Penghu

Penghu is a group of 90 islands.

These islands sit in the sea near Taiwan. Most of them are part of a scenic area.

The islands have very special rocks. They look like tall, stone poles.

These rocks are made of basalt.

Many people visit the islands to see them. This helps the islands make money. Tourism is a big part of life there.

It is hard to reach the islands by land. People must travel by sea or by air. There are even small airports on the islands.

Magong is the largest city in the group. It is found on the biggest island. It is a busy place to be.

Penghu is a group of 90 islands.

These islands sit in the Taiwan Strait. They are west of the main island of Taiwan. The largest city is Magong. It sits on the biggest island.

Many people visit the islands to see them. They come to see the columnar basalt. These are special rocks that look like stone poles.

Tourism helps the islands make money.

It is hard to reach the islands by land. You must travel by sea or by air. There are three local airports. These are Penghu Airport, Qimei Airport, and Wang-an Airport.

The islands have a long history. Many different groups have lived there. Chinese fishing groups arrived a long time ago. Later, the Dutch and the French stayed for a short time. Japan also ruled the islands for many years. Now, the Republic of China governs them.

Penghu is a beautiful group of 90 islands and islets.

These islands sit in the Taiwan Strait. They are located just west of the main island of Taiwan. You can reach them by crossing the Penghu Channel. The largest city is Magong, which sits on the biggest island.

Most of these islands are part of the Penghu National Scenic Area. This area helps protect the natural beauty of the islands for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors often come to see the amazing natural features here. One of the most famous sights is the columnar basalt landscape.

These are unique rock formations that look like tall stone poles. Because these sights are so special, many people visit for holidays. Tourism is one of the main ways the islands make money.

It is a very important part of life for the local people.

The history of these islands is very long and complex.

Early fossils suggest that very old human species may have lived nearby. Around 5,000 years ago, people from Taiwan visited the islands. Later, Chinese fishing communities began to settle there in the 9th century. The islands have seen many different rulers over the years. The Dutch Empire stayed for a short time between 1622 and 1624. The French also occupied the islands for a brief period in 1885.

Many different nations have controlled the islands throughout time. Japan ruled the islands from 1895 until 1945. During this time, they called the area the Hōko Prefecture.

You can still see old buildings from that era. After Japan surrendered in 1945, the Republic of China began to govern them. Today, the islands are recognized as part of Taiwan. This history shows how the islands have always been a busy place in the sea.

Getting to Penghu requires traveling by sea or by air. There is no way to drive there from the main island. Air travel plays a very big role in helping people visit. There are three local airports serving the different islands. These are Penghu Airport, Qimei Airport, and Wang-an Airport.

Whether by boat or plane, the journey brings you to a unique place. The islands remain a special part of the world's geography.

The Penghu Islands, also known as the Pescadores, are an archipelago located in the Taiwan Strait.

This group consists of 90 islands and islets. They sit just west of the main island of Taiwan. To reach them, one must cross the Penghu Channel. The archipelago covers a specific area and forms a distinct geographic unit. Magong is the largest city in the islands. It is located on the largest island of the group.

Most of the islands fall under the Penghu National Scenic Area.

One of the most famous features of the islands is the columnar basalt landscape.

Basalt is a type of volcanic rock. Columnar basalt forms when thick lava flows cool and contract. This process creates long, vertical stone columns. This unique geological sight draws many visitors to the area. Because of these natural wonders, tourism is a primary source of income for the county.

The islands are a significant destination for those interested in geology and nature.

History shows that many different groups have visited or lived in Penghu. A fossil jaw found in the Penghu Channel dates to the Pleistocene epoch. This fossil may have belonged to a Denisovan, which is an extinct species of hominin. Around 5,000 years ago, Austronesians from southwestern Taiwan visited the islands. They left behind fine red cord-marked pottery at Guoye in Huxi. However, they did not stay to settle permanently. Later, Chinese fishing communities began to establish themselves during the 9th and 10th centuries.

Over many centuries, the islands changed hands between different powers. In 1281, the Yuan dynasty officially incorporated Penghu into China. This happened under the jurisdiction of Tong'an County. The islands saw brief occupations by the Dutch Empire from 1622 to 1624. The Dutch built a fort to try and force trade. Later, the French colonial empire occupied the islands in 1885 during the Sino-French War. This period was marked by the Pescadores Campaign. Admiral Amédée Courbet led this campaign but died of cholera while in Makung harbour.

Japan took control of the islands in 1895. This occurred at the end of the First Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese called the area the Hōko Prefecture.

During World War II, Makō served as a major base for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The islands were also a starting point for the invasion of the Philippines. In 1944, the islands suffered from extensive bombing during air raids. Japan surrendered in 1945, which ended their colonial rule. Following this, the Republic of China (ROC) began to govern the archipelago.

The political status of the islands has been a subject of international discussion. The Cairo Declaration of 1943 stated that Japan should return territories like the Pescadores to China. After Japan's surrender in 1945, the islands were handed to the ROC. The Treaty of Taipei, signed in 1952, is seen by some as legal support for ROC claims. However, the United States has held different views on sovereignty over time. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, Penghu is geographically acknowledged as part of Taiwan. This complex history is reflected in the various names used for the islands.

The name "Penghu" has several possible origins. In the Song dynasty, the name "Pinghu" was used. This name meant "flat lake" because of the shape of the inner coastline. In the Southern Min language, Pinghu and Penghu sound very similar. The name "Pescadores" is actually the Portuguese name for the islands. It translates to "Fishermen Islands." This name was used by Europeans who observed the local fishing communities. Today, the islands remain a vital part of the region's maritime identity.

Accessing the islands relies entirely on sea and air transportation. There are no land connections to the mainland. Air travel is a very important way for people to reach the archipelago. There are three local domestic airports serving the islands. These are Penghu Airport, Qimei Airport, and Wang-an Airport.

These airports allow for quick travel between the islands and the mainland. Whether by plane or by boat, the journey connects travelers to this unique island chain.