Taitung exudes a unique air of calmness at night, making it the perfect time to explore the city. In addition to its famous mountain and sea vistas, Taitung offers visitors pristine views of the starry skies. Kick off your night by visiting one of the following most beautiful stargazing locations selected by the Taitung County Government: Doulanguanhai Park, Wulu Fort Memorial Park, Dawu Coast Park and Nantian Lookout. Apart from stargazing, performances by local musicians, the light and music show at the Seashore Park, Taitung Living Art Center and Xindong Sugar Factory are all great experiences and destinations worth checking out.

Every summer, Firefly Cinema travels the length and breadth of Taiwan, screening high-quality Taiwanese films. Bring your family along and take the opportunity to create unforgettable memories. Night fishing at Xiaogun Fishing Port is another popular must-do. Or take a nighttime trip to Little Yehliu to collect empty shells and find homes for hermit crabs.

  • 1

    Night fishing at Black Rock Bay

    Night fishing at Black Rock Bay
    • Adventure
    • Nightlife
    • Unusual

    Black Rock Bay is a natural port with excellent geographical features and was a harbour that supported trading ships during the Qing dynasty. At that time, a group of Qing soldiers from Guangdong was stationed here and the name was then changed to "Chengguangao" from the former "Pan Guangao", heralding the beginning of Chenggong Township. The remains of the first and largest shop on the east coast at the time, the Guanghengfa Company, still stand next to Black Rock Bay today.

    The hustle and bustle and wealth of the past are long gone from Black Rock Bay. No more large fishing boats, no more business activity; just a small, quiet and clean fishing port that's an ideal spot for fishing. The fishing spots here are divided into two zones, within and outside the port. The former offers a more comfortable environment while there are more reefs outside the port. If you want to fish at Black Rock Bay but avoid the glaring sun, you can try night fishing and enjoy the sea breeze and the softness of the moonlight reflected on the sea.

    Location: Chenggong Township, Taitung County, Taiwan

    Open: 24/7

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  • 2

    Night tour of Taitung Seashore Park

    Night tour of Taitung Seashore Park
    • Adventure
    • Nightlife

    Taitung Seashore Park, on the outskirts of Taitung City, used to have a feature named Baosang Pavilion, a lookout shaped like a Roman arena and the perfect spot to look out to sea. It was a place filled with local stories and memories. After falling into disrepair and developing other problems such as peeling surfaces, the pavilion was demolished during the centenary of the founding of the Republic of China and replaced by the International Landmark. The International Landmark integrates public art into the local landscape. The undulating design of the roof symbolises the endless waves and mountains and extends into the wooden weave design of the walkways on both sides, like arms hugging the land of Taitung, while a large tree named the "Xiangyang Tree" (literally, "tree facing the sun") sits in the middle.

    The highlights of the park are the nightly light shows and music performances based on two different themes. The symphony theme begins at 8 pm while the aboriginal theme begins at 9 pm. The beautiful music and colourful lights provide the ideal setting for a romantic evening. A variety of arts and cultural events take place here during the holiday season. Whether you come to look at the ocean, cycle and visit Green Island during the day, or enjoy the light and music performances and the sky full of stars at night, Taitung Seashore Park is a great place for a casual outing.

    Location: End of Datung Road, Taitung City, Taitung County, Taiwan

    Open: 24/7. Light shows and music performances start at 8 pm and 9 pm.

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  • 3

    A night of music at Sintung Sugar Factory

    A night of music at Sintung Sugar Factory
    • Group
    • Nightlife
    • Single

    As you travel along Highway 11 to Donghe Township, in the distance you'll see the towering chimney of Sintung Sugar Factory in Dulan Village, an important local landmark. Built during the Japanese occupation, the Sintung Sugar Factory was an important privately owned sugar refinery in the east. It had the largest brown sugar output in Taiwan. However, with changing times and as the industry evolved, the factory had to cease operations in 1991.

    The Taitung County government worked actively to transform the area and the "Dulan Brown Sugar Culture Park" is today a place filled with art and culture. Painted walls, offices, dormitories, revamped cafes and bed and breakfasts packed with nostalgia are everywhere, while former guardhouses are now eateries decorated in tribal motifs serving Japanese cuisine. The television musical "Kara-Orchestra", which was broadcast in 2010, was also filmed here. One of the best times to visit is on Saturday night, when the mottled factory building is dotted with bright lights accompanied by music performed by local musicians. You can listen to the music, chat with local artists and embrace Dulan's enthusiasm. Sintung Sugar Factory is an attraction that's well worth a visit.

