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 both 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 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 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 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 to 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, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi 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. Tours: There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. Hotels: 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. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Map: Please see below: This blog will cover the following places: Sheng Zu Foods 聖祖食品 Shuitou Pier 水頭碼頭 Juguang Tower 莒光樓 Maoshan Tower 茅山塔 Shuitou Village 水頭村 Deyue Gun Tower 得月樓 Zhushan Village 珠山聚落 Gugang Lake 古崗湖 Gugang Tower 古崗樓 Zhaishan Tunnels 翟山坑道 Kinmen National Park 金門國家公園 The Ancient City of Kinmen 金門城 Wentai Tower 文台寶塔 Oucuo Beach 歐厝沙灘 Little Kinmen (Lieyu) 小金門 (烈嶼) Kinmen Land Mine Museum 地雷展示館 Mao Gong Shi Island Recreation Area 猫公石滨海休憩區 Little Kinmen Hujingtou Battle Museum 小金門湖井頭戰史舘 Jiugong Tunnels 九宮坑道 Bada Tower 八達樓子 Jiangong Islet 建功嶼 Jincheng Seaside Park 金城海濱休閑公園 Kinmen Qing Dynasty Military Headquarters 金門清朝總兵署 Liang Jin Farm 良金牧場 Cihu Lake 慈湖 Gulongtou Shuiwei Pagoda 古龍頭水尾塔 Kinmen Heping (Peace) Memorial Park 金門和平紀念公園 Beishan Old House 北山古洋樓 Battle of Guningtou Museum 古寧頭戰史舘 Beishan Broadcasting Tower 北山廣播墻 Taiwu Mountain 太武山 Mashan Observation Post 馬山觀測所 Chen Ching-lon's House 陳景蘭洋樓 Carrefour 家樂福 Wind Lion Plaza Mall 風獅爺購物廣場 Our Journey: I have been to Kinmen once, during a 4 day, 3 night trip that was still not long enough to see everything on the island. We took our trip at the end of October. The weather was nice, but it was still a bit too cold to enjoy the beaches. 
We took an afternoon flight from Taipei Songshan Airport (which is in the middle of Taipei City), landing in Kinmen 45 minutes later. Our plane tickets were cheap, only 3000 NT per person round trip (around 100 USD) with Mandarin Airlines. Above is a view of Shuitou Harbor from the plane; you can see our hostel in the photo.
Sheng Zu Foods 聖祖食品 
If you are looking for gifts to send to your relatives, look no further than Sheng Zu Foods, which sells one of Kinmen's most famous delicacies: peanut candies (貢糖 gong4 tang2), which are like peanut brittle. They sell them right in the airport (for the same price at their store).
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 
We drove off to our hostel next to Shuitou Harbor (pictured above). If you are coming from Xiamen, China, the ferry will drop you off at this harbor.
Juguang Tower 莒光樓 
The first place I recommend going to is Juguang Tower. Kinmen's Juguang Tower is like an introduction for the rest of the island. Much of the island's history and culture can be understood just by a quick walk through these halls. The tower also provides a nice view of Kinmen and Xiamen Harbor.
For our full blog on Juguang Tower, click here. Maoshan Tower 茅山塔 
We did not actually go to Juguang Tower first; we went to Maoshan Tower which was right next to our hostel. It is an ancient pagoda dating to the 14th century AD that sits on top of a hill on the southwest side of Kinmen Island. It is one of three similar pagodas on the island built around the same time.
From the top of the hill, one can see pristine views of the Xiamen Harbor, the Taiwan Strait, and Kinmen Island. The hike takes about 10 minutes and is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Kinmen.
For our full blog about Maoshan Tower, click here. Shuitou Village 水頭村 
Also close to our hostel was Shuitou Village. Shuitou Village is perhaps the most visited historical village in Kinmen. It features mansions from some of the wealthiest merchants in Kinmen at the time, preserving Western style mixed with traditional Southern Min style architecture. Walking through this village gives you a unique time-period view of Kinmen's history.
For our full blog on Shuitou Village, clickhere. Deyue Gun Tower 得月樓 
Deyue Gun Tower in Shuitou Village was once the highest building in Kinmen, originally built by a wealthy merchant to defend against pirates and thieves. The intricately decorated tower and surrounding buildings were also a sign of wealth and power to the rest of the island. It is one of the most visited attractions on the island, and guided tours are offered daily.
