Places of Interest Nearby

Dapeng Bay is southwest Taiwan’s largest lagoon, totaling 532ha, home to the island’s southernmost mangrove forest. Now a protected eco-area, during the 1895~1945 colonial reign of the Japanese it was used as a military seaplane base – various facilities remain, such as fortified control towers and a restored Baroque-style staff building – and for decades after was used for oyster production. On the north side is The PenBay National Leisure Zone, where a wide range of both water- and landbased activities is offered, from kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, pedal-boating, and rowboating to bicycling and even go-karting.

The breeze-swept, wave-lapped Maritime Building Café is right out in the middle of the lagoon. Reached by a long, thin pedestrian-use causeway from the PenBay area, it is within a large dedicated-built faux Spanish church complete with vaulted ceilings and tall, narrow church-style windows.

The sizeable Bayside Wharf area is on the lagoon’s south side. Sightseeing boats launch from here (some offer oyster roasts on tours), and there are also small sailboat and canoe rentals. If all you’re interested in is the landlubber views, two large cafés with alfresco umbrella-shade seating await.

The mangrove-dense 6.5ha Qifeng Wetlands are just off the lagoon’s southeast corner. The fish farms central to local economic life formerly resulted in heavy pollution and silting in the bay. Numerous ponds have now been converted into wetlands, purifying water from working farms and wastewater from surrounding communities before entering the bay. Boardwalk pathways dotted by lookouts stretch along the water’s edge and right across one pond, and there are steady sightings of the White Wagtail, Common Moorhen, and other avian beauties.

The photo-perfect Dapeng Bay Bridge leaps like a rainbow across the narrow Dapeng Bay mouth. Resembling a sail, this is a single-column, cable-stayed bridge – and Taiwan’s sole drawbridge, accommodating large craft entering/exiting the bay. Great camera captures with the sizzling-red/orange setting sun behind are enjoyed from the PenBay zone.

The quiet, sun-drenched Dapeng Bay Bikeway is a wide, paved 11.9km bike/pedestrian path that takes you all the way around the lagoon. It is generally flat, save for your “flight” across the Dapeng Bay Bridge. Marvelous for birding, at times you are right beside the wide lagoon, and at times you sail through mangrove forest and other treed areas. The loop is part of the “Pingtung Rainbow Bicycle Network,” over 460km long.

Pingtung Blue Fin Tuna Cultural Festival

This Donggang town festival celebrates the April~June bluefin tuna season. Experience unbeatably fresh melt-in-your-mouth sashimi as well as tuna culinary gems prepared in many other ways. Donggang is also renowned for highquality sakura prawns and oil fish roe. Learn about its marine catch and fishing techniques at the Donggang Fishery Museum, near the harborside Donggang Huaqiao Seafood Market.

ENGLISH AND CHINESE

Bayside Wharf 濱灣碼頭

Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area 大鵬灣國家風景區

Dapeng Bay Bikeway 大鵬灣單車道

Dapeng Bay Bridge 大鵬灣跨海大橋

Donggang 東港

Donggang Fishery Museum 東港漁業文化展示館

Donggang Huaqiao Seafood Market 東港華僑魚市場

Maritime Building Café 海上教堂咖啡

Pingtung Bluefin Tuna Cultural Festival 黑鮪魚觀光文化季

"Pingtung Rainbow Bicycle Network" 屏東彩虹自行車道

Qifeng Wetlands 崎峰溼地

The PenBay National Leisure Zone 大鵬灣國際休閒特區