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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 or Quemoy, officially Kinmen County, is two groups of islands governed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and located just off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The county consists of the Kinmen Islands (including Great Kinmen and Lesser Kinmen) and the Wuqiu Islands more than 110 kilometres (68 mi) to the northeast.

It is one of two counties under the streamlined Fujian Province of the Republic of China. The Kinmen Islands are located only about two kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the mainland city of Xiamen, and their strategic position has reflected the significant change of Cross-Strait relations from a battlefront to a trading point between China and Taiwan. Due to the ongoing issue of the political status of Taiwan, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has continuously claimed Kinmen County as part of its own Fujian Province.

Kinmen is notable for a number of cultural products. Due to the extensive shelling by the People's Liberation Army in the 1950s, Kinmen is famous for its artillery shell knives. Local artisans would collect the vast amounts of exploded ordnance and make high-quality knives which are still sought after by chefs and connoisseurs.

Kinmen is famous for the production of Kaoliang wine, which takes up about 75% of Taiwan's market share, in which it is a strong economic backbone of the county. Traditional industries are also being kept and improved, ranging from agriculture, fishery and livestock. It has a good fishery industry also due to its nature being surrounded by unpolluted sea.

Tourism

Kinmen Airport and Surrounds 01
Kinmen Airport and Surrounds

Because of its military importance, development on the island was extremely limited. Only by 2003, Kinmen opened up itself to tourists from Fujian in Mainland China. It is now however a popular weekend tourist destination for Taiwanese and is known for its quiet villages, old-style architecture and beaches. Large parts of Kinmen form the Kinmen National Park which highlights military fortifications and structures, historical dwellings and natural scenery.

Kinmen Military Headquarters of Qing Dynasty 04
Kinmen Military Headquarters of Qing Dynasty

The year 2014 recorded the highest number of passengers traveling by ferry between Kinmen and Fujian ports for as many as 1.5 million people. Two infrastructure projects are expected to boost tourism and meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions visitors to the islands.

Major tourist attractions in Kinmen are:

  • August 23 Artillery Battle Museum, Guningtou Battle Museum, Hujingtou Battle Museum, Yu Da Wei Xian Sheng Memorial Museum
  • Gugang Lake, Jiangong Islet, Jincheng Seaside Park, Kinmen National Park
  • 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 and Wuqiu Lighthouse

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kinmen para niños

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