A landmark in Penghu County’s Cimei Township (七美) that was damaged by strong winds and waves from a monsoon storm earlier this year has been restored, after the Penghu County Cultural Affairs Bureau enlisted help from 10 repair specialists.
The Twin Hearts Stone Weir (雙心石滬) was built out of basalt stones and coral reefs as a traditional trap for catching fish, and although the catches gradually decreased, the romantic twin heart shape of the weir attracted many tourists each year, and it has been voted the most beautiful scenic spot in Penghu many times.
As there was strong wind and waves at the end of last year, with a Beaufort wind force 12 storm recorded during the Lunar New Year holidays, part of the weir was destroyed, county officials said.
Photo: Liu Yu-ching, Taipei Times
The Penghu County Cultural Affairs Bureau on Friday invited 10 stone weir repair specialists, led by 73-year-old Hsieh Ming-shou (謝銘受) from Penghu’s Jibei Island (吉貝) to repair the stone weir.
The first three days of the repair process was the most difficult, as the foundation of the stone weir needed large stones that were carefully chosen — usually long, triangular and heavy, officials said.
After the large stones were carried to site, the repair specialists needed to use force to place them at special angles, they said.
Photo courtesy of Penghu County Cultural Affairs Bureau
As stone weir repair is a traditional skill, most of the specialists are older, so carrying the stones can be difficult for them, but the team had a new member this year — the 45-year-old son of stone weir repair specialist Chen Chang-shou (陳長壽).
The team led by Hsieh repaired the Twin Hearts Stone Weir after eight days, Penghu County Tourism Bureau head Hung Dong-lin (洪棟霖) said on Saturday.
Hung thanked them for “preserving the precious cultural heritage and allowing the ancestors’ wisdom to live on through the stone weirs.”
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