A Time-honored Island

I was surprised to find in the temple Taiwan's oldest stone tablet with Chinese inscriptions recording Ming Dynasty official Shen Yourong's rejection of Dutch Captain Wijbrand van Waerwijck's request to trade – a record of the first encounter between Chinese and Dutch officials.

Apparently, workers unearthed the tablet from beneath an altar in 1919 during a rebuild of the temple. It wasn't until 1985 when the Council for Cultural Affairs refurbished the temple that the tablet was recognized as a valuable artifact; it's now displayed in the library on the temple's second floor. Even though its engraving has blurred, it is amazing to see such an old work of art intact.

The temple's stone pillars are beautiful, but the wooden doors impressed me the most with its refined engravings and exquisite markings – it's difficult to believe they're so ancient.

A shelter that visitors can now see protecting the shrine highlights the significance of the temple. As the religious center for Penghu inhabitants, and the core of Taiwanese culture, it is important to look after the sacred site.

Guanyin Recreation Area

Named after the Guanyin Temple, dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, the Guanyin Recreation Area sits in the Siying quarter. The area is known as a place to serenely interact with powerful winds and the beautiful rhythms of the lapping waves. Additionally, it is the best spot to view the sunset in Magong City, thanks to the Siying Rainbow Bridge, Magong's most recognized landmark.

Penghu evenings are usually more attractive for the reasons mentioned above, but the lit-up neon colors of the Rainbow Bridge play the main charming role, complimented by the cool breeze sweeping up from down south.

The picturesque bridge, seemingly built in the water, combines form and function and connects the narrow arms of land surrounding Guanyinting Harbor. It arches gracefully, and is great to walk on or just to gaze at. When fireworks spark, during the summer months or New Year's Eve, the view is at its best.

If the historic temples and streets do not tempt you enough, then allow the beautiful evening seaside view to crown Penghu for you.

How to get there:

By air – Flights are available from all Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Chiayi and Kaohsiung. A return ticket for the 50-minute journey is approximately NT$3,200 per person from Taipei.

By sea – Four-hour ship rides are available from Chiayi and Kaohsiung. A return journey costs about NT$1,500 from Kaohsiung.

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