Be an island owner, play a bandit, and hear legends of Mazu~ Winter trips to Matsu are anything but boring!

Written & Photography / Li Xinyi

After working all year, you might want a short getaway to treat yourself. Just a 50-minute flight will take you to Matsu, where you can enjoy a laid-back island vibe—that’s a great choice. Even outside the seabird-watching season, winter in Matsu offers new experiences: stay at a homestay on an uninhabited island and play the role of an island owner, kayak through military tunnels, pray at temples dedicated to Mazu, and visit the home of a legendary bandit leader. Plus, the movie “Flowers Bloom” is currently being filmed in Qinpibu, starring Jerry Yan, Chen Yihan, Chen Yanxi, and Joseph Cheng. A trip to Matsu now might even give you a chance to spot your idols!

1. New Experience: Be an Island Owner on Da Wu Uninhabited Island

Being an island owner, living a peaceful life away from the hustle and bustle, is something many people envy. Since residents and military personnel left, Da Wu Island in Matsu has been an uninhabited, deserted island for 15 years. This year, the island’s first homestay, “Da Wu Island Eco Park,” has opened, and its owner, Hu Jinjiang, has become the new island owner.

In 1996, when the last batch of soldiers left Da Wu Island by boat, sika deer were also introduced. With no natural predators, there are now over a hundred sika deer living here, becoming the island’s newest residents. The once shy deer have gradually become more comfortable around humans, and visitors can enjoy the experience of feeding them. In February and March next year, the island will feature a paintball field and a croquet court. Visitors can bring their own paintballs or rent them on-site, while croquet equipment will be provided for free. During extremely low tides on the 1st, 2nd, 15th, and 16th days of the lunar calendar, you can also join Hu Jinjiang to collect mussels and snails along the shore. In the evening, everyone can gather for a beach BBQ or sing karaoke together to enjoy the island life.

The “Da Wu Island Eco Park” offers double rooms for NT$1,200 and quadruple rooms for NT$2,400, both including breakfast. However, currently, traveling from Beigan to Da Wu Island requires a sightseeing boat, which incurs an additional fee. Hu Jinjiang noted that from February to March next year, a regular ferry service is expected to operate between Nangan, Beigan, and Da Wu Island, significantly reducing transportation costs for visitors.

DATA

Da Wu Island Eco Park

Phone: Hu Jinjiang 0927-189-032

Fees: Double room NT$1,200, Quadruple room NT$2,400

Note: Transportation to Da Wu Island can be arranged through Hu Jinjiang