Travel Notes of Qinbi Village in Beigan: Sea Breeze Time among the Stone Ancient Houses

Qinbi Village is a warm pearl on the north shore of Beigan Island, Matsu. When I first saw it, I was walking along the winding mountain road, and suddenly the view in front of me opened up. Rows of stone houses were scattered among the mountains and the sea, as if they grew naturally from the mountains, and contrasted with the azure blue of the bay. This ancient settlement in eastern Fujian is known as the "Mediterranean Sea of Matsu" because of its unique terrain and style. Only when you are there in person can you know that this name is not an exaggeration. In the early morning, the village is so quiet that you can almost hear the tide breathing. The walls of the stone houses still have mottled traces of time, and the tile roofs reflect warm light in the sun. Walking through the narrow alleys, the stone slabs are winding, and there are occasionally mottled wooden doors and stone carvings with old names on both sides. From a distance, the red tile roofs and gray walls are stacked like a static painting. I walked along the village road to the platform facing the sea. The sea breeze with a light salty smell brushed across my face, as if blowing away all the noise in my heart. The sound of waves hitting the rocky shore intertwined with the tranquility of the village, forming a silent harmony. Occasionally, you can see a few old people sitting on the stone steps, weaving fishing nets in their hands, but looking at the sea leisurely. The people here live next to the sea. Although the days are slow, they have a calm beauty. Qinbi Village is not a place for people to visit in a hurry, but it is worth slowing down and listening to the stories inside and outside its stone walls. Perhaps, its beauty lies in the attitude of being able to survive the vicissitudes of life, like a warm reef in the sea, quietly guarding the tranquility in the hearts of travelers.