The Nanfangsi Islands National Park is primarily composed of East Yushan Island, West Yushan Island, East Ji Island, West Ji Island, and their surrounding reefs. It serves as a significant center for ecological tourism, with an underwater lavender forest hidden beneath the sea forming a mystical purple coral reef that is clearly visible from the shore, presenting a dreamlike spectacle. East Yushan Island, the last island formed by volcanic lava in the Penghu archipelago, boasts coral reef coverage, rich seabed ecosystems, and land areas largely undisturbed by development. Traditional Penghu architectural styles, including lava rock and coral limestone dwellings ("Penghu Houses") and "vegetable houses" ("Cai Zhai") built in the past, remain preserved. Island settlements mainly concentrate on western and southwestern depressions, where traditional Fujian-style buildings are arranged upslope along wind-shielded hill slopes. Terraced vegetable fields and farmlands extend along south-north block borders, reflecting past agricultural life. Additionally, the rear mountain area of East Yushan Island features extensive basalt columnar jointing landscapes, including sea gullies, sea pillars, sea caves, as well as columnar and sheet jointing geological formations caused by differences in magma cooling duration.
West Yushan Island, located northwest of East Yushan Island, possesses a rectangular "flat mountain" terrain. Due to its topography, villages could not gather around the port, instead opting for flat hilltop areas as settlements. Without sheltered mountain hollows, the population concentrated in low-lying terraced regions. The approximately 50-meter-long "Hero Slope" path from the pier into the central settlements consists of basalt and lava rock-stacked traditional Penghu dwellings. Since most settlements focus on the southern end, the northern end exhibits more diverse geological features, including gravelly coastal shores. To the left of the gravel coast lies "Little Iron Anvil" Island, while the distant view also captures Tangzun Island. Currently, most residents have moved elsewhere, with many homes deteriorating due to age. The best-preserved structure is "Huaniang Temple," where its shrine design and altar arrangements reveal past glories.
East Ji Island, also called East Ji Island, holds a strategic position on the Taipeng shipping route and has historically served as a critical transshipment hub for maritime trade between Taiwan and Penghu, earning it the nickname "Little Shanghai." During the Japanese colonial era, military posts and lighthouses were constructed on the island's northern and southern ends, with troops dispatched to control nearby waters, forming the first maritime barrier between Taiwan and Penghu. The East Ji Lighthouse, built on the northern end, also marks the island's highest point. Local residents graze flocks of sheep there; climbing the hills reveals black-and-white sheep grazing calmly, creating a serene landscape.
West Ji Island, alternatively named West Ji Island, is another key waypoint on the Taipeng route. Its remote location and poor transportation have historically made survival difficult for residents, leading to a sharp population decline. On July 1, 1978, the government guided residents to relocate the village, which has since been abandoned. Notable attractions include "West Ji Blue Hole," Penghu's unique vertical sea cave, still pristine due to lack of human interference.