Pingtung Car Rental: Day Trips Beyond Kenting by Car — Dapeng Bay, Sandimen, Wutai and Sichongxi from Kaohsiung

Pingtung Car Rental: Day Trips Beyond Kenting by Car — Dapeng Bay, Sandimen, Wutai and Sichongxi from Kaohsiung

Most visitors only know Pingtung for Kenting. But less than an hour's drive east or south of Kaohsiung there is another Pingtung: the opening bridge over the Dapeng Bay lagoon, the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park in the hills of Majia and Sandimen (三地門), the Rukai village of Wutai (霧台) that needs a mountain entry permit, the fishing harbor of Fangliao (枋寮) and the Sichongxi (四重溪) hot springs north of the Hengchun Peninsula. These places are spread out, the railway only runs across the plain, and the mountain villages have almost no public transport — so renting a car is the easiest way to see them. GoodCars has no pickup point inside Pingtung County, so this guide starts from our three Kaohsiung locations (Zuoying HSR Station, Kaohsiung Train Station and Kaohsiung Airport) and covers three day routes, drive times checked on Google Maps, and the permits and opening times you should know before you go. For Kenting itself, see the separate Kenting guide linked below.

Pengwan Bridge over Dapeng Bay (Unsplash; location tagged by the photographer as Dapeng Bay)

No branch in Pingtung — which Kaohsiung location should you choose?

GoodCars currently has no pickup point in Pingtung County (including Pingtung and Chaozhou train stations). The nearest are our three Kaohsiung locations. All three work for Pingtung; the difference is how you pick up the car, the hours and the route you plan. Drive times below are the fastest Google Maps routes checked on the evening of Friday, 2 October 2026 — actual times depend on traffic. (Already know your dates? Check available cars and prices.)

Quick pick: for the coast (Dapeng Bay, Fangliao, Sichongxi), Kaohsiung Airport is closest; for the mountains (Sandimen, Wutai), Zuoying HSR Station is the smoothest start. If it's your first self-service pickup, read our self-service pickup and return guide; for more on the three locations see Kaohsiung car rental: 3 pickup points compared, Zuoying car rental guide and Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) car rental. Book online 12–24 hours before pickup, depending on the location (the booking page shows the cut-off); for last-minute rentals, call the branch or message it on WhatsApp.

Route 1: The northern mountains — Sandimen, the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park and Wutai

Head east on Freeway 3 and the hills begin once you cross the Ailiao River. This route is about Paiwan and Rukai culture. We suggest picking up at Zuoying HSR Station and leaving in the morning: visit the Cultural Park first, then decide in the afternoon whether to drive up to Wutai (only if you have the permit).

Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park (Majia Township)

Run by the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the park (No. 104, Fengjing, Beiye Village, Majia Township / 屏東縣瑪家鄉北葉村風景104號) is large, with traditional houses, exhibition halls and dance performances — driving in is by far the easiest way. According to its website it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30–17:00, and is closed on Mondays (open on national holidays). Check tickets, show times and guided-tour bookings on the official website.

Shanchuan Glass Suspension Bridge (between Sandimen and Majia)

This pedestrian suspension bridge over the Ailiao River is right next to the Cultural Park. The Pingtung County tourism site lists 09:00–17:00, closed on Mondays (except long weekends), with an entry fee and parking fee; check the official notice for current hours and prices. Cross to Sandimen for a walk around the village and lunch in the hills.

Wutai village: get a Class A mountain permit first

Wutai is a Rukai village known for its slate houses, stone-paved lanes and aiyu jelly. After Sandimen, Hwy 24 climbs with many tight bends on a narrow road — slow down when passing buses and scooters. Landslides and closures are common after typhoons or heavy rain, so check the Highway Bureau's live road conditions before you go. Petrol stations are rare in the mountains: top up on the plain first with the car's fuel card (ask the attendant to fill up and show the card).

A village below the mountains (Unsplash; location tagged by the photographer as Pingtung)

Route 2: The coast — Dapeng Bay, Donggang, Fangliao and Sichongxi hot springs

Pick up at Kaohsiung Airport and follow Hwy 17 south to Dapeng Bay, then continue down the Pingtung–Eluanbi Highway (Provincial Hwy 1) through Fangliao to the Sichongxi hot springs in Checheng, and drive back to Kaohsiung after a soak. This route stops short of Kenting — to add Kenting, see our Kenting self-drive guide or the 3-day Kaohsiung, Kenting and Xiaoliuqiu itinerary.

Dapeng Bay and the Pengwan Bridge

Dapeng Bay is one of Taiwan's few lagoons, with a cycling path around the bay and the Qingzhou coastal recreation area. Its icon is the Pengwan Bridge, which opens for boats. According to the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area website, the bridge opens only on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays: at 17:00 from March to September and 16:30 from October to February, and not during typhoon warnings. Stopping on the bridge is prohibited — park in the lot under the bridge and walk up.

