Kinmen,
alternatively known as Quemoy, is a group of
islands
An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
governed as a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
by the
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
, off the southeastern coast of
mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
. It lies roughly east of the city of
Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
in
Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
, from which it is separated by
Xiamen Bay
Xiamen Bay, formerly known as Amoy Bay, is a partially enclosed bay off the coast of Xiamen in China's Fujian Province. It is bound by the Kinmen Islands and the Taiwan Strait.
Geography
The bay is formed by down-faulted depressed block of und ...
. Kinmen is located west from the shoreline of the
island of Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territori ...
across the
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait is a -wide strait separating the island of Taiwan and continental Asia. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north. The narrowest part is wide.
The Taiwan Strait is itself a s ...
.
The county consists of the major island of Kinmen along with several surrounding islets, as well as
Wuqiu Township located to the northeast of the rest of the county.
[, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency] Kinmen is one of two counties that constitutes
Fujian Province
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...
, the other being
Lienchiang County (Matsu).
Kinmen's strategic location in the Taiwan Strait has led to
numerous confrontations, making it a tangible embodiment of political change on
Cross-Strait relations
Cross-Strait relations (sometimes called Mainland–Taiwan relations, or Taiwan-China relations) are the relations between China (officially the People's Republic of China) and Taiwan (officially the Republic of China).
The relationship ...
. In August 1958, Kinmen was heavily bombarded by the
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, ...
during the
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was a conflict that took place between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC). In this conflict, the PRC shelled the islands of Kinm ...
. Travel restrictions between Kinmen and the main island of Taiwan were lifted in 1994 following the end of decades-long military administration over Kinmen. A direct ferry route to Xiamen was inaugurated in January 2001 following the establishment of the
Three Links.
The People's Republic of China (PRC,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
) claims Kinmen as part of
Fujian Province
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...
and considers Wuqiu to be a separate territory of Fujian apart from Kinmen itself; conversely, the ROC claims the
Dadeng Islands (Tateng) as part of Kinmen, even though they were effectively transferred to the control of Xiamen by the PRC.
Names
![Jiangong Island - DSCF9484](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Jiangong_Island_-_DSCF9484.JPG)
Kinmen (金門) means 'golden gate'. The name was first recorded in 1387 when the
Hongwu Emperor appointed Zhou Dexing to administer the island and protect it from pirate attacks.
The spelling "Kinmen" is a
postal romanization. This transcription system is a variation of Nanking Syllabary, a system developed by
Herbert Giles
Herbert Allen Giles (, 8 December 184513 February 1935) was a British diplomat and sinologist who was the professor of Chinese at the University of Cambridge for 35 years. Giles was educated at Charterhouse School before becoming a British ...
in 1892. It was adopted by the Chinese Imperial Post, part of the
Chinese Maritime Customs Service
The Chinese Maritime Customs Service was a Chinese governmental tax collection agency and information service from its founding in 1854 until it split in 1949 into services operating in the Republic of China on Taiwan, and in the People's Republ ...
led by Irishman
Robert Hart. It is based on pronunciation in the Southern Mandarin, or
Jianghuai
Jianghuai (; pinyin: Jiānghuái) is a geographical area in China referring to the plain between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, in the modern provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu
Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiang ...
, dialect. This dialect is widely spoken in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, including the city of Nanjing. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses "Kinmen," while the
United States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is a federal body operating under the United States Secretary of the Interior. The purpose of the board is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the federal governm ...
gives "Kinmen Island."
Quemoy, pronounced , is a name for the island in English and in other European languages. It may have originated as a Spanish or Portuguese
transcription
Transcription refers to the process of converting sounds (voice, music etc.) into letters or musical notes, or producing a copy of something in another medium, including:
Genetics
* Transcription (biology), the copying of DNA into RNA, the fir ...
of the
Zhangzhou Hokkien pronunciation of the name, ''Kim-mûi''.
This is the most common form of the islands' name in English. For example, works that deal with the
First
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
and
Second Taiwan Strait Crises (the Quemoy Incident
) and the
1960 United States presidential election
The 1960 United States presidential election was the 44th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 8, 1960. In a closely contested election, Democratic United States Senator John F. Kennedy defeated the incumbent V ...
debates when the islands received prominent worldwide news coverage all use the word Quemoy. In addition, the former National Kinmen Institute of Technology was renamed
National Quemoy University
National Quemoy University (NQU, ) is a national university, located in Jinning Township, Kinmen (Quemoy), Republic of China (Taiwan). NQU offers a variety of academic programs. They are divided into three categories: 1. undergraduate program, 2 ...
in 2010. Kinmen scholar Wei Jian-feng advocates the use of the word Quemoy to better connect the island to "international society or achieve more recognition in the world".
Jinmen is the island's name both in
Tongyong Pinyin
Tongyong Pinyin () was the official romanization of Mandarin in Taiwan between 2002 and 2008. The system was unofficially used between 2000 and 2002, when a new romanization system for Taiwan was being evaluated for adoption. Taiwan's Ministry ...
and in
Hanyu Pinyin
Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese for ...
. Hanyu Pinyin is the international standard for transliterating Chinese. It was adopted by the Taiwanese government in 2009. Kimoi is a Hokkien-derived spelling also used in the postal romanization system. Chin-men is the
Wade–Giles
Wade–Giles () is a romanization system for Mandarin Chinese. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Francis Wade, during the mid-19th century, and was given completed form with Herbert A. Giles's '' Chinese–English Dictionary'' o ...
romanization of the island's name.
History
![Three Principles of the People Unites China](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Three_Principles_of_the_People_Unites_China.jpg)
Humans have lived on Kinmen for 5,800 to 8,000 years.
[ During the reign of Emperor Yuan (317 CE), the ]Five Barbarians
The Five Barbarians, or Wu Hu (), is a Chinese historical exonym for five ancient non-Han peoples who immigrated to northern China in the Eastern Han dynasty, and then overthrew the Western Jin dynasty and established their own kingdoms in the ...
invasion of China led six extended families to flee south and they settled in Kinmen, then called Wuzhou. More people settled there during the Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...
, changing the name from'' Wuzhou'' to ''Kinmen''.
