Lieyu


Lieyu Township is a rural township in Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China. It mainly consists of Lesser Kinmen, Dadan, and Erdan, three islands of the ROC located to the west of Greater Kinmen and immediately to the east of Xiamen of the People's Republic of China.

History

The first people arrived from the Central Plains of China during the Tang Dynasty and quickly developed the island. The population quickly multiplied. During the Tang Dynasty, a horse pasture was set up on the island. During the Song Dynasty, a salt works was constructed. During the Ming Dynasty, a frontier command was constructed. During the Qing Dynasty, a garrison was sent to protect against Japanese pirates.
In 1950, Dadan was the site of a minor battle in the Chinese Civil War. Donggang Bay was the site of the 1987 Lieyu Massacre.

Geography

The island of Lesser Kinmen is situated outside the mouth of mainland China's Jiulong River and. The distance from mainland China at the closest point is only about and is located in a very strategic position.
Lieyu Township includes numerous islands and islets. Some of the larger among those islands and islets include:
Lieyu Township is divided into five rural villages:
The government of the People's Republic of China claims Kinmen County as part of Quanzhou City in its own Fujian province.

Tourist attractions

Water

The township houses one ferry pier named Jiugong Pier.

Road

In the future, Lieyu Township will be connected to Jinning Township in Greater Kinmen Island by Kinmen Bridge which is currently still under construction.