Kinmen
Blasted out of solid granite by soldiers in the 1960s, this V-shaped arc of sea tunnels was designed to protect boats from bombs during the war years…
Getty Images/Moment RM
Far from Taiwan yet only a few kilometres off the coast of mainland China, Kinmen (金門; Jīnmén) is a geopolitical curiosity which, through a series of historical chances, is now one of the most authentically old-Chinese places left on the planet. Great food and a relaxed, friendly vibe add to the appealing Ming- and Qing-era architectural remnants and reminders from Kinmen's decades as a 20th-century military outpost. The islands are well worth a couple of days' investigation, especially if you're in transit between Taiwan and Xiamen (China), which is a short boat hop away.
Kinmen
Blasted out of solid granite by soldiers in the 1960s, this V-shaped arc of sea tunnels was designed to protect boats from bombs during the war years…
Kinmen
Also known as Jiugong Tunnel (九宮坑道), this four-entrance network of wide sea tunnels was blasted out of the gneiss in the 1960s to provide bomb shelters…
Shuitou Village
Built in 1931, this is Kinmen's most famous 'western' building thanks to the 11m-tall gun tower in its yard, erected to ward off (or at least spot)…
Kinmen
For domestic tourists, this is one of Kinmen's top sights due to the pivotal nature of a battle fought here over 56 hours in October 1949. For outsiders,…
Kinmen
This three-storey tower, built in classical Chinese form, is an iconic local landmark that has often featured on Taiwanese stamps. Yet it only dates from…
Kinmen
With a fine setting in a bowl of green slopes, Shanhou is one of the island's prettiest old villages with dozens of classic tile-roofed Fujian homes,…
Kinmen
This stern, 9m statue of Koxinga (鄭成; Zheng Cheng) gazes towards China from a tiny islet connected to the rest of Kinmen by a pedestrian causeway, which…
Kinmen
Yongshi (Warriors') Fort is one of a pair of 1970s military bunkers in Huangtso. Descend through a 200m-long tunnel that now contains a museum about…
Filter by interest:
Get to the heart of Kinmen with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.