Donggang: the ferry pier for Xiaoliuqiu

Donggang sits next to Dapeng Bay, and ferries to Xiaoliuqiu island leave from its pier. For parking and ferry tips, see our Xiaoliuqiu guide: drive from Kaohsiung to the Donggang ferry.

Fangliao fishing harbor

Further south on Hwy 1, Fangliao marks the edge between the Pingtung plain and the Hengchun Peninsula. Its harbor is lined with fishing boats — a good stop for a walk and a seafood lunch.

Fangliao fishing harbor (Unsplash; location tagged by the photographer as Fangliao, Pingtung)

Sichongxi hot springs (Checheng Township)

Sichongxi is a clear, odourless, mildly alkaline carbonate spring. The Sichongxi Hot Spring Park described on the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area website has a foot bath, and hot-spring hotels nearby offer full baths. For other hot-spring areas and their nearest pickup points, see our Taiwan hot spring road-trip map. The drive back to Kaohsiung takes about an hour and a half — watch for trucks and scooters on Hwy 1 at night.

Route 3: Small towns on the plain — Victory Star Village, Zhutian, Wanjin and Linhousilin

If you'd rather skip mountain roads, the Pingtung plain has easy half-day stops about 40–45 minutes from Zuoying HSR Station — good for travelling with older relatives or an afternoon start.

Farmland and distant mountains in rural Pingtung (Unsplash; location tagged by the photographer as Pingtung)

How to plan the day: the three routes side by side

To combine Pingtung with Kaohsiung city, see our 5 Kaohsiung self-drive routes and things to do from Zuoying HSR Station.

Costs: rental fee + fuel charge, with a fuel card

GoodCars cars are priced as rental fee + fuel charge: fuel charge = (return odometer − pickup odometer) × the per-km rate for your car model. Fuel is already included in the fuel charge and every car comes with a fuel card — at the petrol station, ask the attendant to fill up and pay with the card (self-service pumps may not accept it). You don't pay for petrol yourself, and there's no need to top up the tank when you bring the car back. There is no distance cap; if you forget the card and pay for fuel yourself, keep the receipt and it will be fully deducted from the fuel charge. See how the fuel charge works and our fuel charge guide.

Freeway tolls are collected by ETC at a flat NT$1.2 per km for rental cars and settled when you return the car; branch staff can give you a breakdown if needed (ETC guide). For a sense of daily costs, see how much does car rental in Taiwan cost per day; for one-way ideas, see 10 one-way rental routes. New to driving in Taiwan? Read Taiwan driving rules for foreign drivers — traffic keeps right and scooters are everywhere.

FAQ

Q1. Is there a GoodCars branch in Pingtung? Can I pick up at Pingtung Station?

Not at the moment — there is no pickup point anywhere in Pingtung County, including Pingtung and Chaozhou stations. Pick up in Kaohsiung instead: Zuoying HSR Station or Kaohsiung Train Station (self-service parking-lot pickup, bookable online 00:00–23:55), or Kaohsiung Airport (staffed during the day, bookable online 09:00–23:55).

Q2. Do I need a permit to drive to Wutai?

Yes. Wutai is a restricted mountain area and requires a Class A mountain entry permit — apply online through the National Police Agency system or register at the Sande checkpoint on Hwy 24. Ali village and other ecological areas need a separate application to the Wutai Township Office and a local guide, and only open during announced periods.

Q3. When does the Pengwan Bridge open?

According to the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area website, on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays at 17:00 (March–September) or 16:30 (October–February), cancelled during typhoon warnings. No stopping on the bridge — use the parking lot below.

Q4. Is the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park open on Mondays?

No — it is closed on Mondays (open on national holidays) and opens Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30–17:00. The Shanchuan Glass Suspension Bridge next door is also closed on Mondays except long weekends, so plan the mountain route between Tuesday and Sunday.

Q5. What documents do foreign visitors need?

Your passport, your original home driving licence and a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by a country with a reciprocal agreement with Taiwan, which lets you drive for 30 days after entry. Japanese visitors use a Japanese licence plus a Chinese translation; visitors from Hong Kong or Macau can rent with a valid Hong Kong or Macau licence, and we recommend bringing an IDP as well. You also need a credit card in your own name. See our Taiwan IDP guide and complete car rental guide for foreign visitors.

Q6. Do I need to put petrol in before I return the car?

No. Fuel is included in the fuel charge — use the fuel card when you fill up, and simply return the car at the booked time.

Q7. Can I pick up at Zuoying HSR Station and return at Kaohsiung Airport?

Yes. One-way rentals between the Kaohsiung locations are common; the price depends on the locations and dates and is shown when you choose different pickup and return points on the booking page.