During the Ming dynasty
The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
, more migrants settled in Kinmen. Koxinga
Zheng Chenggong, Prince of Yanping (; 27 August 1624 – 23 June 1662), better known internationally as Koxinga (), was a Ming loyalist general who resisted the Qing conquest of China in the 17th century, fighting them on China's southeastern ...
used Kinmen as a base to capture Formosa
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territorie ...
and Penghu from the Dutch. He cut down trees to build his navy, resulting in massive deforestation that made Kinmen vulnerable to soil erosion.[
]
The Prince of Lu, a member of the Southern Ming
The Southern Ming (), also known as the Later Ming (), officially the Great Ming (), was an imperial dynasty of China and a series of rump states of the Ming dynasty that came into existence following the Jiashen Incident of 1644. Shun force ...
dynasty, resisted the invading Manchu Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
forces. In 1651, he fled to Kinmen, which the Qing dynasty took in 1663. During the Qing Dynasty, the Kinmen area was part of Tungan County.
After the establishment of the Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
(ROC) in 1912, Kinmen became part of Fujian Province. In 1913, the Kinmen area was made part of Siming County. Kinmen County was established in 1914. In 1928, the county came under direct administration of the provincial government.
The Empire of Japan captured Kinmen in 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...
. They blockaded the island on September 3 and landed on October 23. Fighting was light with ROC forces fleeing rather than fighting. The only casualty was sustained by a local self-defense unit. Many of the residents fled to the mainland or to Southeast Asia. The purpose of the Japanese seizure of Kinmen was to use it as a position from which to attack the neighboring city of Xiamen which they would seize in May 1938. Following the seizure of Xiamen many of the locals who had fled there returned to Kinmen.
After the capture of the island the county government went into exile in Dadeng. The Japanese administered Kinmen as a special municipality of Xiamen, the government was composed of locals, people from other parts of occupied China, and Taiwanese.
A poor harvest in 1938 brought challenges for islanders. The Japanese engaged in economic development of the island including through the use of forced labor. KMT forces engaged in two serious attempts to retake the island and kept up a low level campaign against the Japanese. In 1943 insurgents kidnapped two Taiwanese officials who had been overseeing the salt fields and took them to China before executing them. In retaliation the Japanese authorities rounded up 300 young men from the local community eventually executing four.
Towards the end of WWII conditions worsened with Japanese authorities conscripting 500 locals (with their mules) into the military and confiscating household goods. The island came under allied bombing including one attack on Aug. 30, 1944 which killed 19 locals.
WWII ended in Aug. 15, 1945 with the surrender of Japan. Following the end of the war there were attacks by locals against Taiwanese who took shelter with the Japanese garrison. Kinmen was effectively ungoverned until Oct. 3, 1945 when ROC forces landed and installed a new government. A celebration on Oct. 10 marked the end of hostilities. Locals who had survived the war following their conscription by the Japanese were treated as traitors by the KMT occupation authorities.
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) by the Chinese Communists in October 1949, Kinmen County was claimed by both the Nationalists and the Communists. Dadeng, Xiaodeng and Jiaoyu were taken by the Communists on 9 October or 15 October, 1949. While those islands are still claimed by the ROC, they are governed as part of Dadeng Subdistrict
Dadeng Subdistrict () is an insular subdistrict in Xiang'an District, Xiamen, Fujian, China. During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, the islands were designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the "Hero's Tri ...
, Xiang'an District
() is one of the districts of Xiamen, People's Republic of China. It is located on the mainland, and is Xiamen's easternmost district.
Geography
Dadeng Subdistrict of Xiang'an District is made up of offshore islands and islets including:
*Dad ...
, Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
, Fujian, China.
On 25 October 1949, People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces landed on Kinmen Island near Guningtou beginning the Battle of Kuningtou
The Battle of Kuningtou or Battle of Guningtou (), also known as the Battle of Kinmen (), was a battle fought over Kinmen in the Taiwan Strait during the Chinese Civil War in 1949. The failure of the Communists to take the island left it in the ...
. ROC forces successfully defended the island and prevented an attack on Taiwan.
At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, retired Admiral Charles M. Cooke Jr., advisor to President Chiang Kai-shek, opposed withdrawing ROC forces from Quemoy (Kinmen). On 26 July 1950, ROC forces on Dadan Island
Dadan Island (Tatan, Taitan Island, Tae-tan/Taetan) (, originally ) is an island in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). The island is in the Taiwan Strait, along the coast of Mainland China. It is located ...
(Tatan), in total 298 soldiers, repulsed an attack ( 大擔島戰役) from a People's Liberation Army force of 700 soldiers that landed on the island. General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...
and other US officials supported ROC efforts to defend the islands.
The PLA extensively shelled the island during the First
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
and Second
The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds ...
Taiwan Strait crises in 1954–1955 and 1958 respectively. In 1954, the United States considered responding by using nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions ( thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bom ...
s against the PRC. Again in 1958, General Nathan Farragut Twining
Nathan Farragut Twining ( ; October 11, 1897 – March 29, 1982) was a United States Air Force general, born in Monroe, Wisconsin. He was the chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1953 until 1957, and the third chairman of the Join ...
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...
believed that the United States should not permit the loss of the islands to the communists and recommended to President Eisenhower the use of whatever force was necessary, including atomic weapons.
The phrase "Quemoy and Matsu" became part of American political language in the 1960 U.S. presidential election
The 1960 United States presidential election was the 44th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 8, 1960. In a closely contested election, Democratic United States Senator John F. Kennedy defeated the incumbent Vi ...
. During the debates, both candidates, Vice-President Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
and Senator John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...
, pledged to use American forces if necessary to protect Taiwan from invasion by the PRC, which the United States did not recognize as a legitimate government. But in the second debate on 7 October 1960, the two candidates presented different opinions about whether to use American forces to protect Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
's forward positions, Quemoy and Matsu, also. Senator Kennedy stated that these islands – as little as 9 kilometres (5.5 mi) off the coast of China and as much as 170 kilometres (106 mi) from Taiwan – were strategically indefensible and were not essential to the defense of Taiwan. Vice-President Nixon maintained that since Quemoy and Matsu were in the "area of freedom," they should not be surrendered to the Communists as a matter of principle.
Earlier in the debate, then-Vice President Nixon mentioned:
Later in the debate, Edward P. Morgan
Edward Paddock Morgan (June 23, 1910 – January 27, 1993) was an American journalist and writer who reported for newspapers, radio, and television media services including ABC, CBS networks, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
A native o ...
asked then-Senator Kennedy:
Then-Senator Kennedy responded to Morgan's question saying:
Then-Vice President Nixon retorted:
After the third debate on 13 October 1960, Kennedy's advisers spoke with then Secretary of State Herter and said Kennedy was willing to revise his position on the Quemoy and Matsu issue so as not to give the Communists the impression that the USA would not stand united against aggression. Nixon pointed out the change in Kennedy's position but decided not to press the point due to the importance of the USA's role in what was an extremely tense situation. Nixon's polls among Republicans and Democrats showed overwhelming support for Nixon's position on the issue.
