On the coral isle of Xiao-liu-qiu off the coast of Ping-tung County, follow the island’s perimeter road and you can admire the distinctive, jagged reef terrain. Drawn by legend, you stroll through renowned attractions such as Beauty’s Cave and Wild Boar Ditch, observing the fantastical scenery of the reefs set in a habitat teeming with life, which steeps the island in a mysterious ambience.
 

Should you visit Xiao-liu-qiu, diving with the sea turtles is an experience absolutely not to be missed. In the deep blue underwater world, some turtles tranquilly forage on a table reef; out of curiosity, others may swim toward a diver. Their front flippers propelling them elegantly forward, side by side with tropical fish amongst the delightful coral, they form an enchanting, dream-like tableau that makes one fall in love with this sea-turtle isle at first sight. 

 

Thanks to efforts by many parties to preserve them, it is commonplace to sight sea turtles around Xiao-liu-qiu. But because these precious creatures cannot distinguish between rubbish and foodstuffs, they often die as the result of mistakenly ingesting plastic waste that floats in the water. HiiN Studio, a Taiwan-based NGO dedicated to raising awareness for protecting the marine environment (“HiiN” stands for hai-ing, meaning “ocean waves” in Taiwanese), has launched a “beach currency” that can actually be used to purchase goods at stores on the island. The intent: to encourage beach cleanup campaigns, popularize the idea of reduced reliance on “single-use” plastic bags, and remind visitors that while enjoying the island scenery, they should also cherish the ocean and help protect the sea turtles.