Let’s travel to taiwan’s island - Matsu..continue….

Matsu legislator Chao Erh-chung, who first suggested that the “three small links” be included in the “Offshore Islands Development Act” last year, worries that Matsu is at a disadvantage vis-a-vis Kinmen, because Matsu’s population and land area are low and those who travel to Taiwan from the island are mostly government employees. The ability of the private sector in Matsu to push development of the three links is limited, he says, noting that it was quite an accomplishment just to bring about the maiden voyage. “We are relying on ourselves and going slowly, one step at a time.”

Chao says that thus far Matsu’s biggest related achievement was signing what is known as the “Matsu-Mawei Pact” with the private “Mawei, Fuzhou Economic and Cultural Exchange Center.”
“The central government has only established a legal mechanism for the three small links, but they haven’t been actively pressing for cooperation between the two sides. So you can talk about ‘links’ until you’re blue in the face, but the two sides aren’t really going to be connected. We’ve just got to go ahead and develop the links ourselves and come to an understanding with the other side about how to deal with all those devils in the details.” Chao notes that the mainland has gone from refusing, to not rejecting, and now to cooperating. The Matsu group has already worked out with the mainland authorities such issues as those involving docking rights, what types of people are permitted to go, and permit procedures, as well as overcoming the mainland’s previous insistence that groups must come and leave as a group, and on the same boat.

The central government, balancing various considerations, has displayed caution, but the three small links do provide a development opportunity for Matsu of a kind that only comes along once a century or so. It may be the only economic bright spot for the island in the years after the ROC and PRC both join the WTO, so it’s no wonder that the people must take a proactive approach so as to make the most of it.

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Let’s see the trade and travel progress in Matsu, taiwan

The first opening under the three small links was to allow religious pilgrims to go to Fujian Province directly from the mainland. On January 2, the first group left to much fanfare, with expectations that these new ties would bring all kinds of exchanges and economic opportunities. But in the three months since, there haven’t been huge flotillas of boats coming and going. In fact, when you ask people on Matsu streets about the “three small links,” they often quip in a deadpan style: “What links?” It’s clear that the links are more important to politicians than they are to the people.

Wu Mao-sheng, as a member of the water police, has an up-close perspective on these issues.

“Customs, quarantines and other procedures related to importing goods from the mainland deter many people. As a result, smuggling hasn’t decreased with the advent of the three small links. The difference is that now the water police are getting tougher on the petty smugglers, so the risks of punishment have increased. Meanwhile, because there are no regularly scheduled boats for passengers, people continue to smuggle themselves across as well.” He notes that as of the end of March, only one boat has legally traveled from Matsu to the mainland (apart from the boats accommodating special large groups). Yet two boats have been caught trying to smuggle people across.

Wu explains that those leaving for the mainland are going for business, or otherwise they’ve bought property or have a wife there and need to make regular trips. With more vigilant patrols by the water police but without regularly scheduled legal journeys, people have been grumbling.

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Come on, let’s travel to Taiwan’s island, Matsu

The Taiwanese are no strangers to the island of Matsu, but not many have actually set foot there. What’s interesting is that when you go to see for yourself, you find a place unlike anywhere in Taiwan proper. It’s like being in another country, but one that is comfortably familiar, where impressions of the present merge with memories of the past. Visiting Matsu, you seem to step into a realm already half known through your dreams, on a journey of learning and experience.

“Matsu’s only a small place, but it has a complex web of natural, historical and cultural characteristics, and shows a variety of distinct faces.” So we were informed by national legislator Tsao Erh-chung before setting out on our trip. By the end, we knew how right Tsao was: Matsu is mesmerisingly lovely.

The five principle islands that make up Matsu are spread well apart, but their scenery is very similar. The coastal terrain is rugged and rocky, with spurs of eroded granite jutting into the sea. It takes only around an hour to drive around the main island, passing a succession of inlets, each of which looks different in the light according to the angle of sun. One moment you’re following the curve of the hills, amid the glow reflected from the sea, and the next you’re in a misty, secluded cove. The scenery along the coast is a feast for the eyes.

Peihai Tunnel in Nankan Rural Township

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Let’s travel to Taiwan another place - Lion’s Head Mountain Scenic Area －Ancient Temples in the Mountains

Have you ever heard of late Cing Dynasty ?

Ever since the late Cing Dynasty, the temples and caves of Lion’s Head Mountain and Mt. Wujhih have been so famous that they were listed among the 12 most enchanting scenes in Taiwan. This scenic area encompasses the townships of Beipu, Emei, and Jhudong in Hsinchu County and the townships of Sanwan and Nanjhuang in Miaoli County.

Located between the Provincial Highway No. 3 road system and the Shei-Pa National Park system, this region covers an area of 24,221 hectares and is rich in natural (cold springs, forest and lakes) and ecological resources as well as notable cultural attractions, including temples and historical artifacts of the Hakka people and the aboriginals (the Atayal and Saisiat tribes).

Since its establishment in 2001, the Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Administration has worked to develop a high-quality tourist region focusing on nativism, education, ecology, and sustainability.

Some of the promotional events for tourism development to date include lifestyle and historical tours; exploration of the traditional culture of the Hakka people; discovery of the mysteries of the Saisiat Tribe’s Sacrifice to the Short Spirits; a river ecology tour;a tour of the natural habitats of insects; and a tour of mining and unique industries.

If you excited about this, plan your travel to there

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