    Location: No. 61, Dulan, Donghe Township, Taitung County, Taiwan 959001

    Open: Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Music performance: Saturday from 8 pm to 10 pm. Hours vary by business.

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  • 4

    Nighttime activities in Xiaoyeliu

    Nighttime activities in Xiaoyeliu
    • Adventure
    • Nightlife
    • Unusual

    Xiaoyeliu, located north of Fugang Fishing Port, has two rock formations, each with varying degrees of hardness. After years of erosion by the sea, various strange shapes began to emerge, inspiring names such as honeycomb rock, tortoise rock, tofu rock and mushroom rock. The name Xiaoyeliu ("Little Yeliu") comes from its similarity to Yeliu in the north. During the day, you can take a relaxing stroll on the path, admire the beautiful rocks, gaze out to sea and listen to the sound of the waves.

    Every year from May to October, you can also take part in the nighttime activities at Xiaoyeliu organised by the Tourism Bureau of the East Coast National Scenic Area. The tours take place after nightfall, led by professional guides who'll help you learn about the diversity of the local flora. You'll also get the chance to observe nocturnal animals like land crabs and hermit crabs in action and engage in a spot of stargazing. One of the most popular activities involves the gathering of empty shells to be used as homes for hermit crabs. You can bring along your own shells and put them in places where the hermit crabs are located, so that hermit crabs in need can find a new, larger home to move into. It's a meaningful and educational activity that's definitely worth your time.

    Location: No. 500, Section 1, Songjiang Road, Taitung City, Taitung County, Taiwan 950031

    Open: May–October every year, Friday–Saturday from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm, Sunday–Thursday are reserved for groups of ten people.

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  • 5

    Gaze at the Milky Way from Dawu Coast Park

    Gaze at the Milky Way from Dawu Coast Park
    • Adventure
    • Nightlife

    On Highway 9, opposite the famous Rainbow Street, you'll find Dawu Coast Park. Despite occupying only a small area, the park offers expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. As you look out to sea with the towering Central Mountain Range behind you and green pasture all around you, you can't help but be inspired by this breathtaking space. There are also several pavilions and a paved stone circle, and the aboriginal totems add to the park's distinctive character. The "Wings" on the grassland are hard to miss. This is an artwork left behind after an exhibition in 2018. The artist, Siki Sufin, felt that there was a gradual demise of the traditional culture among the aboriginal people and he hoped that the feathers of the mountain hawk-eagle, a symbol of nobility, would encourage his tribe to reflect and remember their values.

    While many come to Dawu Coast Park to see the sea, it's also a great place for stargazers. The panoramic view with no light pollution means that the stars in the night sky are clearly visible whenever you look up. The statue of the goddess Guanyin sitting on her side adds to the magnificence of this starry view, making it a trip well worth taking.

    Location: Dawu Coast Park, Dawu Township, Taitung County, Taiwan

    Open: 24/7

    Map
  • 6

    Firefly Cinema

    • Nightlife
    • Unusual

    Every summer, the Ministry of Culture organises the Firefly Cinema event to encourage the public to support quality Taiwanese films. The event also allows people in remote villages and towns to enjoy these films in special screenings across Taiwan. The films are screened in August and September in Taitung and focus on diverse topics such as the environment, aboriginal culture and rural education.

    The films screened include "Long Time No Sea", "Hidden Treasures in The Mountain", "Spicy Teacher", "Father to Son" and "Turn Around". The screening of "Turn Around" is scheduled to mark the anniversaries of the 921 Earthquake and Typhoon Morakot disasters. "Turn Around" is an inspiring story that begins as a film on rural education. The protagonist, a trainee teacher by the name of Wang Zhengzhong, is sent to teach in a rural school and as the story progresses, we see how the initial reluctance of the young teacher eventually gives way to his final determination to stay in the area and help the children learn. Admission is free for all screenings. If you're a huge film fan, this is a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself into life in Taitung and enjoy these movies with the locals.

    Location: Movie tour

    Open: Showtimes vary according to the film

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  • 7

    Stargazing in Doulanguanhai Park

    • Adventure
    • Nightlife

    Located next to Highway 11 in Donghe Township, Doulanguanhai Park, originally a soil and rock dump site, is a great place to enjoy the ocean view. In recent years, as development of the eastern urban and rural landscape progressed, the Donghe Township Office decided that the relatively high terrain here would make it an ideal sea lookout, and decided to build the park instead. Viewing platforms, cycle paths and walking trails have been put in place for locals and tourists to relax and enjoy the scenery.

