Wang'an is a township in southern Penghu, made up of nineteen islands and islets, six of which are inhabited. The main island, also called Wang'an, was formerly known as Bazhao. Its northern side is higher than the south, and the coast is a series of wave-cut platforms. The other inhabited islands are Jiangjun'ao, Dongji, Dongping, Xiping and Huayu, each with its own village and harbour. The sea between them is shallow, clear and crossed by ferries from Magong and by small fishing boats.
From the journal
The fish traps of Wang'an
On a small island group in southern Penghu, farmers built stone walls across the tidal flats to trap fish. Some are still repaired each year.
In the same city · Penghu ↗Nineteen islands, six inhabited
Walls in the tide
The stone weirs are the signature of Wang'an and the wider Penghu coast. They are low walls of basalt and coral built across the tidal flats, arranged in loops or arcs with an opening that lets fish in at high tide. When the water falls, the fish are trapped inside, and the owner collects them at low tide. The weirs are community property, maintained by families and repaired after storms. Some are centuries old, and the knowledge of where to build them, how to angle the walls and when to close the gap is passed down locally. They are fishing structures, but they also shape the look of the shore.
Turtles and old houses
The beaches of Wang'an are nesting sites for green turtles, and the township runs a green turtle tourism and conservation centre. The south of the archipelago is protected as the South Penghu Marine National Park, which covers the waters around Dongji, Xiji and the smaller islets. On the main island, the village of Zhongshe has a cluster of old houses built from coral and basalt, with swallowtail roofs and narrow lanes. Mount Tiantai, the highest point, looks over the platforms and the sea. The islands are quiet, and the ferry schedule sets the shape of a visit.