Kinmen was originally a military reserve under the Martial Law
Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory.
Use
Marti ...
curfew
A curfew is a government order specifying a time during which certain regulations apply. Typically, curfews order all people affected by them to ''not'' be in public places or on roads within a certain time frame, typically in the evening and ...
s, which eventually led to the tragedies of innocent civilian casualties, such as the 1985 Shi Islet Slaughter and 1987 Lieyu massacre. The island was returned to the civilian government in the mid-1990s, after which travel to and from it was allowed. Direct travel between mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
and Kinmen re-opened in January 2001 under the mini Three Links, and there has been extensive tourism development on the island in anticipation of mainland tourists. Direct travel was suspended in 2003 as a result of the SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-1), the first identified strain of the SARS coronavirus species, ''seve ...
outbreak, but has since resumed.
Many Taiwanese businessmen use the link through Kinmen to enter the Chinese mainland, seeing it as cheaper and easier than entering through Hong Kong. However, this changed following the 2005 Pan–Blue visits to mainland China and the 2008 presidential and legislative
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government.
Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known as p ...
victories of the KMT, that allowed easier cross-Strait relations
Cross-Strait relations (sometimes called Mainland–Taiwan relations, or Taiwan-China relations) are the relations between China (officially the People's Republic of China) and Taiwan (officially the Republic of China).
The relationship ...
. Kinmen has experienced a considerable economic boom as businessmen relocate to the island for easier access to the vast markets of the PRC.
On 30 June 2014, Dadan Island
Dadan Island (Tatan, Taitan Island, Tae-tan/Taetan) (, originally ) is an island in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). The island is in the Taiwan Strait, along the coast of Mainland China. It is located ...
and Erdan Island
Erdan Island (Erhtan Island) (, also ) is an island in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), Taiwan. The island has been called Seao-tan. Erdan Island is from Greater Kinmen Island and from Xiamen (Amoy) Island.
History
On February 21, 1 ...
were handed over from the military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
to civilians, represented by Kinmen County Government. Since 1 January 2015, tourists from Mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
could directly apply for the Exit and Entry Permit upon arrival in Kinmen. This privilege also applies to Penghu and Matsu Islands
The Matsu Islands ( or , ; Foochow Romanized: Mā-cū liĕk-dō̤), officially Lienchiang County (, ; Foochow Romanized: Lièng-gŏng-gâing), are an archipelago of 36 islands and islets in the East China Sea governed by the Republic of China ( ...
as means to boost tourism in the outlying islands of Taiwan.
On 23 August 2019, the sixty-first anniversary of the beginning of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was a conflict that took place between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC). In this conflict, the PRC shelled the islands of Kinm ...
, President Tsai Ing-wen
Tsai Ing-wen (; born 31 August 1956) is a Taiwanese politician serving as president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 2016. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Tsai is the first female president of Taiwan. She served as ...
visited the Taiwushan Martyrs' Shrine () in Mount Taiwu
The Mount Taiwu () is a mountain in Jinhu Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan. It is the highest peak in Kinmen.
History
The trails on the mountain used to be the walking path for traders carrying foods in the old days, such as tofu and vegetables ...
where she placed flowers and offered incense.
Geography
The county is made up of numerous islands and islets including:
*Kinmen group
** Kinmen (Kinmen, Main island; ) (main island; divided into four townships)
**Dongding Island
Dongding Island () is an 0.0160 square kilometer island in the Taiwan Strait in Jinhu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). The island is the southernmost point of Kinmen County. The island is near Longh ...
(Tangtia, Tungting , ) (in Jinhu Township; approximately to the southwest)
**Beiding Island
Beiding Island (Dodd Island, Pei-ting Tao, Beiding Dao, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) (, pinyin: ''Běidìng Dǎo'') is an island located east of Greater Kinmen in Jinhu Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Repub ...
( 北碇島) (in Jinhu Township; approximately to the east)
**Cao Islet (Ts'ao Hsü; ) (in Jinsha Township)
**Hou Islet () (in Jinsha Township)
**Jiangong Islet
The Jiangong Islet () (also Jiangong Yu, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) is a tidal island in Jincheng Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan).
History
The islet was originally named Chu Islet ...
(建功嶼) (in Jincheng Township)
**Lesser Kinmen
Lieyu Township (Liehyu) (; pinyin: ''Lièyǔ Xiāng''; Hokkien POJ: ''Lia̍t-sū-hiong'') is a rural township in Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). It mainly consists of Lesser Kinmen (; Pīnyīn: ''Xiǎojīnm ...
(Hsiao Kinmen, Lieyu; ) (second largest island under ROC control; in Lieyu Township)
**Dadan Island
Dadan Island (Tatan, Taitan Island, Tae-tan/Taetan) (, originally ) is an island in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). The island is in the Taiwan Strait, along the coast of Mainland China. It is located ...
(in Lieyu Township)
**Erdan Island
Erdan Island (Erhtan Island) (, also ) is an island in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), Taiwan. The island has been called Seao-tan. Erdan Island is from Greater Kinmen Island and from Xiamen (Amoy) Island.
History
On February 21, 1 ...
( 二膽島) (in Lieyu Township)
**Fuxing Islet
Fuxing Islet () (Fuhsing Islet, Hou-chai Hsü) is an islet located south of Lesser Kinmen (Lieyu) in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). The name of the islet was originally Phaktia ().
Histo ...
(Fuhsing Islet; Phaktia) () (in Lieyu Township)
** Menghu Islet (Tiger Island, ) (in Lieyu Township)
**Shi Islet
Shi Islet (; also Shi Yu,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Shih Yü,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Shiyu, Shiyu Islet and Lion Islet) is an islet located northwest of Lesser Kinmen (Lieyu) in Li ...
(Lion Islet) () (in Lieyu Township)
** Binlang Islet () (in Lieyu Township)
**''Dadeng'' (''Tateng'') (大嶝/ 大嶝島) (under PRC
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
control from 9 October or 15 October 1949; part of Dadeng Subdistrict
Dadeng Subdistrict () is an insular subdistrict in Xiang'an District, Xiamen, Fujian, China. During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, the islands were designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the "Hero's Tri ...
