© YuTK · CC BY-SA 4.0
建議 60 分鐘
Zhaishan Tunnel
金城 JinchengGranite-blasted naval tunnel — the single best "what is Kinmen" photo.
戰史坑道必看
KINMEN FIELD GUIDE · 金門
Plan Kinmen from Taiwan or Xiamen — with the right route, entry documents and return plan.
A neutral, fact-checked guide to an island of cold-war tunnels, Fujianese mansions and knife-makers who forge blades from artillery shells.
© YuTK · CC BY-SA 4.0Today at a glance
載入中…
© LiCheng Shih · CC BY 2.0 Where is Kinmen, and how is it administered?
We keep four things separate — geography, current administration, competing political claims, and what it actually means for your documents and transport. No clickbait "China or Taiwan?" framing; just the facts you need to travel.
- Geography
- Xiamen Bay, ~10 km off the mainland
- Administered by
- Taiwan (ROC), Kinmen County
- From Taipei
- ~1 hr flight
- From Xiamen
- 30–40 min ferry
Kinmen questions, verified
Last human check: 2026-07-25 · sources cited, not copied from forumsWhere is Kinmen?+
A Taiwan-administered archipelago in Xiamen Bay — about 10 km off the Chinese mainland coast, but 180 km west of the main island of Taiwan.
Is Kinmen part of Taiwan?+
It is administered by Taiwan (Republic of China) as Kinmen County. Politically contested; for travellers what matters is the entry rules below.
How do I get there?+
Fly ~1 hr from Taipei/Taichung/Kaohsiung, or take the 30–40 min "small three links" ferry from Xiamen (Wutong) to Shuitou.
Do I need a Taiwan visa?+
Same rules as visiting Taiwan proper. Many nationalities get visa-exempt entry — check your passport before booking non-refundable items.
Can I re-enter Mainland China after?+
Only with a valid Chinese visa / permit. Kinmen→Xiamen ferry is an international-style crossing for foreign passports — plan the re-entry document in advance.
How many days do I need?+
3 days is the sweet spot: one for tunnels & the south, one for battlefield history & villages, one for Lieyu (Little Kinmen).
Re-entering Mainland China? The Kinmen→Xiamen ferry needs a valid Chinese visa/permit for foreign passports. Sort this out before you buy non-refundable tickets.
A 3-day field itinerary
Editorial long-form meets an interactive map. Honest about what's worth your time — and what isn't.
© YuTK · CC BY-SA 4.0
建議 60 分鐘
© 姜明雄 · CC BY-SA 4.0
建議 40 分鐘
Juguang Tower
金城 JinchengThe postcard tower — appears on the old NT$ banknote.
地標夜景
© Vmenkov · CC BY-SA 3.0
建議 90 分鐘
Shuitou Village
金城 JinchengQing-era merchant mansions and a Western-style "yanglou".
建築古厝洋樓
© P95521708 · CC BY-SA 4.0
建議 60 分鐘
Guningtou Battle Museum
金寧 JinningWhere the 1949 battle turned — core of the battlefield route.
戰史博物館
© rheins · CC BY-SA 3.0
建議 75 分鐘
Qionglin Village
金湖 JinhuAncestral-hall cluster with a civil-defence tunnel underneath.
建築宗祠坑道
© LiCheng Shih · CC BY 2.0
建議 45 分鐘
Mashan Observation Post
金沙 JinshaThe closest point to the mainland — binoculars face Xiamen.
戰史眺望大陸
Kaoliang, knives & the taste of the front line
Two exports define modern Kinmen: fierce sorghum liquor distilled on the island, and kitchen knives hammered from the millions of artillery shells fired across the strait. Both make the "what to bring back" list — mind the liquor allowance on your ferry or flight home.
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© rheins · CC BY-SA 3.0 Kinmen Travel is an independent travel-planning service and is not affiliated with Kinmen County Government.