They were built or reconstructed in the Qing Dynasty, and were credited as National Relic Site of Taiwan.

On July 16, 1683, the island was attacked by Qing forces in the Battle of Penghu.

[6]: 42 On March 10, 2012, President Ma Ying-jeou visited the area and participated in religious ceremonies at temples in the township.

[7] The township includes two inhabited islands, Yuweng Dao (Yü-weng Tao, Gyoō-tō; 漁翁島; Hî-ong-tó) and Xiaomen Yu (Siaomen Islet,[3] Hsiaomen Island,[4] Hsiao-men hsü, Shō-mon-sho; 小門嶼; Sió-mn̂g-sū), and one small uninhabited island, Haiqian Reef (海墘礁; Hái-kînn-ta).

[8][9] The township includes eleven rural villages:[10][11] Xiyu is connected to neighboring Baisha by the Penghu Great Bridge.