Xiyu Ping Introduction
Xiyu Pingyu is located in the South Sea of Penghu, administratively known as Xiping Village, and is governed by Wangan Township. It is an offshore island about five nautical miles away from Wangan Township and approximately twenty-three nautical miles from the administrative center of Penghu County, Magong City, with a travel time of seventy-five minutes. Xiyu Pingyu, one of the South Four Islands of Penghu, is situated northwest of Dongyu Pingyu, covering an area of 0.3477 square kilometers, with its highest elevation reaching about 42 meters. The island features a roughly quadrilateral mountainous terrain and lacks a port, with only one wharf located on the southeastern side. Due to the terrain, village buildings cannot cluster around the port, leading residents to settle in flatter areas on the mountain tops, forming a unique landscape and cultural characteristics on a platform in the central part of the island. The southeastern coastline of Xiyu Pingyu showcases dramatic sea cliffs and sea-eroded valleys. Many residents have moved away, and most old houses have deteriorated due to years of neglect, with the village's spiritual center, Huaniang Temple, being the best-preserved structure. Huaniang Temple primarily worships deities such as Wushua, Mazu, Santai Zi, and General Chen. Although its scale and appearance are somewhat less impressive compared to temples on other islands, the design of the incense burner and temple architecture still recalls its past glory during its initial construction. The path from the wharf to the inland settlement is about 50 meters long and is known as "Haohan Slope." Upon conquering the sloped test, visitors can see traditional Penghu houses made of coral stone and basalt stacked together. As there are no wind-sheltering valleys on the island, settlements are often located in low-lying sections of the plateau. Most residents of Xiyu Pingyu have relocated elsewhere, and many traditional houses are in a state of ruin, with a few well-preserved ones where villagers return to their hometowns for the temple festival each year to tidy up. On the northern side of the island lies the Tudi Gong Temple, facing south and located separately from the Huaniang Temple by the wharf to ward off negative energies from the north and protect the village. The coastal landscape next to the Tudi Gong Temple is characterized by volcanic gravel rock formations, with distant views of the Headscarf and Anvil. The settlement is primarily concentrated in the southern end of Xiyu Pingyu, while there are fewer constructions in the northern end. This results in a richer and more diverse geological landscape in the northern area, which is composed of large pebble beaches. On the left side of the pebble beach, a "small anvil" can be seen, with the Headscarf visible in the distance.
