Whilst the Pacific Orange archipelago was known for a long time to Chinese fishermen and other mariners who frequented the area, the sheer distance of the islands from the Chinese mainland and the frequent occurence of tropical storms throughout the islands made permanent settlement of Pacific Orange difficult to sustain. Though archaeological findings suggest that human activity in Pacific Orange dates back 1000 years to the turn of the 11th century, evidence of continual human presence has been traced only to the mid 17th century leading many to conclude to that the opening of new trade routes to Japan and the lands further north was instrumental in encouraging the development of several fishing and trading communities on Lanyu and Matsu Islands. Local legend has it that some of these Ch