Green Island with a population of 4,500 (1993) is 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) from Taiwan. There is a cement-paved road 17.3 kilometers (10.8 miles) stretching around the island that takes about 6 hours to walk.

Green Island's original name was "Fire Island" because the inhabitants would light bonfires to help guide fishing boats from sea. It sits just east of Taitung where there are daily flights or the occasional ferry ride.

Not many tourists make it to Green Island. Those who do usually see it as a quick side trip on their way to the larger island, Lanyu. Green Island is more developed, but it lacks the aboriginal interests found on Lanyu. On the other hand, if what you want is quiet, you might find Green Island more pleasing than its more well known sister on the weekends. Green Island has facilities for fishing, camping, picnicking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and hiking.

Green Island also boasts natural salt water hot springs, and may be one of only two seawater hot springs on Earth (the other is near Mt. Vesuvius in Italy). There are three small outdoor pools, which are free to the public. The springs are heated naturally by volcanic activity deep underground.

For more information on Green Island, visit
http://www.sinica.edu.tw/tit/scenery/
0795_GreenIsland.html