Tongpan Island

Tongpan is barely a square kilometre, a flat basalt table standing out of the sea south of Magong, and what makes it worth the boat is that the whole edge is a wall of columnar basalt: hexagonal columns rising twenty metres or so all the way round, so that the island looks like a fortress from the water. The flat top holds a village and a temple. A path runs round the rim and down to a rock arch on one side.

What you actually see

• The columnar cliffs - hexagonal basalt columns ringing the whole island.
• The rim path - a walk round the top of the cliffs in about half an hour.
• The rock arch - a sea arch cut into the basalt on one shore.
• The village - the small settlement and temple on the flat top.

When to go

April to September is the season; winter wind stops the boats. Morning light on the eastern cliffs is best. Tours usually combine it with other southern islands.

Honest expectations

It is a short stop on an island-hopping tour rather than a destination in itself. There are no facilities. Boats do not run in rough weather, which is much of the winter.

Nearby

Huxi and Magong are north, and Wang'an is south.