For our full blog on Deyue Gun Tower, click here. 
In and near Shuitou village, there are many abandoned old houses like this one.
Some of the old houses sit right next to other stuff, like this basketball court.
Zhushan Village 珠山聚落 
Zhushan village (aka Jhushan Village) is another old village near Shuitou village, featuring many well preserved Minnan houses as well as commemoration of the 823 Artillery Bombardment with a giant bombshell in this photo. I'll talk more about that battle later.
Tourists enjoying the scenery in this authentic old village.
A Map and some more information about Zhushan Village:
"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 
Nearby Zhushan village is Gugang Lake, with Gugang tower sitting on a peninsula on the lake. Gugang Lake is the last remaining natural lake on Kinmen. Guguang tower was completed in 1964 and is three stories high. It's definitely a nice peaceful spot to relax.
Zhaishan Tunnels 翟山坑道 
Not far from Gugang Lake are the Zhaishan Tunnels (aka Jhaishan Tunnels). These are winding military tunnels running underground in Kinmen connecting to the ocean. During the Chinese Civil War, they were used to protect ships from bombing raids. The tunnels are open for tours, and besides having great acoustics the tunnels are also strikingly beautiful.
For our full blog on Zhaishan Tunnels, click here. Kinmen National Park 金門國家公園 
Outside the Zhainshan tunnels is a giant sign that lets you know you are in Kinmen National Park. The park covers about 1/4 the total area of Kinmen County, and includes half of Little Kinmen, Mount Taiwu, Southwestern Kinmen, Northwestern Kinmen, and NorthEastern Kinmen. Most of the time you will be in the park without even knowing it. The park is an important resting spot for migratory birds.
The Ancient City of Kinmen 金門城 
In between Zhushan Village and Shuitou Village is the Ancient City of Kinmen. This city is one of the most historically rich places in Kinmen and in Taiwan. Not to be confused with Kincheng (the largest city in Kinmen) this walled city was built in the 1300's during the Ming Dynasty as a defense for the region, a role that it has played throughout its history. Although most of the original gates and walls have been destroyed, all of the citiy's four gates have recently been rebuilt. Walking through these ancient streets you can feel hundreds of years of history speaking to you.
For our full blog on the city, click here. Wentai Tower 文台寶塔 
This tower (aka Wentai Pagoda) was also built during the Ming dynasty in 1387 AD as a landmark for ships passing by, kind of like a lighthouse, as well as for defense purposes. The stone has an inscription written by Chen Hui who was a scholar during the Ming Dynasty. This island also has two other similar towers: Maoshan Tower and Daoying Tower.
Oucuo Beach 歐厝沙灘 
On the south side of the island near Zhaishan Tunnels is Oucuo Beach, perhaps the best swimming beach on the main island. It features a long flat white sand beach and beautiful views of the Taiwan Strait.
Also, there is also an abandoned army tank stuck in the sand there that is popular for visitors, if you can find it.
For our full blog on Oucuo Beach, click here. Little Kinmen (Lieyu) 小金門 (烈嶼) 
To get to Little Kinmen, you can either walk to take a scooter onto a ferry from Shuitou Pier. The cost for a scooter is 200 NT round trip, and the cost for one person round trip is 120 NT. The ferry comes roughly every hour and it's a ten minute journey. Now, you can also go to another outer island in Kinmen, Dadan Island (大膽島) as of Jan. 2019. I visited in Oct. 2018, so I just missed out. 
Getting ready to ride off the ferry onto Little Kinmen. You can get around pretty fast on Little Kinmen via taxi, but I prefer the freedom of a scooter. It's more fun riding one anyway.
823 Artillery Bombardment Victory Memorial 八二三炮戰勝利紀念 
One of the first things you will notice while coming into Little Kinmen is the huge 823 Artillery Bombardment Victory Memorial roundabout. This is commemorating the end of the "Second Taiwan Strait Crisis" in which PRC and ROC forces exchanged artillery and missiles from August 23rd, 1958 to 22 September 1958. In the process there were 440 ROC casualties and 460 PRC casualties with an additional 218 PRC civilian causalities. The battle ended when the PRC ran out of ammo. Because of the many bombshells left from that battle, the local people have collected them and reworked them as knives to sell to tourists.
