Dongqing Bay Introduction
Dongqing Bay is located on the eastern part of Lanyu (Orchid Island) and is the largest bay on the island. The bay stretches approximately half a kilometer to the south, starting from the front of Dongqing Village, forming a relatively elongated shape. Generally, when people refer to Dongqing Bay, they mean Dongqing Harbor, a natural harbor surrounded by rocks in front of Dongqing Village, where many traditional outboard boats can be seen. When visitors come to Dongqing Bay, they often find several traditional outboard boats parked along the shore. As the name suggests, these boats are made by piecing together several wooden planks, rather than being carved from a single large piece of wood. At sunrise, one can frequently see people waiting in Dongqing Bay to catch the sunrise, with the blue harbor and the boats as a backdrop, complemented by the ever-changing sunrise clouds, making it one of the most representative sceneries of Lanyu. If you want to photograph the sunrise, it is recommended to check the sunrise time with the Central Weather Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and arrive 30 to 60 minutes early to fully capture the transformation of the sky. The traditional outboard boat holds a very important place in the culture of the Tao people. Traditionally, there are many taboos associated with these boats, such as women not being allowed to touch them, and outsiders not being allowed to touch or take pictures of them. Although these taboos have gradually loosened with tourism development, there are businesses in recent years that have opened up opportunities for tourists to experience riding in the traditional boats. If visitors are interested, they can inquire with local operators for experiences, but it is still essential to refrain from touching the boats without permission.
