Kinmen (aka Jinmen or Quemoy) is a group of islands off the coast of Xiamen, China, belonging to Taiwan. For years it was the front lines and closest territory to China during the Chinese Civil War, which has not officially ended. Now that the war with China has come to a close due to the establishment of the “status quo,” Kinmen has been open to tourism, especially from that of China. Kinmen has the highest concentration of museums and historical buildings in almost anywhere in Taiwan, as well as local cuisine, beaches, and scenery, making it an ideal vacation destination for Taiwanese, Chinese, and other foreign tourists.
Background:
Kinmen first began to be settled by Chinese people in the Tang Dynasty (around 700 AD). It got its name Jinmen “Golden Gate” from the Hongwu Emporer who set up military operations on the main Island during the Ming Dynasty in 1387. The name Quemoy comes from the Hokkien pronunciation of the name.
After the fall of the Ming Dynasty (1644), Ming Loyalists continued to occupy Kinmen under the Prince of Lu and Kongxia, but Kinmen was eventually captured by the Qing in 1663.
The Islands were never ceded to Japan.
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Kinmen (along with the rest of China) was governed by the Republic of China (ROC). When the ROC lost the Chinese Civil War, they retreated to Taiwan under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, but still maintained some outlying islands off of the west coast of China. The ROC army dug into Kinmen and fortified almost every inch of the island, holding off the PRC invasion. Perhaps the most pivotal battle in holding off the communists was the battle of Guningtou in which 9,000 PRC troops were defeated and captured in an attempt to take back the island of Kinmen. The battle effectively stopped the PRC from advancing toward invasion of Taiwan, because in 1950 the Korean War started, demanding much of their manpower, buying time until the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty was signed in 1955, offering protection by the United States. against the PRC invasion of Taiwan. Because of this, the battle laid the groundwork for the status quo between China and Taiwan as we know it today.
Kinmen was kept as a military reserve until it was made into a civilian government in the 1990s. Travel was reopened with China in 2001, which really opened the door for the tourism sector on the islands mainly driven by Chinese tourists. Many businessmen also moved to the island to gain easy entry into China from Taiwan. In 2015 the Taiwanese government made it easier for Chinese tourists to visit Kinmen by allowing them to apply for visa on arrival.
Currently, the island’s main industry is tourism, but there is also a large Sorghum Wine production industry, as well as agriculture and fishing.
Kinmen is a stronghold for the KMT party, mainly because the residents resent the fact that many in the pro-independence DPP would consider returning Kinmen to China in an independence treaty.
When to go:
Autumn is said to be the best time to visit when there are still warm temperatures and not too much rainfall. Spring also has great temperatures, but seasonal rains may dampen your travels. Summer can get really hot, which might be totally fine with you. The winter is cold and windy; don’t go in winter.
How to get there:
By Plane: The only way to get from Taiwan to Kinmen is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Penghu, and Kaohsiung.
You can book cheap flights to Kinmen on KKday here or Trip.com here.
By Boat: You can reach Kinmen from Xiamen at Wutong Port (五通碼頭) or Quanzhou at Shijing Port (石井碼頭), connecting at Shuitou Port (水頭碼頭).
Getting Around the Island:
Rent a scooter! The island is small so you should not need to rent a car. You can rent bicycles but you will not be able to travel as fast. You can also hire a driver to take you on tours.
Ask your hostel for more rental information. They can help you book a rental in advance.
Scooter Rental:
Price: expect 400 NT per day.
You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
It may be better to book your scooter rental in advance, especially during summer weekends. Ask for help from your hostel owner if needed.
Car Rental:
Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
You can rent a car for Kinmen on KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
Don’t rent a car unless you absolutely need to. Renting scooters should be sufficient for most travelers.
Shuttle Bus:
You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday here.
Bicycle Rental:
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
Where to Stay:
We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here.
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide here.
Map:
Please see below:
Our Journey:
I have been to Kinmen twice, both during a 4-day, 3-night trips that were still not long enough to see most everything on the island. We took our first trip at the end of October; the weather was nice, but it was still a bit too cold to enjoy the beaches. We took our second trip in August; it was warm and nice enough to enjoy the beaches. However, we had to reschedule due to a typhoon.
