Wuqiu, Kinmen

Wuqiu
Location of Wuqiu
Wuqiu Township in Kinmen County

Wuqiu (Chinese: 烏坵; pinyin: Wūqiū; Puxian Min: Ou-chhiu) is a group of islands comprising two major islands, namely Greater Qiu Islet and Smaller Qiu Islet, in the Taiwan Strait. Administratively, the Wuqiu Township (Chinese: 烏坵鄉; pinyin: Wūqiū Xiāng) is a rural township which is part of Kinmen County of the Fujian Province of the Republic of China. It is the smallest township in Kinmen County.

Name

Its name means "black mound".

History

Wuqiu Township was originally part of Putian County in which many of its residents emigrating from the county. After the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949, Wuqiu became disconnected from Putian. In June 1954, the township was provisionally reassigned to Kinmen County. Once the War Affairs Committee was founded in July 1956, strong and complete foundation for war affairs was built in the township. Martial law was lifted from the township on 7 November 1992.[1]

On 29 January 1994, Wuqiu residents had their first election to elect the fourth head of Wuqiu Township. And on 16 July 1994, the residents had their first election to elect the fourth village heads of Daqiu Village and Xiaoqiu Village.

Administrative divisions

Geography

Wuqiu consists of Greater Qiu Islet (大坵嶼, Dàqiū yǔ) and Smaller Qiu Islet (小坵嶼, Xiǎoqiū yǔ) with a total area of 1.2 km2, not to be confused with two islets (大坵島, Dàqiū dǎo and 小坵島, Xiǎoqiū dǎo) lying off the north coast off Beigan in the Matsu Islands.[2]

Greater Qiu Islet lies 9 nautical miles (17 km) from Lusi Island (鷺鷥島), 12 nmi (22 km) from Nanri Island (南日島), and 18 nmi (33 km) from Meizhou Island, both in China's Xiuyu District of Putian, Fujian. It is further from Republic of China territory; 72 nmi (133 km) from Kinmen, 86 nmi (159 km) from Nangan in the Matsu Islands, and 73 nmi (135 km) from Port of Taichung on Taiwan.[3]

Demographics

There are 400 people with household registration at Wuqiu Township.[4]

Culture

The dialect spoken on Wuqiu is a variety of Puxian Min, unlike the other islands of Kinmen.

Economy

Due to its location surrounded by ocean, fishing is the primary source of income for its residents.[2]

Infrastructure

Drinking water is provided to the residents by using reverse osmosis equipment. Generators are used to improve power shortages.

Tourist attractions

Nuclear waste disposal site

Wuqiu, along with Daren Township in Taitung County, was proposed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs as the candidate of the new disposal site of nuclear waste after the Lanyu storage site in Orchid Island, Taitung County. This proposal however received heavy objection from the local Wuqiu residence.[6]

Transportation

Although part of the Kinmen County, there is no ferry service to the rest of the Kinmen County from the township. Ferry connection is only available to the Port of Taichung on Taiwan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Township Office".
  2. 1 2 "Geographic environment".
  3. ↑ "Geographic location" at the Wuqiu Township website. Retrieved 20 January 2012. (English)
  4. ↑ "Prospect".
  5. ↑ "Historic spot".
  6. ↑ http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=190987&ctNode=413

Coordinates: 24°58′59″N 119°27′00″E / 24.983°N 119.450°E / 24.983; 119.450

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