    Doulanguanhai Park is usually not too crowded and has no light pollution, making this a great place to look at the ocean during the day and gaze at the stars at night. The canopy of bright stars is a sight to behold. In 2018, the Taitung County Government launched a competition to find the most beautiful starry night in Taitung. A total of 14 locations in Taitung’s towns and villages that are most suitable for stargazing were selected and divided into three categories: 1 star, 2 stars or 3 stars. Doulanguanhai Park in Donghe Township was awarded 2 stars, the equivalent of a silver award. Next time you visit Donghe Township in Taitung, stop off at Doulanguanhai Park to gaze at the stars.

    Location: Next to Highway 11, Donghe Township, Taitung County, Taiwan

    Open: 24/7

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  • 8

    Starry nights at Wulu Fort

    • Adventure
    • Nightlife

    Situated deep within Wulu Tribal Village, Wulu Fort Memorial Park has two well-preserved batteries that are still standing today. Wulu bore witness to the blood and tears shed by the Bunun tribe in their conflict with the Japanese, and the park serves as a reminder of this troubled period. The century-old artillery pieces were captured from the Russians by the Japanese during the Russo-Japanese War in 1903. The Japanese then transported them to Taiwan and to Hairui Township in an attempt to force the Bunun tribe to submit.

    It's said that the "Namo Amitābha" (name of a Buddha) stone plaque engraved at the entrance of the Fort Memorial Park was set up to enable the souls of the Bunun warriors find peace. During the day, Wulu Fort Memorial Park offers a panoramic view that encompasses Wulu Elementary School, the village, the mountains and the surrounding lush greenery. When night falls, the sky is peppered with stars, accentuating the beauty brought on by the passage of time. The starry view here was awarded 3 stars in the competition to find the most beautiful starry night in Taitung. If stargazing is your thing, Wulu Fort Memorial Park is well worth a visit.

    Location: No. 12, Neighborhood 2, Wulu, Haiduan Township, Taitung County, Taiwan 957005

    Open: 24/7

    Map
  • 9

    Nighttime visit to Nantian Lookout

    • Nightlife
    • Photo

    In Daren Township, at the southernmost tip of Taitung City, there's a secret but beautiful hideaway, Nantian Lookout on Highway 26. This is also where the Alangyi Historic Trail (otherwise known as the last piece of undeveloped land in Taiwan) ends in Nantian. As you stand on the secluded lookout, the wide panorama encompasses the endless blue ocean with verdant mountains and forests to the north, and Nantian Tribal Village and Nantian pebble beach to the south. As the sea and sky blend into one colour, the beautiful vista will take your breath away.

    There's also a trail opposite Nantian Lookout that leads to another lookout at the other end. There are rest stops along the way, making it ideal for a leisurely hike. Other than the incredible sea views, Nantian offers perfect conditions for stargazing at night because it's sparsely populated and has minimal light pollution. The dazzling starry sky is clearly visible whenever you look up. This spot was awarded 3 stars in the competition to find the most beautiful starry night in Taitung. The next time you're in Taitung and want to see the stars and the sea, Nantian Lookout is definitely worth a visit.

    Location: At the 56.2-mile (90.5 km) mark on Highway 26, Daren Township, Taitung County, Taiwan

    Open: 24/7

    Map
  • 10

    Taitung Living Art Center and the music festival

    • Nightlife

    Taitung Living Art Center was once a martial arts hall during the Japanese occupation, where military and police personnel practised kendo. The Japanese-style building with overhanging roof eaves was fortunately unscathed by the Second World War and was preserved until the 1970s, when the building was demolished and the site was transformed into the Taitung Living Art Center we see today.

    One of the highlights at the Living Art Center is the "Cultural Broadway" event. Since July 2012, the centre has planned and organised outdoor performances at night in the form of a salon. The performances are quite diverse and include local bands, singing groups and saxophonists, and even amateurs can sign up to perform. There's also an island music season every year that uses music to connect the cultures of Taiwan and Okinawa. Taitung Living Art Center aims to develop cultural attractions that are unique to Taitung, featuring local music and various art performances. A visit to a local music festival is a great way to get to know Taitung.

    Location: No. 254, Datong Road, Taitung City, Taitung County, Taiwan 950222

    Open: Wednesday–Monday from 8 am to 5.30 pm, closed on Tuesdays. Check schedule for music performances, which are often held on Friday and Saturday nights.

    Map