Over 1,000 people have signed up for a tour that will take them to watch the moon on Taiping Island. The tour, which lasts just one day, is organized by TaiwanXing under Taiwan's 1111 Human Resource Bank. The organizer said the planning of the tour has already been finalized, and that they are just awaiting approval from relevant departments.

In addition to viewing the island's tourist sites, those who go on the trip get the added bonus of defending the island on China's behalf, according to Li Qiyue, an adviser to TaiwanXing. Li believes that one reason the tour is so popular is that the public is eager to do just that.

The agency has chosen to launch the tour during Mid-Autumn Festival. Tours will be offered from Sept. 9 to 18. Tourist will head to the island by airplane and take a tour around the island, exploring its history and culture. They will then enjoy a special dinner and moon cakes under the night sky before flying home at 8 p.m.

Chen Guisong, head of the Association of Taiwan Travel Agencies, said he is very supportive of the tour. Exploring Taiping Island will increase the content and diversity tours available in Taiwan.

Taiping Island, which is 1,420 meters long and 402 meters wide, is the largest natural island within the Nansha Islands. The Chinese army took it over from Japan and renamed it Taiping Island after China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1945.