Liuqiu Island - WikiHQ

Liuqiu (; also known by other names) is a coral island in the Taiwan Strait about southwest of the main island of Taiwan. It has an area of and approximately 12,200 residents. It is administered as a township of Pingtung County in Taiwan Province, Republic of China. the township's chief is Chen Lung-chin.

Names

Liúqiú is the pinyin romanisation of the Mandarin pronunciation of the Chinese name . Other romanisations include Liouciou, Liuchiu, Liu-chiu, and Liu-ch'iu based on the Wade-Giles system for Mandarin and Ryūkyū from its Japanese pronunciation. The original Liuqiu appears in the Book of Sui and other medieval Chinese records as an island kingdom somewhere in the East China Sea. It was written by different authors with different homophonous characters and appears to have transcribed a native name. That kingdom has been variously identified with states on Taiwan Island, Okinawa, and the Penghu Islands. The name Liuqiu Islet () was first used during the Ming Dynasty. Since "Ryūkyū" is also the name of the nearby Ryukyu archipelago including Okinawa and a historical kingdom there, the island has also been nicknamed "Little Liuqiu" () as opposed to "Big Liuqiu" () for the Ryukyu Islands or Taiwan – since the early 20th century. and Sio Liu-khiu. a calque of its old Dutch name '. The city's tourism department ascribes the name to Vase Rock's supposed resemblance to a lion, but it actually honours the slaughtered crew of the '.

History

The Siraya, the Taiwanese indigenous peoples who also lived in nearby Pingtung County on Taiwan Island, are thought to have been the island's original inhabitants.

In 1622, the Dutch ship ' In 1631, the Dutch yacht ' wrecked on the same reefs and its fifty-odd survivors battled for two days before also being slaughtered to a man. The few remaining native inhabitants were picked off by further slave raids and assaults until 1645, when a Chinese merchant who leased the island from the Dutch removed the last 13 indigenous inhabitants. of Pingtung County within Taiwan Province, which became streamlined in 1998.

Liuqiu transitioned to a tourism-based economy in the early 21st century, or boot-shaped It lies in the southeast corner of the Taiwan Strait, about SSW of Donggang Its highest point is Belly Hill, about above sea level. and Duozaiping Dǔzǎipíng Cháojiāndài) and Geban Bay on the west shore. The most important of the island's caves are Black Dwarf Cave, Beauty Cave, and Lobster Cave. the Sanfu Ecological Corridor Shānfù Shēngtài Lángdào) on the east coast, and the Houshi Fringing Reef Hòushí Qúnjiāo) in the southeast, which includes Mouse Rock Lǎoshǔ Shí), Guanyin Rock Guānyīn Shí), Indian Rock Hóngfān Shí), and Climbing Tiger Rock Páshānhǔ) in the southeast.

Its forests include white popinac, acacia, wild pineapple (lintou), and bamboo.

Climate

Overall, Liuqiu has a dry and warm climate but is the most typhoon-prone of the Taiwanese islands.

|source 2 = Atmospheric Science Research and Application Databank (precipitation 1996–2020, precipitation days and humidity 2000–2024)

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Administration

The current township chief is Chen Lung-chin Chén Lóngjìn).

Water and electricity are provided from Taiwan Island.

Agriculture

The lack of rivers on the island Home to less than 15,000 residents, the island saw over 500,000 tourists in 2012 B&Bs and hotels now cover the island, while others rent bicycles and motorcycles or facilitate scuba certification and diving.

The island's main sights are its temples; its beaches, reefs, caves, and rock formations; its net cages for fishing; the bamboo forest and wetland park Zhúlín Shēngtài Shīdì Gōngyuán) in the center of the island; the architecture and shops along Sanmin Road Sānmín Lǎojiē); the Sanfu Fishing Port Shānfú Yúgǎng); the Sea View Pavilion Wànghǎi Tíng) beside Beauty Cave, Restoration Pavilion Fùyù Liángtíng) on a reclaimed landfill on the east coast, and Sunset Pavilion Luòrì Tíng) on the island's southwest corner; and Sanzu or Wild Boar Ditch Shānzhū Gōu), a steep gully northwest of Sanban'ao near Black Dwarf Cave.

==Religion==

thumb|The [[Biyun Temple (Liuqiu)|Biyun Temple during Taiwan's Ghost Festival]]

Chinese ancestral veneration is abundantly demonstrated, with most plots of undeveloped land on the southern half of the island outside the tourist areas covered with graves. and as many as 70 in total. The people are quite religious and it is common to pray and give offerings for recovery from illness; for blessings for new ships, houses, and marriages; for protection while fishing; and for appropriate times for funerals. and the Palace of the Three Prosperous Ones Sānlóng Gōng) south of Benfu Village and dedicated to Lord Zhu, Lord Chi and Lord Wu. Erlong Temple in Haizikou is also a common waypoint used by tourists following the ring road along the island's coast.

Christianity was introduced by the Dutch. There is still a Presbyterian church on the island, in Pingtung County on Taiwan Island. Boats arrive at Baisha Port on the north end of the island or Dafu Port on its east coast. The island is from the Taiwan mainland, which is about a 25- to 30-minute boat ride, with the fastest boats making the trip in 15 minutes.

Although Liuqiu Airport once had passenger service with direct flights between Kaohsiung international airport and the island, it is now only used for helicopters.

Education

The island provides primary and junior high education. Its five schools are Liuqiu, Baisha, Quande,