Dongyin Zhonglu Living Room. Dongyin is a small island just 18.5 nautical miles from China. It is not only the northernmost territory of our nation but also the front line of tense relations. Dongyin is a small island just 18.5 nautical miles from China. It is not only the northernmost territory of our nation but also the front line of tense relations. Such geopolitical factors have deeply influenced the island's culture, which is intertwined with fishing and military presence. Outside the Loyalty Gate is the fishing harbor that the island relies on for its livelihood. Inside the gate is a seemingly endless staircase called "Zhonglu" (Middle Road), which stretches from the Loyalty Gate all the way to Dongyin Junior and Senior High School. Before 1966, this was the "city center" of the entire island. Many shops lined both sides of Zhonglu, and fishermen would rest in the fish sheds along the stairs. During the martial law period, the military government was also located around Zhonglu. The vitality and livelihood of the entire island revolved around this staircase. However, after the ravages of typhoons and the construction of public housing, the center of the settlement gradually shifted from Zhonglu to the island's interior. Zhonglu, once prosperous due to the harbor and its people, could not withstand the population loss and became a periphery of the settlement. The bustling shops, factories, and fish sheds of yesteryear were abandoned and fell into disrepair. In 2019, the Salty Island Cooperative emerged, and like bamboo shoots after rain, local communities and various government agencies were inspired with a sense of mission to revive Zhonglu. Today, under the collective efforts of everyone, Zhonglu has shed its former decline and transformed into a space that carries the island's stories.
Address: 連江縣東引鄉樂華村4號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Matsu