Field note · Taiwan · Lienchiang County, Fujian Province (ROC-administered)

Matsu Islands

Matsu is five inhabited islands scattered off the mouth of China's Min River, 210 km from Keelung, and almost everyone arrives by air into Nangan or Beigan on a 50-minute hop from Taipei Songshan. The catch is fog: from March to May the two airports shut, sometimes for days on end, and the whole island group falls back on the sea. That fallback is a single overnight ship from Keelung, the Taima Star and the New Taima, which leaves at 22:30 and docks between 06:00 and 08:30 the next morning with bunks, cabins and, only once the bunks have gone, plain seats. Once you are there, Fuao Harbour on Nangan is the hub for every inter-island boat: a 15-minute shuttle to Beigan roughly every half hour, three sailings a day to Juguang, one a day to Dongyin, and a small helicopter that is switched on when the boats cannot sail. On the islands themselves a bus ride is NT$15, the visitor centres lend bicycles for nothing, and a scooter is what locals expect you to hire – though you need an international driving permit with the motorcycle category to do it legally. Two ferries also cross to mainland China, from Nangan to Langqi and from Beigan to Huangqi, and since 2024 foreign passport holders can use them.

Researched: 22 September 2026
Reviewed: not yet
Ways of moving: 9, 34 sources
Not confirmed: 12
Fares seen: 2026

How transport works here

9 ways of moving, each with its rule

We confirmed seven ways of moving to, from or around Matsu Islands: one by air, three by water, one by road and two under your own steam, from 34 sources. Two entries are not a service at all but a rule that decides whether travel happens: a permit, a closure, a border, a season or an authority's say-so. One of them runs only on demand or when the seats are full, so there is no timetable to show; the rule is written where the timetable would be. Nine need a phone call or a message before you turn up.

The fares were seen in 2026; a fare from an older year is a floor, not a price. We rate 8 of the 9 high confidence, our own judgement of the sources. The entry was checked on 22 September 2026, and ends with twelve things we could not confirm.

One way

By air

scheduled flight

Flights to Nangan and Beigan

Taipei Songshan (TSA) to Nangan (LZN) and Beigan (MFK); Taichung (RMQ) to Nangan; Kaohsiung (KHH) to Nangan

Two airlines fly to Matsu and no third party sells much of the inventory, so book direct: UNI Air (立榮航空) at uniair.com.tw and Mandarin Airlines (華信航空) at mandarin-airlines.com. Nangan Airport is at Fuxing Village, about ten minutes by road from Fuao Harbour and the Jieshou bus terminal; Beigan Airport is at Tangqi Village on Beigan. Both are tiny, with a single counter each, and check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. The aircraft are ATR turboprops with well under 100 seats, so holiday weekends and the summer sell out weeks ahead and Taiwanese travel agents buy out blocks of summer seats – a package with hotel is sometimes the only way to get a seat at all. Fares are government-set, so there is no point shopping around. Before you set off, check the Matsu Daily front page (matsu-news.gov.tw), which shows the live cloud base and visibility at both Nangan and Beigan, or ring the airport flight line.

When: Songshan–Nangan roughly 6 round trips a day on UNI Air plus about 1 on Mandarin; Songshan–Beigan about 3 UNI Air round trips a day; Taichung–Nangan 1 UNI Air round trip a day; Kaohsiung–Nangan 2 Mandarin round trips a week as of September 2026, after a Monday flight was added in May 2026, with the county lobbying for a third
Takes: About 50 minutes from Songshan, about 75 minutes from Taichung, about 70 minutes from Kaohsiung
Fare 2026: Songshan–Nangan and Songshan–Beigan about NT$2,197 one way; Taichung–Nangan about NT$2,686; Kaohsiung–Nangan about NT$3,543, all excluding insurance (2026)

SeasonYear-round. Heaviest March to October; the fog season from March to May routinely wipes out whole days of flying. BookingOnline or by phone with the airline. UNI Air +886 2 2508 6999, Nangan +886 836 26522, Beigan +886 836 56576. Mandarin Airlines +886 2 412 8008. Book several days ahead for weekends and holidays. Run byUNI Air (立榮航空), Mandarin Airlines (華信航空).

