Gupoyu, located in the northwest of Paisha and the southwest of Jibei Island, is a quadrangular mesa formed with basalt. With a length of 1km from the north to the south, it becomes the biggest uninhabited island among the islands of the Penghu Archipelago. Porous basalt can be easily seen on the whole island. Its surface is covered by iron-rich quartz terrane, which makes a strong visual contrast.
Gupoyu, an island in Paisha Township, Penghu County, Taiwan, is the uninhabited island with the largest area in the North Sea of Penghu. Stretching about 1km north-south, the island is a quadrangular mesa formed by four continental segments and three small isthmuses. On the north shore sees a broad abrasion platform, while the northern and southern areas of the east shore have natural bays with white-sand beaches.
Gupoyu Port
On the island, there is a monument on the highest point of the whole island in commemoration of the wreck of an England ship. The abrasion platform on the north shore, being hit by the waves for years, is well-known for its premium quality lavers naturally grown. Every year, Chihkan villagers come by boats separately to harvest the lavers during the harvest season in winter, and with the massive crowd bustling to harvest the lavers, the shore looks like a busy market by the sea.
Penghu is famous for the wild lavers, or called as “black gold” by the Penghu locals. The north side of Gupoyu, suffering from no pollution, is an area of naturally grown wild lavers. From the end of October to the end of March of the next year is a growing period of these lavers, as the waves caused by the strong northeast monsoon in winter lap against the shore and promote the growth of the lavers. Winter is therefore called as “Black Gold Mining Season” for being the harvest season.
The sea area between Gupoyu and Paishayu is the biggest fishing ground for anchovy fish. The season of the anchovy fish in Penghu is from April to September. Since May is the spawning season of the anchovy fish, anchovy fish fishing is not allowed in this month to maintain the ecosystem of the anchovy fish.