, Xiang'an District
() is one of the districts of Xiamen, People's Republic of China. It is located on the mainland, and is Xiamen's easternmost district.
Geography
Dadeng Subdistrict of Xiang'an District is made up of offshore islands and islets including:
*Dad ...
, Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
, Fujian)
**''Xiaodeng'' (''Hsiaoteng'', ''Siao Deng'') (小嶝/ 小嶝島) (under PRC
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
control from 9 October or 15 October 1949; part of Dadeng Subdistrict
Dadeng Subdistrict () is an insular subdistrict in Xiang'an District, Xiamen, Fujian, China. During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, the islands were designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the "Hero's Tri ...
, Xiang'an District
() is one of the districts of Xiamen, People's Republic of China. It is located on the mainland, and is Xiamen's easternmost district.
Geography
Dadeng Subdistrict of Xiang'an District is made up of offshore islands and islets including:
*Dad ...
, Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
, Fujian)
**''Jiaoyu''/''Jiao Yu''[, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency] (''Chiao I.'', 角嶼) (under PRC
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
control from 9 October or 15 October 1949; part of Dadeng Subdistrict
Dadeng Subdistrict () is an insular subdistrict in Xiang'an District, Xiamen, Fujian, China. During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, the islands were designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the "Hero's Tri ...
, Xiang'an District
() is one of the districts of Xiamen, People's Republic of China. It is located on the mainland, and is Xiamen's easternmost district.
Geography
Dadeng Subdistrict of Xiang'an District is made up of offshore islands and islets including:
*Dad ...
, Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
, Fujian)
* Wuqiu (Ockseu, Wuchiu; ) group
**Daqiu (Tachiu, Taciou; ) (in Wuqiu Township)
**Xiaoqiu (Hsiaochiu; ) (in Wuqiu Township)
Climate
Geology
Kinmen, much like the surrounding Chinese mainland, is predominantly composed of Cretaceous
The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of th ...
aged granite
Granite () is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies undergro ...
, with lesser amounts of Eocene
The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...
-Oligocene
The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but the ...
sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
, Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
and Pleistocene
The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological Epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fina ...
-Holocene
The Holocene ( ) is the current geological epoch. It began approximately 11,650 cal years Before Present (), after the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene togethe ...
conglomerate, the thickness of the sediments varies from 150 metres in the west to only a few metres in the east.
Demographics
Culture
The people of Kinmen see themselves as Kinmenese, ''Mínnánrén''/''Mǐnnánrén'' (people of Southern Fujian), or Chinese, but not so much as Taiwanese
Taiwanese may refer to:
* Taiwanese language, another name for Taiwanese Hokkien
* Something from or related to Taiwan ( Formosa)
* Taiwanese aborigines, the indigenous people of Taiwan
* Han Taiwanese, the Han people of Taiwan
* Taiwanese people, ...
. They do identify as citizens of the ROC, however Kinmen's strong Chinese identity was forged during the period of the ROC's military confrontation with the People's Republic of China (1949–1992) when Kinmen was under military administration. In the 1980s, as the militarization decreased and martial law was ended on Taiwan, the Taiwan independence movement
The Taiwan independence movement is a political movement which advocates the formal declaration of an Independence, independent and Sovereign state, sovereign Taiwanese state, as opposed to Chinese unification or the status quo in Cross-Str ...
and efforts in de-Sinicization grew in strength on Taiwan. To Kinmenese, however, these developments were viewed with concern and there was a feeling that "Taiwan didn't identify with Kinmen". Many worried that Taiwanese ''de jure'' independence from China would lead to the severing of ties with Kinmen. These concerns play a strong role in Kinmenese politics as well. Legally speaking, Kinmenese people are not Taiwanese either and have a unique identity from that of the Taiwanese. 'Taiwanization' is sometimes perceived as a threat to the cultural identity of the Kinmenese people.
Language
Many of the county's inhabitants speak Hokkien
The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...
; the Quanzhou accent is predominant. Most residents will say they speak Kinmenese, which is mutually intelligible with Taiwanese Hokkien
Taiwanese Hokkien () (; Tâi-lô: ''Tâi-uân-uē''), also known as Taigi/Taigu (; Pe̍h-ōe-jī/Tâi-lô: ''Tâi-gí / Tâi-gú''), Taiwanese, Taiwanese Minnan, Hoklo and Holo, is a variety of the Hokkien language spoken natively by about 70% ...
. The residents of Wuchiu Township speak Pu-Xian Min
Puxian (Hinghwa Romanized: ''Pó-sing-gṳ̂''; ), also known as Pu-Xian Chinese, Puxian Min, Xinghua, Henghwa or Hinghwa (''Hing-hua̍-gṳ̂''; ), is a Sinitic language that forms a branch of Min Chinese. Puxian is a transitional variety of ...
, as opposed to Hokkien for the rest of Kinmen.
Others
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 also home of the regionally famous Kinmen Kaoliang liquor, a spirit ranging between 38 and 63 percent alcohol, which is highly appreciated by the Taiwanese. Other local culinary specialties include , ' and beef jerky
Jerky is lean trimmed meat cut into strips and dried (dehydrated) to prevent spoilage. Normally, this drying includes the addition of salt to prevent bacteria growth before the meat has finished the dehydrating process. The word "jerky" derive ...
(bakkwa
Bakkwa, also known as rougan, is a Chinese salty-sweet dried meat product similar to jerky.
Bakkwa is made with a meat preservation and preparation technique originating from China. The general method of production has remained virtually unc ...
).
Like the Ryukyus
The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan: the Ōsumi, Tokara, Amami, Okinawa, and Sakishima Islands (further divided into the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands), with Yonaguni ...
, Kinmen is known for shisa
is a traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration derived from Chinese guardian lions, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some ...
(wind-lion god) figures (風獅爺).
Economy
Kinmen's economy is mainly based on tourism and services due to its proximity to mainland China.
Tourism
Because of its military importance, development on the island was extremely limited. Only by 2003, Kinmen opened up itself to tourists from Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
in Mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
. It is now a popular weekend tourist destination for Taiwanese and is known for its quiet villages, old-style architecture and beaches. Chinese and Taiwanese tour groups also spend a short time touring the island whilst transiting between the ferry and the airport, as an intermediate stop between China and Taiwan. Large parts of Kinmen form the Kinmen National Park
The Kinmen National Park () is a national park in Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
The park was established in 1995, three years after martial law was lifted in the county.
