How to get to Xiaoliuqiu

Get ready for your weekend getaway to this beautiful tropical island in the South

There is only one way to get to Xiaoliuqiu: by taking a ferry from Donggang Township, the closest port to Liuqiu Island. The ferry ride is about 20-25 minutes to get to paradise.

I wrote a blog post about the Xiaoliuqiu ferry situation, which you can check out. The blog includes a ferry schedule for all four ferry companies that serve the island to help plan your travel schedule.

Train

If coming from most places in Taiwan, you will be coming via Kaohsiung city, which also has an international airport. An exception will be if you are coming from around Kenting, Taitung or Hualien, where catching a train would be most convenient, dropping you off at Linbian train station in Pingtung County. However, getting from the train station to Donggang Ferry Terminal can be a bit tricky with no public transport or taxis waiting for you at the train station, you must call a cab or Uber.

Regardless of which part of Kaohsiung city you arrive in, it'll cost you about NT$1,000-NT$1,200 to catch an Uber to Dong Gang to catch the ferry to Xiaoliuqiu. A pre-booked private car with a driver will run slightly less than that.

HSR (High-Speed-Railway)

From most places in Taiwan, including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and everything in between, one can catch the High-Speed Rail to Kaohsiung city, arriving at  Zuoying Station, which is in the northern part of Kaohsiung city and further away from Donggang. I usually check departure times and book my tickets on their app, T Express Mobile APP, which you can also use as your electronic train ticket.

Shuttle Bus

At Zuoying Station, there is a shuttle from the station. Go to the THSR terminal's second floor and buy a Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 9127D ticket from the bus ticketing booth. Tickets can also be purchased online 20 days ahead. Your guesthouse or hostel can arrange a shared van from Zuoying Station to Donggang ferry terminal, which is the best option and costs NT$200. Check out Freedive Nomad's YouTube video about taking this shuttle.

If you take a bus or train into Kaohsiung city, you'll arrive in the city's south and can walk or catch a cab/Uber to this private van shuttle service (this service has been temporarily suspended after COVID). They have vans leaving 20 minutes after the hour to Donggang to catch the ferry, costing NT$150 starting at 7:20 am.