Jinsha Settlement Introduction
The Shimmering Golden Light of Matsu Nangan's Back Garden When it comes to classic stone house architecture, Beigan has Qinbi, and Nangan has Jinsah. The Jinsah settlement is located at the foot of Yuntai Mountain, protruding into the bay at the southwestern tip of Nangan Island. It is the closest settlement to the largest fishing village on the mainland, and due to the fine sandy beaches that were once filled with golden sand, it is named Jinsah (translated as "Gold Sand"), which is an excellent place for watching sunsets and walking on the beach, as it retains the complete traditional stone houses and has attracted attention. After a century of grandeur, the remaining buildings in Jinsah, though weathered and worn, still preserve their rustic beauty. The settlement is divided into four areas: Aozhong, East Mountain, West Mountain, and Xidi. Since the late Qing Dynasty, residents from Lienchiang, Changle, and Langi Island have gradually settled here, making it the village in Matsu with the most immigrants from the mainland's Lienchiang County. In the early days, fishing was prosperous, and residents engaged not only in sea fishing but also in brewing, medicine shops, businesses, and tobacco shops, making it the second-largest village in Nangan at that time; there was also a private school in the village, leading to a flourishing literary culture. During the war, Japanese troops held positions at "Yanlu" on West Mountain to control the entrance and exit of the Min River, and nearby fishing grounds were damaged, causing residents to migrate away. In recent years, the county government and community development associations have worked tirelessly to rejuvenate the dilapidated old houses, transforming them into old taverns and guest houses, breathing new life into the old structures. Walking through the ancient alleys, every turn is a new scenery, and the century-old banyan trees in the settlement are also points not to be missed. The amazing group of ancient houses on the stone steps of West Mountain, built against the mountainside, forms an unevenly arranged settlement that looks like a mountain city from afar. The regeneration and revitalization of the idle spaces in the village have once again made Jinsah a charming town in Matsu. Coastal Camouflage Scenery – Bunker Convenience Store On the edge of the Aokou seawall stands a camouflage building, which is an old air raid shelter renovated into a restroom, now called the "Bunker Convenience Store," providing an easy way for visitors playing in the sand and water to clean up. Jinsah's Good Wine - Fragrance of Alcohol in Every Alley Jinsah Village is renowned for brewing traditional wine, with a row of wine jars lined up neatly on the stone wall at the entrance of the settlement. The good wine brewed from the sweet water of the village's wells, along with various dishes made with red yeast rice, are must-tries for foodies. The Only Black-faced Mazu in All of Matsu The Tianhou Temple in Jinsah is the center of faith for the residents of Jinsah Village and is one of the three major Tianhou temples in Nangan. Unlike the Young Lady Mazu of Jinbanjing Tianhou Temple and the Pink-faced Mazu of Mazu Jing Tianhou Temple, Jinsah houses the only "Black-faced Mazu" in all of Matsu. According to legend, the Tianhou Temple in Jinsah was originally dedicated to the Pink-faced Mazu statue, but during the temple reconstruction, the sculptor received a dream of the Mazu appearing with a black face. After consulting with the village elders, the Black-faced Mazu was sculpted.
