Penghu County, Island county in Taiwan Strait, Taiwan
Penghu is an archipelago in the Taiwan Strait made up of 90 islands and small islets separated by turquoise waters. Magong city on the main island serves as the administrative hub and hosts the main harbor and most public facilities for the county.
The archipelago became an administrative unit in 1281 under the Yuan dynasty and experienced alternating periods of rule by Chinese dynasties until Japanese occupation in the early 20th century. After World War II the territory became part of the Republic of China and transitioned from a militarily important zone to a civilian administrative unit.
Residents maintain a way of life closely tied to the sea, visible in coastal temples and traditional boat-building practices passed down through generations. Fujian traditions continue to shape family celebrations and daily use of Hokkien dialect in markets and neighborhoods.
Air connections and ferry routes provide access from major Taiwanese cities, with flights taking around 30 minutes and ferry trips lasting several hours. On the main islands scooter rentals are widely available and suit visitors well given the manageable size of road networks.
The southern part contains impressive basalt columns formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago and now protected as geological formations. Some of these columns rise directly from the sea and create coastal landscapes found in few other places across East Asia.
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