is definitely a worthwhile vacation destination.

One of the nicest and most romantic places to visit in Penghu county is Cimei Island, located two hours (by boat) southwest of Penghu main island. Cimei is covered in lush green fields and inhabited by numerous endearing goats. It is possible to ride around the island by scooter within approximately an hour without stopping, or within three hours if one wishes to stop at the various points of interest along the way. A must-see attraction is the "Twin Heart Stone Weir" - a heart shaped fishing trap built with stones - located just off the beach to the north of Cimei. Twin Heart Stone Weir is regarded as a symbol of Penghu's beauty. The water within the heart structure often appears turquoise; this beautiful colour combined with the shape of the fish trap ensures a romantic setting for wedding photography.

On the largest Penghu island in the city of Magong, one can stay at unique bed and breakfasts or at least take photographs of them! On the way to Shanshuei beach, we visited two such accomodations. One such memorable bed and breakfast is called Raid Garden, designed in a colourful Moroccan style. Each of the luxurious room contains unique decor and two rooms even feature outdoor hottubs on the patios - complete with wonderful views. We were lucky enough to be given a tour of the bed and breakfast by one of the friendly staff members and provided with afternoon tea as served to guests - complete with Moroccan mint tea! The other bed and breakfast we visited is Greek Frontier, which is built in a Greek style. This bed and breakfast also features beautiful comfortable rooms, each with a different theme, as well as environmentally friendly solar heating. The large grassy gated garden at the front of the building contains a coffee shop, gift shop, and space perfect for children and pets to play in.

Shanshuei Beach, located in the south of Penghu main island, is one of the nicest beaches we have ever visited. The sand is white and fine and covered in exquisite shells, and the water is clean and clear. Many people took advantage of the warm weather to spend time swimming, playing frisbee, sunbathing, taking a walk, and simply enjoying the company of friends and family. Visiting the beach at sunset as we did makes it a particularly romantic venue for couples.

After sunset, one romantic place that many couples visit is Rainbow Bridge, located in west downtown Magong City. The multicoloured lights of the bridge reflect into the water below, making it a picture-perfect romantic venue. Sometimes you may find outdoor concerts in the neighboring park and night market vendors off the side streets nearby, creating a lively atmosphere within a beautiful setting.
Penghu old street, located in the heart of downtown Magong City, contains many artisan shop and is an interesting place to visit. The architecture is of a traditional Taiwanese style, so you can feel like you are back in time! It is a good place to buy local Penghu snacks, traditional clothes, and unique DIY coral reef souvenirs.

Penghu is famous for its pearls - even Michelle Obama wears a strand of them! So, it was essential that we visit a pearl store. At "Wish Paradise", a variety of beautiful jewellery is sold. One interesting gift set includes a real whole oyster in a tin, a pendant and a chain. One must open the can, remove the oyster, open the oyster and remove the pearl within, wash the pearl and insert it into the pendant before placing the pendant on the chain. Oysters are x-rayed to make sure they contain a pearl, but the colour of the pearl is a suprise - you won't find out until you open the oyster! Each colour of pearl represents something different; we were lucky that we got a "lavender" pearl, which symbolizes love. If you come to Penghu, a pearl necklace is definitely a great souvenir, and I can attest that this makes an especially good gift for girlfriends!

One of the most enjoyable things to do in Penghu is to take a road trip on a scooter; scooters are a fun, convenient and affordable way to travel and can often be rented from the bed and breakfasts. Penghu is picturesque everywhere you go - surrounded by green fields, trees, and the ocean - and all under a sunny blue sky. In the countryside, the streets are very quiet, which allows one to fully appreciate the peaceful surroundings. We travelled from Magong all the way to Siyu lighthouse, passing over the great Penghu bridge on the way. The trip in itself was just as enjoyable as visiting various destinations we stopped at en route.

We had a wonderful trip, and hope you will decide to visit Penghu to see for yourself what it has to offer. You won't be disappointed! :)