A Half-Day Walk Through Nanliao's Old Houses: Huxi Daily Life Among Coral-Stone Lanes and Colorful Buoys

When traveling to Huxi in Penghu, many people put Kueibishan, Aimen Beach, or Lintou Park on their list; but if you want to see a quieter, village-level face of the area on the same route, the Nanliao old-house cluster is well worth a half-day of your time. It doesn't rely on a single landmark — instead it brings together coral-stone walls, old-house lanes, buoy installations, farmland scenery, and local life on the same scale, letting travelers walk slowly and come to understand Penghu's daily life.

According to the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration's attraction listing, the Nanliao old-house cluster has drawn travelers in recent years because artists used fishing buoys as creative material, arranging colorful buoys through lanes surrounded by coral-stone buildings. The official Huxi and South Penghu cycling routes also list Nanliao Community as a stop, noting that it preserves old houses and vegetable-garden walls, and features nearby highlights such as the hidden buoy spot, Nanliao Niushiku, and a small farmers' market. In other words, the point of Nanliao isn't "finding one wall to photograph," but taking in photography, walking, and local culture together.

Look at the stone walls first, then the color

The most eye-catching thing at Nanliao is the colorful buoys, but what's most worth taking your time over is the stone walls and old houses behind them. Traditional Penghu villages often built their walls from local materials, and the thick stonework doesn't just form the texture of the lanes — it's also tied to wind protection, shade, and boundaries of daily life. When you walk into Nanliao, slow down first and notice how the walls turn corners, how doorways face the lanes, and how the height of the houses hugs the wind; these details are what turn a pretty photo backdrop into a travel memory with real context.

The buoy installations add a bright layer of expression to the village. Originally tied to fishing and coastal life, they've been transformed into a splash of color running through the lanes. When taking photos, look for angles where light passes through the buoys, and try including the coral-stone walls, eaves, and pavement in the frame rather than chasing a fully saturated shot. If you meet other visitors, leave room to pass and avoid blocking lane entrances or residents' doorways — it makes the whole walk feel more relaxed for everyone.

How to plan a half-day itinerary

Nanliao pairs well with a Huxi route. In the morning, you can start from Magong or your accommodation and walk through Nanliao before the midday sun gets strong; if you also want to see the sea the same day, choose to connect to Kueibishan, Lintou Park, or Aimen Beach depending on tides, weather, and your companions' stamina. Don't turn the Huxi sights into a nonstop sprint, because Nanliao's charm needs you to stop and look — a single wall, a stretch of lane, one corner, all reward a longer look more than a rushed check-in.

1. Morning version:After breakfast, head to Nanliao, first walk through the old-house cluster and buoy lanes, then find a shaded spot to rest and hydrate.
2. Afternoon version:Avoid the hottest hours, arrive at Nanliao before evening to see the slanting light, then connect to the Huxi coast or dinner in Magong.
3. Family version:Turn it into tasks like finding colors, looking at stone walls, and identifying wind direction, without forcing in too many sights.
4. Photography version:Bring both wide-angle and mid-focal-length views, capturing both the big scene and details like door frames, gaps between stones, and the play of light on the buoys.

Keep a sense of boundaries while you walk

Nanliao is still a community with its own local rhythm of life, not a fully enclosed photo studio. When you come across private homes, courtyards that aren't open, parked vehicles, or residents' everyday paths, please keep your distance; don't go inside doorways just to take a photo, and don't move buoys, stones, or roadside objects. If there are markets, exhibits, or guided activities, opening arrangements may change depending on the date and on-site setup, so it's still worth confirming with official sources or operators before you go.

Penghu's sun and wind are both intense, and while Nanliao's lanes offer some shade, that doesn't mean you can skip a hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. In summer it's best to head out early, and in winter pay attention to how strong wind affects the felt temperature. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than stylish ones; stone slabs, slopes, or uneven paths can get slippery after rain, so when traveling with older family members or children, leave generous time for stops.

Think of Nanliao as a gateway to your Huxi trip

What makes Nanliao likable is how it brings together elements of Penghu that are often seen separately: coastal fishing gear, farmland scenery, old-house stone walls, light and shadow in the lanes, and community regeneration. You can treat it as a gateway to your Huxi trip — first understand how people live in a windy, low-rainfall, coastal environment, then go see the beaches, tidal zones, and coastline, and the whole route will have more depth.

If you'd like to arrange the Nanliao old-house cluster, the Huxi coastline, a family walk, and meals into a smooth itinerary, feel free to tell us your travel dates, group members, and transportation through Chaolyu International Travel itinerary consultation. We can help arrange sightseeing stops, travel time, and rest points to better match your actual stamina; before you actually depart, please also reconfirm official information, weather, and on-site opening conditions.