Lienchiang County

The Matsu Islands are an archipelago of 36 islands and islets in the East China Sea officially named Lienchiang County in the Republic of China. It is the smallest county in the free area of the Republic of China.

The Matsu Islands are composed of dozens of islands, including Nangan, Beigan, Juguang, and Dongyin. The chain occupies the northernmost edge of the Taiwan-Penghu-Kinmen-Matsu area at the west-northwest side of the Taiwan Strait, just a stone’s throw from mainland China. During the opposition to the mainland communist regime, Matsu served as Taiwan’s front-line defense, turning the island landscape into battlefield scenes of psy-war slogans, defensive tunnels, and troops.

Although the monsoons, ocean currents, and Matsu’s geographical position make the islands scorching hot in the summer, visitors still flock to Matsu in the months of June to August to see the fabled Chinese crested tern (or common tern). In winter, with the arrival of the chilling northeast monsoons, Matsu comes alive with folk activities and religious ceremonies for the Lantern Festival. Entire villages mobilize for this grand event, which consists of the “Bai Ming” offering ceremony and a ceremony to welcome the gods for a tour of the mortal world.