Wai'an Introduction
Wai'an Village is located in the southern part of Xiyu Township, bordering Neian Village to the north. It has a natural barrier, making it less susceptible to northeast monsoon attacks, and has become the most populated community in Xiyu Township. Due to its geographical factors, it is suitable for developing fisheries, which is a primary means of livelihood for most residents. The residents here mainly practice Taoism, with Weng Wang Temple serving as the spiritual center of Wai'an Village, where it houses the deity Weng Fu Wang Ye. During the Lantern Festival, Weng Wang Temple becomes a hub of activities, hosting events such as Koi-catching and Peace Bridge celebrations. In the evening, fishermen, in gratitude for divine protection, pray for a bountiful catch in the coming year. Nearly a thousand fishing boats gather at Wai'an Fishing Port to illuminate the night with illuminated fishing lights, a unique sight called "Wai'an Fishing Lights" during the Lantern Festival, attracting numerous tourists. For a view of Wai'an Fishing Port, one can visit the Wai'an Sanxian Tower, which overlooks the entire Wai'an Village from a higher elevation. The Wai'an Sanxian Tower, also known as Xipu Sanxian Tower, is located on the village's hillside southwest of Weng Wang Temple. It consists of three stone towers standing on a cliff, with a square stone base below and a conical stone structure on top, approximately 2 meters high and 1 meter in diameter, serving to ward off evil and protect the area. The main tower is adorned with a basalt tower tablet. Additionally, Wai'an is home to the "Wai'an Decoy Cannon," recognized as one of the ten historical buildings in Penghu County. During World War II, the Japanese military built a dummy cannon using concrete to mislead the U.S. Air Force bombers, situated in a depression on a plateau, with trenches connecting related facilities. The decoy cannon has an octagonal base and twin cannons, measuring 5.35 meters in width, 6.13 meters in length for the cannons, and 3.16 meters in spacing between them. It served the purpose of deceiving enemies and is a rare and unique military facility, witnessing World War II and reflecting the strategic geographical importance of Wai'an. Furthermore, near the old Wude Airport in the Pengnan District of Magong in Penghu, there is another Wude decoy cannon, believed to have been constructed around the same time as the Wai'an decoy cannon and Gongbei decoy tank, holding significant historical importance.
Wai'an Three Immortals Pagoda
