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We came to Nangan to hike one of Taiwan's Small 100 Mountains, however we got so much more from our stay. It is a beautiful scooter drive around the island. We enjoyed exploring the small villages with stone houses as well as the historic military locations. The highlight was a hike through the geopark followed by an evening of photographing the "blue tears" right, both just outside of our amazing homestay, Matsu Seaside View Homestay.

Nangan is a small island yet there's plenty of things there to keep you occupied for days, even weeks. The oceans surrounding it are pristine and the most beautiful blue you could see. They have plenty of interesting and delicious foods you can't find on Taiwan island like the Matsu burger and old wine noodles. The people here are friendly and seem to really enjoy life.

The four Matsu islands are a great place to get some scenic views and a deeper understanding of Taiwan's history. There is government-run tour bus that offers half- and full-day trips around different islands (English may be available, but it's a good idea to check in advance - your homestay host should be able to help). This is a good way to see a bunch of different popular attractions in a short time. If you decide to go it alone, there are ordinary buses on Nangan and Beigan (but not Dongyin), and some homestays offer scooters for rent - or you can walk. (It took us about three hours to walk halfway across Nangan.) Be aware that the hills are STEEP. Also, if you go in the winter, it will be cold. Make sure you have an insulated windproof layer (like a parka or ski jacket) and, if possible, insulated footwear. (We went in January, wore sneakers with double socks, and still had cold feet the whole time.) If you go in the off-season (September - March) some shops and restaurants may be closed, but it's still worth it for the views and the almost complete absence of other tourists. Be sure to check out the four-floor Matsu Folk Cultural Artifacts Exhibit Hall (a huge museum with some great exhibits - if you don't read Chinese, use the photo function in the Google Translate app to read the explanations) and the tiny village of Jinshan on Nangan, the Andong Tunnel on Dongyin (for some military history), and Qinbi Village on Dongyin (for gorgeous regional architecture). And, of course, the numerous temples to Matsu all over the islands (with a knowledgeable guide if possible).