Kinmen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kinmen County
Quemoy; Chinmen; Chin-men
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County
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Country | Republic of China (Taiwan) | ||
Province | Fujian | ||
Seat | Jincheng | ||
Largest city | Jincheng | ||
Boroughs | 0 cities, 6 (3 urban, 3 rural) townships | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 153.1 km2 (59.1 sq mi) | ||
Area rank | 20 of 22 | ||
Population
(December 2014)
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• Total | 127,723 | ||
• Rank | 20 of 22 | ||
• Density | 834.25/km2 (2,160.7/sq mi) | ||
Time zone | UTC+8 (National Standard Time) | ||
Website | |||
Symbols | |||
Bird | Hoopoe | ||
Flower | Four-season orchid | ||
Tree | Cotton tree |
Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands governed by the Republic of China (Taiwan). These islands are located very close to the southeastern coast of mainland China. Kinmen County includes the main Kinmen Islands (like Great Kinmen and Lesser Kinmen) and the Wuqiu Islands, which are about 110 kilometers (68 miles) away.
Kinmen is one of the two counties in the Fujian Province of the Republic of China. The main Kinmen Islands are only about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) east of the big city of Xiamen in mainland China. Because of its location, Kinmen has been very important throughout history. It used to be a place of battles, but now it's more of a trading spot between China and Taiwan.
Kinmen is also famous for some special products. Because of many shells fired during battles in the 1950s, people in Kinmen started making unique knives from these old artillery shells. These knives are still very popular today.
Another famous product from Kinmen is Kaoliang wine. This strong drink makes up about 75% of Taiwan's market share. It's a big part of Kinmen's economy. The islands also have traditional industries like farming, fishing, and raising livestock. The clean sea around Kinmen helps its good fishing industry.
Contents
Exploring Kinmen: A Tourist's Guide
For a long time, Kinmen's military importance meant that not much building or development happened there. But things changed! In 2003, Kinmen started welcoming tourists from Fujian in Mainland China.
Today, Kinmen is a popular place for Taiwanese people to visit on weekends. It's known for its peaceful villages, old-style buildings, and beautiful beaches. A large part of Kinmen is a National Park. This park shows off old military forts, historic homes, and amazing natural views.
In 2014, a record 1.5 million people traveled by ferry between Kinmen and ports in Fujian. New projects are being planned to bring even more tourists and business visitors to the islands.
Popular Places to Visit in Kinmen
There are many interesting places to see in Kinmen:
- Museums:
- August 23 Artillery Battle Museum
- Guningtou Battle Museum
- Hujingtou Battle Museum
- Yu Da Wei Xian Sheng Memorial Museum
- Nature and Parks:
- Gugang Lake
- Jiangong Islet
- Jincheng Seaside Park
- Kinmen National Park
- Historical Sites and Landmarks:
- Deyue Gun Tower
- Gulongtou Zhenwei Residence
- Jhaishan Tunnel
- Juguang Tower
- Kinmen Folk Culture Village
- Kinmen Military Headquarters of Qing Dynasty
- Mashan Broadcasting and Observation Station
- Mofan Street
- Wuqiu Lighthouse
Images for kids
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Jiangong Islet, with a Koxinga monument, in Kinmen Harbor
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Chin-men Tao (Quemoy Island, Greater Kinmen), Lieh Hsü (Lesser Kinmen), Tung-ting Hsü (Dongding Island), Wu-ch'iu Hsü (Daqiu), and Hsia Hsü (Xiaoqiu) "The Nationalist-held islands off the Chinese mainland are nominally a part of Fukien Province, but are presently under military administration." (1962)
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Calligraphy by former President Chiang Kai-shek etched on Wu-Wang-Zai-Ju Inscribed Rock
See also
In Spanish: Kinmen para niños