Lanyu (Orchid Island)

Like Green Island, Lanyu (Orchid Island) is a volcanic island that was formed of magma erupting from the ocean floor. Because the peaks of the mountains at the northwestern corner of the island resemble red human heads in the crimson rays of the setting sun, it was formerly known as "Redhead Island". The present name refers to the wild orchids that once grew there in abundance. The humid, rainy climate has cloaked the mountainous interior of the island with a thick rain-forest cover, and has provided it with a great variety of plant and animal life. Coral reefs are distributed around the island and the warm Japanese Current also flows by, attracting vast schools of fish that make this a paradise for deep-sea fishing and diving.

The Yami aboriginal people on Orchid Island have always depended primarily on the sea for their livelihood, a fact which is reflected in their unique culture. The men, for example, wear narrow loincloths for convenience when fishing or hunting. They use richly decorated canoes and traditionally live in semi-subterranean houses for protection against typhoons and the torrid heat of summer. They also perform elaborate ceremonies when they launch a new boat or begin the annual flying fish season. These cultural features, among others, make the Yami intensely interesting to visitors.

Yeyou Village is the site of the island's administrative center, township office, middle school, and main bus station. Kaiyuan Harbor, situated on the outskirts of the village, is the island's major gateway for sea transportation. In particular, the harbor is where the boats from Taitung's Fugang Fishing Harbor dock. A lighthouse just to the north of the village provides fine views of Orchid Island and the surrounding seas.