Orchid Island

For the island in Florida, see Orchid Island (Florida).
Orchid Island
Native name:
Pongso no Tao
Orchid Island in Taiwan
Orchid Island in Taiwan
Orchid Island
Orchid Island in Taiwan
Geography
LocationPhilippine Sea
Coordinates22°03′N 121°32′E / 22.050°N 121.533°E / 22.050; 121.533
Area45 km2 (17 sq mi)
Highest elevation552 m (1811 ft)
Highest pointMount Hongtou
Administration
Republic of China
TownshipLanyu
CountyTaitung
ProvinceTaiwan (streamlined, government dissolved)
Demographics
Population5,255 (February 2023)
Ethnic groupsTao, Han
Orchid Island
The shore of Orchid Island from an imperial Japanese publication (c. 1931)
Traditional Chinese蘭嶼
Literal meaningOrchid Islet(s)
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin
  • Lányǔ
  • Lán Yǔ
Bopomofoㄌㄢˊ ㄩˇ
Wade–Giles
  • Lan2-yü3
  • Lan2 Yü3
Tongyong Pinyin
  • Lán-yǔ
  • Lán Yǔ
IPA
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ
  • Lân-sū
  • Lân Sū
Former names
"Botel" and "Klein Botel Tobago" on a 1905 German map[1]
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese紅頭嶼
Literal meaning
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin
  • Hóngtóuyǔ
  • Hóngtóu Yǔ
Bopomofoㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄩˇ
Wade–Giles
  • Hung2-tʻou2-yü3
  • Hung2-tʻou2 Yü3
Tongyong Pinyin
  • Hóng-tóu-yǔ
  • Hóng-tóu Yǔ
IPA
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ
  • Âng-thâu-sū
  • Âng-thâu Sū
Japanese name
Kanji紅頭嶼
Hiraganaこうとうしょ
Katakanaコウトウショ
Transcriptions
RomanizationKōtōsho
Kunrei-shikiKoutousyo
Lesser Orchid Island
Lesser Orchid Island
Traditional Chinese小蘭嶼
Literal meaningLittle Orchid Islet
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin
  • Xiǎolányǔ
  • Xiǎo Lányǔ
  • Xiǎo Lán Yǔ
Bopomofoㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄢˊ ㄩˇ
Wade–Giles
  • Hsiao3-lan2-yü3
  • Hsiao3 Lan2-yü3
  • Hsiao3 Lan2 Yü3
Tongyong Pinyin
  • Syǎo-lán-yǔ
  • Syǎo Lán-yǔ
  • Syǎo Lán Yǔ
IPA

Orchid Island,[2] also known by other names, is a 45 km2 (17 sq mi) volcanic island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan, which Orchid Island is part of. It is separated from the Batanes of the Philippines by the Bashi Channel of the Luzon Strait. The island and the nearby Lesser Orchid Island are governed as Lanyu Township in Taitung County, which is one of the county's two insular townships (the other being Lyudao Township).

  1. ^ Stöpel, Karl Theodor (1905). Eine Reise in das Innere der Insel Formosa (in German).
  2. ^ RICK CHARETTE (November 2019). "Surf and Turf With Indigenous Influences". Travel in Taiwan. Tourism Bureau, MOTC. p. 39. Orchid Island (Lanyu) 蘭嶼