Nanfangao Islands Introduction
Nansha Islands National Park is mainly composed of Dongji Ping Island, Xi Ji Ping Island, Dongji Island, and Xi Ji Island, along with surrounding reefs. It is a hub for ecotourism, with an underwater paradise of lavender forests and purple coral reefs that can be seen from the shore, creating a dreamlike scene. Dongji Ping Island is the last island formed from the volcanic lava of Penghu, with a highly covered coral reef and rich marine ecosystems in its waters. The land, which has not been overdeveloped, retains traditional Penghu houses and vegetable farms built with basalt and coral reefs, as well as grand western-style buildings from its prosperous period. The island settlements are mainly distributed in low-lying areas to the west and southwest, where the houses are largely traditional Hokkien architecture, built on hillside shelters from south to north. Both sides of the northern and southern road blocks have expansive vegetable farms and terraced fields, allowing one to imagine the agricultural life of the past. In addition, the back mountains of Dongji Ping Island showcase various basalt columnar joint landscapes, including sea erosion grooves, sea stake columns, sea erosion caves, and geological landscapes formed from different cooling times of lava with both columnar and planar joints. Xi Ji Ping Island, located to the northwest of Dongji Ping Island, features a square-shaped landform. Due to this terrain, communities cannot cluster at the port, so people choose to settle on flat areas atop slopes. Moreover, since there are no sheltered valleys on the island, settlements are primarily concentrated in the depressions of the tableland. The road from the pier to the inland settlement is about 50 meters long, known as "Hero Slope." Passing through this incline, one can see traditional Penghu houses made from pebbles and basalt stacked together. As most villages are concentrated in the southern end, the northern end has less infrastructure, leading to a richer geological landscape in the south. Along the coast, large pebbles are visible, and on the left side of the gravel, a small islet known as "Xiao Tie An" can be seen in the distance, along with the headscarf island nearby. Today, many local residents have moved away, and most houses have been damaged over time. The "Hua Niang Temple" is currently the best-preserved structure, and one can trace its former glory from the design of its incense burner and building. Dongji Island, also known as Dongji Island, is an important point on the Taichung-Penghu maritime route and has been a transshipment station for maritime trade between Taiwan and Penghu since ancient times, earning the nickname "Little Shanghai." During the Japanese occupation, to ensure territorial control over Taiwan and Penghu, military camps and lighthouses were built at both ends of the island, with soldiers stationed to control the adjacent sea areas, making it the first maritime barrier between Taiwan and Penghu. The Dongji Lighthouse, located at the northern end, is also the highest point on the island. Local residents graze sheep on the island, and one can see many black and white sheep grazing on the slopes, creating a pleasant scene. Xi Ji Island, also known as Xi Ji Island, is an important point on the Taichung-Penghu maritime route. Due to its remote location and inconvenient transportation, residents face difficulties in making a living, leading to a sharp decrease in population. On July 1, 1978, the government assisted with relocation, and the island is now uninhabited. A notable attraction is the Xi Ji Blue Cave, a unique natural sea erosion cave in Penghu that has retained its complete natural landscape due to the lack of human destruction.
Xiyu Ping
Dongji Island
