Penghu is formed by a number of islands and islets. Aside from the Huaping Isle on the most western part of Penghu, each island and islet is home to famed basaltic rock and volcanic geological environment. These include sea caves, sea trenches, wave-cut platform, marine stack and others, forming Penghu’s magnificent geological ecosystem and nurturing abundant undersea resources. The Construction and Planning Agency Ministry of the Interior has plans to form a national park out of the uninhabited Four Islands of Southern Penghu, including Donyu Isle, Xiyuping Isle, Donjiyu Isle and Xijiyu Isle, as well as the peripheral seas around it.

Schematic Diagram of The Four Islands of Penghu (Providedby the Marine National Park Headquarters and Designed by the Editorial Department of Taiwan NationalPark E-News)

After evaluation by the Marine National Park Headquarters of the Four Islands of Penghu to becoming a national park, aside from ongoing resource investigation, the park actively holds a series of marine conservation seminars.

The Four Islands of Penghu is abundant in coral reef ecosystems. The coral reefs are healthy with a 50% cover rate.(Image is provided by Marine National Park Headquarters)

In early Qing Dynasty, the Four Islands of Penghu was also an important geological indicator of the Black Ditch between the Taiwan’s Luermen and Xiamen. Adjacent to the Black Ditch on the southeastern end is Dongjiyu and an important maritime trade station; The wonderful scenery of Sijiyu includes sea terrain views, vast grasslands and winding vegetable patches. The northwestern part of the islet is the staggering scenery of the pitch black granite gneiss and the ecosystem of the Common Tern that attracts numerous bird lovers; The coverage rate of coral reefs around the sea of Dongyuping is 50% and nurtures various fish, crab and shell species; The sea around Xiyuping is abundant in under-sea coral reef species, and also a relay station of the Chinese Crested Terns, Bridled Terns and other migratory birds. The architectures here are also extremely unique. Houses on the island are made from granite gneiss and coral reef materials that are respectively named “Black Stone” and “White Stone”, and fully display the unique craftsmanship of the local people. Once a bustling islet, Dongjiyu still retains much of its extravagant and ornate Western buildings as well as Old Houses.

In the future, The Four Islands of Southern Penghu hope that they can collaborate with the Penghu County Government in the development of the Four Islands of Southern Penghu Ecology Experience Camp. They have also planned for local residents to provide an in-depth humanity and ecological explanation to create economic income for the land. The Marine National Park Headquarters will continue to hold relevant seminars and events for more people to understand this distant paradise!