Qimei Island

Qimei is the furthest south of the inhabited Penghu islands, a low basalt plateau with cliffs on its outer edges. Its emblem is the Twin Hearts weir, a double heart-shaped trap built from stacked basalt in the intertidal zone to catch fish on the falling tide, one of the last of hundreds that once ringed these islands. The name of the island refers to seven women of a local story, commemorated at a tomb on the island.

What you actually see

• The Twin Hearts weir - a double heart-shaped stone fish trap in the tidal zone.
• The basalt cliffs - columnar rock along the island's outer shores.
• The Seven Beauties tomb - the memorial the island's name comes from.
• The Little Taiwan - a rock platform said to resemble the shape of the main island.

When to go

April to October is the season; ferries are cancelled in winter northeast wind for days at a time. Low tide is when the weir is fully visible. Summer is hot with little shade.

Honest expectations

Ferries are weather-dependent and being stranded for a day or two is a real possibility in the shoulder seasons. The weir is best seen from above and at low tide, so timing matters. Accommodation is limited.

Nearby

Wang'an is north on the ferry route, and Magong is beyond it.