Lieyu Township (Liehyu) (pinyin: Lièyǔ Xiāng; Hokkien POJ: Lia̍t-sū-hiong) is a rural township in Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). It consists mainly of three islands located to the west of Greater Kinmen and immediately to the east of Xiamen (Amoy) of the People's Republic of China: Lesser Kinmen (Pīnyīn: Xiǎojīnmén), Dadan, and Erdan.

Name

According to tradition, Greater Kinmen/Kinmen Island and Lesser Kinmen/Lieyu were originally one island. Lieyu was split-off (裂 lie) from Kinmen Island, hence the name Lieyu.

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. On July 26, 1950, ROC forces on the Dadan Island (Tatan), in total 298 soldiers, repulsed an attack (大擔島戰役) from a People's Liberation Army force of 700 soldiers that landed on the island. In January 1985, eight Chinese fishermen from a stranded boat were executed on Shi Islet by military orders. Donggang Bay, Lieyu Island, was the site of 1987 Lieyu Massacre, where nineteen or more Vietnamese refugees were killed on March 7, 1987 by the ROC armed force.

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 5000 m 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:

Administrative divisions

Lieyu Township is divided into five rural villages:

Politics

The government of the People's Republic of China claims Kinmen County (Jinmen County in pinyin) as part of Quanzhou City in its own Fujian province.

Infrastructure

Tourist attractions

Transportation

Water

The township houses one ferry pier named Jiugong Pier which sails to Shuitou Pier in Jincheng Township, Greater Kinmen Island.

Road

Since 2022, Lieyu Township is connected to Jinning Township in Greater Kinmen Island by Kinmen Bridge.