The Penghu Islands: The Fairyland in the Far East

Penghu Islands, Taiwan
By Theresa Yiju Lin

The Penghu Islands is internationally known as The Pescadores, meaning “the islands of fishermen” in Portuguese. Lying on the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China, some reporters named the Penghu Islands “the pearls scattered in the sea by the fairy” to compliment its splendor. Penghu possesses an important geological position for it is the only island with the coastlines formed of basalt magma.

The Penghu Islands consist of 64 isles, currently there are about 92,253 people living on 20 different islands. The rest of the islands are awaiting to be discovered. Each year, Penghu attracts a great variety of artists and tourists to the islands by the energizing wind, sapphire oceans, sunshine beaches and welcoming people.

The flowers of the islands

The colorful chrysanthemum called “The Immortals” are the flowers of Penghu county. The poets from the islands said that Penghu is a place that does not grow roses and tulips, but “The Immortals” bring liveliness to it. The short film, A Love Letter, comes from Chrysanthemum Island, captures the exquisiteness of Penghu.

Archeologists proved that since thousands of years ago, human beings lived on the islands. Penghu has the longest recorded history of Taiwan. The Mongols first occupied Penghu and founded an official government agency during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368 A.D.). Later, it was also ruled by Dutch, Chinese and Japanese.

Man-made fishing trap

The natural harbors and ample oceanic life have drawn fishermen to Penghu since 1171. Fishing is still the residents’ mainstay of income, even the smallest village harbors own several fishing boats. Although some islanders do farm, growing plants is a great challenge in this windy, dry place. Mining is another one of the most significant industries. The principal mineral product is agate (veined stone). Penghu of Taiwan and Italy are two of the world’s largest agate producing areas. The agate is recognized as the best worldwide because of its gorgeous colors and superior quality. Recently the improved transportation system has helped Penghu to develop tourism.

Makung City (Tungpan Island and Huching Island) is the largest city in the Penghu Islands. Makung is also called the City of Matsu, the goddess of the sea by the locals. Fifty-four thousand people reside in the area. Penghu County has the more temples than any other region in Taiwan. The main attractions of Makung City are the temples that carry a long history of religious lifestyle.

Hushi (Chishan Island and Tingkuo Island) is the main region of agriculture. The main sightseeing spots include the ancestors’ temples in the area and the longest coastline among all the towns of Penghu.

Trans-ocean Bridge

The Trans-ocean Bridge linking Paisha Island and Shiyu Island is the first sea-crossing bridge in the Far East. The original bridge was 2,159 meters long and 5.1 meters wide. It was built in 1970. However, because of the damage of the weather and the ocean tides, the bridge was rebuilt and opened to the public in 1996. The new bridge is 2,494 meters long and 13 meters wide. It adds great value to tourism and transportation.

Paisha (Mutou Island, Chipei Island, Kupo Island, Paisha Island, Datzan Island, Yuanpei Island, Bird Island and Hsienchiao Island) is famous for folktales and seaweed. The new, popular business in Chipei Island is film production, which brings more tourists to visit the places that were shown on screens.

In Shiyu (Hsiaomen Island), Erkan Ancient Residence is a well-known third-class historic site. Its classical sculpture and paintings created a master piece of artwork and fascinated artists and tourists worldwide. Shiyu also hosted the annual festival to ease the dead, which is an important ceremony in Taiwan.

Each year, Penghu attracts numerous divers

The beauty and its unique natural environment of Wangan (Wangan Island, General Island, Hua Island, Cat Island and Tongchi Island) attract not only tourists but also green turtles to lay their eggs. Wangan Island became the preservation area for green turtles in 1994. Chungse Ancient Residence Area is also in Wangan and comparative well-reserved. To protect the 44 types of seabirds that visit Cat Island annually, the Taiwanese government designated the area as a Seabird Preservation Area in 1991.

The southernmost island, Chimei (Chimei Islands) has many interesting historical stories. The place is named after the seven beauties that jumped into a well. The seven trees grew beside the well after they passed away, motivating the governor to propose a name change for Chimei. The residences in Chimei are mostly built in stones and basalt rocks. Inhabitants showed their talent in utilizing the natural resources by building the Double-Heart of Stacked Stones for trapping fish as the tide fades away.

One remarkable plant grown vastly in Penghu is the cactus. Cactus was originated in Mexico and West India, but it was the Dutch who brought cactus to Penghu in the year of 1645. There are six different types of the cactus rooted in Penghu. One of the cactus fruit is collected when ripe to make cactus ice cream. Some residents in Paisha sold cactus ice cream for a living for decades.
The best time to visit for water-sports and sea-activities enthusiasts is from May to October. However, during the winter time, visitors often stick with the natural and historical attractions.

For more information and links about touring the Penghu Islands, visit the official Web site at http://penghu.phhg.gov.tw/.