Jyuguang (莒光 Jǔguāng; also spelt Chukuang) is an island township in the Matsu region of Taiwan. Juguang Township includes two major islands, Dongju Island (東莒 "East Ju"; Dĕ̤ng-gṳ̄) and Xiju Island (西莒 "West Ju"; Să̤-gṳ̄), as well as some islets.

Understand

On October 15, 1971, the Executive Yuan approved changing the name of the township from Baiquan Township (Paichuan, White Dogs; 白犬鄉) to Juguang Township (Chukuang; 莒光鄉). They were renamed from a quote of a speech by Chiang Kai-shek, "forget not that you're in Ju" (毋忘在莒; Ù uông câi Gṳ̄). It refers to the City of Ju, where the king of Qi prepared a counterattack that retook his country from the State of Yan. This is an analogy of Matsu and Taiwan as bases of the Republic of China (ROC) to regenerate itself and one day recover mainland China from the Chinese communist. This renaming, of course, is not recognized by PRC, which keep their original names.

For more information about local attractions, you may visit the Tourist Information Centre:

• 1 Tourist Information Center (東莒莒光遊客中心), ☏ +88683689388. 08:00-17:30. (updated Jun 2020)

Get in

By air

Heliport, Xiju

• 1 Xiju Heliport. A helicopter service operates to the island, although it is only available during winter and priority is given to local residents. (updated Jun 2020)

By sea

There is an inter-island ferry between Dongju and Xiju islands as well as the ferry connecting the two islands to Nangan which goes between and from the following ports:

• 2 Dongju Meng'ao Harbor (東莒猛澳港). (updated Jun 2020)
• 3 Xiju Qingfan Harbor (西莒青帆港). (updated Jun 2020)

See

Culture and history

Dongquan Lighthouse

• 1 Dongquan Lighthouse (東犬燈塔). The lighthouse was built by the British Empire in 1872 to guide ships to Fuzhou during the Qing Dynasty when they were forced to open up along with four other treaty ports for trading. It can cast a beam of light that can be seen up to 16.7 nautical miles away. (updated Jun 2020)
• 2 Dapu Inscription (大埔石刻). The stone carving was done in 1617 to commemorate the achievements of the local garrison in dealing with pirates which were harassing the local population. (updated Jun 2020)

Museums

• 3 Matsu Folk Culture Museum (馬祖民俗文物館), ☏ +88683622167. 09:00-17:00. The museum building is designed with a traditional Matsu village and Eastern Fujian style and is located in a five-story building to display local cultural artifacts to the visitors coming to the museum. (updated Jun 2020)

Temples

Tianao Matsu temple

• 4 Tianao Matsu Temple (田沃天后宮). (updated Jun 2020)

Nature

• 5 Mysterious Little Bay (神祕小海灣). The bay consists of many wave-cut gullies which were historically used by the local residents to hide from pirates. It is also a popular gathering place for birds. (updated Jun 2020)

Eat

• 1 Maple Grove Snack (楓樹林小吃), ☏ +886 8 368 9037. 08:30-21:00. Typical Chinese fare from snacks to full meals. (updated Jun 2020)

Drink

• 1 Zhaocha teahouse (找茶冰品店), ☏ +88683688009. 10:00 - 20:00. (updated Jun 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Friendship Hotel (友誼山荘), ☏ +88683688028. (updated Jun 2020)
• 2 Matsu Seaman's B&B (馬祖海上人家民宿), ☏ +886935648716. (updated Jun 2020)