2 ways

Rules, permits and closures

service status

The fog season, and what happens when both airports close

Nangan Airport and Beigan Airport, and the sea and helicopter fallbacks from Fuao Harbour

This is the single most important thing to plan around. The scenic area administration's own advice names March to May as the foggy season; in practice February to June all produce closures, and the Matsu Daily puts it plainly – during the winter and spring fog, flying stops and often stops for several days. Cancellation rates are not marginal: one week in March 2025 saw 56 per cent of Nangan's flights cancelled, and on 22 May 2026 both airports were shut all day, stranding about 583 people at Nangan alone with 309 still waiting the following morning. When it happens the county runs a standing playbook. The morning New Taima sailing from Fuao to Keelung, normally 09:30, is put back an hour to 10:30 so stranded flyers can get on it – that happened on 27 May, 3 June and 8 June 2026, among others. Extra Southern Star fast-ship sailings are laid on to Taipei Port. The county can ask the Ministry of National Defence for military transport aircraft, though on 22 May 2026 only one sortie was offered and in the end none flew. And a small inter-island helicopter run by Ling Tian Aviation is switched on when the boats cannot sail, linking Nangan with Dongyin and Juguang in about ten minutes a leg. Practical version: if you are travelling between February and June, leave a spare day at each end, do not book a same-day onward international flight out of Taipei, and buy a refundable ferry ticket as a hedge.

When: Fog closures are commonest March to May but occur from February to June. Individual closures run from a few hours to several consecutive days; a five-day run in June 2026 cancelled more than 20 flights and led to four military sorties carrying 279 people
Takes: Hours to days. On 22 May 2026 flying resumed around midday after a full-day closure the day before
Fare 2026: Helicopter, non-resident: Nangan–Dongyin NT$3,000, Nangan–Dongju NT$2,000 (residents NT$1,200 and NT$800; free under 2, half price 65+ and disabled). No charge for the ferry rebooking itself (2026)

SeasonMarch to May is the declared fog season; the north-east monsoon from October also disrupts sailings. BookingHelicopter reservations 08:00–17:00: Nangan +886 836 25001 / 25191, Dongju +886 836 89018, Xiju +886 836 89199, Dongyin +886 836 77190. Each flight needs at least four registered residents booked or it rolls to the next day. Live ferry and flight notices at matsuebs.com and matsu-news.gov.tw. Run byLienchiang County Transportation and Tourism Bureau; Ling Tian Aviation (凌天航空); All Ports Express (全港通).

border crossing

Mini Three Links ferries to mainland China

Nangan (Fuao) to Langqi near Fuzhou; Beigan (Baisha) to Huangqi on the Huangqi peninsula

Two short international crossings leave from the same piers as the domestic boats, and since September 2024 non-PRC, non-ROC passport holders can use them. Nangan–Langqi is the longer one, about 90 minutes, on the Jin An, Jishun No. 10 or Anqi No. 6; the Langqi terminal on the mainland side is a long way from the rest of Fuzhou's port infrastructure, a taxi driver may not know it, and the only public link is the infrequent bus 201. Beigan–Huangqi is 30 minutes on the Jishun No. 9 or Anlong No. 2 and has an afternoon departure, which makes it the useful backup if the morning Nangan–Langqi sailing is cancelled. Reserve by 12:00 the day before with the shipping company, giving your travel document details, then bring the originals to the counter an hour before departure to pay and collect. Ticket cut-off is typically 09:30 at Fuao and 09:20 at Baisha for the morning boats. You need a passport and, as applicable, a Chinese or Taiwanese visa; leaving the mainland for Matsu counts as leaving China, so a multiple-entry visa is needed to go back. There are ATMs at the ferry terminals but no currency exchange.

When: Nangan–Langqi about one sailing each way most days, currently leaving Nangan between 08:00 and 10:00 depending on the vessel and month. Beigan–Huangqi typically 10:00 out and 15:00 back, with a second operator running the mirror image
Takes: Nangan–Langqi about 90 minutes; Beigan–Huangqi about 30 minutes
Fare 2026: Nangan–Langqi NT$1,000 full, NT$500 child 1–12, NT$100 infant. Beigan–Huangqi NT$650 full, NT$375 child, NT$65 infant. Prices include ticket, insurance, harbour service and cleaning charges (2026)

SeasonYear-round, but suspended in fog and heavy weather along with everything else. BookingBook through matsuebs.com or by phone by noon the day before. Nanbei Shipping 0836 22938, Fuzhou Chengtai 0836 23031 (Langqi) / 0836 55216 (Huangqi). Langqi passenger station +86 591 83600080, Huangqi +86 591 26790167. Bookings accepted only within two months of travel. Run byNanbei Shipping (南北海運), Fuzhou Chengtai.

