Guides · Cycling in Taiwan
Penghu Islands Cycling｜Cross-Sea Bridge & Season
Penghu is one of the best-known island cycling destinations outside Taiwan's main island. Turquoise water, coral-stone villages and a cross-sea bridge give it scenery unlike anything on the mainland. The archipelago splits into a bridge-connected main cluster and a set of outer islands, so which parts you can ride to, when to go, and how to reach and get around the islands all work differently from a ride on the main island. This guide collects what the Penghu County Government, the Directorate General of Highways and the Tourism Administration have published, covering the area the bridges connect, getting to and between the islands, choosing a season and riding practicalities. It also covers what a support vehicle can do on a Penghu trip.
The Bridge-Connected Riding Area and the Island-Hopping Geography
According to the current official count, set after a Penghu County Government re-survey in 2005, the archipelago has 90 islands, only 19 of them inhabited, with a total land area of about 127.9636 km². Administratively it is split into six districts, which are Magong City, Huxi Township, Baisha Township, Xiyu Township, Wang'an Township and Qimei Township.
For cyclists, the Magong main island (including Huxi Township), Baisha Township and Xiyu Township are linked by bridges into one continuous land route. Baisha Township's official introduction says Baisha connects to Huxi and Magong by the Zhongzheng Bridge on its southeast side and to Xiyu by the Penghu Cross-Sea Bridge on its west side, so these four districts can be ridden end to end without a boat. Wang'an, Qimei and the Southern Four Islands (Dongji, Xiji, Dongyuping and Xiyuping) have no bridge to the Magong main island and can only be reached by boat.
Getting Your Bike to Penghu by Air or by Ferry
There are two official ways to get a bike to Penghu. One is a domestic flight to Magong Airport (IATA code MZG), which most airports on Taiwan's main island serve; bicycle check-in follows the general domestic-flight rules at those airports. The other is the passenger ferry between Kaohsiung and Magong, currently run by Penghu Ferry (the previous operator, Taihua Ferry, retired in 2023 and Penghu Ferry took over the route).
Penghu Ferry's official 'vehicle check-in information' page says bicycles must be disassembled and packed in a bike bag or case before check-in, and are not accepted as carry-on. A bike that has not been disassembled or bagged is charged as general freight, and each owner can book up to 4 vehicles per sailing (cars, scooters and bicycles combined). On a flight the bike also has to be checked in ahead of time rather than taken on as hand luggage. Check the airline's or Penghu Ferry's official site on the day for current fares, schedules and check-in fees.
Getting Around Inside and Beyond the Bridge-Connected Cluster
Inside the bridge-connected cluster, which is the Magong main island, Huxi, Baisha and Xiyu, you can ride the whole way. Reaching Wang'an, Qimei or the Southern Four Islands takes a boat. The public ferry between Magong and Wang'an/Qimei is run by the Penghu County Government's Public Vehicle and Vessel Administration; it mainly carries local commuters and visitors, along with cargo. The Southern Four Islands are mostly reached by private speedboats based at the South Sea Visitor Center, and what those operators publish is mostly package tours.
We found no official or publicly posted policy from the public ferry or the private speedboat operators on whether bicycles can be checked onto these boats. Listings from several tour operators also show that visitors on Wang'an, Qimei and the Southern Four Islands mostly get around by rented scooter or guided tour bus. If your plan includes taking a bike on an inter-island sailing, ask the boat operator directly before you go instead of assuming either way.
Summer Is for Riding, the Winter Monsoon Is Not
Summer, April through September, is the best riding season in Penghu. According to the 'monsoon' page on the county government's website, during the northeast monsoon from October through the following March, winds above 10 m/s (roughly force 6) occur 56% of the time, against 7.5% in summer. When a strong continental cold air mass moves south, gusts can reach force 12 or higher. The county also notes that events and tourist visits drop noticeably in winter, the traditional off-season. Typhoon season nationwide runs June through November according to the Central Weather Administration, so it overlaps the monsoon slightly in October and November.
Summer is also the high season the county promotes. In 2026, for example, the Penghu International Ocean Fireworks Festival held test launches on April 20 and 27, and the main event ran from its May 4 opening to its August 25 closing, with extra shows in Wang'an, Qimei, Jibei, Huxi, Xiyu and Baisha. Festival dates shift every year, so check the county government's or Tourism Administration's announcement for the current year before you go. The schedule only shows that summer is the officially promoted high season; for climate, see the wind statistics above.
Bridge Crosswinds, Sparse Outer-Island Supplies, and Sun Protection
We found no wind restriction or dismount notice from the road authorities that applies specifically to bicycles on the Penghu Cross-Sea Bridge. The official sources do show that the Houmen Channel under the bridge has strong currents, that winter makes the seas rougher, and that corrosion from years of northeast monsoon winds was one factor behind the bridge's past reconstructions. With the wind statistics from the previous section in mind, watch for crosswinds on the bridge and avoid starting in northeast monsoon season if you can.
Population and shop density on the outer islands (Wang'an, Qimei and the Southern Four Islands) is far lower than on the Magong main island, so plan your supplies before you leave, because you may not find a shop along the way. Penghu has an island climate with no tall mountains for shade, and the sun is out for long hours, so sun protection and water need extra attention.
Where a Support Vehicle Fits Into a Penghu Island-Hopping Trip
A Penghu island-hopping trip covers several islands, meets strong northeast monsoon winds in winter, and has few supply points on the outer islands. A support vehicle (SAG) can carry luggage, pull over when the wind picks up, and cover supply gaps, which takes weight off the ride. It cannot follow you onto an inter-island boat, so it supports you only within the bridge-connected cluster of the Magong main island, Huxi, Baisha and Xiyu. Transport and sailings for the outer-island legs (Wang'an, Qimei, the Southern Four Islands) need to be confirmed separately.
24EZGO has supported cycling events and race logistics since 2020. It typically supports 10 to 20 events a year and has served more than 3,000 riders, including events on Penghu's outlying islands. The fleet is four support vehicles, which can take up to 8 riders and 8 bikes on a single dispatch. Tell us your planned route, group size and number of bikes, and we will arrange support to fit your itinerary.
Sources
- 澎湖縣政府, 地理位置
- 澎湖縣政府, 面積
- 澎湖縣白沙鄉公所, 白沙簡介
- 交通部公路局南區養護工程分局, 澎湖跨海大橋建構概況
- 交通部觀光署, 澎湖南方四島國家公園
- 澎湖輪訂票系統, 車輛託運資訊
- 澎湖縣政府公共車船管理處, 交通船時刻表
- 澎湖縣政府, 季風
- 中央氣象署氣候服務入口網, 颱風季
- 澎湖縣政府旅遊處, 最新消息（2026澎湖國際海上花火節）
Rules and road conditions change, so always check the official announcements before you travel.
Related guides
- Riding Between Company Branches, and How the Support Vehicle Is Arranged
- When to Ride Wuling Month by Month, and What 3,275 m Means Where You Come From
- Cycling Central Taiwan from Taichung｜Sun Moon Lake and Wuling Day Rides
Elsewhere in the ecosystem
- siokiu · Group RidesTaiwanese for "let's go together", where local riders post routes and gather for weekend rides
Need a support vehicle?
Tell us your plan and we will suggest an option based on group size, bike count, and days.