Lanyu

Lanyu (蘭嶼), also known as Orchid Island, or Pongso no Tao to its Indigenous inhabitants, is a volcanic island located 64 kilometers southeast of Taiwan. The island is the traditional homeland of the Tao (達悟) people, whose culture centers around the annual flying fish harvest (飛魚文化) and distinctive underground houses (地下屋) designed to withstand typhoons. The mountainous island, reaching 552 meters at its highest point, supports several endemic species and maintains a rich Indigenous cultural heritage despite modernization pressures.