Nansha Islands Introduction
The Southern Four Islands National Park mainly consists of Dongyuping Island, Xiyuping Island, Dongjij Island, Xijij Island, and surrounding reefs. It is a hub for ecological tourism, with an entire secret wilderness of lavender forests hidden underwater, where purple coral reefs cover the seabed, creating a dreamy sight visible even from the shore. Dongyuping Island is the last island formed by the volcanic lava of Penghu, and its waters boast a high coverage of coral and a rich marine ecosystem, along with untouched land where traditional Penghu houses built from basalt and coral remain, showcasing the grand architecture of its prosperous era. The island settlements are mainly distributed in the lowlands to the west and southwest, with houses mostly being traditional Minnan-style buildings, constructed in reverse along the windy hills from south to north. Along the northern and southern road cut slopes, there are expansive vegetable gardens and terraced fields, reminiscent of past agricultural life. In addition, the back mountain of Dongyuping Island features many geological landscapes of basalt joints, including sea-eroded gullies, sea-eroded pillars, and sea-eroded caves, as well as columnar and plate joint geological formations resulting from varying cooling times of lava eruptions. Xiyuping Island, located northwest of Dongyuping Island, has a quadrangular mountain terrain. Due to its terrain, villages could not gather by the port and chose to settle on flat areas on the hills. Additionally, there are no sheltered valleys on the island, leading to settlements concentrated in the low-lying areas of the plateau. The road from the dock to the inland settlements is about 50 meters long and is called "Hero Slope." Walking up the slope, one can see the traditional ancient buildings of Penghu made from gravel and basalt. Since most villages are concentrated in the southern end, there is less development in the northern end, resulting in richer geological landscapes in the south, where a coastal area made up of large gravel can be seen, along with a small island known as "Little Anvil" on the left side, with Touwu Island visible in the distance. Many local residents have relocated, and most of the houses have deteriorated over time. The "Hua Niang Temple" remains the best-preserved building, allowing a glimpse into the glory of the past through its incense burner and architectural design. Dongjij Island, also known as Dongjij Island, is an important point on the Taichung-Penghu shipping route and has historically served as a hub for maritime trade. It earned the nickname "Little Shanghai." During the Japanese occupation, military camps and lighthouses were built at both the northern and southern ends of the island to ensure control over the Taichung-Penghu area and to guard the nearby waters, becoming the first maritime barrier between Taichung and Penghu. The Dongjij Lighthouse built in the north is also the highest point on the island. Residents here graze sheep, and climbing the hills offers a pleasant view of many black-and-white sheep grazing peacefully. Xijij Island, also known as Xijij Island, is another key point on the Taichung-Penghu shipping route. Due to its remote location and inconvenient transportation, residents struggle to make a living, leading to a sharp decrease in population. On July 1, 1978, the government assisted in relocating the village, and the island is now abandoned. A well-known attraction is the Xijij Blue Cave, a unique sea-erosion cave in Penghu, which retains its complete natural landscape due to the absence of human destruction.
Xiyu Ping
Dongji Islet
