Taiwan Off the Beaten Track: Beautiful Xiao Liuqiu

"Wander the Walkway at Black Dwarf Cave Black Dwarf Cave (also known as Black Ghost Cave) is located on Xiao Liuchiu's west coast. It's more of a walkway through a maze of precipitous lava rock formations than a tunnel into a cliff like one normally expects of a cave. The cave has a morbid history; more than three hundred aboriginals were burned alive here by the Dutch during their occupation of Taiwan . The cave, however, is beautiful, with several vistas like the one pictured here overlooking the Taiwan Strait."

"Visit Vase Rock Xiao Liuchiu is a beautiful island, but the best spot has to be the iconic Vase Rock. This spot is located near the downtown area and ferry dock. There's a wooden walkway where you can walk along the coast and watch the sun set over the Taiwan Strait. There is also a beautiful coral reef filled with sea life, which makes for spectacular snorkelling. I thoroughly enjoyed both."

"Chill on Coral Beach at Sunset This west-facing beach may appear to be white sand at a glance, but your bare feet will quickly discover that it's made of corse shards of coral, so watch your step. Rough edges aside, this beach is seldom visited (some people may have been known to camp on it) and is an excellent place to enjoy the sunset with a few Taiwan Beer and good company."

"Chill on Coral Beach at Sunset This west-facing beach may appear to be white sand at a glance, but your bare feet will quickly discover that it's made of corse shards of coral, so watch your step. Rough edges aside, this beach is seldom visited (some people may have been known to camp on it) and is an excellent place to enjoy the sunset with a few Taiwan Beer and good company."

"Snorkelling Among Pillars of Lava Rock There are two main places to snorkel on Xiao Liuqiu. One is at the base of Vase Rock, near the main harbor. The other is on the opposite side of the island. The tropical fish are something to see, but the amazing thing about this spot is the pillars of lava rock rising from the ocean floor that you swim among."

"Seafood in Downtown Liuquiu Xiao Liuqiu is basically a fishing village, and is known throughout Taiwan for its seafood. The main street is lined with seafood restaurants with the catch of the day sitting out front on ice in glass cases. You can always tell which is the freshest. It's usually still moving."