The ferry is nice with air conditioning and comfortable. Seats are not reserved but there are two sections. I paid NT$900 for roundtrip which included VIP section. When you buy a ferry boat ticket even in advance for a certain time, you’re not guaranteed to get that time. You might buy a ticket for 9:30 a.m. and show up if they tell you the boat is full you have to wait 2 hours to the next ferry. This is because other people have priority at all times and can push you to back of line. Get in line early if possible and get on the boat.
As you’re approaching the island you see hundreds and hundreds of scooters available for rent. But then when you get off the ferry and walk up to a scooter shop, no one tries to assist you. We went to four different shops and said hello and everybody’s just in the back napping or something. Finally rented one for NT$200 for entire day.
There are a few scuba shops and some shops to borrow snorkel gear.
The island is 18 kilometers around and you can ride it in about 30 minutes. Half of the way is beautiful rocky beach and the other half looks mostly like any other place in Taiwan. Shops and houses…
They’re not really many places to swim on a sand beach I think I saw two. The best places for snorkeling are to the right after exited the harbor.
Most restaurants and shops are closed in the afternoon. So if you want to eat between lunch and dinner or have a snack, not so easy but you can go to a convenience store.
The hotels are pretty simple and it maybe ok to stay one night and enjoy the island at sunset and maybe additional rides around the island with some hiking.
Much more crowded and weekends than the quiet weekday.
It appears that most people make all their arrangements in advance for scooter, scuba, etc. instead of just arriving and finding something.
Starting on Wednesday May 17 (Green Island Human Rights Memorial Day), there will be some temporary exhibits on Green Island about Taiwan’s White Terror period. May 17 is commemorated as the first day the KMT regime shipped political prisoners to Green Island in 1951.
Some details about the event are indicated in a Taipei Times article linked below. An excerpt:
The Ministry of Culture . . . has invited the public to visit Green Island (ç¶ ĺł¶) and see the exhibition featuring letters, handicrafts and cultural items made by former prisoners, as well as another exhibition featuring wood carvings by political prisoner Chen Wu-chen (陳ć¦éŽ®).
Chen was sentenced to two years in Green Island prison because he wrote “I am against KMT rule” during an examination in 1969, which he did not erase when handing in the paper.
“My works aim to reflect the fight against injustice. Many people were locked up and many were executed. We must never forget,” Chen said.
Reviving this thread to link a thoughtful and moving story by a mixed-race Taiwanese American named Beia Giebel who, in 2018, had an opportunity to spend time in Taiwan through the government-sponsored OCAC Language Study Program for Compatriot Youth.
When her parents visted her, they finally had a chance to learn more about the story of her grandfather and his unjust imprisonment on Green Island. Her story is well worth reading.
For those going, try and get a tour ,or at least bring.your headlights at night. there are some cool things to see there. The stick insects alone are special enough to warrant a trip there squid, deer etc. plus the usual, jail, snorkeling, hotspring etc must do.
I like green island a lot. but I am not there to eat either haha.
During the summer, many more amenities (accommodation, food) are available on Green Island, as it fills with visitors.
Also during the summer, if you are visiting the prison (it’s totally worth a visit—every Taiwanese should see this), there is an annual art festival that shows how younger generations are responding to this difficult history. This year’s festival opens tomorrow and will be displayed until September 17:
As mentioned by @BiggusDickus , access to Green Island by ferry is from Fugang Harbor in Taitung City.
By the way when I visited the chingmei detention center they mentioned the garrison command. I know someone who did his military service at the garrison command watching over military prisoners convicted of corruption and all that.
I have to wonder how much my dad know about the white terror but won’t talk about it. When I asked him about white terror he says that they were dealing with troublemakers. Considering that he was an officer at the time, and well connected politically he may have seen some shit. He only told me he had to precide over military executions and seems to have cried when talking about it.
My mother in law also knew nothing about it. when we took her to the jail she said she thought this jail was for corrupt politicians. she refused to read the signs. Typical kmt It did open my eyes a bit to the fact there are people here who actually dont know what happened and just swallowed the propaganda with glee. has made me worry a bit now as Itthought we were having conversations before but now it seems she has no.idea what we were talking about I find it quite concerning. hopefully my wife’s mother is the tiniest of minorities… if your dad watch government murders, surely he knows. hopefully he doesnt agree with it.
Or it was just incredibly horrible and depressed him to no end. That stuff was disgusting and sick. Amazed there isnt a jail for those committing such crimes against the people. a good reason not to be chinese anymore
Green island is a cool place to see that. they dont really hide that much and.cover it up, which is great.
on the summer note, as well as being more lively people wise, it is also more lively fauna wise!
bring something for sea sick.ess if you are prone. those boats…
I will take the plane the next time. I’m sure that it’s a bit scary, but it would only be like, what, 15 minutes of scariness. The puking on the boat ride (especially going to Green Island) is something I would like to avoid. I didn’t puke, but it was a full 30 minutes of intense teeth and fist clenching to avoid grabbing one of the widely available puke bags.
squid, deer etc. plus the usual, jail, snorkeling, hotspring etc must do.
It did open my eyes a bit to the fact there are people here who actually dont know what happened and just swallowed the propaganda with glee. has made me worry a bit now as Itthought we were having conversations before but now it seems she has no.idea what we were talking about 
I find it quite concerning. hopefully my wife’s mother is the tiniest of minorities… if your dad watch government murders, surely he knows. hopefully he doesnt agree with it.