3 ways

By water

ferry

Overnight ferries from Taiwan: the Taima ships from Keelung

Keelung West Passenger Terminal to Nangan (Fuao) and Dongyin (Zhongzhu), calling in one order or the other on alternate days

Tickets and boarding are on the second floor of the West Passenger Terminal at No. 16 Gangxi Street in Keelung, about 50 metres from Keelung North railway station. Two ships share the run, the New Taima (新臺馬輪) and the Taima Star (臺馬之星), both operated by All Ports Express. They leave Keelung at 22:30 every night, including Tuesdays, and the route alternates: on some nights Nangan first and Dongyin after, on others Dongyin first. Check which, because it changes your arrival by two to five hours. Coming back there is a daytime sailing from Fuao at 09:30 most days, and a night sailing from Fuao at 21:30 roughly once a week. On Dongyin you board at Zhongzhu Port in Nan'ao but buy the ticket the day before at the All Ports Express desk on the ground floor of the Laoye Hotel, next to the post office in Lehua Village, open 13:00–17:00. Berths are graded: first class, VIP cabin, family bunk (needs at least one child under 12), single bunk, and plain seats that only go on sale once every bunk has been sold – which happens on long holidays and whenever fog has grounded the aircraft. The ships have toilets, drinking water and a small shop, but no showers. Book at matsuebs.com or by phone up to 60 days ahead; pick tickets up at the pier counter or from an ibon machine in a 7-Eleven for NT$10. You must show a passport to book.

When: Keelung to Matsu at 22:30 nightly. Matsu to Keelung most days at 09:30 from Fuao (06:30 or 12:00 from Dongyin), plus a 21:30 night sailing from Fuao about once a week; occasional days with no return sailing at all
Takes: Keelung to Nangan direct 8 hours 30 minutes; to Nangan via Dongyin 10 hours. Keelung to Dongyin direct 7 hours 30 minutes; via Nangan 13 hours. Nangan to Keelung 7 hours 30 minutes direct, 8 hours 30 minutes via Dongyin
Fare 2026: Keelung to Matsu 2026: first class NT$1,890, VIP cabin NT$1,575, single bunk NT$1,050, family bunk NT$840, seat NT$630, infant insurance ticket NT$53. Matsu to Keelung slightly cheaper: NT$1,800 / NT$1,500 / NT$1,000 / NT$800 / NT$600. Lienchiang County residents pay about 70 per cent, children 3–12 and over-65s half. In September 2026 a domestic-travel-subsidy promotion offered buy-one-way-get-return, with a two-person parent-and-child return from NT$1,680

SeasonYear-round. Sailings are cancelled when wind or waves exceed force 10, and arrival can shift 30–60 minutes with the sea. Bookingmatsuebs.com, or +886 2 2425 6777 (Keelung), 0836 23888 (Nangan), 0836 77077 (Dongyin). The Keelung office announces at 11:00 each day whether the ship will sail. Reservations open 60 days out; counters at the pier open only 10–30 minutes before departure. Run byAll Ports Express (全港通航業) running the New Taima and Taima Star; ships owned via Shinhwa Navigation and chartered tonnage.

ferry

Inter-island boats from Fuao Harbour

Nangan (Fuao) to Beigan (Baisha), Dongyin (Zhongzhu), Xiju (Qingfan) and Dongju (Meng'ao); plus the separate Dongju–Xiju shuttle and the Daqiu boats

