Xiaochijiao sits on the coast of Chidong Village at the southeastern tip of Xiyu Township, facing a shallow reef shore on the inner-bay side of Penghu. The Twin-Curve Bridge is a low wooden walkway bridge formed by two S-curves joined end to end, extending from the sea wall out to the reef flats beside the stone fish weir. The bridge itself is short, yet the view from its span frames the Tiger’s Eye stone fish weir, the calm inner-bay water, and distant fishing boats all in a single scene. Right beside the bridge stands the Tiger’s Eye Stone Fish Weir, composed of two oval stone-built fishing enclosures linked together. Seen from above, their outline resembles a pair of tiger eyes; it is one of the most intact surviving stone fish weirs in Penghu.
Penghu once held more than 600 stone fish weirs — the highest concentration anywhere in the world — and around 580 remain identifiable today, scattered along the shores of Baisha, Huxi, Xiyu, and other islands. The construction technique was brought by Hokkien fishermen from southern Fujian. Basalt gravel, abundant in Penghu, was stacked layer by layer in the intertidal zone without any mortar or binding agent; the structure is held together entirely by the interlocking fit of the stones and the natural compaction caused by years of wave action. At high tide, fish follow ocean currents into the weir to feed; at low tide, the stone walls block their exit and trap them inside, allowing fishermen to wade in and catch them by hand. This passive fishing method uses no fuel, allows selective harvesting, and causes minimal damage to coral reefs — a striking contrast to modern mechanised trawling. The weir complex around Chidong Village stands as a living record of a technique sustained over several centuries.
Highlights
The most rewarding detail of the Tiger’s Eye Stone Fish Weir is the construction method visible at the top of the walls. Most walls stand between 1 and 1.5 metres tall, and the row of broad basalt slabs laid along the crest is called the hufang (滬房, literally “weir roof”) — the most technically demanding element of the entire structure. These capstones must lock together without mortar while withstanding the repeated impact of incoming waves at high tide without shifting or collapsing. Standing midway along the Twin-Curve Bridge at low tide and looking down, you can clearly see the complete outlines of both elliptical weir chambers, and the layered algae on the wall cross-sections — ranging from rust-brown to deep green — recording decades, or in some cases over a century, of accumulated time in stone. The texture of hand-fitted masonry cannot be replicated by any modern construction method.
The bridge deck sits very close to the water; at low tide you can almost look straight down through the planks into the tide pools below. The reef flats at both ends of the bridge support an active intertidal community: glass anemones, brittle stars, small stone crabs, and colonies of limpets and barnacles clinging to the basalt surfaces are commonly seen in the low-tide zone. For families with children, exploring the reef at low tide offers a more direct encounter with marine life than any aquarium. The one constraint is Penghu’s marine protected area regulations — collecting organisms and turning over rocks are prohibited; simply observe and retrace your steps.
Getting There and Nearby
Bus: Chidong stop (PEN299536) is just 60 metres from the bridge entrance, making this one of the most conveniently served attractions on the Xiyu bus route. Take a bus from Magong Bus Terminal toward Xiyu, cross the Cross-Sea Bridge, and continue for about 30–40 minutes to Chidong stop; the bridge is straight ahead along the coastal path. Xiyu services generally run once an hour off-peak — check the last return departure before you set out to avoid a long wait in the afternoon.
Nearby attractions (a motor scooter or bicycle is recommended for combining sites):
- 3 minutes on foot: The coral-limestone lane houses of Chidong Village, still inhabited, offer a good introduction to the everyday architectural character of a Penghu fishing village.
- About 10 minutes by scooter: Erkan Old Settlement — the only traditional settlement in Penghu County to be fully designated for preservation, with free guided tours and locally made Erkan almond tea.
- About 15 minutes by scooter: Xitai Fort (completed 1886), built under the direction of Liu Mingchuan during his tenure as Governor of Taiwan Province, and the best-preserved Qing-dynasty coastal defence fortification in Penghu.
- About 25 minutes by scooter: Xiyu Lighthouse (Yuweng Island Lighthouse), first established in 1778 at the northern tip of Xiyu — the oldest lighthouse in the Penghu archipelago.
Parking: During Golden Week and the summer peak season, roadside parking near Chidong stop fills up quickly. Consider parking in the public lot beside Xiyu Health Centre (Xiyu Health Centre stop, PEN299535) and walking about 3 minutes to the bridge.