Hujingyu Recreational Area Introduction
Hujing Island is the seventh largest island in the Penghu Islands, located 7 nautical miles from Magong City, and features spectacular basalt columnar joints. One of the eight scenic spots in Penghu, Hujing Chengyuan, offers a clear view of the sea floor from the cliff during low tide. According to legend, a tiger once hid in a dried-up cave on the southeastern side of the island, which is how it got the name "Hujing." There is also a theory that the well on the island, which provides fresh water, is called "Haojing" as a homophone for "Hujing" in Minnan dialect, although these theories have not been substantiated and are merely for reference and inspiration. The island is divided into two mountains, with villages located between the East and West Mountains, on a narrow area formed by coral debris. The East Mountain is currently a military restricted area; the West Mountain, after the withdrawal of the military, has been transformed into a park recreational area by the Penghu Management Office, preserving the relics of trenches built by the Japanese army during World War II. Recently, this place has been mistakenly referred to as "the command post of Isoroku Yamamoto’s southern advance," which in reality was only garrisoned by a small naval unit commanded by a lieutenant. When Hujing Island is mentioned, the legend of "Hujing Sunken City" often comes to mind, leading to much speculation and remaining tantalizingly unfinished. The legend speaks of a wall resembling a dilapidated city hidden at the bottom of the Hujing sea area. The truth remains a mystery, leading to a divide in scholarly opinion: one theory suggests that the sunken city is actually a geological formation of barrel-shaped and columnar basalt rock extending into the sea, creating the illusion of a submerged city; the other theory believes that historical records are not baseless, and that the unusual landscape has numerous legends, adding to the mystery of Hujing Island.