Geology
The park covers an area of 35.29 km² or around a quarter ...
which highlights military fortifications and structures, historical dwellings and natural scenery.
The year 2014 recorded the highest number of passengers traveling by ferry between Kinmen and Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
ports for as many as 1.5 million people. Since 1 January 2015, Chinese mainland
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
tourists were no longer required to apply for Exit and Entry Permit in advance for visits to Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu Islands
The Matsu Islands ( or , ; Foochow Romanized: Mā-cū liĕk-dō̤), officially Lienchiang County (, ; Foochow Romanized: Lièng-gŏng-gâing), are an archipelago of 36 islands and islets in the East China Sea governed by the Republic of China ( ...
. Instead, they can apply for it upon arrival at a cost of NT$600.
By 2016, two infrastructure projects are expected to boost tourism and meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together. Recently there has been an industry trend toward using the term 'meetings indus ...
visitors to the islands. One includes a yet-to-be-named five-star resort spearheaded by Xiamen property developer, Wu Youhua, president of Xiamen Huatian Group, the first time a Chinese interest has been allowed to invest in the Taiwan hotel sector.
Tourist attractions
Tourist-related affairs in Kinmen are governed by Transportation and Tourism Bureau of Kinmen County Government. Major tourist attractions in Kinmen are:
=Museums
=
August 23 Artillery Battle Museum
The August 23 Artillery Battle Museum () is a museum in Zhongzheng Park, Jinhu Township, Kinmen, Taiwan.
History
The museum was built in 1988 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 23 August 1958 Artillery War during the Second Taiwan Stra ...
, Guningtou Battle Museum, Hujingtou Battle Museum, Kinmen Ceramics Museum, Landmine Museum, Lieyu Township Culture Museum, Yu Da Wei Xian Sheng Memorial Museum.
=Nature
=
Ci Lake, Gugang Lake, Houhu Seashore Park
The Houhu Seashore Park () is a park in Jinning Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
Due to the long presence of the Republic of China Armed Forces along the shoreline, the beach remains relatively clean all these times. Recently, more fa ...
, Jiangong Islet
The Jiangong Islet () (also Jiangong Yu, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) is a tidal island in Jincheng Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan).
History
The islet was originally named Chu Islet ...
, Jincheng Seaside Park, Kinmen National Park
The Kinmen National Park () is a national park in Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
The park was established in 1995, three years after martial law was lifted in the county.
Geology
The park covers an area of 35.29 km² or around a quarter ...
, Lingshui Lake
The Lingshui Lake () is a lake in Lieyu Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
The lake used to be a lowland area and dry lake since Yuan Dynasty. The production of the salt was discontinued in 1946. In 1963, the Republic of China Armed For ...
, Tianpu Reservoir, Zhongzheng Park.
=Historical buildings
=
Beishan Old Western-style House, Chenggong Coastal Defense Tunnel, Chen Shi-yin Western Style House, Deyue Gun Tower, Gulongtou Zhenwei Residence, Jindong Movie Theater, Jinshui Elementary School, Juguang Tower
The Juguang Tower () is a tower in Jincheng Township, Kinmen County, Fukien Province
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north ...
, Kinmen Folk Culture Village, Kinmen Military Headquarters of Qing Dynasty, Mashan Broadcasting and Observation Station
The Mashan Broadcasting and Observation Station () is a historical broadcasting station and observation tower in Jinsha Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
The station used to send out propaganda message to the People's Liberation Ar ...
, Mofan Street
The Mofan Street () is a street in Jincheng, Kinmen, Jincheng Township, Kinmen, Kinmen County, Fuchien Province, Republic of China, Fukien Province, Taiwan, Republic of China (Taiwan).
Name
The street gets its name from the uniform hybrid archi ...
, Qingtian Hall, Qionglin Tunnel
The Qionglin Tunnel () is a tunnel in Jinhu, Kinmen, Jinhu, Kinmen, Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
The tunnel was constructed in 1976.
Architecture
The tunnel spans over a total length of 1,355 meters, making it the largest defense tunnel in K ...
, Yannan Academy, Wang Chin-cheng's Western House, Wuqiu Lighthouse
The Wuqiu Lighthouse () is a lighthouse in Daqiu Village, Wuqiu Township (Ockseu), Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province (Fukien), Republic of China (Taiwan).
History
The lighthouse was constructed by the Netherlands in 1874 with engineer ...
and Zhaishan Tunnel
The Zhaishan Tunnel () is a tunnel in Jincheng, Kinmen, Jincheng Township, Kinmen, Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
Construction of the tunnel started in 1961 and was completed on 22 March 1966, a few years after the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis ...
.
=Religious buildings
=
Longfeng Temple, Maoshan Pagoda, Wentai Pagoda.
Industry
Kinmen is famous for the production of Kaoliang liquor, 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.
Kinmen also produces its unique Kinmen knife
The Kinmen knife () is a Chinese-style cooking knife exclusively made in Kinmen County in Republic of China. The knives were once made from the remains of artillery shells fired by the United States and Allied forces in World War II, when the ...
, in which the raw material used to produce it is taken from the remaining of shells fired by the People's Liberation Army in 1958–1978. The knife was made as gift to the visiting Head of Taiwan Affairs Office
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council is an administrative agency under the State Council of Mainland China. It is responsible for setting and implementing guidelines and policies related to the Republic of China (Taiwan), as stipul ...
Zhang Zhijun
Zhang Zhijun (; born 1 February 1953) is a Chinese diplomat and politician. From 17 March 2013 to 21 March 2018, he has served as the Minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. He is currently the president of the Association ...
to Kinmen on 23–24 May 2015 to symbolize mutual peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and to bury the hatchet left from Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
.
Imported goods
Kinmen often import more goods from Mainland China than Taiwan Island because of lower costs due to the proximity of the county to the mainland. During the campaign for the 2014 county magistrate, all of the magistrate candidates spent their money on campaign materials produced in mainland provinces, such as Guangdong
Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
, Zhejiang and Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
instead of from Taiwan Island.
Politics
The island consistently votes for the Kuomintang
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
(KMT). Until the early 1990s, proponents of Taiwan independence
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
argued that they would consider handing Kinmen over to the PRC in any negotiated settlement. Residents of the island have broadly opposed such measures.
The Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a Taiwanese nationalist and centre-left political party in the Republic of China (Taiwan). Controlling both the Republic of China presidency and the unicameral Legislative Yuan, it is the majori ...
has a minor presence on the island and typically does not present candidates to stand in local elections, although it does hold a single seat in Kinmen County Council
The Kinmen County Council (KMCC; ) is the elected county council of Kinmen County, Republic of China. The council composes of 19 councilors lastly elected through the 2018 Republic of China local election on 24 November 2018.
Speakers
* Wang Za ...
from both of the 2009 and 2014 local elections. However, the party occasionally lends support to liberal or center-left candidates.
On 29 November 2014 however, independent candidate Chen Fu-hai
Chen Fu-hai (; born 3 June 1963) is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Magistrate of Kinmen County from 2014 to 2018, and again since 25 December 2022 as an independent politician.
Education
Chen obtained his bachelor's degree from the Departme ...
won the county magistrate election and took office as the Magistrate of Kinmen County on 25 December 2014, the first independent candidate to win the office. He replaced Magistrate Lee Wo-shih
Lee Wo-shih (; born 1 April 1960) is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Magistrate of Kinmen County from 20 December 2009 until 25 December 2014.
Political career
On 12 January 2008, he joined the 2008 Republic of China legislative election as ...
of the Kuomintang
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
. The 2014 Kinmen County magistrate election consisted of 10 candidates, the highest number of nominated candidates in the electoral history of Taiwan.
Kinmen County Constituency
Kinmen County is represented in the Legislative Yuan since 2008 by one at-large single-member constituency (Kinmen County Constituency, ).
Current district
* Kinmen County
Legislators
Yang Cheng-wu resigned in 2018 after elected Kinmen ...
is represented by a single seat in the Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in Taipei. The Legislative Yuan is composed of 113 members, who are directly elected for 4-year terms by people of the Taiwan Area through a parallel v ...
. The incumbent Magistrate of Kinmen County is Yang Cheng-wu
Yang Cheng-wu (; born 26 June 1972) is a Taiwanese politician. He has served as Magistrate of Kinmen County since 25 December 2018, having won the office in the 2018 Taiwanese local elections. Prior to contesting the magistracy, Yang represented ...
of the Kuomintang
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
.
Townships
Kinmen County is divided into three urban township
A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Ca ...
s and three rural townships. Jincheng Township
Jincheng is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Shanxi province, China, bordering Henan province to the south and southeast. It is an industrial city in an area where coal mining is an important industry. The entire city has a population ...
is the county seat which houses Kinmen County Government and Kinmen County Council
The Kinmen County Council (KMCC; ) is the elected county council of Kinmen County, Republic of China. The council composes of 19 councilors lastly elected through the 2018 Republic of China local election on 24 November 2018.
Speakers
* Wang Za ...
. The township also houses the headquarter office of Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center
The Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center is the agency of the Executive Yuan serving as the local branch government governing Fujian Province which consists of Kinmen and Lienchiang Counties.
History
The agency was inaugurated on 17 January 2 ...
. Kinmen County has the fewest rural townships among other counties in Taiwan.
All those townships on Greater Kinmen Island start their names with ''Jin'' (i.e., ''Kin'', lit. "gold"). Lieyu Township encompasses the entire Lesser Kinmen Island, and is the closest to Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
. Wuqiu Township comprises Greater Qiu Islet () and Lesser Qiu Islet ().
Jincheng and Jinsha are the largest of the six townships. Altogether, there are 37 villages in Kinmen County.
Cross-Strait relations
In the controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan
The controversy surrounding the political status of Taiwan or the Taiwan issue is a result of World War II, the second phase of the Chinese Civil War (1945–1949), and the Cold War.
The basic issue hinges on who the islands of Taiwan, Peng ...
, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has continuously claimed the territory of Kinmen County as part of its own Fujian Province, claiming the Kinmen Islands as a county of Quanzhou
Quanzhou, postal map romanization, alternatively known as Chinchew, is a prefecture-level city, prefecture-level port city on the north bank of the Jin River, beside the Taiwan Strait in southern Fujian, China. It is Fujian's largest metrop ...
prefecture-level city
A prefecture-level city () or prefectural city is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China (PRC), ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure.
During the Republican era, many of China' ...
. The PRC claims the Wuqiu (Ockseu) Islands as part of Xiuyu District
Xiuyu District () is a district of the city of Putian, Fujian, People's Republic of China. The district executive, legislature and judiciary are in Hushi Town (), together with the CPC and PSB branches.
History
In October 1952, PRC and ROC fo ...
in Putian prefecture-level city. Taiwan (Republic of China) claims the Dadeng (Tateng) Islands in Dadeng Subdistrict
Dadeng Subdistrict () is an insular subdistrict in Xiang'an District, Xiamen, Fujian, China. During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, the islands were designated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the "Hero's Tri ...
, Xiang'an District
() is one of the districts of Xiamen, People's Republic of China. It is located on the mainland, and is Xiamen's easternmost district.
Geography
Dadeng Subdistrict of Xiang'an District is made up of offshore islands and islets including:
*Dad ...
, Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
, Fujian as part of Kinmen County.
Education
In August 2010, National Quemoy University
National Quemoy University (NQU, ) is a national university, located in Jinning Township, Kinmen (Quemoy), Republic of China (Taiwan). NQU offers a variety of academic programs. They are divided into three categories: 1. undergraduate program, 2 ...
was established from the predecessor National Kinmen Institute of Technology and Kinmen Division of National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences
National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences (KUAS; ) was a university located in Yanchao District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
History
*In 1963, Taiwan Provincial Government assigned funds to establish the Provincial Kaohsiung Institute of Tech ...
established in 1997. It is located in Jinning Township. The islands also have a satellite campuses of Ming Chuan University
Ming Chuan University (MCU; ) is a private university in Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan, accredited in the United States of America and by AACSB. Ming Chuan University was ranked in the 451-500 range in QS Top Asia Universities Ranking 202 ...
and National University of Kaohsiung
The National University of Kaohsiung (NUK; ) is a public university located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and a member of the National University System of Taiwan.
History
NUK was founded in February 2000, aims to narrow the gap in education between ...
. Secondary educational institutions include National Kinmen Senior High School and National Kinmen Agricultural and Industrial Vocational Senior High School. In total, there are 24 junior high schools, elementary schools and kindergartens.
The Kinmen County Government have invested millions in education in Kinmen, with an average of NT$20,000 per student. Schools in the county also accept the growing number of Taiwanese students whose parents are doing business in Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
. The county government has been striving to encourage universities in Taiwan Island and Mainland China to set up branches in the county, as well as to attract Chinese mainland students to study in Kinmen.
