Nankan, Lienchiang

Nankan (南竿鄉 Pinyin: Nángān) is one of the Matsu Islands and the capital township of the Lienchiang County (which coincides geographically with the Matsus) of the Republic of China.

Nangan was also known Nangantang (南竿塘) and Shanggantang (上竿塘). And because Lin Moniang's (who later became the goddess Matsu) corpse was washed ashore here, Nangan was also known as Matsu Island (馬祖島).

There is an airport in Nangan. The highest point is Yuntai Mountain (雲台山) (248-metre).

Administration

There are 10 major villages located on Nangan, though they are all rather small. At the eastern end of the island is Jieshou(介壽村), the seat of the county government and the largest village. Following the coastal road west from Jieshou, there are Fuxing(復興村), Fuao(福澳村), Qingshui(清水村), Zhuluo(珠螺村), and Mazu(馬祖村). Following the mountain road west, there are Meishi(梅石村), Renai(仁愛村), and Jinsha(津沙聚落), before once again reaching Mazu. Located to the north of Mazu is Siwei(四維村). In addition to these, there are two smaller villages or clusters of homes. These are Furen(夫人村) and Ketiao(科蹄澳): they are located near Siwei.

Many villages on Nangan have two names. In some cases, this was the result of politics, as one is the traditional name and the second has a political connotation. These instances are paired as follows with the traditional name first: Shanlong(山隴): Jieshou(介壽), Niujiao(牛角(聚落)): Fuxing(復興), Tieban(鐵板): Renai(仁愛), and Fuao(福澳): Jingze(經澤). These names are often used interchangeably by residents, except for Jingze. Residents objected to this latter name, and so it never came into popular use. The reference to Shanlong is also important as there is a neighborhood there called Zhonglong(中隴). Mazu is also referred to as Magang(馬港) and Siwei as Xiwei(西尾). As for Mazu and Magang, Magang is the preferred name. This could be in order to distinguish the village and its harbor from Mazu(媽祖), the goddess, and Mazu(馬祖)the island chain. Xiwei was derived from the local Fuzhou dialect's pronunciation of Siwei.

* Jieshou (介壽村 Jieshou) literally, "Longevity for Chiang Kai-shek "
* Jinsha (津沙村 Jinsha) "Sand of Seaport"
* Cingshuei (清水村 Qingshui) "Pure Water"
* Jhuluo (珠螺村 Zhuluo) "Pearl and Snail"
* Fusing (復興村 Fuxing) "Revive Prosperity"
* Fuwo (福沃村 Fuwo) "Auspicious Fertility": Jingze Village (經澤)
* Ren-ai (仁愛村 Ren'ai) "Humanity and Love": Tieban (鐵板 "Iron Plate") until 1955 .
* Matsu (馬祖村 Mazu) "Matsu"
* Sihwei (四維村 Siwei) "Four Virtues"

Tourism

There is the Palace of Heavenly Empress (天后宮) in Matsu Village, which contains the coffin of Lin Moniang. The temple also include statues of the guards, Thousand-li Eye (千里眼) and Wind-following Ear (順風耳). There is an annual celebration on March 3 (lunar calendar).

Matsu Distillery (馬祖酒廠) locates on Wujiao Hill (午角嶺) in Fusing Village, producing "daqu" wine (大麴酒) and sorghum wine (高梁酒).

There is Shengli Water Reservoir (勝利水庫 "Victory") and a museum in Cingshuei Village. The museum contains four cannons (whose sound were to guide boat) from Jyuguang.

There are three parks and two abandoned military tunnels on the island.

See also

*List of islands of the Republic of China

External links

* [http://home.kimo.com.tw/john123a/scene.htm 12 photos]