Dapiaojucun Introduction
A Must-Visit for Ancient Houses in Dongju When visiting Dongju, exploring old houses is an essential itinerary. In addition to the Fuzheng settlement located below the lighthouse, the Dapu settlement near the Dapu Stone Carvings is also worth a visit. The term "pu" in Fuzhou dialect means a small harbor. The Dapu settlement faces south, and it used to be the second-largest traditional fishing village in Dongju, next to Fuzheng. At its peak, there were over 50 households and more than 200 residents, with dozens of fishing boats of various sizes docked in the harbor, indicating a thriving population. The nearby waters were once abundant in yellow croaker, pomfret, and ribbon fish, making it a natural harbor. Additionally, the settlement across from "Duimien Mountain" (also known as Louzitian) effectively blocked the invasion of winter north winds. Therefore, the island’s residents often changed their fishing ports according to the seasonal wind patterns, leading to the living custom of "Fuzheng in summer, Dapu in winter." Since the end of military control in 1992 and a sharp decline in fish catches, the population gradually started to migrate away. The Dapu settlement even became a place overrun with weeds, inhabited only by spirits and devoid of human presence, a stark contrast to its former fishing village glory. However, in the past decade, with the collaboration of concerned individuals and government revitalization policies, new residents and artists have settled in, restoring houses and breathing life back into the old buildings, gradually drawing residents back, along with guesthouses and tourists, allowing Dapu to experience a rebirth. Expansive Views from Dapu Dongyang Mountain Standing at the observation deck on the cape of the Dapu settlement, the expansive view makes it the best spot to admire Lin'ao Islet. Heading northeast along Dapu Road and turning east at the shooting range leads to the newly opened Dongyang Mountain Trail. The Dongyang Mountain Trail and Beigan Luoban Mountain Nature Trail are regarded as two of the best hiking trails in Matsu, showcasing magnificent scenery.