Infrastructure
Electricity
The Kinmen Power Company was founded in 1967 and gradually built five power plants in the county and is in charge of providing power resources to all residents in Kinmen. It used to rely on light diesel oil which created high cost burden to its management. Since 1992, the ROC central government approved the power company to authorize Taiwan Power Company
The Taiwan Power Company (, Taipower; ) is a state-owned electric power industry providing electricity to Taiwan and off-shore islands of the Republic of China.
History
Taipower was established on 1 May 1946. Its origins can be traced to 1919 ...
(Taipower) for five-year management. All of the power development projects were invested by Taipower and helped the region economic development. In July 1997, Kinmen Power Company was officially incorporated to Taipower. In 1999, the diesel-fired Tashan Power Plant
The Tashan Power Plant () is a fuel-fired power plant in Tashan, Shuitou Village, Jincheng Township, Kinmen County, Fujian Province, Republic of China.
History
The construction to build the power plant was approved by the Executive Yuan in J ...
was built to supply electricity to Kinmen grid. The other smaller power plants were subsequently discontinued to reduce cost.[ The county is also powered by its Jinmen Wind ]wind farm
A wind farm or wind park, also called a wind power station or wind power plant, is a group of wind turbines in the same location used Wind power, to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundre ...
with a capacity of 4 MW and photovoltaic system
A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and co ...
with a capacity of 9 MW.
Submarine telecommunication cable
In August 2012, Kinmen and Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
established the first submarine telecommunication cable between the two sides. On Taiwan side, the infrastructure was constructed by Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd. () (, ) is the largest integrated telecom service provider in Taiwan, and the incumbent local exchange carrier of PSTN, Mobile, and broadband services in the country.
History
Chunghwa Telecom was founded as ...
, while on mainland China's side was done by China Telecom
China Telecom Corp., Ltd. is a Chinese telecommunications company. It is one of the red chip listed companies of state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation. Its H shares have been traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 15 Nove ...
, China Unicom
China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd. () or China Unicom () (CUniq in short) is a Chinese state-owned telecommunications operator. Started as a wireless paging and GSM mobile operator, it currently provides a range of services i ...
and China Mobile
China Mobile is the trade name of both China Mobile Limited () and its ultimate controlling shareholder, China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd. (, formerly known as China Mobile Communications Corporation, "CMCC"), a Chinese state-ownedSt ...
. The project was initially launched in 1996 and took 16 years to build.
The telecommunication system consists of two cables, one is an long cable that runs from Kinmen's Lake Tzu and Xiamen's Mount Guanyin, and the other is a long cable that runs from Guningtou on Greater Kinmen Island (ROC) to Dadeng Island (PRC). The system is a non-repeater system with a bilateral transmission capacity of 90 Gbit/s, which might be expanded in the future if demand arises.
Water supply
The current daily water demand for Kinmen is 50,000 tonnes, which are used for households, industries and agriculture sectors. One tonne of water produced for Kinmen costs about NT$50–60 and may surge to NT$70 during summer. In extreme drought condition, water shipment from Taiwan Island may cost as much as NT$200 per tonne. Because Kinmen residents pay only NT$10 for each tonne water they use, the cost of water supply has become a heavy burden for the county government
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
.
For decades, Kinmen has been facing difficulties in water supply to its residents due to its shallow lakes, lack of rainfall and geographical constraints which makes building reservoirs and dams unfeasible. Therefore, Kinmen often overuses its groundwater, causing rising tidal flood and soil salinity.
In early September 2013, the People's Republic of China government agreed to supply Kinmen with water from Jinjiang City
Jinjiang () is a county-level city of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. It is located in the southeastern part of the province, on the right or south bank of the Jin River, across from Quanzhou's urban district of Fengze. Jinjiang also bor ...
in Fujian due to the ongoing water shortage
Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity: physical or economic water scarcity. Physical water scarcity is wher ...
problem in Kinmen. Kinmen draws more than 8,000 tonnes of groundwater
Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in rock and soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. About 30 percent of all readily available freshwater in the world is groundwater. A unit of rock or an unconsolidate ...
every day and water from its reservoir is barely enough to support the residents during the dry season. The shortage problem will heavily hit the local economy by 2016 if no mitigation plan is enacted. The water supply agreement was officially signed on 20 July 2015 in Kinmen between Kinmen County Waterworks Director Weng Wen-kuei () and Fujian Water Supply Co chairman Zhu Jinliang () witnessed by Kinmen County Magistrate
The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...
Chen Fu-hai
Chen Fu-hai (; born 3 June 1963) is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Magistrate of Kinmen County from 2014 to 2018, and again since 25 December 2022 as an independent politician.
Education
Chen obtained his bachelor's degree from the Departme ...
and Fujian Province Governor Su Shulin
Su Shulin (; born 14 March 1962) is a Chinese oil and gas executive and former politician. Between 2011 and 2015, he served as Governor of Fujian province, on China's eastern coast. Before beginning his political career, Su served as the Vice-Pr ...
.
The water pipeline was officially opened on 5 August 2018 when the first water supply was delivered in a ceremony held in both Kinmen County and Jinjiang City
Jinjiang () is a county-level city of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. It is located in the southeastern part of the province, on the right or south bank of the Jin River, across from Quanzhou's urban district of Fengze. Jinjiang also bor ...
in Mainland China.
Transport
Air
Kinmen is served by Kinmen Airport
Kinmen Shangyi Airport () is a civilian airport serving Kinmen, Fujian Province, Republic of China. It is located at Jinhu Township of Kinmen County. It was authorized to become a C-class airport under the direct supervision of the Civil Aerona ...
, a domestic airport located at Jinhu Township Jinhu may refer to:
Mainland China
*Jinhu County (金湖县), of Huai'an, Jiangsu
* Jinhu, Jianhu County (阜余镇), town in Jianhu County, Jiangsu
* Jinhu, Gongqingcheng (金湖镇), town in Gongqingcheng City, Jiangxi
Taiwan
*Jinhu, Kinmen
...
, connecting Kinmen with Penghu Airport
Penghu Airport , formerly Magong Airport (), is a domestic airport in Huxi, Penghu County, Taiwan. With 2,380,265 passengers in 2017, it is the fifth-busiest airport in Taiwan, The ROC Air Force also has Magong Air Base here.
History
Penghu ...
, Penghu and Taipei Songshan, Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung City (Mandarin Chinese: ; Wade–Giles: ''Kao¹-hsiung²;'' Pinyin: ''Gāoxióng'') is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsi ...