Flight to Kinmen:
Sheng Zu Foods 聖祖食品
After leaving the airport, we rented a scooter for 800 NT for three and a half days (about 250 NT per day), using my Taiwan driver’s license. The rental place was nice enough to send our luggage to our hostel for free (a typical service for the scooter rental places at the airport)! If the scooter rental place inside the airport is sold out, there is another scooter rental place across the street from the airport entrance with an almost endless supply of scooters. If you want to avoid a hassle, you should book a scooter or car rental in advance.
Shuitou Pier 水頭碼頭
Juguang Tower 莒光樓
For our full blog on Juguang Tower, click here.
Maoshan Tower 茅山塔
For our full blog about Maoshan Tower, click here.
Shuitou Village 水頭村
For our full blog on Shuitou Village, clickhere.
Deyue Gun Tower 得月樓
For our full blog on Deyue Gun Tower, click here.
Zhushan Village 珠山聚落
“Jhushan is a settlement founded by the Syue (xue1 薛) clan back in 1345. Houses were built along the slopes of the hills, all facing the reservior in the middle of the settlement. In terms of feng-shui, the design enables all wealth to gather into the village, the reservoir, the ancestral shrine and the Jhushan hills from a clear and distinct outline, making Jhushan settlement an important historical site.”
Gugang Lake and Gugang Tower 古崗湖和古崗樓
Zhaishan Tunnels 翟山坑道
For our full blog on Zhaishan Tunnels, click here.
Kinmen National Park 金門國家公園
The Ancient City of Kinmen 金門城
For our full blog on the city, click here.
Wentai Tower 文台寶塔
Oucuo Beach 歐厝沙灘
For our full blog on Oucuo Beach, click here.
Shuitou Peir 水頭碼頭
Kinmen Bridge 金門大橋
Kinmen Bridge was completed in 2022 and is the longest cross-island bridge in Taiwan after nearly a decade of construction, overtaking the Penghu Cross-Ocean Bridge. It spans 5.4 km across and has five towers. It includes two lanes for vehicles, a bicycle lane, and a pedestrian walkway. It has shortened travel time between Little Kinmen and the main island of Kinmen from hours to minutes by car or scooter.
Here is a view of the bridge at night.
823 Artillery Bombardment Victory Memorial 八二三炮戰勝利紀念
For more information, please see our full blog on the museum here.
Mao Gong Shi Island Recreation Area 猫公石滨海休憩區
For more about this area, check out our blog here.
Little Kinmen Hujingtou Battle Museum 小金門湖井頭戰史舘
For more about this museum, see our blog about it here.
Jiugong Tunnels 九宮坑道
Click here for our full blog on the tunnels.
Bada Tower 八達樓子
Jiangong Islet 建功嶼
“W038 Stronghold Jiangong Islet”
“The original name of Jiangong Islet was Dong Islet. It has also been called Jhu Islet. Located on the Wujiang River Estuary, it has an area of around 500 square meters. It is isolated at high tide but can be walked to at low tide. In 1949, Nationalist Army troops occupied the small island in order to defend the Kinlie Waterway. In 1960, it acquired its current name. In 2002, as part of its tourism development plans, the Kinmen County Government renovated the facilities on the islet. Jiangong Islet is in an interesting ecological zone, and has become a haven for wild birds.”
Jincheng Seaside Park 金城海濱休閑公園
Kinmen Qing Dynasty Military Headquarters 金門清朝總兵署
For more information, see our full blog on the museum here.
Mofan Street 模範街
Liang Jin Farm 良金牧場
Cihu Lake 慈湖
This region is the National Wetland of Importance (red zone). To ensure the natural flood control and related functions of the wetland in order to maintain biodiversity, and promote wetland ecological conservation and wise use, the following acts are banned unless with the competent government authorities’ permission…[polluting, dumping, etc.]”