Another sign you will see is "Long live the ROC," or "10,000 years to the ROC."
Riding along the northeast side of the island, I couldn't help but notice a bridge connecting to...China?
Nope, this bridge will only connect Kinmen to Little Kinmen, making travel easier and the ferry unnecessary. Maybe when you go visit the bridge will be complete! When it is finished, it will be the longest cross-island bridge in Taiwan, longer than the bridge in Penghu.
Kinmen Land Mine Museum 地雷展示館 
The Kinmen land mine museum lies on the island of little Kinmen (Lieyu), and uses space from the disused bunkers of "Tiehan Fort and “Yongshi Fort." The exhibition provides a full explanation of the history of landmines not only in Taiwan but in the entire world. It also provides a real life, and rather frightening, experience for its visitors.
Using tunnel space in the old "Tiehan Fort" (鐵漢堡) and “Yongshi Fort" (勇士堡). These two forts were fitted with anti-aircraft cannons, artillery storage, and tank storage. They both survived bombing raids from the mainland. The exhibit takes you through underground tunnels that connect these two forts. Tiehan Fort is pictured above.
For mroe information, please see our full blog on the museum here. Mao Gong Shi Island Recreation Area 猫公石滨海休憩區 
On our trip to the island of Little Kinmen (aka Lieyu), we first visited the landmine museum, shortly after which we set off to Hujingtou via scooter. Along the way we saw some very interesting war exhibits near the shoreline of Mao Gong Shi Island Recreation Area, like this manikin soldier with his sights pointed at Xiamen in the background. There are still tons of spikes sticking out of the beach. I think the reason they have not been cleaned up is because of the environmental impact it would have.
For more about this area, check out our blog here. Little Kinmen Hujingtou Battle Museum 小金門湖井頭戰史舘 
The area around Hujingtou on the island of Little Kinmen (aka Lieyu 烈嶼) is full of historical significance. It was one of the closest front lines in Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War, only 5 KM from Xiamen. Now the museum and displays in the area are open to tourists who can experience what it was like to be on the front lines during the standoff between the PRC and KMT forces.
For more about this museum, see our blog about it here. 
A cow being raised in someone's front yard. Kinmen is also famous for its beef noodles, which uses fresh local grown beef.
We spotted a "love" photo area that seems to be out of context on the former front lines of the Chinese Civil War.
Tanks on display in southwestern Little Kinmen.
Jiugong Tunnels 九宮坑道 
Jiugong Tunnels (aka Siwei Tunnels 思維坑道) are the most impressive tunnels on Little Kinmen, and extremely similar to the Zhaishan Tunnels on Kinmen Island. Originally built to protect ROC ships from bombing raids, the tunnels actually go through the island, connecting the ocean from each side.
Click here for our full blog on the tunnels. Bada Tower 八達樓子 
Bada Tower is a tower that commemorates 7 soldiers that held off Japanese invasion in 1933, fighting from a part of the Great Wall of China known as Bada Tower. Next to the tower are the words 獨立作戰 (fight wars independently), and 自力更生 (self reliance).
You can climb up to the top of the tower and take a selfie with the seven soldiers.
View from the top of the tower.
And with that, our two hour tour of Little Kinmen was over. We were off to find more things to do on the main island of Kinmen.
Jiangong Islet 建功嶼 
Jiangong Islet lies just offshore of western Kinmen. It features a barracks and shrine to Kongxia, the military leader of a Ming Dynasty loyalist faction that defeated the Dutch and ruled Taiwan for a time.
"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, 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." 
You can reach the island by foot at low tide, but be careful to not get stuck there when the tide comes back in. Multiple tourists have been trapped on the island during high tide.
Another structure in the Wujiang River Estuary, probably for fisherman.
Jincheng Seaside Park 金城海濱休閑公園 
There is a new park on the south side of Kincheng near the Wujiang River Estuary which features cactus landscaping and lots of statues. The park was closed off when I visited for renovations.
Kinmen Qing Dynasty Military Headquarters 金門清朝總兵署 
Once inside the Island's main city of Kincheng, there is a lot to see and do. The Qing Military Headquarters in Kinmen is the oldest and one of the best preserved buildings from the Qing dynasty in Taiwan, located at the heart of Kinmen. The complex is completely renovated into a museum, and is full of exhibits, showing visitors exactly what life was like during the Qing dynasty, as well as providing historical background to Kinmen and the surrounding area.
