Kenting National Park
Park Tropical national park with beaches, coral reefs, and forests
At Taiwan’s southern tip, Kenting National Park combines sandy beaches, coral reefs, coastal highways and hiking trails; visitors swim, snorkel, and sample nearby night-market seafood.
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Kenting National Park is a national park on the southern tip of Taiwan, designated in 1984 as the island’s first national park. It protects coastal, marine and lowland ecosystems on the Hengchun Peninsula in Pingtung County.
The park is known for sandy beaches, coral reefs, coastal cliffs and grassland plateaus. Key recreational areas include sheltered bays for swimming and water sports, rocky headlands for walking and wildlife watching, and shorelines popular with snorkelers and divers.
Kenting was created to conserve the region’s marine and terrestrial habitats and to provide public recreation; its infrastructure has expanded since designation to support tourism while managing environmental impacts. Historic features inside the park include coastal lighthouses and small fishing settlements.
The park sits at Taiwan’s southern extremity on the Hengchun Peninsula in Pingtung County, near the town of Hengchun. It is the main protected area on Taiwan’s tropical south coast and is accessed via the regional road network from Kaohsiung and other southern cities.
- Founding: Established in 1984 as Taiwan's first national park.
- Habitats: Contains tropical beaches, coral reefs and coastal plateaus, with habitats ranging from mangroves to lowland forest.
What to See #
- Eluanbi Lighthouse: A coastal lighthouse built in 1883 at the southern tip of the park; a popular photo point and navigational landmark.
- Nanwan (Kenting) Beach: A long, sheltered bay known locally as Nanwan; the main area for swimming, windsurfing and other water sports in Kenting.
- Longpan Park: A cliffside grassland and coastal plateau offering wide ocean views and several short walking trails along exposed limestone and coral cliffs.
How to Get to Kenting National Park #
Kenting National Park is at Taiwan’s southern tip in Pingtung County near Kenting Town. From Kaohsiung (Zuoying HSR area) it’s roughly 90-110 km and about 1.5-2 hours by car via National Freeway 1/88 and Provincial Highways into Hengchun/Kenting. There are frequent long‑distance buses (often called Kenting Express or Kuo‑Kuang express services) from Kaohsiung and Pingtung to Kenting/Hengchun - check current schedules; most drop you within a short walk or local bus ride of park entrances and beaches.
Tips for Visiting Kenting National Park #
- Head to viewing spots like Longpan Park or Eluanbi at sunrise or sunset for dramatic coastal cliffs and fewer crowds than the main beach areas; those times also avoid the midday heat.
- If you want quieter stretches of coastline, visit on a weekday outside national holidays-Kenting is especially busy on Taiwanese holiday weekends and Lunar New Year.
- Include lesser-visited northern overlooks (Maobitou/Longpan) in your route rather than concentrating solely on Kenting Main Street and Nanwan, which get the largest crowds.
Best Time to Visit Kenting National Park #
Kenting National Park is best from late autumn through spring when conditions are drier and more comfortable; avoid peak typhoon season.
Weather & Climate near Kenting National Park #
Kenting National Park's climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 17°C to 29°C. Heavy rainfall (2497 mm/year), wettest in August with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 17°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 17°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is warm with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (206 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is warm with stifling humidity (dew point 25°C). Heavy rain (396 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (481 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is warm with stifling humidity (dew point 26°C). The wettest month with heavy rain (550 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is warm with stifling humidity (dew point 25°C). Heavy rain (360 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Significant rainfall (190 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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