Kinmen Island

Of all the Taiwanese islands, Kinmen Island may be the most underappreciated. It was turned into a battlefield in the mid-20th century, home to some of Taiwan's oldest villages and towns. However, the military presence in Kinmen is only a kind of symbol. Bomb shelters and observatories go largely unnoticed, lying alone among the sorghum fields, grown throughout the island to make the island's famous Kaohsiung wine. The island's peaceful beaches, which were previously restricted and besieged by mines, have now been cleaned up and open to tourists.

The island's closeness to China is the source of the misunderstanding. It's a few miles off the southeastern coast of mainland China, right off the coast of Xiamen. Kinmen, formerly known as "Quemoy," is pronounced "jin-men" and means "golden gate" in English.

Kinmen Island has become a famous tourist attraction due to its high number of traditional Min-style houses, temples, museums, and military locations including war remnants. The island was formerly little more than a military installation for Taiwan.

Location: Southeastern coast of mainland China.