Daqiu Island Introduction
Searching for Formosan Sika Deer, Matsu's Little Nara, the island known as "Deer Island," is Daqiu Island, located north of Beigan and next to Gaodeng Island. You need to take inter-island ferry services to get there. Once, it was inhabited and had military garrisons, with the population peaking at over 300 residents. However, due to changes in the times and population migration to Nankan and Beikan, Daqiu Island became uninhabited and is now Matsu's only uninhabited island open for exploration. There is an ecological trail about 400-500 meters long on Daqiu Island, where you can see various cute forms of the Formosan Sika Deer and military installations. Besides the deer, during the summer, there is also a chance to see flying terns. If you visit Matsu, don't miss the opportunity to visit Daqiu Island, as its unique ecological environment is unforgettable. Encountering Formosan Sika Deer in Matsu, around 1980, Taipei's Yuanshan Zoo gifted five Formosan Sika Deer to the Lienchiang County government. After core breeding and assessment, they were transported to Daqiu Island in Beigan for release. Decades have passed, and the deer have adapted to the island's environment, roaming freely and starting to reproduce, with their numbers now several times greater than at the time of release. Experience Daqiu Island, where you can enjoy the locally praised dish of free-range centipede chicken. Besides meeting the Formosan Sika Deer, you can choose to stay at a renovated traditional Min Dong house or experience the exclusive Flavored Cuisine - centipede chicken. The roasted local chicken is farmed in a free-range manner, thriving on the abundant grasses and moist environment of Daqiu Island, which provides plenty of centipedes and earthworms, making them a nutritious source for these black-boned chickens. The roasted centipede chicken is a delicious specialty that requires reservation on Daqiu Island! Note: For accommodation and delicious experiences, it is recommended to inquire with Daqiu Island Ecological Homestay before your trip.
