Jibei Island

The island's signature sight: a long, curving white-sand spit that stretches into turquoise water off the southern shore. The sand is made of fine coral and shell fragments, soft underfoot, and the shallow gradient makes it ideal for wading and swimming. Visit around low tide when the sandbar is widest, and stay for golden hour when the spit glows against the sea — it's the most photographed spot on the island.

Jibei is one of the Penghu archipelago's main hubs for marine recreation. In the summer season (roughly May to September), operators along the main beach offer banana boat rides, jet skiing, parasailing, and donut tubing. Day-trip packages that bundle several rides with round-trip boat transfers are widely available and usually better value than paying per activity; book through your guesthouse or at the pier counters.

The waters around Jibei are known for good visibility and healthy nearshore coral, with schools of tropical fish easy to spot even in shallow areas. Guided snorkeling sessions with instructors and provided gear are the norm, making it suitable for beginners and children. Mornings tend to be calmest; avoid going out when northeast winds pick up outside the summer season.

Thanks to its low, flat profile and open western horizon, Jibei offers unobstructed sunset views. The classic vantage is from the Sand Tail itself or the low rise behind the harbor, watching the sun drop toward the outlying islets. Overnight guests get the best experience, as most day-trippers leave by late afternoon.

A compact village clusters around the island's harbor, where daily life still revolves around the sea. Wander the narrow lanes to see traditional houses built with coral-limestone (coral ragstone) walls, small neighborhood temples, and fishing gear drying by the docks. The whole village is walkable in under an hour and gives a genuine feel for outlying-island life in the Penghu archipelago.

The curved stone fish traps visible in the shallows around Penghu's northern islands are a centuries-old fishing technique: walls of stacked basalt and coral stone that trap fish as the tide recedes. Around Jibei you can spot weirs at low tide from the shore or on boat trips, and local guides explain how village cooperatives once built and maintained them together. It's a living piece of maritime heritage unique to this archipelago.

Eating on Jibei means whatever the boats brought in: squid, grouper, small abalone, and local seaweed, often served as simple set meals at guesthouses or small eateries near the pier. Staying overnight in a family-run minsu (B&B) is the best way to experience the island — hosts typically arrange meals, water activities, and boat transfers as a package, and the island turns wonderfully quiet after the last day-trip boat leaves.

Jibei's beaches and village lanes served as a filming location for the 2015 romantic comedy 'All You Need Is Love' (Luopao ba Aiqing), shot in the Penghu islands, which boosted the island's profile as a getaway. Fans still come to see the shoreline and harbor scenes in person; even without the film connection, the unspoiled backdrop explains why location scouts chose it.

Jibei sits off the northern coast of Baisha Island in the Penghu archipelago and is reached by boat from Chikan Pier (Chikan Matou), the gateway to the 'North Sea' islands. The crossing takes roughly 15–25 minutes depending on the vessel. Boats run more frequently in the summer high season; in shoulder months, schedules shrink, so confirm return times in advance, especially if not staying overnight.

A short boat ride from Jibei lies Mudou Islet, home to a striking black-and-white banded cast-iron lighthouse dating to 1902, among the oldest in the Penghu islands. North Sea island-hopping itineraries commonly combine Jibei with a stop or circle around Mudouyu, and the contrast of the striped tower against dark basalt rock and open sea is a favorite with photographers.

At low tide, Jibei's rocky shelves and tide pools reveal hermit crabs, small reef fish, sea cucumbers, and urchins — a natural aquarium especially enjoyable for families. Wear reef shoes, check local tide tables before heading out, and follow the look-don't-take rule: collecting marine life and coral is discouraged to protect the ecosystem.

With no urban glow and a tiny resident population, Jibei offers impressively dark night skies. On clear summer nights the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye from the beach or the harbor breakwater. Overnight visitors should bring a light jacket for the sea breeze and step out after the village lights dim for the best views.