Dongyin Township is composed of two islets, Dongyin islet (east) and Siyin (西引) islet (west), which are only about 300 meters apart. In 1976, the national armed forces built a “Kai Shek Bridge” to connect Dongyin and Siyin. Since then, Dongyin and Siyin have been one islet. Their total land area is about 4.4 square kilometers.

I took two hours on the Taima Ship (台馬輪) from Nangain (南竿) Islet, the largest islet in the Matzu archipelago, to Dongyin islet. The ticket from Nangain to Dongyin costs NT$285.

Taima Ship is Dongyin’s only transportation to get on and off the islet. The ship runs to Dongyin everyday from Keelung (基隆) Harbor. On the first day, it runs from Keelung to Nangain, then Dongyin, then back to Keelung; on the other day, it goes on the reverse.

There are several small hotels and restaurants on the islet. There is no bus service, but visitors can get a taxi or rent a motorbike to travel around the islet.

Dongyin is the only island without a sandy shore among Matzu’s islets. All of its coastline is composed of rocky cliffs. However, the rocky shores have brought many tourism resources for Dongyin. Sea-fishing on the rocky shore is one of the most popular tourist activities on the islet. Many fishing fans take ships to Dongyin from Taiwan during weekends and holidays for sea-fishing.

Besides that, many seagulls fly up from the south (reportedly from Australia) to build nests to feed their next generation in Dongyin and its satellite islets during the summer every year. The Matzu National Scenic Area Administration and Lienchiang County government holds a bird migration viewing festival in July.

On my trip to Dongyin, I was guided to view seagulls at the north part of the islet. Black tie seagulls are the biggest species among the migratory sea birds. Their fascinating flying skills really amazed me. I tried to take a picture of them, but I failed because of their incredibly fast flying speed. To highlight the tourism resource, several big seagull statues are set up beside the main highway on Dongyin, telling visitors not to forget to look out for the seagulls.

There is a Dongyin Distillery near the seagull statues, selling some of the best liqueurs in Taiwan. Almost every visitor who visits Dongyin brings back a bottle of Dongyin liqueur.

The Dongyong (東湧) Lighthouse is the most distinguished and must-see spot on the islet. It sits on the eastern flank of a mountain. When visitors go in the lighthouse and look far into the sea from the balcony, they can see the white ocean spray splashing among the rocks.

The 14.2-meter tall lighthouse was completed in 1905 by a British man named John Reginald Harding. It, and the surrounding buildings, is built in a European style. In 1988, the lighthouse was designated a third-class historic site, and is now the center of Dongyin’s most promising tourism area. There are two cannons on the cliff below the lighthouse to assist the light with its sounds, guiding the ships in fog season or under cloudy weather. Now the fog cannons’ function has been replaced by the foghorn and they are no longer in use.

The Martyred Maiden Cliffs is an imposing sea-eroded bluff rising 100 meters from behind Dazihao. Rumors said that a young woman threw herself off the cliff to avoid violation by a pirate. The cliff was named the Martyred Maiden Cliff as a memorial for the woman.

There is a giant stone west of the Martyred Maiden Cliff, named the “Martyred Stone.” Visitors can enjoy a unique natural wall and railings that reach down to the bottom of the cliff.

An Dong Tunnel(安東坑道) is military fortification built during 1960s and now it opens to public. The main tunnel is about two meters wide and 300 meters long.

There are eight exits which were designed for shooting during battles. These exits now have become a good site to see sea views, especially the end exit where is able to see seagulls flying.

A guide told me that the tunnel can house a company (about 130 soldiers) for at least one month. The tunnel is equipped with bedrooms, company hall, bathroom, kitchen and ammunition depot.