Jinsha Settlement Introduction
The Shimmering Golden Light of Matsu's Nangan Back Garden When it comes to classic stone house architecture, Beigan has Qinshi, while Nangan has Jintsha. The Jintsha settlement is located at the foot of Yuntai Mountain, protruding into the bay on the southwestern part of Nangan Island, which is the closest place to the largest fishing village settlement of the mainland. It is named Jintsha due to its beaches filled with fine golden sand in the past, making it a great spot for watching sunsets and walking on the beach, as it preserves a complete set of ancient stone houses. After a century of changes, the remaining buildings in Jintsha, though weathered, still retain their rustic charm. The settlement is divided into four areas: Ao Zhong, East Mountain, West Mountain, and Creek Bottom. Since the late Qing Dynasty, residents from Lienjiang, Changle, and Langqi Island gradually moved in, making it the village with the most immigrants from Lienjiang County in Matsu. In earlier years, fishing products flourished, and residents engaged in various industries besides fishing, such as brewing, medicine, commerce, and tobacco shops, making it the second largest village in Nangan. At that time, there were private schools in the village, fostering a strong literary culture. During the war, the Japanese army stationed troops at "Yanlu" in West Mountain to control the navigation of the Min River, and nearby fishing grounds suffered damage, leading to a mass exodus of residents. In recent years, thanks to the efforts of the county government and community development associations, the decaying old houses have regained life, transforming into old taverns and guesthouses, injecting new vitality into these old buildings; walking in the quaint alleys, every corner presents a new scene, and the century-old banyan tree in the settlement is a sight not to be missed. The impressive group of ancient houses on the stone steps of West Mountain is built against the mountain wall, forming an orderly village that looks like a mountain city from afar. The regeneration and revitalization of idle spaces within the village have made Jintsha a charming town in Matsu. Coastal Camouflage Scenery - Bunker Convenience House By the seawall in Aokou stands a building with a camouflage exterior, converted from an old air-raid shelter into a restroom, newly named "Bunker Convenience House," providing a clean place for tourists playing in the sand and water. Jintsha Fine Wine The streets are filled with the aroma of wine. Jintsha Village is famous for brewing old wine; at the entrance of the settlement, a row of wine jars is neatly arranged on the stone wall. The fine wine brewed from the village's well water, along with various dishes made with red yeast, is something food lovers absolutely cannot miss. The Only Black-Faced Mazu in All of Matsu The Tianhou Temple in Jintsha is the center of faith for the residents of Jintsha Village and is one of the three major Tianhou Temples in Nangan. Unlike the young Mazu at Jinbanjing Tianhou Temple and the pink-faced Mazu at Mazu Jing Tianhou Temple, Jintsha worships the only "Black-Faced Mazu" in all of Matsu; it is said that the Tianhou Temple used to house a pink-faced Mazu statue, but during the temple's reconstruction, the sculptor was inspired by a dream of a black-faced Mazu, and after consultation with village elders, the black-faced Mazu was sculpted.
