The Magong North Loop (route number 0162) is a sightseeing shuttle operated under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Administration’s “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle” brand in Penghu, run by the Penghu County Public Vehicles and Ships Administration. It starts and ends at Xiwei East Station and runs as a single-direction loop covering 19 stops. One trip connects Magong Port, the Great Bridge (Xiyu end), Sanxian Pagoda, the Daguoye Basalt Columns, Erkan Village, and the Tongliang Old Banyan in sequence, making it the most direct public transport option for independent travellers who are not driving or renting a scooter, as well as for families and senior groups wanting to cover the northern ring on a single ticket.
Route highlights
The main value of this route is that it links the scattered attractions of the northern ring into a single trip. The northern sights are spread far apart — the Great Bridge crosses the Houmen Channel between Baisha and Xiyu, Sanxian Pagoda sits above Waian Fishing Port at the southern tip of Xiyu, the Daguoye Basalt Columns and Erkan Village are on the central west coast of Xiyu, and the Tongliang Old Banyan stands beside Bao’an Temple in Tongliang Village, Baisha. Regular county buses are commuter-oriented and split these stops across different routes, but the Magong North Loop reorders them around a sightseeing flow, letting travellers visit them in order without transfers.
The attractions along the route complement each other. The Great Bridge is Penghu’s most iconic landmark. Sanxian Pagoda offers views of Waian Fishing Port and its sunsets. The Daguoye Basalt Columns are a geological marvel in the rainy season, when water reflects the columnar jointing. Erkan is a well-preserved coral-stone old settlement. The Tongliang Old Banyan pairs a 300-year-old banyan tree with the everyday life of the Bao’an Temple plaza. One trip covers geology, settlements, and coastal views — far more efficient than piecing together county bus routes yourself.
Stop order and loop direction
0162 is a single-direction loop, following the stop sequence published on TDX:
- Outbound (from the Magong end): Xiwei East Station → Magong Port Station → Central Bus Station → Freedom Tower (Shengguo) → Third Fishing Port (Yalin) → Wen’ao (Yuantai, Discovery) → Dongwei Station → Great Bridge (Xiyu end) → Sanxian Pagoda → Daguoye Basalt Columns → Erkan Village → Tongliang Old Banyan.
- Return (retracing the route back to Magong): Tongliang Old Banyan → Dongwei Station → Wen’ao → Third Fishing Port → Freedom Tower → Central Bus Station → Magong Port Station → Xiwei East Station.
Note that the Great Bridge stop is on the “Xiyu end” — you alight after crossing the bridge. The next stop, Sanxian Pagoda, goes straight to the viewing platform above Waian at the southern tip of Xiyu, skipping Xiaomen and Zhuwan in between. Travellers heading to the Xiaomen Whale Cave should take Waian Line 0758 instead.
When to ride
The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle runs far less frequently than urban buses, so catching the first service of the day gives you enough time to spend about 40 to 60 minutes at each attraction. Erkan Village and the Tongliang Old Banyan both require time on foot, and short stops will not be enough to explore them.
For weather, April through June and September through October are the most stable seasons, and they coincide with the Penghu International Fireworks Festival (launched at Guanyinting every Monday and Thursday from April to June). In midsummer (July and August), the Great Bridge is exposed to strong wind and sun, so bring a hat and water. From November through March, the northeast monsoon is pronounced and stops on the Xiyu end are exposed to strong winds — seniors and travellers with children should dress warmly, and services are often reduced, so confirm that day’s departures before setting out. If you plan to catch an evening flight or ferry back to Taiwan’s main island, take an early return service to allow buffer time for potential traffic on the bridge.
Fare notes
Fares for 0162 are published on TDX using distance-based zones. For the longest segments (from Xiwei East Station to Sanxian Pagoda, Daguoye, Erkan, or Tongliang — all west of the Great Bridge / Xiyu end), a single adult fare can reach three digits in NT dollars. If you plan to alight at more than two attractions in one day, buying the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Penghu day pass is usually the better value.