Fuao Harbour on Nangan is the hub and every route has its own operator, ship and timetable. Nangan–Beigan is the busy one: two competing boats, the Minzhu No. 8 (Nanbei Shipping) and the Hongshun No. 6 (Hungyu Marine), leaving roughly every half hour from about 07:00 to 17:45, 15 minutes across. Juguang is one boat, the Donghai Pearl, three times a day, and which of Xiju or Dongju it calls at first flips with the month – west first in odd months, east first in even. The Dongju–Xiju hop is a different company again, Juguang Shipping's Juguang Star, four round trips a day and ten minutes. Dongyin gets one sailing a day, usually whichever of the big Taima ships is on the rotation, sometimes the smaller Nanbei Star No. 2. Daqiu, the deer island, is booked separately at matsuebs.com/DaChiu/SelectShip and does not sail with fewer than seven passengers. Book through matsuebs.com, collect at the pier counter (they open 10–30 minutes before departure) or at a 7-Eleven ibon machine. Short hops of under about 30 minutes may not be bookable online at all – just turn up. Bicycles travel free on the ferries. Ticket offices: Nangan at Fuao Passenger Terminal ground floor, Beigan at Baisha pier waiting room, Dongju at Meng'ao pier, Xiju at Qingfan pier. On Juguang, buy before 07:30 for the first sailing and before 15:00 for the last.

When: Nangan–Beigan about 19 sailings each way daily, roughly every 30 minutes 07:00–17:45. Nangan–Juguang 3 a day, leaving Nangan 07:00, 11:00 and 14:30 and Juguang 07:50, 11:50 and 15:20. Dongju–Xiju 4 round trips daily (Xiju 07:30, 11:00, 14:30, 17:10; Dongju 07:40, 11:10, 14:40, 17:20). Nangan–Dongyin once daily, leaving Nangan 08:30 or 09:30 and Dongyin 06:30 or 07:30. Nangan–Daqiu once daily in April and September, twice daily May to August
Takes: Nangan–Beigan 15 minutes. Nangan–Xiju 40 minutes, Nangan–Dongju 60 minutes. Dongju–Xiju 10 minutes. Nangan–Dongyin 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Nangan–Daqiu about 40 minutes, Beigan–Daqiu about 10 minutes
Fare 2026: 2026 adult one way: Nangan–Beigan NT$160 (county residents NT$110, group of 20+ NT$150, Beigan residents and Beigan students free). Nangan–Juguang NT$250 (residents NT$200). Dongju–Xiju NT$80. Nangan–Dongyin NT$400 (residents NT$350). Nangan–Daqiu NT$400 return, Beigan–Daqiu NT$300. Over-65s, children 3–12 and disabled passengers half fare

SeasonYear-round, with extra sailings in summer and on holidays and a thinner winter timetable. Daqiu boats run roughly March to October and stop at gust force 9. Bookingmatsuebs.com, or at the pier. Nanbei Shipping 0836 22193 (Nangan) / 0836 55388 (Beigan); Hungyu Marine 0836 22585 / 0836 55088; Juguang Shipping 0836 88125; Daqiu reservations 0836 23255. Passport needed to book. Run byNanbei Shipping (南北海運), Hungyu Marine (鴻宇海運), Juguang Shipping (莒光航業), All Ports Express (全港通).

boat

Beihai Tunnel boats and the Blue Tears night sailings

Beihai Tunnel, Renai Village, Nangan – inside the tunnel only, no onward destination

None of Matsu's military tunnels is a transport link between places – the Beihai, Andong and Anton tunnels, the Iron Fort and the gun positions are all visitor sites now. The one that involves a boat is the Beihai Tunnel on Nangan, a wartime boat pen cut through granite, where you can ride a rowed sampan or paddle a kayak along the water inside. Two things govern a visit. First, the tide: the tunnel floods and the walkway is only passable around low water, so the scenic area administration publishes a daily opening window that shifts with the tide, and you should enter at least 30 minutes before the gate closes because clearing the tunnel takes about that long. Ring 0836 22177 or 0836 25631 on the day to check. Second, the season: from March to November there are night sailings to look for the Blue Tears, the bioluminescent Noctiluca bloom that is the islands' best-known sight. Six sessions a night between 18:30 and 21:00, 48 people a session, 15 to 20 minutes on the water, no lights allowed inside, life jackets compulsory. The bloom itself is luck – the official line is May to September, best when the sea is under 27°C and the wind is right, and you should allow spare days rather than build a trip around one night. Backpackers can register on the spot; groups should book ahead with Tieren Recreation on 0836 22177. Important for late 2026: the Beihai Tunnel site is closed for construction from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 and has been dropped from the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle's Nangan east route for that period.

