Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau and Penghu County Government are planning a series of events throughout the year in celebration of the archipelago being named to France-based Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club.
Events include a green turtle ecological camp and international windsurfing competition, said Shang Lei-jen, an official with the bureau’s Penghu National Scenic Area Administration, Feb. 1.
Slated for July to September, the ecological camp is expected to a headline attraction, Shang said, adding that Penghu’s diverse coastal terrain and multitude of beaches makes it the perfect spot for turtles to breed and lay their eggs.
Shang expects the November windsurfing competition to be similarly popular. “Penghu’s bays are perfect for the sport and the winter northeast monsoon creates strong winds that are persistent and steady,” he said.
“Along with the Caribbean Sea and Spain, Penghu is one of the world’s top three destinations for windsurfing and related sports as per the International Sailing Federation.”
Partially encircled by the main islands of Huxi, Baisha and Xiyu, the county’s Penghu Bay was welcomed into the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club in November 2012.
Founded in 1997, the club is committed to “saving the natural heritage of the bay, preserving its identity, respecting the way of life and the traditions of those that inhabit the area whilst ensuring economic development compatible with these commitments,” according to its website.
Club members include 37 bays from 28 countries and territories such as Mont St-Michel Bay, France; Yeosu Bay, South Korea; San Francisco, the U.S.; and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.
Separately, the Tourism Bureau said it will open to the public in September Baisha Cape and Green Island lighthouses in Taoyuan and Taitung counties, respectively.
Taiwan possesses 34 lighthouses nationwide, six of which are open to the public. These are Chihou in Kaohsiung City, Dongyong and Dong-gyu in Lienchiang County, Sandiao Cape in New Taipei City, and Eluanbi and Yuweng Island in Pingtung County.
