There is evidence that the Chinese have been active on the island since as far back as the Three Kingdoms period of the 3rd century. A garrison was established in Penghu in the late Yuan dynasty, and Hsiyu was included under the garrison's jurisdiction. Thus the island has been settled by the Chinese far longer than Taiwan has.
自三國以來，就有中國經略跡象，元朝末年澎湖設巡檢司，西嶼亦含括在內，開發歷史早於台灣本島。