When: Daytime, within the tide-dependent opening window, typically somewhere between 08:30 and 17:00. Night sailings six sessions between 18:30 and 21:00, 1 March to 30 November
Takes: 15 to 20 minutes on the water; allow 30 minutes to clear the tunnel on foot
Fare 2026: Night Blue Tears sailing NT$350 full, NT$300 for Taiwan-registered children 3–12 and over-65s, NT$150 half fare (2026)

SeasonNight sailings 1 March to 30 November; the Blue Tears themselves are commonest May to September and vanish once the sea passes 27°C. Site closed for works 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. BookingReservations open for dates within the coming month; individuals can register on site. Enquiries 0836 22177. Run byMatsu National Scenic Area Administration; Tieren Recreation Co. (鐵人休閒).

One way

By road

bus

County buses and the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle

Nangan coastal and mountain lines from Jieshou bus terminal; Beigan Tangqi to Baisha; half-day tourist routes on Nangan, Beigan, Dongyin, Dongju and Xiju

Two quite different things share the same operator. The ordinary county bus is a flat NT$15 a boarding, cash or EasyCard, and runs in daylight only. On Nangan two lines leave Jieshou bus terminal – a coastal line past the Matsu Distillery, Shengli Reservoir and Magang Tianhou Temple, and a mountain line past Tieban, Jinsha Park and Zhongshan Gate. Beigan has one line, Tangqi to Baisha via Wushaling, Shangcun, Qinbi and Banli. They are infrequent and the routing changes through the day, so check live positions on matsuebus.tw or in Google Maps before you commit. There is no bus on Dongyin. The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle @ Matsu is the other animal: one guided half-day circuit per route per day, with fixed dwell times at each sight, booked at matsu-trip.tw. Nangan and Beigan each have a morning and an afternoon route that can be taken back to back; the Juguang routes swap islands between odd and even months. Note that several stops are military sites where you may be asked for ROC identification, and that entry rules for foreign and mainland Chinese visitors are set separately by each site. Buses can also be chartered for about NT$1,000 an hour.

When: County buses through daylight hours, infrequent and with route variations by time of day. Tourist Shuttle: one departure per route per day, morning or afternoon
Takes: Tourist Shuttle routes are half a day; the Nangan west route runs 13:30 to 17:30 and ends at Jieshou terminal with drops at Fuao Harbour and the airport
Fare 2026: County bus NT$15 flat per boarding. Taiwan Tourist Shuttle from 1 July 2026: NT$400 full fare on the Nangan, Beigan, Dongyin and Dongju routes, NT$300 on the Xiju route; concessions half price for over-65s, children 2–12, disabled passengers and one companion, and Lienchiang County residents. A single stop is NT$80 per person. Buy a second route within 7 days of your travel date and NT$100 comes off each further route (full fares only). Bus charter about NT$1,000 an hour

SeasonYear-round; individual tourist routes are suspended for works or military restrictions, and the Nangan Beihai Tunnel route loses its headline stop from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. BookingCounty bus: none, pay on board. Tourist Shuttle: matsu-trip.tw, or turn up – buses have been running fairly empty. Route enquiries 0836 25755 (08:00–12:00, 13:30–17:30); Nangan bus office +886 836 25755, Beigan +886 933 143711. Run byLienchiang County Public Bus Administration (連江縣公共汽車管理處).

2 ways

On foot, by bike, or otherwise

scooter hire

Scooters, cars, vans and taxis

Rental and taxi stands on Nangan, Beigan, Dongyin, Dongju and Xiju

A scooter is the default. Rental shops sit within walking distance of Baisha Harbour and Nangan Airport, and most will meet you at the airport or pier if you phone ahead – on Nangan try Liang Jian at No. 72 Jieshou Village (+886 836 22577) or Dingxin at Fuxing Village (+886 836 25657); on Beigan, Yuanfeng at Baisha (+886 836 55303) or Shunyi (+886 958 061937); on Dongyin, First Rental (+886 919 280767); on Dongju and Xiju the guesthouses rent them. The licence question matters: Taiwan requires a valid licence for a scooter of any size, including 50cc, and a foreign car licence does not cover it. You need an international driving permit carrying the motorcycle category, issued before you travel, and whether Taiwan recognises your IDP depends on a reciprocal agreement with the issuing country – the Highway Bureau publishes the list. There is no practical way to get a Taiwanese scooter licence on a tourist visa. Cars and passenger vans can be hired despite what older guides say, from firms including Matsu Car Rental (+886 919 856 389), Xiongmei (+886 836 26624) and Lida (+886 836 22417). Taxis are metered, with stands at Nangan Airport, Fuao Port, Magang and Shanlong, and at Beigan Airport and Baisha Port; on Juguang and Dongyin you ring or ask at the pier. For sightseeing they work by the hour instead. Drivers rarely speak much English; visitor centres and guesthouses will book one for you. The roads are steep, narrow and hilly on every island.