, Taichung
Taichung (, Wade–Giles: ''Tʻai²-chung¹'', pinyin: ''Táizhōng''), officially Taichung City, is a special municipality located in central Taiwan. Taichung has approximately 2.8 million residents and is the second most populous city of Taiw ...
, Chiayi
Chiayi (, Taigi POJ: ''Ka-gī''; ), officially known as Chiayi City, is a city located in the plains of southwestern Taiwan. Formerly called ''Kagee'' during the late Qing dynasty and ''Kagi'' during the Japanese era (), its historical name ...
and Tainan Airport
Tainan Airport (; formally "") is a commercial airport located in South District, Tainan, Taiwan. It is shared with Republic of China Air Force Tainan AFB. In January 2011, the Civil Aeronautics Administration approved the airport to han ...
on Taiwan Island.
Sea
People coming from Mainland China can also visit Kinmen using ferry via Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
from Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
at Wutong Ferry Terminal
Wutong Ferry Terminal or Wutong Port () is located on the North East coastline of Amoy island in the city of Xiamen, Fujian, China. It is a modern ferry terminal allowing hourly ferry services to the Taiwanese controlled Kinmen Island. It fea ...
or from Quanzhou
Quanzhou, postal map romanization, alternatively known as Chinchew, is a prefecture-level city, prefecture-level port city on the north bank of the Jin River, beside the Taiwan Strait in southern Fujian, China. It is Fujian's largest metrop ...
arriving at Shuitou Pier in Jincheng Township
Jincheng is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Shanxi province, China, bordering Henan province to the south and southeast. It is an industrial city in an area where coal mining is an important industry. The entire city has a population ...
. Kinmen to Xiamen Ferry, is a popular route between the Chinese Mainland and Taiwanese tourists alike, with brisk connections available between the ferry ports and Kinmen Airport (for Taiwanese destinations) and Xiamen's Airport and Xiamen North Railway Station (for Mainland destinations). The Kinmen-Quanzhou Ferry is only available to local travellers and foreigner passport holders are not permitted to use this service.
A new commercial port has been built adjacent to the Shuitou Pier on newly reclaimed land. This will handle the majority of sea freight to and from Kinmen. Previously most of this traffic was handled by a smaller port on the South-East corner of the island in Jinhu Township. In the past, due to constant artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
shelling from the Chinese mainland, an underground port was used to supply the island in times of conflict at the Zhaishan Tunnel
The Zhaishan Tunnel () is a tunnel in Jincheng, Kinmen, Jincheng Township, Kinmen, Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
Construction of the tunnel started in 1961 and was completed on 22 March 1966, a few years after the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis ...
s on the South-Western tip of the island but this has been decommissioned and turned into a tourist attraction.
Greatly used as a transit route between the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan Island, buses also connect to the ferry terminal to allow for quick transfer to Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
.
Road
A bridge, Kinmen Bridge
The Kinmen Bridge () is a cross-sea bridge in Kinmen, Fujian, Republic of China (Taiwan). It connects Greater Kinmen Island and Lieyu Island.
History
On 28 February 2010, this project of constructing the bridge was approved by Council for Econ ...
, connecting Kinmen Island (Greater Kinmen) and Lieyu
Lieyu Township (Liehyu) (; pinyin: ''Lièyǔ Xiāng''; Hokkien POJ: ''Lia̍t-sū-hiong'') is a rural township in Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). It mainly consists of Lesser Kinmen (; Pīnyīn: ''Xiǎojīnmé ...
was completed in October 2022, estimated to cost NT$7.5 billion (US$250 million). It is expected to increase local tourism.
In October 2019, Mainland China announced a plan to build a bridge linking Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
to Kinmen. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is a cabinet-level administrative agency under the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China in Taiwan.
The MAC is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of the cross-strait relations ...
(MAC) said that the plans were made unilaterally by China as part of its schemes to absorb Taiwan and divide Taiwanese society and that they see no need for bridges linking either Matsu or Kinmen to China.
Gallery
File:Wuwangzaiju.JPG, Calligraphy by former President Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
etched on Wu-Wang-Zai-Ju Inscribed Rock
The Wu-Wang-Zai-Ju Inscribed Rock () is a rock at Mount Taiwu in Jinhu Township, Kinmen County, Taiwan.
History
After losing Mainland China at the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949, Chiang Kai-shek tried to set up strategies to retake back the ...
File:遍布反登陆桩的上林海滩 - Anti-landing Spikes on Shanglin Coast - 2014.09 - panoramio.jpg, Anti-landing spikes on Lesser Kinmen
Lieyu Township (Liehyu) (; pinyin: ''Lièyǔ Xiāng''; Hokkien POJ: ''Lia̍t-sū-hiong'') is a rural township in Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). It mainly consists of Lesser Kinmen (; Pīnyīn: ''Xiǎojīnm ...
(Lieyu) near Shi Islet
Shi Islet (; also Shi Yu,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Shih Yü,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Shiyu, Shiyu Islet and Lion Islet) is an islet located northwest of Lesser Kinmen (Lieyu) in Li ...
with Xiamen
Xiamen ( , ; ), also known as Amoy (, from Hokkien pronunciation ), is a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, People's Republic of China, beside the Taiwan Strait. It is divided into six districts: Huli, Siming, Jimei, Tong'an, ...
(Amoy) in the background
File:Shuitou historical residence 水頭古厝 - panoramio.jpg, Shuitou historical residence ()
File:Jincheng - Daitianfu - DSCF9406.JPG, Daitianfu () in Jincheng
See also
*Administrative divisions of Taiwan
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is divided into multi-layered statutory subdivisions. Due to the complex political status of Taiwan, there is a significant difference in the ''de jure'' system set out in the original constitution and the ''de ...
* Kinmen Agreement
Notes
References
External links and further reading
*
*
Complete list of the villages in each township
Kinmen Island: China without the Communism?
On A Rural Taiwanese Island, Modern China Beckons
''NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
'' (11 September 2016)
Pictures : Taiwan on China's shores
Reuters.
Satellite image of Greater Kinmen and Lesser Kinmen by Google Maps
* Michael Szonyi, ''Cold War Island: Quemoy on the Front Line'', Cambridge University Press (11 August 2008), hardcover, 328 pages, ; trade paperback, 328 pages, ,
{{Authority control
Islands of Taiwan
Taiwan Strait
Islands of Fujian, Republic of China