Nankan (南竿鄉 Pinyin: Nángān) is one of the Matsu Islands and the capital township of the Lienchiang County (which coincides geographically with the Matsus) of the Republic of China.

Nangan was also known Nangantang (南竿塘) and Shanggantang (上竿塘). And because Lin Muoniang's (who later became the goddess Matsu) corpse was washed ashore here, Nangan was also known as Matsu Island (馬祖島).

There is a airport in Nangan. The highest point is Yuntai Mountain (雲台山) (248-metre).

Administration

Nangan is divided into nine villages:

• Jieshou (介壽村 Jieshou) literally, "Longevity for Chiang Kai-shek "
• Jinsha (津沙村 Jinsha) "Sand of Seaport"
• Cingshuei (清水村 Qingshui) "Pure Water"
• Jhuluo (珠螺村 Zhuluo) "Pearl and Snail"
• Fusing (復興村 Fuxing) "Revive Prosperity"
• Fuwo (福沃村 Fuwo) "Auspicious Fertility": fomerly Jingze Village (經澤)
• Ren-ai (仁愛村 Ren'ai) "Humanity and Love": formerly Tieban (鐵板 "Iron Plate") until 1955.
• Matsu (馬祖村 Mazu) "Matsu"
• Sihwei (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 March 3 (lunar calendar).

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

There is Shengli Water Reservoir (勝利水庫 "Victory") and a museum in Cingshuei Village. The museum contains four cannons (whose sound were to guide boat) from Jyuguang.

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

External links

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