When: On demand
Takes: Nangan and Beigan are 5–6 km across; the other islands 2–3 km
Fare 2026: Scooter NT$500–600 a day or NT$300 for a half day, fuel included, with discounts for several days (2026). Car or passenger van NT$2,500–4,500 a day depending on vehicle and whether a driver comes with it. Tour coach with driver and fuel NT$700–1,000 an hour. Taxi by the meter; for sightseeing about NT$500 an hour or NT$1,500 for a half day. Nangan harbour to the Beihai Tunnel was about NT$200 in 2026

SeasonYear-round. BookingPhone the rental shop in advance and ask for airport or pier pickup. Taxi complaints and bookings via the Lienchiang County Taxi Association +886 836 22705 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). Run byIndependent rental firms; Lienchiang County Taxi Association.

bicycle hire

Free bicycles from the visitor centres

Nangan, Beigan and Juguang visitor centres

The scenic area administration lends bicycles at the service desks of its Nangan, Beigan and Juguang visitor centres. There is no charge; you fill in a form and a liability waiver, show an identity document which is kept as a deposit, and watch a short road-safety video before you set off. Registration is on the spot only – no advance booking. Loans run 09:00 to 16:30 and you must be back by 16:30 the same day, with a maximum of four hours at a time unless the desk agrees to extend. You must be 18, or under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who signs with them. The bicycles may not be taken off the island where you borrowed them and may not be lent on. Nangan's centre, near the Beihai Tunnel, was confirmed lending in April 2026 with about ten mostly Giant bikes in reasonable condition and a self-repair stand outside. None of the visitor centres is at a harbour or airport, so you need another way to reach one first. Loans are suspended in bad weather, and the island roads are steep. You can also carry your own bicycle free on the ferries.

When: Daily 09:00–16:30, closed only on Lunar New Year's Eve
Takes: Four hours per loan
Fare 2026: Free; an identity document is held as deposit

SeasonYear-round except Lunar New Year's Eve; suspended in weather unsuitable for outdoor activity. BookingNone – register in person at the visitor centre desk. Nangan +886 836 25630, Beigan +886 836 56531, Juguang +886 836 89388. Run byMatsu National Scenic Area Administration.

Not confirmed

What we could not find out

12 things the researcher looked for and did not find, in their own words, with where to ask instead. None of this goes into the planner; it stays here until someone confirms it.

