Qingfan Harbor Introduction
Qingfan Harbor, located on the southern coast of Xiju Island, serves as an important gateway for entering and exiting Xiju, as well as the administrative center of Juguang Township. Originally named "Qingfan," it is said to have been named due to the presence of foreigners living here. Qingfan Village, perched on the hillside, offers excellent views of the boundless sea, with its white mountain town harmonizing with the vast blue sky, exuding a Mediterranean charm. Covering an area of approximately 134 hectares, Qingfan Village is a commercial center, settlement, and harbor, making it the most bustling village on Xiju Island. During the prosperous late Qing period, it was the only place in Matsu to establish a "town," where Chinese and foreign ships had to wait at Qingfan Bay for tide supplies before entering the Min River. This led to vibrant trade and thus it earned the nickname "Little Hong Kong." At its peak, it included Qingdongli and Qingxili and remains the most lively market in Juguang, with merchants, markets, dining, and government agencies concentrated here. Walking between the village houses, the slogans on the stone walls and steps make one feel as if they have stepped back in time. The ancient houses in the village are nestled among modern buildings, while fishing huts are tightly sealed, the once-thriving maritime memories have faded. The national emblem above the doorways of old houses sighs in the passage of time. The Tianhou Temple of Qingfan stands above the old street, and the imposing Chen Yuan Shuai Temple by the harbor serves as the religious center of the village and the entire island, with a strong flow of incense. In the late 1920s, the pro-Japanese puppet "Second Route Army of the Peaceful Salvation Army" was stationed here; by the late 1930s, the East China Forces moved in, setting up their command at "Shanhai Yi Jia." In the early 1940s, during the Korean War, the CIA of the United States operated under the name "Western Company" and collected intelligence in Qingfan Mountain, causing the American flag—the Stars and Stripes—to fly in Qingfan Village for a period of time. Thus, Qingfan Harbor has a rich cultural history that tells the local story. The Chen Yuan Shuai Temple of Xiju, a unique local faith, is dedicated to Chen Yuan Shuai, whose birth name was Chen Tangming. Known for his sense of justice, he was affectionately called Brother Chen. After his passing, his remains were said to have drifted to Qingfan Harbor for three days and nights, prompting the ancestors to vow to properly bury him if they returned from the sea with a full load. When their wish came true, curiosity grew, and they vowed again to build a temple in his honor if they caught a headless yellow croaker, which also came true the next day, leading to the establishment and worship of the temple to this day.
