Qitou to Niaoyu ferry: four round trips a day, with the first two starting on Niaoyu

Head for Qitou fishing harbor in Baisha Township and look for the township boat named Niaoyu. Its November table lists eight departures a day: 07:15, 11:30, 16:00 and 17:00 from Qitou to Niaoyu, and 07:00, 07:40, 13:30 and 16:30 from Niaoyu back to Qitou. The township posted that table on its website on October 30, and it matches the winter timetable that has applied to all four of its island boats since October 1 and runs until November 30.

Check the direction before planning a day trip. Both early boats start on Niaoyu, so the first departure from Qitou is not until 07:15, and the last boat off the island is at 16:30, earlier than the last ones from Qitou. Fridays change only one thing: the final departure from Qitou moves to 17:10, which in November falls on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th.

The relief boat Aiguo steps in for the first two round trips on November 10–14 and 25–29, at unchanged times, with the Niaoyu back in service each afternoon. The October sheet had already been revised once, relayed by Xiyu Township on October 8, to line up with school buses at the end of the day. A December table had not been published by October 30.

Eight crossings a day on the Niaoyu line

Baisha Township's November 2026 table for the boat Niaoyu (November 1–30), identical to its winter all-islands timetable (October 1 – November 30); December not yet published. Checked October 30, 2026.   Baisha Township Office – Niaoyu boat, November 2026 table · 2026-10-30

NT$100 on the Niaoyu line

Niaoyu costs NT$100 each way, the same as the township boats to Yuanbei and Dacang, while Jibei costs NT$150. The township's fare page, its winter timetable and the scenic area's island-hopping page all give that figure. There is no charge for Baisha residents or for the youngest children (the notice says three full years or younger).

Three groups pay half: children between 3 and 11, anyone with a disability handbook, and over-65s, a category the winter sheet confines to Republic of China nationals. Because the township does not print a half-fare amount, this page does not show one.

Baisha Township fare notice, matching the fare row of the winter timetable. Checked October 30, 2026.   Baisha Township Office – public boat fares · 2026-10-30

Qitou harbor and the Yuanbei boat next door

Qitou is the starting point for two township lines: the boat Niaoyu, and the boat Yuanbei to the island of the same name. On the winter timetable the Yuanbei boat leaves Qitou at 11:00 and 17:10 and comes back from Yuanbei at 06:30 and 13:30, so check the name on the hull before you board.

Baisha's other public boat for visitors, to Jibei, leaves from Chikan rather than Qitou; see the Chikan to Jibei ferry page.

East from Qitou to Niaoyu

Niaoyu sits east of Qitou, and the boat runs between two fishing harbors, Qitou's and Niaoyu's. No crossing time is published, and none is derived here from the departures. The two markers are OpenStreetMap features.

The township's November table gives each day four rows. The left column is 'Niaoyu to Qitou', the right 'Qitou to Niaoyu', and each row pairs one departure from each side. Blue shading marks the relief boat Aiguo, and the red 17:10 is the later Friday departure. Go by the headings, since the day's first boat sets out from Niaoyu.

Before you sail to Niaoyu

• Islanders board first

  Anyone registered in Baisha is guaranteed a place up to a quarter of an hour before sailing; after that, unclaimed places go to whoever is waiting on the quay.

• Mornings start on the island

  The 07:00 and 07:40 both leave from Niaoyu. From Qitou the first boat is 07:15.

• Afternoon cut-off

  The last boat off Niaoyu is 16:30, while Qitou still has departures at 16:00 and 17:00, or 17:10 on Fridays.

• Relief boat Aiguo

  The Aiguo replaces the Niaoyu for the two morning round trips on November 10–14 and 25–29; times stay the same.

• Line phone

  The winter timetable lists 0911-784-773 for the Niaoyu line. The township says Friday and holiday last sailings may change with demand.

One of Baisha Township's four island boats

The Niaoyu is one of four island boats run by Baisha Township, alongside the Baisha Star No. 2 to Jibei and the boats Yuanbei and Dacang. All four appear on one winter sheet with the same rules: islanders travel free, while kids, over-65s and people with a disability handbook pay half. Each line has its own contact number at the foot of the sheet; for Niaoyu it is 0911-784-773.

Footnotes on that sheet set out how seats are shared: islanders registered in Baisha get first claim up to a quarter of an hour before sailing. Commercial extra trips laid on by the operator can be reserved, though islanders then lose that claim and pay like anyone else. For the timetable, the scenic area's island-hopping page simply points to the township, quoting NT$100 for Niaoyu.

Qitou–Niaoyu boat: practical questions