'''Kenting National Park''' (____________; ''k?nd?ng guoji? g?ngyuan'') is in at the extreme southern tip of Taiwan. It is famous for its beautiful beaches and lush vegetation.

Understand

Although Kenting National Park is located in Kenting, these two places should not be confused as the same destination. Kenting is the wider area that includes small townships as well as the national park.

History

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

Hot.

During typhoon season, the waves can get quite rough causing all beaches to be closed.

Get in

By Bus

Buses travel frequently from Kaohsiung to Kenting. Take the line 88 from the Kaohsiung bus terminal (don't confuse with city buses). The price for a ticket is roughly 350NT$. The transit time from Kaohsiung to Kenting is approximately 2.5 hours, depending upon the general traffic situation.

By HSR

Kenting is now relatively accessible via the newly built HSR, or High Speed Rail which connects Taipei with Zuoying, Kaohsiung. The total travel time from Taipei to Kaohsiung via HSR is approximately 2 hours. After arrival in Zuoying, take a taxi to the roadside storefront which services the line 88 bus to Kenting. The line 88 bus to Kenting operates 24 hours/day, so getting back to the HSR on time is no problem.

It is advisable to reserve your HSR tickets by telephone if traveling on the weekend. Weekend trains can be easily sold out.

http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/index.htm

By Car

Renting a car is not optimal, but nice if you wish to travel around/within the Kenting area. Having an automobile or renting a scooter in Kenting enables you to travel up and down the entire southern seaboard and visit both public beaches easily.

Fees/Permits

Get around

A motorbike can be rented for 500 TWD/day in Kenting from many different storefronts. Users must show a Taiwan motorbike drivers license and sign a rental contract before being given keys. Apparently it used to be easy to rent a motorbike without showing a license, but this is no longer the case since the police cracked down on the shops. As Taiwan has a motorbike helmet law, be aware that wearing a helmet is a requirement when operating or riding as a passenger on a motorbike.

You can also pre-arrange a rental car for pick up at the HSR Kaohsiung Zuoying station. Please check the HSR website for more information and a link to the service providers websites.

http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/travel/transfer_info.asp

See

Do

As in any tourist area, it is advisable to double-check prices. Kenting closes surprisingly early for Taiwan - most shops and stalls seem to shut down at 10pm.

  • Surfing is quickly becoming a popular sport at all beaches.
  • *FuDog Surfing provides lessons at a reasonable price and in English. [http://www.fudogsurf.com.tw/index.asp]
  • Jet-Skis can be rented at the more popular beaches, but will generally cost NT$1000/30 minutes during peak times. Inquire with shops that rent motorbikes for more reasonable rates.
  • Scooter rides. Take a motorbike ride around the main roads in Kenting, which give you access to several tourist sites. Your motorbike rental operator should provide you with a map of the area; if not ask for one at your place of accommodation.
  • Go-Karts. There are several fun and exciting Go-Kart tracks in Kenting that offer 18 cycles around the track for NT$100.
  • Swimming. The ocean is open and safe for swimming at 2 public beaches and numerous (pay) private beaches. Sometimes, the beaches are closed due to high waves in typhoon season.
  • Kenting Main Strip. Every evening the main Kenting strip turns into a night market with merchandise, games, restaurants, and street food.
  • Oluanpi Lighthouse. The surrounding park area is well worth the trip past Kenting. The lighthouse itself is pretty bland, but the easy hiking trails are pleasant and near the ocean.
  • Buy

    Eat

    Thai food is currently in Vogue in Kenting, and virtually every restaurant now offers it. Mambo claims to be the 'original'.

  • The Surf Shack Bar and Grill. 224 Heng Nan Rd., Heng Chun Town, Pingtung County. 5 minutes from the Kenting Strip. 86-8-888-1881. ttp://www.taiwansurfshack.com. 1:30 ~ 9:00, closed on Wed.. Homemade Meals to satisfy surfers appetites averaging about 200NT. Genuine Western cuisine in Huge portions. Try our Double Monster burger with a pound of beef on homemade whole grain wheat buns! We got geniune poutine, Huevos Rancheros, and HUGE All-day breakfasts. Our customers tell us we're the best food they have eaten in Taiwan!