Gulongtou Shuiwei Pagoda 古龍頭水尾塔
Kinmen Heping (Peace) Memorial Park 金門和平紀念公園
“In 1949, more than twenty thousand Communist soldiers landed on the beach in Kuningtou. It was only after several heavy fights that the invaders were either destroyed or captured. A museum was later built right on the landing place in honor of all the soldiers fighting courageously in the battle. During the battle, Colonel Lee Kuang-chien and hundreds of his young, fearless soldiers were killed. To remember his contribution in defending the village and the final victory, the villagers turned his headquarters into a temple to pay worship to him Tse Hu and Twin-Carp Lake are the two splendid lakes nearby, with abundant sunshine and the gathering of various kinds of migratory birds, both prove to be superb spots for bird watching.”
Beishan Old House 北山古洋樓
The house was shot up during the battle of Guningtou, and you can still see bullet holes.
For more information about this house, check out our blog here.
Battle of Guningtou Museum 古寧頭戰史舘
For our full blog about this museum and the battle, click here.
Beishan Broadcasting Tower 北山廣播墻
For more information about this tower, check out our blog here.
Taiwu Mountain 太武山
Mashan Observation Post 馬山觀測所
We were working against the clock to visit the Mashan Observation Post. When we got there, the gate was still open!
The Mashan Observation Post is the closest part of Kinmen to China, only 1.8 KM away during low tide. Your phone will think that it is in China, so put it on airplane mode.
Similar to Beishan Broadcasting Tower, Mashan also blasts out music and propaganda to Xiamen on the opposite shore.
Chen Ching-lon’s House 陳景蘭洋樓
Chen Ching Lon was also a wealthy merchant who built a very nice Western-style house in Kinmen which is perhaps the most beautiful Western-style house of its era.
“Located at the Chen Ken (now known as Cheng Kung) village in central Kinmen Island, the Chen Ching-lon’s House, the largest western house in Kinmen, was built in 1921 by an overseas Chinese Chen Ching-lon, who made money in Singapore and Belitung, Indonesia. Chen Ching-lon, an enthusiast for education and charity, once financially supported the establishment of Singapore’s highest-level Chinese educational institution. In 1922, Chen Ching Lon set up the Kinmen Steamship Company in Kinmen for his fellow villagers to travel between Kinmen and Xiamen. In 1925, he sponsored the Kinmen Commercial high School and the Private Kinmen Elementary School. In 1933, he has a pavilion built near the waterfront of Chen Ken as a rest area for fishermen. Also, he sponsored the setup of the Shang Ching Tower near the Hsain Temple for defense against pirates. After 1949, the Chen Ching-lon’s House plays such different roles in different periods as a national artillery force station, “Armed Force 53 Hospital,” the Kinmen High School, and Soldier’s Holiday Center. It is full of wartime memories. On this hillside is the “Chin Tang Park,” where people can have a panoramic view of the Liao Luo Bay. In fact, the changes of Chen Ching-lan’s House are an epitome of Kinmen’s modern history.”
Carrefour 家樂福
Wind Lion Plaza Mall 風獅爺購物廣場
Wind Lion Statues 風獅爺雕像
Wind Lion Statues in Kinmen are iconic cultural symbols that reflect the island’s rich history and local beliefs. You can see them in every village around the island. These statues, typically depicting a lion with a fierce expression, are traditionally placed at the entrances of homes, temples, and other significant buildings. They are believed to protect against evil spirits and bring good fortune, particularly in the face of strong winds or storms. The Wind Lion, a local folklore religion God, is a distinctive feature of Kinmen’s landscape and a popular subject for both locals and visitors.
Donglin Beach 東臨沙灘
Donglin Beach on Little Kinmen sits next to Xishanhu Park 習山湖公園. The park has a splash fountain, showers, zip lines, slides, and more. Kinmen may be known as a militarized island but it has some great beaches.
Shuang Kou Beach 雙口海邊
Shuangkou Beach on the north side of Little Kinmen is the best place to see views of Xiamen, China across the water. Here there are binoculars that you can use to see the scenery. You can also enjoy the leftover military obstacles along the beach.
