Beigan

Beigan (北竿) is a rural township in Lienchiang County, better known as the Matsu Islands, located approximately 110 nautical miles northwest of Taiwan Island. As the second largest island in the Matsu archipelago, Beigan features distinctive granite landscapes with its highest peak, Bishan (壁山), standing at 298 meters above sea level, the highest point in the Matsu Islands.

Beigan is renowned for its well-preserved stone house villages, particularly Qinbi Village (芹壁村), established during the Qing Dynasty and often described as “a Mediterranean town on the Taiwan Strait”. The island’s strategic military importance is evidenced by numerous tunnels and fortifications.