4 Reasons Why You Have to Visit Kinmen Island

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At the beginning of the year, I published a guide to Kinmen Island, including a summary of its history and the amazing places I visited. However, Ferdinand, a travel vlogger documenting Kinmen, pointed out that there are some unique sights worth adding. In this article, he introduces four incredible things you can only experience on the island.
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He also runs a travel blog with more information about Kinmen. Among other things, he answers the question “why is Kinmen part of Taiwan”, and also tells you the story behind the Wind Lions of Kinmen. But now let us talk about the four coolest things on the island.

​See the Blue Diamonds Lighting Up the Ocean

At the very top of the list are the so-called Blue Diamonds: A natural phenomenon that causes the ocean to light up at night. It turns the sea into a magical shade of blue. This glowing effect is created by marine microorganisms called dinoflagellates. They emit light as a defense mechanism. The phenomenon is also known as the Sea of Stars.

​Seeing the Blue Diamonds can be tricky. You need to be in Kinmen at the right time of year. Your best chance is during April, May, or June, on a moonless night near high tide, ideally with a southerly wind. The conditions have to align perfectly, and even then, there is no guarantee you will see this spectacle.

Ferdinand shared all his tips on how to spot the Blue Diamonds in my video about the beaches of Kinmen. He took a cruise that he found on Facebook. There are not many places in the world where you can witness these “underwater fireflies.” They exist only under very specific conditions. If you know of other places where this occurs, feel free to share!

Visit the Civil Defense Tunnel in Jincheng to Feel What it is Like to Be Shelled by Artillery 

The Civil Defense Tunnel is one of the most extreme sights on Kinmen Island. Unlike the other tunnels, this one was built to protect the general public and not just soldiers. It allowed daily life to continue underground, even during periods of constant artillery shelling from China. This tunnel network beneath the city of Jincheng stretches 2.3 kilometers and spans several levels. 

​Today, it is only accessible through a guided tour. The tours are free, but pay attention to the schedule and have to be at the entrance on time. You get a brief introduction, and then you enter. All entry points are heavily fortified, as these were the most vulnerable spots during attacks. After all, the last thing anyone wanted was to get trapped underground.
 
Here is where things go wild. There is the sheer scale of the tunnel. It is massive, but also dark. The craziest part is the simulated gunfire that you experience at one point. No worries, no real bullets, but you get a glimpse at the very beginning of this video about the Civil Defense Tunnel in Kinmen.
 
Keep in mind that China attempted to invade Kinmen twice, and the island remained under artillery fire until 1979. Because of this, the Taiwanese government required all residents, including students, to undergo military training. This tunnel is a reminder of how life on Kinmen was completely shaped by the looming threat of attack from the Red Army.

Visit China by Ferry

Kinmen is located right next to Xiamen in China, and the ferry crossing between the two takes only about 30 minutes. This makes it possible to take a day trip to China or spend a few days over there.
The border crossing from Taiwan to China and back is quite straightforward. You can buy tickets online or at the harbor of Kinmen. As a German citizen, Ferdinand did not need a visa for either China or Taiwan. However, visa requirements vary depending on your nationality, so be sure to check in advance. It is also a good idea to buy a round-trip ticket, as in most cases, Chinese border control will want to see proof of your return journey.

This is by far the quickest way to enter Taiwanese territory from China. If you plan to continue your journey to Taiwan’s main island, you could take another ferry from Kinmen, but Ferdinand highly recommends taking a flight instead.
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Last But Not Least: Get a Knife Made of Chinese Artillery Shells

There are two products Kinmen is famous for: Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor and Maestro Wu Knives, often simply called Kinmen Knives. Both are closely tied to Kinmen’s conflict-ridden past. Here, we focus on the knives made from old Chinese artillery shells.
Maestro Wu is one of several blacksmiths on the island who produce these blades, and he is probably the most famous. While Kinmen is now a popular tourist destination, it was once the last battleground of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 and continued to experience military tensions for decades. Martial law in Kinmen remained in effect until 1995, several years longer than in the rest of Taiwan.
During the heavy bombardments of the 1960s and 1970s, countless artillery shells were fired. Today, these leftovers of war are repurposed into knives. You can buy them on the Taiwanese mainland, but Kinmen offers a better selection, and you can even watch the forging process in person, as shown in this video about Kinmen’s best local products.

Summary: Go Visit Kinmen

I have published a fair share of Kinmen content; you can find an overview here. But I am also glad that Ferdinand shared his perspective. He also writes about traveling in Taiwan. Feel free to watch his Kinmen Travel Tales playlist, which includes all his videos about Kinmen. He is always happy to hear your thoughts, so feel free to reach out if you need more travel advice!
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.