01
Correction to the brief: there is no 'Legend Air' serving Matsu. The two carriers are UNI Air (立榮航空) and Mandarin Airlines (華信航空), per the Matsu National Scenic Area's own transport page and the county's September 2026 meeting with Mandarin's general manager. Mandarin flies Songshan–Nangan daily and Kaohsiung–Nangan twice a week.
02
Correction to the brief and to Wikivoyage: the Keelung ship leaves at 22:30, not 23:00, and it does run on Tuesdays. Querying the booking system's own schedule endpoint for 23 September to 2 October 2026 returned a 22:30 Keelung departure every single night. The gap is on the return leg – some days have no Matsu-to-Keelung sailing at all. Wikivoyage's 'no departures on Tuesdays / Wednesdays' rule no longer matches the timetable.
03
Correction: Wikivoyage's inter-island fares are all out of date. Nangan–Beigan is NT$160 not NT$110, Nangan–Dongyin NT$400 not NT$350, Nangan–Juguang NT$250 not NT$200. Only Dongju–Xiju at NT$80 still matches. The Beigan–Huangqi mainland fare is NT$650, not the NT$170 Wikivoyage lists.
04
Correction: Wikivoyage says there is 'probably nowhere to rent a car' on Matsu. The scenic area administration lists eight car and coach hire firms across Nangan, Beigan, Dongju and Xiju, with cars and vans at NT$2,500–4,500 a day.
05
Conflicting fare for Nangan–Juguang. The scenic area administration's inter-island page gives NT$160 adult, which is the Nangan–Beigan fare repeated by what looks like a copy-paste error; the county's own ticketing system at matsuebs.com gives NT$250. The NT$250 figure is used here because it comes from the system that actually sells the ticket. Confirm at the Fuao counter.
06
Operator data endpoint worth ingesting: matsuebs.com, the Lienchiang County ferry booking system, exposes two unauthenticated JSON endpoints. GET /api/Station/TerminalStations?start=<pkno> returns the reachable destinations for a station, and GET /Ship/Get?startStationPkno=<a>&endStationPkno=<b>&startDate=<iso>&endDate=<iso>&rtflag=1 returns every sailing with departure and arrival times, ship name, operator, route string and seats remaining. Station pknos: 10001001 Keelung, 10001002 Dongyin, 10001003 Nangan, 10001004 Beigan, 10003007 Xiju, B17QFAJ2 Dongju, B5LOWTNE Huangqi, B5LOWTNM Daqiu, B5LOWTNN Taipei Port, B5MMS0JE Langqi, N1NQOF6H Nangan-via-Beigan. Live seat counts make it usable as an availability feed.
07
The Southern Star (南北之星) fast ship from Taipei Port to Fuao – 96 nautical miles in about 3 hours, with connecting check-in coaches from Taipei Main Station and Taoyuan HSR station – moved to charter-only operation in 2024 and no scheduled sailings appear in the booking system for late September 2026. In August 2026 Nanbei Shipping put both the Southern Star and the Southern Star No. 2 up for public sale, and the Taima Star's operation currently charters the No. 2 on a contract running to mid-2027. Treat the Taipei Port route as charter and relief capacity only, and expect the position to change. Service centre +886 2 7725 0800 ext 6.
08
No published timetable for the ordinary county bus could be retrieved. matsuebus.tw serves live vehicle positions through a JavaScript app with no scrapeable timetable page, and the scenic area administration describes the routes without times. The fare (NT$15) and the route shapes are confirmed; the departure times are not. Ask at Jieshou bus terminal on Nangan or phone 0836 25755.
09
The 'little white boat' (小白船) that Wikivoyage says sometimes runs Nangan–Dongyin outside the Taima rotation could not be confirmed as a separate service. What the booking system does show is that the Dongyin run is covered on different days by four different vessels – the New Taima, the Taima Star, an inter-island Taima Star working and the Nanbei Star No. 2 – which is probably what locals mean. Ask at the Taima ticket office.
10
Military transport from Keelung. Wikivoyage says a military ship carries locals on the day the civilian ferry does not run and bars foreign citizens. Nothing on any official site confirms or denies this and it could not be checked. Separately, the confirmed military involvement is the opposite case: air force transports flown at the county's request to clear fog-stranded passengers, which happened in June 2026 and was considered but not flown in May 2026.
11
No independent figure was found for the overall annual flight cancellation rate. The two hard numbers located are a 56 per cent cancellation rate at Nangan in one week of March 2025 and roughly 20 per cent of April flights cancelled in a 2023 report, both from the Matsu Daily. Treat 'expect to lose a day' as the planning rule rather than a percentage.
12
Mazu pilgrimage crowds. Two separate events fill the islands. Mazu Ascension Day at the Mazu Religious and Cultural Park on Nangan falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month and draws delegations from 36 Taiwanese temples plus Meizhou. Much larger is the Baiming and Yingshen lantern festival around the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when Matsu people living all over Taiwan come home – flights and ferries in February are the hardest of the year to get, and the Lunar New Year fog closures of 15–17 February 2026 fell in exactly that window. Neither event has a published transport plan; book flights the moment they open.

In the planner

What the planner can route today

The options above live on the place page, not in the departure board: a boat that comes when you phone has no time to show. What the board can do for Matsu Islands is this.

Y: Scheduled flightsFuzhou (Changle) (FOC), 41 km
Y: Trains and coachesTransitous carries 1 timetable feed for this country, 0 with real-time
Y: Ferries白沙港, 2 km, 福州程泰船务有限公司 / 南北海運股份有限公司; sailings estimated
Y: Driving and taxiOpenStreetMap roads; cab fare from the country band
N: Bike and scooter shareno share feed known
N: Cruisesno open itinerary source anywhere

Y routable now · F found, not yet implemented · N no source known.