Penghu’s Siji Islet and Other “Southern Four Islands” to Become Taiwan’s Ninth National Park Next Month

▲ The blue hidden gem “Zao Long” on Penghu’s Siji Islet is breathtakingly beautiful. (Photo / Screenshot from Chen Wan-ju’s Flickr)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Do you still rememberthe breathtaking blue wonderland “Zao Long” on Penghu’s Siji Islet? Located south of Wang’an in Penghu, the four southern islands—including Siji Islet—are renowned for their striking basalt formations and extensive surrounding coral reefs, which support rich marine and terrestrial ecosystems. To preserve this environment, the Ministry of the Interior has decided to designate the Southern Four IslandsSiji Islet, Dongji Islet, Dongyu Islet, and Xiyu Isletas Taiwan’s ninth national park, named the “Penghu Southern Four Islands National Park.”

A series of stunning photos of the sea erosion caves “Zao Long” on Siji Islet, taken by Taiwanese photographer Chen Wan-ju, have helped Taiwanese netizens rediscover the new charm of this “Chrysanthemum Island,” home to one of the world’s most beautiful bays. In addition to Siji Islet, the other three outlying islands—Dongji Islet, Dongyu Islet, and Xiyu Islet—are collectively known as the “Southern Four Islands.”

Aside from Siji Islet, which has long been uninhabited, the other three islands still have a dozen or so residents. Due to the sparse population, both the natural landscapes and the marine and terrestrial ecosystems remain well-preserved. Additionally, all four islands feature some of Taiwan’s oldest basalt volcanic geological formations. Viewed from the sea, towering basalt cliffs stand in the distance, while up close, visitors can admire natural wonders such as sea erosion caves and platforms. The islands’ lighthouses, as well as cultural landmarks like traditional Qing-era courtyard houses and Japanese colonial-era Western-style buildings—left over from when the islands served as trade hubs—are also among the most popular attractions for visitors.

▲ %肌澳戏剿牡骸鄙希?疃嗟牡好衿涫凳茄蛉好牵?硗獾扑?彩怯慰妥畎?旆玫木暗?。 (Photo / Reporter Chen Tzu-yin)

After years of fisheries and ecological research and nearly four years of preparation, the Ministry of the Interior has decided to establish a strip-shaped protected area spanning approximately 30,000 hectares of the “Southern Four Islands” and their surrounding waters. This will

After the establishment of this new marine national park, it is expected to begin promoting ecotourism, featuring in-depth guided tours led by locals. In addition to boosting the income of local residents, visitors will also be able to get a closer look at the charm of the Southern Four Islands. Another particularly unique aspect is that since the waters around Dongji Islet fall within the territory of the Taijiang National Park, the official establishment of the "Penghu Southern Four Islands National Park" has created the first-ever case of two national parks being interconnected.