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Kinmen County

Quemoy; Chinmen; Chin-men
County
Kinmen Montage.png
Flag of Kinmen County
Flag
 Coat of arms of Kinmen County
Coat of arms
Taiwan ROC political division map Kinmen County.svg
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)
 • 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.

Exploring Kinmen: A Tourist's Guide

Kinmen Airport and Surrounds 01
Kinmen Airport and its surroundings.

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.

Kinmen Military Headquarters of Qing Dynasty 04
The Kinmen Military Headquarters from the Qing Dynasty.

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

  • Jiangong Island - DSCF9484

    Jiangong Islet, with a Koxinga monument, in Kinmen Harbor

  • Kinmen Qing Military Governor Office - main gate - DSCF9418

    Kinmen Military Headquarters of Qing Dynasty

  • Attack in Quemoy 1663

    Attack in Quemoy (1663)

  • Txu-oclc-10552568-ng50-15

    Map including most of the territory of Kinmen County (AMS, 1954)

  • Nationalist China - administrative divisons. LOC 2007633622

    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)

  • Commemorative NT$10 Coin in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Taiwan's Retrocession

    Kinmen in the map on the obverse of the Commemorative NT$10 Coin in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Taiwan's Retrocession (1995)

  • 烏坵百年燈塔1

    Wuqiu Lighthouse in Wuqiu, Kinmen

  • Bomb shells fired from Mainland China, Kinmen, Taiwan

    Artillery shells fired by the People's Liberation Army to Kinmen in the 1950s

  • 瓊林蔡氏家廟風獅爺

    A shisa (wind-lion god) carving in Kinmen

  • Juguanglou

    The Juguang Tower ("Brightness of Ju"), a famous landmark in Kinmen.

  • Jhaishan Tunnel, Kinmen, Taiwan

    Zhaishan Tunnel

  • 國立金門大學綜合教學大樓 20141231

    National Quemoy University

  • Kinmen - Shuitou Harbor - DSCF9374

    Tashan Power Plant

  • 金門太湖淨水廠 20200807153319 04

    Water treatment plant in Kinmen

  • Kinmen Airport 01

    Kinmen Airport

  • Kinmen - Shuitou Harbor - DSCF9379

    Shuitou Pier

  • Wuwangzaiju

    Calligraphy by former President Chiang Kai-shek etched on Wu-Wang-Zai-Ju Inscribed Rock

  • 遍布反登陆桩的上林海滩 - Anti-landing Spikes on Shanglin Coast - 2014.09 - panoramio

    Anti-landing spikes on Lesser Kinmen (Lieyu) near Shi Islet with Xiamen (Amoy) in the background

  • Shuitou historical residence 水頭古厝 - panoramio

    Shuitou historical residence (水頭古厝)

  • Jincheng - Daitianfu - DSCF9406

    Daitianfu (代天府) in Jincheng

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kinmen para niños

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