Nanfang'ao Islands Introduction
The Southern Four Islands National Park is mainly composed of Dongyuping Island, Xiyuping Island, Dongjiyu Island, Xijiyu Island, and surrounding reefs. It is an ecotourism hub, with an underwater paradise filled with lavender forests and purple coral reefs that can be seen from the shore, creating a dreamlike scene. Dongyuping Island is the last island formed by volcanic lava in Penghu, with highly covered coral areas and rich marine ecology. The undeveloped land retains traditional Penghu houses and vegetable farms built from basalt and coral reef rock, as well as Western-style buildings from its prosperous period. The island communities are mainly distributed in low-lying areas in the west and southwest, with houses predominantly being traditional Min-style architecture, built along hillsides to avoid the wind. The north-south road stretches with vast vegetable farms and terraced fields on both slope sides, illustrating the agricultural life of the past. Additionally, many basalt columnar joint landscapes can be observed in the back mountains of Dongyuping Island, including sea erosion grooves, sea stacks, sea caves, and geological landscapes formed by the varying cooling times of lava, creating both columnar and plate-like joints. Xiyuping Island is located to the northwest of Dongyuping Island and features a square mountain terrain. Due to the terrain, the villages cannot gather at the port, so they choose to settle in flat areas on the slopes. Since there are no wind-sheltering valleys on the island, settlements primarily cluster in the low-lying areas of the plateau. The road from the dock to the inland community is about 50 meters long and known as "Haohan Slope." Passing through the slope, one can see traditional Penghu houses made of pebbles and basalt. Most villages are concentrated in the southern end, while there is less development in the northern end, allowing for richer geological landscapes in the south, including coastlines made of large gravel stones. On the left side of the gravel, there is a small island called "Little Anvil," and from a distance, one can see Toujin Island. Currently, many local residents have moved away, and most residences have deteriorated over time, with the "Hua Niang Temple" being the most well-preserved building, reflecting the grandeur of the past through its gold stove and temple design. Dongjiyu, also known as Dongji Island, is an important point on the Taipeng shipping route and has historically been a transit hub for maritime trade between Taiwan and Penghu, earning the nickname "Little Shanghai." During the Japanese colonial period, military camps and lighthouses were constructed at both ends of the island to ensure control over Taiwan and Penghu, establishing it as the first maritime barrier between them, while the Dongji Lighthouse in the north also serves as the highest point on the island. Local residents raise sheep on the island, and climbing up the slopes allows one to see many black-and-white sheep grazing and resting, creating a pleasant sight. Xijiyu, also known as Xiji Island, is another important point on the Taipeng shipping route. Due to its remote location and inconvenient transportation, residents face difficulties in making a living, leading to a sharp population decline. On July 1, 1978, the government assisted in relocating the village, and the island is now abandoned. A notable attraction is the West Ji Blue Cave, which is a unique sea erosion cave in Penghu, preserved due to the absence of human damage.
Xiyu Ping
Dongji Island
