Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
protect the inhabitants from wind and pirates. Roofs have bright-red or black tiles. Most
homes in the small village have been transformed into guesthouses, and spending a night
here should be one of the highlights of your trip to Matsu.
Ciaozai Village
ANCIENT VILLAGE
(Qiáozǎi Cūn)
A walk of a kilometre or so up the coastal road takes you to the foot of
Leishan (Thunder Mountain), where you'll find Ciaozai Village. The village, nestled in a
cove that protects it from the northeast monsoons, has several temples devoted to the
thunder god sporting very high and stylish 'fire wall' gables. Nowadays the village is
mostly empty save for a few elderly residents who maintain the temples.
Hou'ao Village
ANCIENT VILLAGE
(Hòuào, Houwo)
At the very eastern edge of the island is Hou'ao Village, a small village
that used to be cut off from the main island during high tide. There's a small section of
old houses off the main street that are worth checking out down the twisting alleys.
Swimming
Banli Beach
(
Bǎnlǐ Shātān
), Beigan's longest and prettiest beach, is just up the road from
where boats dock. There are changing rooms and showers.
Tanghou Beach
(
Tánghòu Shātān
) is a thin strip of sand, divided by a road, which con-
nects the villages of Tangci and Hou'ao. Before the road was built locals had to wade
through water during high tide to travel between the two villages.
Cinbi Village overlooks a nice little patch of beach facing a small cluster of rounded
rocks, known as
Turtle Island Beach
(
Guīdǎo Shātān
). It's a lovely place to swim most of
the year.
Sleeping & Eating
Old villages, including Cinbi and Banli, have seen once neglected Fujian-style stone
houses turned into B&Bs with pleasant, breezy rooms and ocean views.
If staying in a stone building doesn't do it for you, there are a number of hotels in
Tangci Village, though you'd be better off staying on Nangan and just coming over for
the day. There are eateries in Tangci Village but opening hours and days are subject to
random change so just look for whatever's open that day.
Banli Dazhai Homestay
HOMESTAY $