For more information, see our full blog on the museum here. Mofan Street 模範街 
Mofan Street was completed in 1924, modeled after Western and Japanese architecture. Literally meaning "Model Street," it models itself after foreign architectural style, including brick archways. There are over 40 shops on this street selling local treats and souvenirs.
The street also lights up at night, and is obviously very patriotic.
Near Mofan Street there are lots of places to eat. Look for this arch, this is where we found the best food.
First we had a taste of the local food. This restaurant has a super long wait, so we went to the one next door.
We tried some deep fried taro, which was pretty good but I'm sure you can imagine the taste.
Also we had some pork noodles which are always a good choice.
Liang Jin Farm 良金牧場 
Liang Jin Farm is not a farm, it is a restaurant and gift shop, specializing in beef noodles, among other things.
The beef noodles in this shop were some of the best I've ever had. The beef was fresh and plentiful, locally grown in Kinmen.
They also sell all you can eat "grass" flavored soft serve. I think there is a reason that it is all you can eat; after one bite you realize you have filled your cup full of food pellet flavored ice cream. It's not very sweet at all. It's like eating grass straight up, but creamier. Definitely an experience but not delicious in any way.
There are many other restaurants down these alleyways serving just about any Taiwanese dish you can think of.
Also you will find many shops selling artillery shells and knives made from artillery shells. Man of these shells are left over from the 823 artillery bombardment.
Fruits and vegetables are also sold in the city for reasonable prices.
Another local delicacy we tried was Guangdong Rice Porridge 廣東粥. It was delicious.
Also we had some local roasted meat cakes, or Shaobing 燒餅 which were also delicious. Some of them had malt sugar inside which is sure to give you cavities.
Also soy milk in a bag, the first of its kind I have ever seen.
Next we wandered out of Kincheng toward Guningtou. Along the way we saw quite a few abandoned vehicles on the side of the road.
Cihu Lake 慈湖 
Cihu Lake is a man made reservoir near Kincheng, featuring some really beautiful scenery, and is one of the best places to watch the sunset.
The beach and shoreline next to the lake. A small levee separated the lake (once part of the ocean) with Xiamen Bay. The reservoir was built not only to provide better shoreline defense, but also to provide fish farms for the locals.
After it was constructed, the lake attracted a large amount of migratory birds, making it the premier spot for bird spotting in Kinmen, mainly during winter months.
"About Cihu Lake Important Wetland (Wetland of National Importance)"
This region is the National Wetland of Importance (redzone). To ensure the natural flood control and related functions of the wetland in order 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.]" 
Also next to the lake are some more tanks on display. Ofcourse pointing at China.
Gulongtou Shuiwei Pagoda 古龍頭水尾塔 
Not far from Cihu Lake is Shuwei Pagoda, which was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1767 to bring proper Fengshui into the area, promoting prosperity nearby. The stone acts as a Shigandang (石敢當), or stones with writing on them, used in traditional Chinese folk religion to ward off evil spirits. You can also see Shigandang at street intersections in Taiwan.
Kinmen Heping (Peace) Memorial Park 金門和平紀念公園 
Before you enter into Guningtou, you will come across Kinmen's Heping Memorial Park (aka Lincuo Fortress 林厝炮陣地), which features a few anti-aircraft military bunkers in a row. Tanks are on display again in this parking lot. It seems like there is a tank in every parking lot in Kinmen.
"Kuningtou Battlefield"
"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 courageuosly in the battle. During the battle, Colonel Lee Kuang-chien and hundred 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." 
No 2. artillery fortress.
The peace bell, made of old bomb shells.
General Hu Lien Memorial Hall, which also gives a cultural exhibition of life in Kinmen. General Hu Lien rendered fearless service in the victory at Guningtou.
Artillery fortress No. 1.
Looking out the back end of one of the artillery fortresses.
Battle of Guningtou Memorial Arch just before you enter into Guningtou.
Beishan Old House 北山古洋樓 
We didn't have time to explore the whole village, but you should if you have the time. One building we did see was the Beishan Old House (pictured above), which is actually located in the village of Beishan right next to Guningtou. This house was built originally by Li Qijie, who started work on the house in 1920, making it into a western style house like many other rich merchants on Kinmen.
