Daqiu 大坵, a small uninhabited islet of just 0.53 square kilometers, is located 500 meters to the northeast of Matsu's Beigan Island.
At its peak, Daqiu was home to 50 families. During the summer, many of the inhabitants would move to nearby Liang Islet 亮島 to harvest mussels, returning to Daqiu in the autumn. However, by 1991 all of the civilian residents had moved away, and in 1998, when the military left, the islet became uninhabited.
Beginning in the 1990s, the government encouraged another kind of resident: the Formosan Sika Deer. Starting with only 13 deer, the population is now around 200. A visit to the islet provides a unique experience to interact with these beautiful, gentle creatures.
Daqiu can only be reached by boat. A regular ferry operates from Beigan during the spring and summer months. Private boats may be chartered during the other times of the year, depending on the weather. There is no food or drinking water on the islet, so be prepared with your own. There are public restrooms.
The cache is located in an abandoned structure, not far from the harbor. Please refer to the spoiler photo. The container is a small plastic box, big enough for small TBs or swag. Please bring your own pen; the logsheet must be signed to qualify as a Find.
Please respect the plants and animals of Daqiu. The deer are generally friendly or passive, but please approach them slowly and quietly.
