A Glimpse of Matsu

Matsu's history is steeped in legend, and no two stories are quite the same. However, the Dapu Stone Inscription is evidence of settlement before the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) .

 For hundreds of years, Matsu was where immigrants from the mainland—who largely came from around the Min River estuary—f irst set t led before moving to Taiwan.

 In the past, people from Fuzhou would first move to Matsu and then to Taiwan. This is why Matsu is the only place in Taiwan where the Fuzhou dialect is spoken. The ancestors of most Matsu residents came from Changle, Lianchiang and Luoyuan County in Fujian Province.

They speak Eastern Fujianese, which is mutually unintelligible with the Southern Fujianese common on Taiwan proper. The importance of the Matsu islands,lying as they do in the northwestern Taiwan Strait, to modern history is incalculable. Just 10 nautical miles from mainland China, Matsu serves as Taiwan's frontline defensive perimeter.

Since 1956, the many troops garrisoned here have brought prosperity to the Island. Matsu's population reached a peak of 17,000 in 1971.

As the frontline, all eligible men and women between the ages of 18 and 45 must per form mandatory service and undergo an exacting program of military training in the civil defense force. Nevertheless, military control over Matsu ended on midnight of May 13, 1994, since when tourists have been allowed to visit. Popular sites for battlefield tourism here include forts, defensive tunnels, military bases, and artillery emplacements.

Different from the 319 townships and villages on Taiwan proper, Matsu attracts visitors with its small population, small towns, narrow streets, simplicity, quiet night life, and its friendly people.

Published by：Lienchiang County Government

Modify Date：108/09/25