Matsu’s decision to walk rather than run is directly reflected in its focus on preserving the architecture of its traditional villages.

After many decades of tight government control, the old architecture has been remarkably preserved in Matsu, particularly in Nankan’s Niuchiao Village, Peikan’s Chinpi Village in Peikan, and Fuhsi in Chukuang. All are excellent examples of traditional eastern Fujianese village architecture. Elsewhere in the ROC the traditional Han Chinese culture was southern Fujianese. Meanwhile, eastern Fujian itself has experienced such rapid develpment that almost all of its traditional architecture has been destroyed. The traditional eastern Fujianese settlements on Matsu are just about the only ones left in pristine condition anywhere in the world.

“We only started to restore these buildings two or three years ago,” says county government employee Tsao Yi-hsiung. “The people had a lot of doubts, but the county established a ‘town and country workshop’ in order to bring about coherent regional planning that would preserve whole neighborhoods of these old buildings. It instilled in people the notion that preserving architecture was a way of helping the local economy. The results have been surprisingly good.” Matsu has a high rate of outward migration, and these people living elsewhere are naturally happy to have others care for their ancestral homes. People are now clamoring to sign restoration contracts with the county government.

What with the three links and the tourism industry, the economic outlook for Matsu appears bright, but might a pure focus on economic development and architectural preservation prove, however beautiful on the outside, to be empty on the inside? With these concerns, county legislators Tsao Yi-hsiung and Chen Kuei-chung have promoted a campaign to get artists to live in traditional buildings, so that residents can see how art might become rooted in their daily lives.

Chiu Chin-pao explains that the exodus of youth from Matsu is very serious. Moreover, the fact that children aren’t learning the Fuzhou dialect these days is putting the traditional local culture under even more pressure.

In response to these concerns, 40 members of the local community, including teachers and public servants, have formed a group called the Yuntai Music Hall, which compiles local operas and folk songs and then asks the schools to teach them to children.

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continue…Travel to Taiwan’s island - Matsu

Transportation has long been the biggest headache for the people of Matsu. It’s also the biggest obstacle toward developing tourism on the island.

Currently, the island is largely dependent on airplanes and boats. But because the lay of the land is so hilly, the runway at Peikan Airport is only 890 meters long, too short to install an instrument-based landing system. Pilots have to fly by sight, and the only planes from Taiwan that can land here are the 37-seat DASH-8-200s owned by Uni Air. In fog or heavy rain, the airport, which has been the site of two plane crashes, has to close.

As for traveling by sea, the Taiwan-Matsu route is plied by boats that hold 500 passengers. Yet these old boats can’t go out when the sea is rough. On the day of a scheduled journey, passengers have to call first and ask whether the boats are sailing that day. It’s very inconvenient.

“When even transporting people is so difficult, you can forget about shipping out local goods,” says Kao Ming-chung, whose Paoli Hsuen shop specializes in making such local delicacies as Matsu cakes. This is the main reason why Matsu’s local products are still virtually unknown elsewhere in Taiwan.

The local government is aware of the problem and considers improving transportation to be its most pressing task. County Executive Liu notes that there are plans to obtain new boats and that a new airport is under construction. Just months after the three links were first implemented, there are still some bottlenecks, but Liu assures us that over the next half year, transportation difficulties will be resolved.

An extension of Peikan Airport’s eastern runway to 1000 meters should be completed by July, at which time it will be able to handle 50-passenger DASH-8-300 planes, which are owned by various domestic airlines. What’s more, a 1000-meter runway should open at a new airport in Nankan in March of 2002.

With Matsu no longer on the frontlines of military confrontation, the number of troops should continue decreasing from the more than 10,000 that used to be stationed here to only a few thousand. To replace this economic pillar of support, people in Matsu are looking for tourism to bring long-term benefits. Although they’ve encountered plenty of obstacles this year, the people of Matsu have turned a liability into an asset by regarding this period as a time to plan more carefully.

Liao Yuen-lung, the head of the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration, formerly worked in the ROC Tourism Bureau. Observing the people in Matsu, he has come to some insights about their confidence.

“Matsu has some obvious tourist draws,” Liao says. “For ecotourism, there are the virgin stands of timber, and the Chinese crested terns, those ‘legendary birds’ that have caused such a stir. What’s more, the military facilities here are even denser than those seen on the border of north and south Korea, and the traditional eastern Fujianese fishing culture is quite different from the southern Fujianese culture seen in Taiwan, Penghu and Kinmen. Then there are the religious buildings and the well-preserved and intact traditional villages.” Yet the island’s biggest advantage for tourism lies in the fact that it has been off-limits for so long. Now its tourist industry can slowly and carefully advance, avoiding the pitfalls that tourism has encountered elsewhere.

