Central Taiwan to Lanyu | Train + Bus + Ferry from Taichung, Changhua
No direct Taichung / Changhua / Miaoli to Lanyu — route via Kaohsiung or Taipei to Taitung. Only 2 sailings a day; here is how to make the connection.
Like Green Island, there is no direct service from central Taiwan to Lanyu — you transfer through Kaohsiung or Taipei to reach Taitung. The standard chain is Taichung → Kaohsiung → Taitung → Fugang Ferry Pier (Taitung) → Lanyu. All-TRA end-to-end is about 5 hours, plus a 150-minute crossing — same-day is tight.
The Lanyu boat runs only 2 sailings a day in high season (07:00 and 12:30) at NT$1,200 one way. Same-day from central Taiwan, only the 12:30 is realistically catchable: leave Taichung a little after 06:00 by TRA or HSR with a Puyuma Express / EMU3000 Tze-Chiang transfer, reach Taitung before noon, take the 11:30 bus and connect to the 12:30 sailing.
For the 07:00 first sailing you need to overnight in Taitung the day before, then catch the 06:20 first bus to Fugang at 06:40 with a 20-minute wait. If you would rather not gamble, overnight in Taitung and take the first sailing the next morning — Taitung Train Station has plenty of stays, and boarding well-rested makes the crossing more pleasant.
In winter (November–March) the Lanyu route runs on a government-subsidized schedule — fixed sailings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with selected Sundays added (check the monthly calendar on ferry.tw for exact dates). In winter, always confirm on ferry.tw whether the boat is sailing that day.
The Kenting / Houbihu Ferry Pier route is generally not worth the detour from central Taiwan — that line is better suited to travelers from the south (in high season the Kaohsiung-via-Houbihu approach saves 3–4 hours over going via Taitung, but it is fully suspended in winter).
Pick your origin city
- Taichung → Lanyu No direct Taichung to Green Island — go south via Kaohsiung on the South-Link Line, or HSR plus Puyuma Express to Taitung. Full timing chain laid out here.
- Changhua → Lanyu No direct Taichung to Green Island — go south via Kaohsiung on the South-Link Line, or HSR plus Puyuma Express to Taitung. Full timing chain laid out here.
- Miaoli → Lanyu No direct Taichung to Green Island — go south via Kaohsiung on the South-Link Line, or HSR plus Puyuma Express to Taitung. Full timing chain laid out here.