Green turtles grazing on seagrass in a metre of water, often several in sight at once, plus the wave-cut Vase Rock that is the…Green turtles grazing on seagrass in a metre of water, often several in sight at once, plus the wave-cut Vase Rock that is the island's emblem, coral limestone caves and lagoons, and the intertidal life the local guides walk you through at low tide. Xiaoliuqiu is a raised coral platform rather than a volcanic island, which is why it has caves and no rivers. Its Dutch-era name, Lambai, comes from the massacre of the island's indigenous inhabitants by the Dutch East India Company in 1636. Turtle numbers recovered after the island's snorkelling economy replaced its fishing one. Anchorage: Anchor or berth at Baishawei; the island is a short hop from Donggang on the Taiwanese mainland. Hazards: Boat traffic, and rules against touching or chasing turtles that are actively enforced. Altro