Liao cites the examples of Green Island and Kinmen. When these places were first opened to tourists, they became popular destinations overnight, so that large numbers of hotels and restaurants were built all at once. Supply ended up exceeding demand, so that the market was thrown out of equilibrium. Now the tourist industry is suffering in those places.

“With the lessons learned from others’ mistakes, the county government has asked for thorough advance planning, and the ROC Tourism Bureau is working with the island’s authorities. Matsu’s careful and steady efforts to build up its tourism industry have earned it a lot of respect.”

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Let’s continue travel to Taiwan , Matsu

Lienchiang County Executive Liu Li-chun has just welcomed a visiting delegation from the mainland. Although he has reservations about ROC elected representatives smuggling themselves into mainland China, he admits that with the initiative shown by them the three small links “are starting to taste sweeter and sweeter.”

“Matsu doesn’t steal the spotlight like Kinmen,” Liu notes. “We understand that our population is small, our economic resources limited, and our transportation problems intractable, so we are willing to take a longer view and allow considerations about the three small links to return to the issue of building infrastructure for the offshore islands.” If suddenly the nation really wanted to make Matsu the transfer point for all people and goods across the Taiwan Strait, he fears that the island couldn’t bear it. But Matsu could become a logistical base. The more than 10,000 Taiwanese businessmen in Fuzhou and Mawei could send their children to attend schools built specially for them in Matsu, which would in turn uplift education and culture on the island.

With regard to cross-strait trade, Liu Li-chu says that Matsu ought to model itself on a little convenience store, rather than a huge department store. “The good thing about getting rid of the business tax and customs tariffs is that the two sides will be able to do small-scale trading here, allowing Matsu to become a free-trade zone in the Taiwan Strait. This would provide a tremendous boost to the island’s economy. In this way, the establishment of the full-fledged three links wouldn’t threaten the island’s economy.

While the three small links is no panacea for Matsu’s long-term development problems, the policy is benefiting the island right now: “One-third of all ROC money given to Taiwan’s outer islands goes to Matsu despite its lack of population and area. Although Matsu lags far behind Kinmen and Penghu in terms of infrastructure, if the ROC allows gambling there, as is being considered, then this, in conjunction with the three small links, will definitely help.

“The consensus in Matsu is that improving transportation and encouraging tourism of the best kind is the way for the island to go,” says Tsao Yi-hsiung, a Lienchiang County legislator. With Matsu getting a lot of attention right now, it might as well “grab the short term gain in order to obtain the most long-term benefits.”

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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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When you come to Taiwan, you’ll take a lot of photo

But sometimes due to the sun glare,
your photo just don’t look nice

Luckily, when I browsed BBC news,
I bumped into one website.
It helps you to reduce the glare on your photo
by attaching a paper lens hoods

Check it out yourself => http://www.lenshoods.co.uk

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When you travel to Taiwan, please check the below festivals
　
January 1 Foundation Day of the ROC
Chinese Lunar year Lunar New Year’s Eve; 1st, 2nd, 3rd of the 1st month by lunar calendar
February 28 Peace Memorial Day
April 5 Tomb Sweeping Day
5th of the 5th month
by the lunar calendar Dragon Boat Festival
15th of the 8th month
by the lunar calendar Moon Festival
October 10 Double Tenth National Day

You’ll amazed by any of this festival

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Let’s check what are the calling options available in Taiwan

Public phones in Taiwan are divided primarily into two types, coin and card. Coin phones accept coins in denominations of NT$1, NT$5, and NT10.

For local calls, NT$1 buys one minute of phone time. Phone cards are divided into magnetic strip stored value cards and IC stored value cards, and can be used all over Taiwan. Magnetic strip cards sell for NT$100 each, and IC cards are available in NT$200 and NT$300 versions.

The cards are sold in railway stations, bus stations, scenic spots, and convenience stores. When making local calls it is not necessary to dial the area code; when making long-distance calls, however, the area code of the party being called must be dialed in first (see explanation on the public telephone) and then the number itself dialed.

International calls can be made from private cell phones, public IDD phones, or hotel IDD phones. International calls are charged in units of six seconds. The procedure for making international direct dial calls from Taiwan is as follows:

1. Dial Taiwan’s international access code, 002
2. Dial the country code of the country being called (1 for the U.S., 86 for mainland China, etc.)
3. Dial in the area code of the called party (leaving out the long-distance recognition digit, “0″
4. Dial in the number of the called party. For operator-assisted international calls, please dial “100.” For international information, call this free number : 0800080100.

Reduced price periods and fees for International Subscriber Dialing (ISD) are as follows: 10:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. daily, 12:00 noon Saturday - all day Sunday - 8:00 a.m. Monday, and all day on national holidays.

Phone and send a smile to your friends and family

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