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Wu River Academy
This walled complex was built in 1780 to house one of Kinmens ancient schools. Inside, the Chutzu Shrine (朱子祠, Zhūzǐ Cí) honours neo-Confucian scholar Chu Hsi, who sought a revival of Confucian values during the Sung dynasty (AD 960–1279).
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Memorial Arch to Qiu Liang
Qiu Liang-Kung was a Kinmen native who rose to become governor of Chinas Zhejiang province. He erected this Kincheng landmark in 1812 to honour his mother who chose to live 28 years as a widow instead of remarrying after his father’s death.
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Hsiangte Temple
Just before Tienhsiang look for a suspension bridge leading to this temple on a ledge overlooking the gorge. The temple is named after the Buddhist monk who prayed for the safety of the workmen as they built the Central Cross-Island Hwy.
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Kenting Forest Recreation Area
Once an undersea coral reef, the forest area is now a quirky landscape of limestone caves, narrow canyons and cliff walls strangled with the roots of banyan trees. Its one of the most visited places in the park, so try to arrive early.
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Sun Moon Lake Ropeway
The seven-minute, 1.9km ride offers an unparalleled birds-eye view of the lake as you rise into the nearby hills. The gondola terminates at the Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village (九族文化村, Jiǔzú Wénhuà Cūn), an amusement park–cum–culture venue.
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Miaoli Wood Sculpture Museum
Exhibits include informative displays on the origins of woodcarving in Sanyi, a knockout collection of Buddhas and Taoist gods, some gorgeous traditional household furniture and temple architectural features. Unfortunately there is very little English.
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Houao Village
At the very eastern edge of the island is Houao Village, a small village that used to be cut off from the main island during high tide. Theres a small section of old houses off the main street that are worth checking out down the twisting alleys.
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Yuanching Temple
This splendid southern-style temple (元清觀, Yuánqīng Guàn; founded in 1763), just a stones throw away from the Confucian temple, boasts elegant, swallowtail rooftop eaves and a wealth of fine interior woodcarvings. The resident deity is Jade Emperor.
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Lukang Folk Arts Museum
The Folk Arts Museum has always been one of our favourite heritage sites in Lukang. Built in the Japanese era and originally the residence of a wealthy local family, the museum houses a large collection of daily-life artefacts from a bygone age.
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Kaohsiung Museum of History
This lovely museum is housed in what was the city government building during Japanese times. Tucked into neat rooms down the blonde-wood and marble hallways are photographic displays, a permanent 2-28 Memorial , and exhibits that change quarterly.
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East & West Fortresses
Both fortresses were built in 1887 following the end of the Sino-French War. Five thousand soldiers were once stationed in West Fortress, the largest of five fortresses in Penghu. East Fortress, though smaller, has a better shape and nicer views.
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Matsu Folklore Culture Museum
With many old photos, artefacts, life-size dioramas and interactive films, this four-storey museum is a good introduction to the culture and lifestyle on Matsu. The displays are visually appealing and there are now more English explanations than before.
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Jhaishan Tunnels
Blasted out of solid granite by soldiers in the early 1960s, these tunnels stretch 357m to the ocean and were designed to protect boats from bombs during wars. You can walk through the spooky interior or follow a bridge over the entrance that leads to the piers.
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Fine Arts Museum
Constructed in the 1980s, this airy, four-storey box of marble, glass and concrete showcases contemporary art, with a particular focus on Taiwanese artists. These include pieces by Taiwanese painters and sculptors from the Japanese period to the present.
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Old Market Street
The merchant streets of old Lukang are well represented by the shops lining both sides of the curved, red-tiled lanes of what is now called Old Market St. You can shop for traditional items, try some local delicacies or just enjoy a stroll through history.
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Siwei Tunnel
This is the top tourist attraction on the island. The 790m underground Siwei Tunnel, which was blasted through a granite reef, is twice as large as the Jhaishan Tunnels on Kinmen. The Liehyu visitor information centre is right next to the tunnel entrance.
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Taichung Folk Park
The park is divided into several sections but most of the interesting material is to the far right as you enter the park. Dont miss the collections of folk artefacts – everything from ceramic pillows to farming implements. Board bus 58 at the train station.
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Laomei Algal Reef
About a 10-minute walk southeast from the cape is an area that is beautiful when the tide is low: the Laomei Algal Reef. Looking like a row of fallen monoliths carpeted with emerald moss (in reality, layer upon layer of algae), the reef is a popular spot with photographers.
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Caves of the Eight Immortals
This mandatory stop for all tour buses going up and down the east coast is the site of the earliest human inhabitation of Taiwan. While a good place to spot wild monkeys, the insides of most caves have been turned into tacky Buddhist shrines. Archaeology is an afterthought.
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Tunnels of Nine Turns
One of the most famous sights in the park, this 2km long pedestrian tunnel opens strategically to great masses of sublimely colourful stone walls. At the time of writing, however, access was closed due to heavy rockfall damage. There was no word on when it would reopen.
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