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 
The battle of Guningtou was one of the largest and perhaps the most important fight that fended off PRC invasion in Kinmen and Taiwan. It began with thousands of communist troops boarding ships and invading Kinmen, gaining ground quickly. However, the PRC troops were pushed back and captured, proving to be an important victory for the ROC army and preventing the PRC from advancing to Taiwan. Now you can learn more about this important battle by passing through the town of Guningtou and visiting the Guningtou Battle Museum.
For our full blog about this museum and the battle, click here. Beishan Broadcasting Tower 北山廣播墻 
Beishan Broadcasting Tower (aka Beishan Broadcasting Wall) is a tower on the north central coast of Kinmen (near Guningtou) used by the military to broadcast messages, propaganda, and music across Xiamen harbor to communists on the other side. The tower still sends broadcasts daily, and is a unique wartime relic that is definitely worth visiting.
For more information about this tower, check out our blog here. Taiwu Mountain 太武山 
Mt. Taiwu is the tallest mountain in Kinmen. It features many hiking trails as well as a military cemetery.
This is about as far as we got. With the prospect of hiking three hours with limited daylight, we turned back.
Panorama of the main entrance to Taiwu Mountain.
Next we drove along the northwest coast of Kinmen, observing the beautiful sunset. Kinmen is acutally really big, and takes more than an hour to drive across the whole island.
Our shadow in the sunlight looking at a small village in Kinmen.
Map with sights in Mashan, the north-easternmost village in Kinmen.
Mashan Observation Post 馬山觀測所 
The place closes at about 5 PM, and we had gotten there just a few minutes before that.
We were working against the clock to visit 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. 
Right when I took this picture, an old lady told me to leave. The observation post was to close for the day. Sad. Kinmen is just too big to see everything before it closes, so give yourself enough time on the island that you don't have to live with any regrets.
3D map of the area.
Even though we didn't get to go inside the observatory, we did see some nice views of the beach, with China in the background.
A group of tourists enjoying the beach near Mashan Observation Post.
View of Mt. Taiwu on our drive back.
Last view of the sunset on our journey west.
Chen Ching-lon's House 陳景蘭洋樓 
Chen Ching lon's house is another place that closes at 5 PM. So, there are limited things you can do after that time.
Chen Ching Lon was also a wealthy merchant who built a very nice western style house in Kinmen, and is perhaps the most beautiful Western style house of its era. 
"Chen Ching lon's House"
"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." 
View of the ocean from Chen Ching-lon's house.
Carrefour 家樂福 
Why is Carrefour a major tourist destination? Well it is the only major supermarket in all of Taiwan's outer islands including Penghu. It just opened June 30th, 2018.
You can tell that the Carrefour here is geared to lure in Chinese tourists, even providing a shuttle bus from Shuitou Port every hour (in simplified Chinese). Carrefour is probably the easiest place for Chinese people to buy normal, safe, and everyday things from Taiwan. While I was there one Chinese lady asked me how much something was in RMB, but I had no idea. I think later a store clerk told her.
Wind Lion Plaza Mall 風獅爺購物廣場 
The last place we saw before getting on the plane back to Taipei was the outlet mall right next to the airport. It's straight across from the airport main entrance. What better way for a Chinese tourist to spend their time in Kinmen than buying duty-free Nike's? Kinmen has been and will continue to thrive on tourism mainly from China, but hopefully with this blog I have convinced foreigners from other countries to come visit this beautiful set of islands.
Places We Missed 我們錯過的地方: 
Dao Ying Tower 倒影塔
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 FuguoDun Sea Terrace 復國墩海台 823 Battle Museum 八二三戰史舘 Kinmen Shanhou Folk Culture Village 山后民俗文化村 Wuqiu Lighthouse 烏坵嶼燈塔 Gulongtou Zhenwei Residence 古龍頭振威第 Dadan Island 大膽島 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, check out our ultimate guide to Penghu here or our guide to Matsu here. You can also check out our full guide to all of Taiwan's outer islands here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
1 Comment
Natalie
6/2/2021 05:36:58 am
Oh how you brought back wonderful memories of my trip there. Your photos were awesome and the descriptions were point on. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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