Kenting National Park

Taiwan’s oldest national park, Kenting National Park was established in 1984. The area covers some 129 square miles (334 square kilometers), encompassing extraordinary beaches, coral reefs, and underwater habitats, as well as Longluan Lake and even rugged mountains. Some of the highlights include the South Bay Recreation Area, Baisha Bay, Longpan Grasslands, and Kenting Forest Recreation Area.

There are a number of different options for exploring Kenting National Park, from private day trips from Kaohsiung or Taipei to multi-day itineraries that make it possible to discover the diverse landscape of the park.

• Kenting National Park attracts close to 6 million visitors annually, making it one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist destinations.
• The park’s visitor center includes exhibition areas, and the staffers there can assist with queries.
• Kenting Town makes a convenient base for visitors, and is home to restaurants, shops, hotels, and even a bustling night market.
• The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium provides additional information about the national park’s scenery and aquatic habitats.
• Sightseeing by scooter or bicycle is a popular and speedy way to see the park.

Kenting National Park is connected to the nearby hub of Kaohsiung via high-speed rail and express buses; paid parking lots are also hosted on-site. Guided tours provide another seamless way to visit, and a variety of accommodation options are also available at the park for those who wish to stay overnight.

Kenting National Park is always open. Plan a visit during the shoulder season (late spring or mid-fall) to enjoy its beaches before the full tropical heat and summer typhoons arrive. Note that the park is also very busy during Lunar New Year celebrations.

Kenting is host to several major festivals every year. In the springtime, some of the highlights include Spring Break on the Beach and the Manzhou Valley Music Festival, both of which are held in April.