Guoya Viewing Platform Introduction
Guoya Village has recently become a popular spot for sunrise viewing. It is a quaint fishing village located on the eastern side of Huxi Township. "Guoya" is a colloquial term for a plant known scientifically as "Hibiscus tiliaceus." In the Ming Dynasty, there was a large grove of Guoya trees in this area, making it one of the villages in Penghu named after a plant. Guoya's sunrise is famous, rivaling the sunset at Xiyu, and the small hill to the northeast of the village is the best location for watching the sunrise. Every year during the winter solstice, the ritual ancestral worship activity of the Hsu family in Guoya Village preserves the traditional "soft banquet" custom, and the close community interactions with the nearby Jiu Kui Bi Ao village, as well as the remnants of the gray brickyard within the village, enhance Guoya's rustic charm. In this small village, there are many great spots for watching the sunrise. Unlike the sunrise views over the layered cloud sea of high mountains, the sun in the early morning seems to bounce out of the water, casting red clouds that reflect various shades of red, corresponding to the tranquil beauty of Guoya's sunrise. "Guoya Sunrise" and "Xiyu Sunset" are two major scenic spots in Penghu. If you want to see the sunrise in Guoya, it is recommended to check the sunrise time the night before and allow sufficient travel time. Since the duration of the sunrise is quite short, you should set off early to avoid the disappointment of waking up in the middle of the night from a warm bed and missing it! A tip for visitors is to stand by the sea in Guoya and look towards the east; when the sun rises, the light and cloud refraction often create an illusion resembling a mountain city skyline.
Guoye Sunset Viewing Platform
Guoye Observation Tower Entrance
