Getting To & Getting Around Kenting
Most journeys to Kenting begin and end in Kaohsiung, which can be reached by air, road, or rail. Getting from Taiwan’s second city to the beach resort is a matter of catching a long-distance bus, hiring a car or sharing a taxi. Some adventurous backpackers rent motorcycles and ride the 112 km in less than three hours.
Regular buses depart from both Kaohsiung Zuoying High-Speed Railway Station and a coach station a stone’s throw from Kaohsiung Main Railway Station. Journey times vary from two and a quarter hours to a bit over three hours, depending on the precise route. The most expensive one-way per person fare is around US$22. Travelers aiming for a particular hotel should carry its address in Chinese and show it to the driver to ensure they get dropped off nearby. If there are three of you, consider hiring a taxi as it’ll take you the door of your accommodation for around the same total cost. You’ll also save a bit of time and — if you speak Chinese or you find one of the few drivers who speaks English — you can negotiate to make a stop or two on the way. The fishing town of Donggang is one possibility.
Visitors who fly into Kaohsiung can catch a Kenting-bound bus at the airport, saving themselves a trip into the city centre. Hiring cars is straightforward at Kaohsiung’s airport, high-speed rail station, and a few other locations between 8.30 am and 8.30 pm, but arrangements should be made in advance if you expect to arrive early in the morning or late at night, or during peak periods such as the Lunar New Year or long weekends. The only airport near Kenting is just outside Hengchun; in recent years it has served as a training facility only, without any scheduled services.
Because the main road into Kenting can be a problematic bottleneck, for some years there’s been talk of extending the railway network to Hengchun or Kenting. At the time of writing the government was saying that it hopes in the first half of 2024 to begin signing contracts for the project. In addition to a conventional rail link as far south as Hengchun, there will be light-rail transit lines to Kenting’s resort area and also to the perenially popular and family-friendly National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium. All Life of Taiwan private tours are tailored to meet client needs; it goes without saying that pickup by one of our experienced driver-guides at Kaohsiung’s airport or high-speed rail hub is always an option.