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TAIWAN'S OFFSHORE
ISLANDS
Are you looking for a
place where the waters are clear and the skies are blue, and countless
stars stud the sky at night? Or would you like to wander through
remote and picturesque fishing villages? Then pack your bags and visit
the offshore islands of Taiwan!
Taiwan is located along the southeast coast of the Asian continent, on
the fault line where the Euro-Asian and Philippine continental plates
meet. This unique geographic location and frequent seismic activity,
not only created an extremely diversified topography and natural
environment on Taiwan, but also resulted in the diverse characters of
its off-shore islands. Main off-shore islands consist of Penghu, Green
Island, Orchid Island, Kinmen, Mazu, Turtle Island and Little Liuqiu
as their locations, topographical characteristics, and human activity
differ, each has its own unique scenery and culture. Therefore, each
island offers something different, satisfying the varying needs of
visitors, whether these have a natural, historical, or cultural
nature, or simply consist of sightseeing, snorkeling, or sport
fishing.
Penghu is Taiwan's largest offshore island and is situated in between
mainland China and Taiwan. It actually comprises 64 small islands and
has a combined coastline that stretches more than 300 kilometers. Each
season has its own particular scenery, and rich natural and cultural
resources are found here. The landscape here is characterized by
basaltic rocks, coral reefs, marine erosions, and beaches, while the
fishing culture and migratory birds add an extra dimension to the
picture.
GREEN ISLAND
Green Island is located some 33 kilometers off the coast of Taitung in
eastern Taiwan, and is a volcanic island where winds blow and waters
eat away at the rocks all year round, creating a beautiful and diverse
coast
Green Island is located some 33 kilometers off the coast of Taitung in
eastern Taiwan, and is a volcanic island where winds blow and waters
eat away at the rocks all year round, creating a beautiful and diverse
coast.
ORCHID ISLAND
Lanyu, or Orchid Island, is situated off the southeastern coast of
Taiwan and, like Green Island, its neighbor to the north, was raised
from the sea floor by the accumulation of volcanic lava. It has a
moist and rainy climate, and its mountain areas (which occupy most of
the island) are covered with dense rain forests that are filled with a
great variety of plant and animal life. Coral reefs decorate the
surrounding seas, and the Japan Current which flows past brings in
large numbers of fish. This makes Orchid Island a paradise for
fishermen and skin divers. The island is inhabited mainly by Yami
tribespeople, the most primitive of Taiwan's aborigines, who still
retain much of their traditional culture and lifestyle. Their
traditional stone houses are build mostly underground to avoid
extremes of temperature as well as the ravages of typhoons, and their
Flying Fish and Boat Launching festivals are seen nowhere else on
earth. In addition to savoring the beautiful island scenery, during a
trip of Orchid Island you can also enjoy a glimpse into the
fascinating Yami culture.
KINMEN
Lying just 2,100 meters off the coast of mainland China at
the nearest point, this hilly island composed mostly of granite and
has a history that derives largely from war. It can, therefore, be
termed a "battlefield island," and it possesses unique battlefield
scenery. But Kinmen is more; it also contains numerous taces of
history, and the government has designated 21 historic sites within
its small area. It also has large numbers of houses built in the
traditional southern Fujianese three-sided courtyard style, giving it
a rich atmosphere of times past.
MATSU
Situated in the northeast corner of the Taiwan Straits and
separated from mainland China by only a narrow strip of water, Mazu,
like Kinmen to the south, is also made up largely of granite. Its
scenery consists of sea-eroded terrain, natural sand and pebble
beaches, sand dunes, precipitous cliffs, and other scenic features. In
addition to its beautiful jagged coastline and the migratory birds
that pass through and provide precious ecological resources, Mazu also
offers traditional eastern Fujian villages built on mountainsides as
well as defensive fortifications built by the military.
TURTLE ISLAND
This small, solitary island located about 10 kilometers off
the coast of Toucheng in Yilan County has volcanic terrain that, from
certain angles, looks like a turtle floating in the sea. Among the
features of the island are high cliffs, steaming fumaroles, welling
underwater hot springs, mountain peaks, sea-eroded caves, a lake, and
unique cliff vegetation, as well as rich marine ecological resources.
It is a perfect place to study volcanic terrain and the natural
ecology.
LITTLE LIUQIU
Lying in the sea about 14 kilometers to the southwest of Donggang in
Pingtung County, Little Liuqiu is the only one of Taiwan's numerous
offshore islands that is composed of coral. Three special features
make this island unique: the finest location for viewing the sunset,
the most species of coral, and a terrain made up of coral. Strange
coral rock formations stand throughout the island, and its ocean
scenery is entrancing. Since this is a fishing island, its inhabitants
are intensely religious; there are a great many temples here, each
with its own unique features and special attractions. If you are
longing for a peaceful holiday spent on the island, the above spots
are your best choices. Let the clear transparent sea water, blue
skies, and the interesting abundant local folk customs and cultures
entertain your eyes and enrich your mind! |
