Travelogue of Beigan's Daqiu Island: An Adventure Dancing with Deer

When travelers think of Matsu, they often picture wartime relics and fortress landscapes. However, Daqiu Island, located off the coast of Beigan, offers a completely different scene. This uninhabited island is home to a group of wild deer that roam freely amidst the sea breeze and crashing waves. A trip to Daqiu Island feels like a journey to a "land forgotten by time." I arrived on Daqiu Island aboard a fishing boat early in the morning, with the mist still lingering. As I made my way through a patch of low shrubs in the center of the island, I suddenly caught sight of several brown figures darting in the distance. They were deer, their ears perked up and their shiny black eyes filled with curiosity, as if assessing this unexpected visitor. Unlike the tame deer seen in city zoos, these wild deer exuded a sense of agility and grace, their movements embodying a raw, untamed freedom. Following the trail of the deer, I walked slowly. Beneath my feet was damp soil and grass eroded by the sea breeze, while around me, only the sound of waves and occasional bird calls could be heard. The deer often appeared on the island's highlands, leaping onto rocky slopes to gaze out at the endless blue sea. The scene seemed to freeze into a poetic tableau of nature, vividly showcasing the island's untamed beauty. Daqiu Island has no inhabitants and no commercial facilities. The only markers of time's passage are the ebb and flow of the tides and the changing colors of the sky. In the afternoon, I sat on a rocky cliff, watching the tide slowly recede, revealing glistening reefs that sparkled like silver scales. The sea breeze brushed against my cheeks, carrying with it the salty scent of the ocean from the crevices in the rocks. This feeling of solitude mixed with freedom is the pure essence that every adventurer yearns for.