A small city in southern Taiwan with traditional night markets, tropical fruit farms, and tree-lined streets. Home to Taiwan's largest indigenous arts museum.
Pingtung City, the administrative center of Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, lies on a flat expanse between coastal areas and mountain ranges. Daytime temperatures frequently rise above 30°C for most of the year. Walk through the Pingtung Art Museum to see changing displays of modern art, watch people gather around water features in Zhongshan Park, or try boxed meals at the decades-old night market near the train station. Though few foreign travelers visit, you'll find streets glowing with neon lights beside palm trees, Buddhist temples with courtyards filled with incense smoke, and beaches in Kenting National Park an hour south.
Transportation to Pingtung City
Take regular Taiwan Railways Administration trains from Kaohsiung’s Zuoying High Speed Rail station; the ride lasts about 40 minutes. Buses from Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport require a transfer in Kaohsiung and take roughly four hours. Pingtung Station serves as the main arrival point, with taxis and scooter rentals nearby. Morning trains heading toward Kaohsiung often fill with commuters, but seats remain accessible. Renting a scooter simplifies movement across the city’s flat roads, and parking spaces are easier to find compared to Taipei or Taichung.
Central Area Highlights
Begin at the Pingtung Tutorial Academy, a restored 19th-century school with curved walkways and detailed roof decorations. Five minutes west, the Zhong-Sheng-Gong Memorial displays stone carvings and family altars tracing the Zhen clan’s migration from China. The Pingtung Art Museum on Zhongzheng Road rotates exhibitions of modern art and provides relief from the heat with air-conditioned galleries. Zhongshan Park’s shallow pond draws white birds, and playground equipment sits under large trees. A 10-minute walk east leads to the Pingtung Martyrs’ Shrine, a concrete building from the 1960s where ceremonial guards sometimes stand watch.
Eating and Shopping Areas
Pingtung Night Market stretches along Minzu Road each evening, serving grilled seafood and fruit drinks. Arrive early to try Ah-Jiao’s oyster omelets, a stall operating since the 1980s. The covered Zhongshan Huanghun Market closes by sunset, selling bitter melon juice and rice dishes with stewed pork. Morning vendors at Central Traditional Market on Xiamen Street prepare sticky rice bundles wrapped in leaves. While chain restaurants exist near Pacific SOGO department store, smaller spots like Steelskin Bar serve locally brewed beers in a casual setting.
Seasonal Events and Traditions
February brings the Black Tuna Festival, where fishing crews display large catches near the night market. During autumn, the Welcome Royal Lord Festival fills villages north of the city with parades involving loud firecrackers and decorated carriers. In December, many residents visit Sichongxi Hot Spring in the nearby foothills to soak in warm mineral water. Cyclists can ride along Dapeng Bay’s 12-kilometer coastal path, passing wetlands with tangled trees and areas where oysters grow. The city’s mix of Hokkien, Hakka, and Paiwan influences appears in these events.
Nearby Destinations
Kenting National Park, 90 minutes south by bus, has clear waters for snorkeling and forest paths for hiking. Closer to Pingtung, Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area lets visitors paddle kayaks or take boat rides beneath the curved Pengnan Bridge. For aerial views, drive 45 minutes to Sandimen’s Saijia Hangkong Park, where tandem paragliding launches from hills. The Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park in Majia Township presents traditional Paiwan stone houses and dance shows held twice each day.
Places to Stay
Family-operated guesthouses like JJ-Workstay provide basic lodging near the city center. Travelers preferring upscale hotels often stay in Kaohsiung, 25 kilometers north, where properties include rooftop pools. Hostels around Pingtung Station offer free bicycles and maps to help explore the area. During March’s Spring Music Concerts, when free performances fill Zhongshan Park, book accommodations at least two weeks early.