Daoying Tower 倒影塔
Daoying Tower, located on top of Mount Taiwu, is a pagoda-style tower dating back to the late Song Dynasty (1200s AD). Its purpose was to serve as a guiding marker for sailors at night, as the light from the tower helped them navigate the sea. At that time, sea water entered from Jinsha Harbor, passed by Doumen Village, and reached the foot of Taiwu Mountain. In the summer of 1937, Lin Naibin wrote in the Inscription of the Reconstruction of Daoying Tower: “The tower stands at the peak of the mountain, and its reflection reaches the sea. Some say that the tower’s shadow faces the sunrise, which is why it is called ‘Daoying’ (Reflection).” When the tower was first built in the late Song Dynasty, its reflection could be seen in the sea, but by the Ming Dynasty, the sea had receded significantly, making the tower’s reflection appear more mystical and remarkable. It is built similar to Wentai Tower 文台寶塔 and Maoshan Tower 茅山塔 .
Shaxi Fort 沙溪堡
Shaxi Fort (沙溪堡) was built in 1971 and during its military use it included high-powered searchlights, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, 50 machine guns, trench systems for combat personnel, and foxholes. Additionally, the Shaxi Tunnel was constructed, which includes seven branches and five forts. The total length of the tunnel is 224.8 meters, with the main tunnel measuring 139.7 meters. The site also features bunkers, a Zhongshan Room, and an ammunition storage building. The top of the fort also provides great views of Dandan Island.
Xiaoximen Model Restroom Historical Site 小西門模範廁
The Xiaoximen (Little West Gate) Model Toilet was the first public toilet built in Kinmen. i located in the Xiaoximen community of Jincheng Township, Kinmen, was built by local resident Wu Chaoping in 1917. The toilet, consisting of 22 stalls (with two reserved for his family), was praised by the villagers and became known as the “model toilet.” The toilet’s design and construction earned it the reputation of a model for hygiene and community facilities.
Yangzhai Old Street 陽翟老街
Yangdi Old Street, located in Jinsha Township, was once a military stronghold where the Jin Dong Division was stationed and also a popular entertainment hub for soldiers. In its heyday, the bustling commercial street featured a cinema, billiard halls, bathhouses, and barbershops. However, as the military withdrew, Yangdi Old Street gradually declined.
The street later gained renewed attention when it served as a filming location for the movie Paradise in Service, which recreated historical scenes from the 1960s in Kinmen.
After filming concluded, the Kinmen County Government preserved the set, integrating it into the community and promoting youth entrepreneurship. Many unique shops have since opened in the Yangdi area, allowing visitors to experience a journey through time and explore the historical landscape of Kinmen. This revitalization has helped create a thriving business district, stimulating the local community, youth innovation, and tourism. The area has become a popular destination for tourists and a hotspot for young Instagrammers to take photos.
Jindong Cinema 金東電影院
The Jin Dong Cinema, built in 1950 by Taipei City Council Speaker Zhang Xiangchuan to provide leisure and entertainment for soldiers, was a key part of this vibrant scene. The cinema was always packed, and the surrounding area, including barbershops, billiard halls, and bathhouses, flourished as a result. After several decades, the Jin Dong Cinema has been renovated but still retains its 1950s atmosphere, preserving vivid memories of its past glory.
Shanhou Folk Culture Village 金門山后民俗文化村
The Kinmen Folk Culture Village, located in San Shan Village, Jinsha Township, Kinmen County, is a historic architectural complex and one of Taiwan’s top 100 historical buildings, and is one of the best examples of traditional Min architecture in the world. The buildings were originally constructed by the Wang family clan members, with the earliest construction beginning in 1876 during the Qing Dynasty. After the Battle of Guningtou, the area experienced significant population decline, leading to the buildings being abandoned. In 1980, the Kinmen Administrative Council planned to restore the site as the Kinmen Folk Culture Village, and it was incorporated into the Kinmen National Park in 1995. The site also includes seven exhibition halls, covering topics such as cultural relics, etiquette, celebrations, leisure, martial arts, production, and ancient official residences. It is managed by the Kinmen National Park Administration and the Shan Hou Folk Culture Foundation.
