Hou'ao Village

Matsu


Worth a five-minute stop en route to the Peace Memorial Park, this village looks unpromising when you pass on the main street, but if you delve into the small web of back alleys there are quite a few older houses whose varying states of decay create a desolate atmosphere.

The causeway that links Hou'ao to the rest of Beigan crosses a golden sandy beach that is, on dark summer nights, a prime spot for observing blue tears.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Matsu attractions

1. Peace Memorial Park

0.18 MILES

Until the start of this century, Beigan's steep eastern peninsula housed a slew of defensive military emplacements. Many have been preserved as part of…

2. Qiaozi Village

1.19 MILES

Though lacking Qinbi's architectural integrity, Qiaozi (Ciaozai) gains a great deal of charm from its setting, nestled around a rocky harbour with…

3. Qinbi Village

1.5 MILES

Qinbi is by far Beigan's most complete traditional village, with its array of interconnected stone homes built on a steep slope, facing the curved bay and…

4. Daqiu Island

1.51 MILES

Barely five minutes by boat from Qiaozi harbour, a two-hour visit to this windswept, uninhabited island is one of Matsu's great joys – but only when the…

5. Banli Mansion

2.12 MILES

Beside the 7-Eleven shop in Banli is a very short row of four restored Qing dynasty stone-and-timber mansions. One of them is open to visitors as an…

6. Blue Tears Museum

6.66 MILES

Most of the information is in Chinese, but if you're visiting Matsu outside the summer season, this three-room interactive museum is the only place you'll…

7. Matsu Folklore Culture Museum

6.71 MILES

This large, professional yet little-heralded museum uses many old photos, artefacts and films to introduce the culture and lifestyle of the Matsu islands.

8. Giant Matsu Statue

7.07 MILES

At a towering 28.8m, this serene 2009 statue is said to be the world's tallest image of the sea goddess Matsu (Mazu). As well as facilitating many a 'See…