"Grandma's Penghu Bay" Becomes a Thing of the Past; Penghu’s Sunshine and Beaches Tinged with Sorrow

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

“Penghu Bay, Penghu Bay, where I had so many childhood dreams, where my grandma leaned on her cane, gently holding my hand. Sunshine, sandy beach, ocean waves, cacti, and an old sea captain.” The song “Grandma's Penghu Bay” by entertainer Pan Anbang made Penghu one of the top three destinations in Taiwan that mainland tourists most want to visit. The scenes described in the song are also must-see spots for many visitors to Penghu. However, now they carry a faint tinge of sorrow due to Pan Anbang’s passing.


▲ Pan Anbang’s “Grandma's Penghu Bay” filled many people with visions of Penghu’s beautiful scenery. (Photo / Still image from archival footage)

“Visitors to Penghu all want to find the imagery from Pan Anbang’s song.” According to the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration, since the song “Grandma's Penghu Bay” became popular, many tourists have sought out the locations mentioned in it. These include the “Former Residence of Pan Anbang,” where visitors can explore the atmosphere of the military dependents' village and catch a glimpse of how Pan Anbang once lived, as well as a recreated scene of a grandmother and grandchild sitting together in the sunset. Another spot is the “Guanyin Pavilion,” which looks particularly beautiful at dusk, with sunlight lingering on the sandy beach. There's also the “Aimen Beach,” a stretch of sand in Penghu that visitors must experience — its long shoreline and white clouds stretching under the sun perfectly capture the delicate sentiment of the “Penghu Bay” in the song.


▲ The imagery of a grandmother and child sitting in the sunshine can also be found in Penghu. (Photo / Provided by Penghu National Scenic Area Administration)

“Pan Anbang’s passing has left a deep sense of loss among the people of Penghu,” said Chen Shunxu, head of the department at the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration. “For the people of Penghu, ‘Grandma's Penghu Bay’ was the song that helped many of them connect with people on the mainland and build friendships. They truly came to know our hometown because of this song.” The beautiful ocean and beaches of Penghu have always left travelers who came because of the song in awe — but after Pan Anbang’s death, these scenic spots seem to have taken on a subtle sadness. The sunshine, sandy beaches, coastal cacti — these sights now evoke a sense of melancholy and longing in the eyes of the people of Penghu.

▲ The long coastline and sandy shores — can you still see the sunshine, beaches, and cacti from the song? (Photo / Provided by Penghu National Scenic Area Administration)