Shishan (Mt. Lion) Howitzer Fort 獅山砲陣地
The Shishan Artillery Position is located near the Shanhou Folk Culture Village. It is the only tunnel-based howitzer position in the country, also known as the Zhendong Tunnel, which litterly means “Shaking the East of Kinmen.” During the 1958 Artillery Battle on August 23rd, the tunnel housed 8-inch howitzers that played a crucial role in the conflict.
Carved into granite, the tunnel spans 508 meters in length.
Today, the Shishan Artillery Position preserves one 8-inch howitzer for visitors to admire, offering a glimpse of this powerful weapon that played a decisive role in the 1958 Artillery Battle.
Shamei Old Street 沙美老街
Shamei Old Street is one of the oldest commercial streets in Kinmen, formerly known as Bagua Street. Once the busiest area on the island, it was a hub for military personnel to buy supplies and watch movies. Today, visitors can still taste traditional snacks and experience the area’s historic charm. The area has preserved much of its authentic traditional appearance, with many places unchanged for decades, offering a nostalgic experience of old Kinmen. The street features many historical buildings, many of which have been abandoned, along with old signage, weathered storefronts, and many food vendors offering traditional treats like baked flatbread and dumplings.
FuguoDun Sea Terrace 復國墩海台
Fuguodun (originally called Oke Dun) settlement in Xihu Village, Jinhua Township, is a popular seaside destination known for its seafood and ocean views. Here there was also an archaeological site discovered dating to the Late Paleolithic period. The inhabitants of the site lived by fishing and used flaked stone tools.
Peten Island 北碇島
From Fuguo Dun seaside park, you can see a view of Peten Island 北碇島, which sits off the east coast of Kinmen and is controlled by the ROC army. Tourists are not permitted to visit.
Fort 82 (Liaoluo Bay Fort) 料羅灣龍堡三營區(82據點)
Fort 82 is a former seaside fort on Liaoluo Bay that has now been converted into a museum. It used to house special aquatic forces (similar to NAVY SEALs), and a row of their speedboats is still on display in front of the fort. There is also a nice sandy beach here and free showers.
Xibian Beach 溪邊海水浴場
Xibian Beach is a beautiful sandy beach on the east coast of Kinmen. The beach is open for swimming and includes a SUP Auqatic center.
Dadan Island 大膽島
You can see Dadan Island from Little Kinmen, a small rocky island near Kinmen held by Taiwan. Tours are available on this island, but only for Taiwanese nationals. You can also see part of Erdan Island which is another small island held by the ROC on the left side behind Dadan Island.
Menghu Island 猛虎嶼
Menghu Island 猛虎嶼 is a small rocky island near Kinmen held by Taiwan.
Binlang Islet 檳榔嶼
Binlang Islet is a small rocky islet in Taiwan’s protected waters around Kinmen, with Xiamen in the Background. In the past, a swimming competition was held from the shore of Lesser Kinmen to that of Xiamen Island with Binlang Iselt as the midpoint.
Places We Missed 我們錯過的地方:
Military Brothel Exhibition Hall 特約茶室展示館
Mr. Yu Da-wei Memorial Museum 俞大維先生紀念館
823 Battle Museum 八二三戰史舘
Wuqiu Lighthouse 烏坵嶼燈塔
Gulongtou Zhenwei Residence 古龍頭振威第
Fishing Experience
Clamming Experience
Traditional Chinese Costume Experience
Water Gun Shooting Experience
Night Otter Spotting
SUPing / Paddle Boarding
Intertidal Eco Tour
Handmade Metalworking DIY
And hundreds of other historical buildings! The great thing about not seeing everything is that it gives me an excuse to go back someday!
For more of Taiwan’s outer Islands, you can check out our full guides to Xiaoliuqiu here, Penghu here, Green Island here, Matsu here, and Orchid Island here.
You can also check out our full guide to all of Taiwan’s outer islands here.
You can also check out our full guide to Taiwan here.
