evidence: The tiny Matsu Islands are a world unto themselves. They lie far to the northwest of Taiwan proper, just off China’s Fujian province. Staring into the mouth of Fujian’s mighty Min River, the great city of Fuzhou sits close upstream. Matsu’s islands are rugged, hilly outcrops of granite with little flat land; until recent times most material bounty has come from the sea. Traditional culture in the rest of Taiwan is connected to south Fujian, but these islands lie off east Fujian. Meaning different cultural customs, different local dialect, different residential and temple architecture, different cuisine. So, for a vacation from Taiwan without physically leaving Taiwan, point the nose of your craft toward its northernmost possessions. Those craft? There’s regular large-ship ferry service between mainland Taiwan’s Keelung City and ports in Nangan and Dongyin islands, and regular smaller-ferry service between Matsu’s islands. The two biggest islands are Beigan and Nangan, close together, where tourists spend most of their time. (You might also like: 7 Street Snacks to Try in Keelung) [...] The Matsu Islands "Blue Tears" Phenomenon