  • Fu Dog Surfing. enting strip. ttp://www.fudogsurf.com.tw/index.asp. At FuDog Surfing, Jonathon cooks up a variety of Western-style food, including delicious pizzas.
  • Warung DiDi. o. 26 Wenhua Lane, Kenting Rd, Kenting. idden down a narrow alley off the main road - follow the signs. Seems to be the most popular restaurant in Kenting, serving a variety of pan-Asian food. A little hard to find, and fills up quickly, but worth a visit.

    At night the main road in Kenting becomes a night market, with all kinds of food sold from stalls. There are plenty of restaurants too - lots of Chinese (of course), Thai, and a little western. There is also a lot of fresh fruit available and plenty of seafood.

    Drink

    Sleep

    Resorts and Hotels

    Since Kenting's popularity as a destination is rising, it seems like every plot of land that isn't already a hotel or restaurant is being turned into one, and many shops and restaurants have rooms upstairs too, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a place to sleep. The newer hotels are generally nicer but pricier, and you'll want to check there's no ongoing construction that might interfere with your sleep.

  • Howard Beach Resort Kenting. Kenting Road, Hengchun. 886 (08) 866-2323. ttp://kenting.howard-hotels.com.

  • <sleep name ="Ceasar Park Hotel Kenting. Kenting Road, , Hengchun. 886 (08) 866-1888. ttp://www.caesarpark.com.tw/en/kenting.php.

  • '''The Four Seasons Hotel Kenting'''
  • '''Le Meridien Beach Resort Kenting'''
  • '''The Hyatt Resort Kenting'''
  • '''The Banyan Tree Resort Kenting'''
  • '''The Four Seasons Hotel Kenting'''
  • '''The Shangri-la Beach Resort Kenting'''
  • Lodging

  • The Surf Shack Hostel. 224 Heng Nan Rd., Heng Chun Town, Pingtung County. 886-8-888-1881 or thesurfshack@yahoo.com.tw. he Surf Shack Bar, Grill and Hostel is located in Hengchun Town in southern Taiwan. It's a 15min drive north from the tourist town of Kenting. The Surf Shack is central to all the beaches and tourist sites in the area. We can arrange scooter rentals to get you there, even for international guests. We are a western style restaurant on the first floor with 5 rooms on the second and third floors. There is a large balcony with mountain view on the 3rd floor. We also offer surf lessons, surf tours, surfboard rentals and scuba diving tours in the local tropical waters. Terry, our instructor, has been surfing for almost 30 years, has been living in Kenting for 8 years, and knows where to find the best waves. Our rooms start at 400NT. ttp://www.taiwansurfshack.com/The Surf Shack.

  • Ipanema Surf House. n a small village. Nice and cosy place for an escape from busy beach. 886 (08) 8866807 or ehawave@hotmail.com. ttp://groups.msn.com/IpanemaSurfHouse.

  • .
  • <sleep name ="Kenting Nan Wan Resort Hotel. o.10, Nanwan Rd., Hengchun Town, Pingtung County, Taiwan. ttp://nanwan.sinotour.com/.

    Camping

    Camping is allowed in the National Park. It is advisable to contact the park directly to setup permits. Several bed and breakfast or small proprietor operations will rent tents and space for camping on their property.

    http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/eng/index.htm

    Backcountry

    Stay safe

    Like all of Taiwan, the Kenting area is very safe from violent crime. Use common sense when protecting your valuables, and don't leave anything valuable in your car.

    Stray dogs, while not violent or aggressive, are everywhere and likely harbor disease and/or parasites. Don't pet them!

    During weekends, tourists park all over the sidewalks and entryways, making it very difficult for pedestrians to walk safely and out of street traffic.

    Get out

    Bus Line 88 runs 24 hours a day and will take you to Kaohsiung city. The bus will drop you off opposite the operator's storefront. There are usually many taxis waiting at that area, which can take you to the ZuoYing HSR station for no more than NT$120.ja:____________