Brief Outline of the Matsu Biennial 2025
● Deadline for Proposals: 17:00 (GMT+8), 24 January 2025 (Fri.)
● Event Period: 5 September – 16 November 2025.
(73 days in total, official event period to be announced by the organizer)
● Location: Matsu Islands, Lianjiang County, Taiwan (for details please refer to p. 5)
● Organizer: Matsu Biennial Promotion Committee
(comprising Lianjiang County Government, and the General Association of Chinese Culture)
Introduction to Matsu
Matsu Archipelago is administratively part of Taiwan’s Lianjiang County and comprises Nangan,
Beigan, Dongyin, and Juguang Townships, along with many uninhabited islets. It is narrow east-west
and long north-south topographically, with each island boasting unique geological features.
Matsu Archipelago consists of 19 islands and islets, including five main islands: Nangan, Beigan,
Dongyin, Dongju, and Xiju. Smaller islets include Liang, Gaodeng, and Daqiu that belong to Beigan
Township.
Matsu’s administrative center, Nangan, is about 114 nautical miles from Taiwan and 54 nautical
miles from the Min River estuary, China. Its Huangqi Peninsula is the nearest point to China, only about
five nautical miles away.
● Coordinates: 26°09’04’’N, 119°55’38’’E
● Area: Approximately 29.52 km2
● Population: Around 14,000. (The resident population is only about 60% of the total population.)
2
*Population Breakdown by Township: Nangan 7,831; Beigan 3,088; Juguang 1,500; Dongyin
1,580
● Historical Overview
Matsu, a fishery island always in eager anticipation, has been annually awaiting a bountiful
harvest in the fishing season since ancient times. Fishermen’s songs in Eastern Min echo around this
island, and settlements of granite houses in Eastern Min style arise from the coves. People pickle food
and make wine, whilst ships depart and arrive. Maritime powers seek to occupy this island for
replenishment, while the fishermen crave as much the seafood beneath the tide as the terns do.
Matsu, a frontline island ever waiting, had been subject to military control over fishery, culture,
and residents’ life in response to the Cold War after 1949. Tunnels, bunkers, strongholds, and barracks
were constructed all over the island. The nearly 50-year military readiness control had made Matsu an
important fortress for Taiwan’s naval defense against China. Matsu remained under the war zone
administration until 1992, and the war had never come.
Matsu, a destination island looking forward to tourists, is 114 nautical miles from Keelung, Taiwan,
and the boat ride takes eight hours. However, it is merely 16 nautical miles from China, and the boat
ride takes less than 30 minutes. Matsu is known for the lapping “Blue Tears” and the “Green Aurora”
on the horizon. Both the islanders and tourists expect the “red tide,” terns, red spider lily, and golden-
and-silver honeysuckle. As a potential World Heritage site, Matsu is undergoing a new type of cultural
landscape transformation into a more sustainable island of cultural charm.
For details of the previous Matsu Biennial editions, please visit the official website:
https://matsubiennial.tw/
