Nankan (南竿鄉 Pinyin: Nángān) is one of the Matsu Islands and the capital township of Lienchiang County (which coincides geographically with the Matsus). It is a portion of the Fujian Province that is controlled by the Republic of China. Nankan is also known Nankantang (南竿塘) and Shangkantang (上竿塘). And because Lin Muoniang's (who later became the goddess Matsu) corpse washed ashore here, Nankan is also known as Matsu Island (馬祖島).

There is no airport in Nankan. The highest point is 248 metre Yuntai Mountain (雲台山).

Administration

Nankan is divided into nine villages:

• Chieshou (介壽村 Jieshou) literally, "Longevity for Chiang Kai-shek "
• Chingsha (津沙村 Jingsha) "Sand of Seaport"
• Chingshui (清水村 Qingshui) "Pure Water"
• Chuluo (珠螺村 Zhuluo) "Pearl and Snail"
• Fuhsing (復興村 Fuxing) "Revive Prosperity"
• Fuwo (福沃村 Fuwo) "Auspicious Fertility"; fomerly Jingze Village (經澤)
• Jen-ai (仁愛村 Ren'ai) "Humanity and Love"; formerly Tieban (鐵板 "Iron Plate") until 1955.
• Matsu (馬祖村 Mazu) "Matsu"
• Ssuwei (四維村 Siwei) "Four Virtues"

Tourism

There is the Palace of Heavenly Empress (天后宮) in Matsu Village, which contains the coffin of Lin Muoniang. The temple also include statues of the guards "Thousand-li Eye" (千里眼) and "Wind-following Ear" (順風耳). There is an annual celebration on the third day of the third month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Matsu Winery (馬祖酒廠) locates on Wujiao Hill (午角嶺) in Fuhsing Village, producing daqu wine (大麴酒) and sorghum wine (高梁酒).

In Chingshui Village may be found a museum and Shengli Water Reservoir (勝利水庫 "Victory"). The museum contains four cannons whose sounds were used to guide boats from Chukuang.

There are also three parks and two abandoned military tunnels on the island.

External links

• 12 photos (http://home.kimo.com.tw/john123a/scene.htm)