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HOW TO GET THERE
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CKS
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT |
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u |
The CKS
International Airport - (take the buses of Guo-Guang Motor
Transit Co., Jian-Ming Motor Transit Co) - Sung-Shan Airport -
Jinmen airport |
Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a small island with a very big
reputation. Situated just off the coast of Mainland China, it was
the site of fierce fighting between Communist and Nationalist forces
when the latter withdrew from the mainland in 1949. In that fighting
the Nationalists emerged victorious, forging stories of loyalty and
valor that live on today as important part of the historical legacy
of the Chinese people of Taiwan. As a result, Kinmen has been
regarded as hallowed- almost sacred- ground by the people and
government of the Republic of China. Until recently closed to
outside visitors because of its status as an island fortress
guarding against a continuing communist threat, Kinmen has recently
been opened to tourism. Kinmen is actually an archipelago consisting
of 15 islets including, besides Kinmen itself, Liehyu (or Little
Kinmen), Tatan, and Ertan. Three of the islets are occupied by
Mainland China; the remainder-those under the control of the ROC-
have a total land area of 150.46 square kilometers. The craggy
island is made up primarily of granite, which at the highest point-
Mt. Taiwu- rises 253 meters above sea level. This hill is the source
of numerous streams that flow into reservoirs that supply water for
the local population and beautify the landscape as well. Being
relatively isolated in the sea, Kinmen in the past provided a
popular haven for pirates and Japanese adventurers. Walls and moats
were first constructed on the island as a defense against these
marauders in 1387, during the reign of Emperor Taitsu of the Ming
dynasty. This earned Kinmen the name, by which it is still known
today; literally "Golden Gate", the name actually translates,
roughly, as "Impregnable Gateway."
NATIONAL PARK
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Taroko National Park
Historical Background : Taroko became a
national park in 1986, including Hualien County, Nantou County and
Taichung County. It is the second largest national park in Taiwan.
Taroko is famous for its spectacular mountains and marble canyons.
Cliffs and canyons stretch along Li Wu River. Four million years
ago, the island of Taiwan was formed by the collision of plates.
After millions of years of wind erosion, the marble rocks were
exposed and cut by Li Wu River, creating impressive grand canyons.
From Tsing Shui to Nan Hu Peak, the drop height is 3,742 meters.
Such special geography has also bred special flora and fauna in this
area.
Cultural Highlights : The waterfalls characterized Taroko
National Park and the most famous ones are Pai Yang Waterfall, Yin
Tai Waterfall, Chang Chun Waterfall, and Lu Shui Waterfall. Yen Tze
Kou and Chiu Chu Tung are the most impressive natural scenes in
Taroko and the canyons here are the narrowest. Tourists can
appreciate the natural beauty along the tour track. Swallows nest on
the cliff, chirping and flying back forth. The Taroko monumental is
designed in Chinese style and Chang Chun Temple is to remember those
who sacrificed their lives for building the central highway.
NATIONAL PARK
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Kinmen Cihu
Cihu is the result of a joint
military/civil engineering project. Located near the Kuningtou
battlefield, it provides 120 hectares of fish-farming area for local
residents and has a long dike that constitutes an obstacle to enemy
landings as well. This is Kinmen's foremost bird watching area, with
flocks of cormorants-which are rarely seen in Taiwan-frequently
visiting. Nearly 200 species of birds have been sighted here, with
birds of the Scoloipacidae family being most numerous.
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Kinmen Wentai Pagoda
This five-story hexagonal stone
"pagoda" was built in 1387, during the Ming Dynasty. The solid
granite structure was designed to serve as a navigational marker for
ships negotiating the treacherous waters near Kinmen. Though small,
the pagoda exhibits an impressively simple and dignified style. Its
peak features carvings and relief work, and stones near its base
exhibit playful Chinese calligraphy written by the Ming Dynasty
scholar Chen Hui as well as the contemporary artist Chang Ta-chien.
The pagoda is designated as a second-grade historic site.
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Kinmen : Taihu Recreation Area
The Taihu (Lake Tai) Recreation area
is a park centered on Lake Tai. The park covers an area of 45
hectares; the August 23 Artillery War Museum is located here, giving
the park a special historical significance. With a surface area of
36 hectares, Lake Tai is Kinmen's largest man-made freshwater lake;
completed in 1965, it contains three islands topped by elegant
pavilions. A Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644) residence in the park has
been excavated from the sand and restored, giving an additional
touch of interest to the area.
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The Kinmen Natinal Park
"Kinmen
also has unique cultural attractions that belie its small size and
population of only 50,000. The government has taken steps to
preserve the island's cultural sites and practices so that visitors
today can observe its vibrant, living culture. Residences in Kinmen
are mostly of the three-winged Fuchien-style architecture. The
island's history can be traced also through the colorful traditional
residences that are scattered throughout the landscape. While the
island's people live simple lives closely linked to the sea, their
religious convictions are strong. Folk spirits are venerated along
with such Buddhist and Taoist deities as Cheng Huang (the city God),
Matsu (Goddess of the sea), and Kuanyin (Goddess of Mercy). A
special cultural/religious feature of Kinmen is the Wind Lion, a
local deity originating in the worship of the forces of nature. The
massive construction of ships by the late-Ming patriot Cheng-kung (Koxinga),
who fought against the Manchu court of the succeeding Ching Dynasty,
denuded the previously fertile soil of Kinmen of trees and
transformed it into wasteland. With the very soil and rocks eroding
away, the people were losing their means of livelihood; in
desperation they turned for help to the Wind Lion, who, they
believed could control the winds. They still have faith in this
spirit, whose carved image can be seen at strategic locations all
over Kinmen. The images are full of local flavor and manifest a
combination of the god's animistic and anthropomorphic
characteristics.
FARM / SCENERY
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Kinmen
Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a small
island with a very big reputation. Situated just off the coast of
Mainland China, it was the site of fierce fighting between Communist
and Nationalist forces when the latter withdrew from the mainland in
1949. In that fighting the Nationalists emerged victorious, forging
stories of loyalty and valor that live on today as important part of
the historical legacy of the Chinese people of Taiwan. As a result,
Kinmen has been regarded as hallowed- almost sacred- ground by the
people and government of the Republic of China. Until recently
closed to outside visitors because of its status as an island
fortress guarding against a continuing communist threat, Kinmen has
recently been opened to tourism. Kinmen is actually an archipelago
consisting of 15 islets including, besides Kinmen itself, Liehyu (or
Little Kinmen), Tatan, and Ertan. Three of the islets are occupied
by Mainland China; the remainder-those under the control of the ROC-
have a total land area of 150.46 square kilometers. Situated in the
sea about two kilometers off the coast of Fuchien province, Kinmen
is separated from Taiwan by approximately 280 kilometers of the
Taiwan Straits. The climate of Kinmen is affected by subtropical
monsoons, with strong north-easterly winds blowing in from September
to April and the year-round temperature averaging about 21 degrees
Celsius.
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Kinmen Cultural Village
This is a closely packed complex of traditional residences in the
area of Shanhou village, originally built in 1900. Containing a
total of 28 Fuchien-style housed, it is a showcase of traditional
Chinese architecture. Besides the houses themselves, the village
features displays of artifacts, rites, festive activities, leisure
life, martial arts, and traditional production. There is also an old
official's residence with especially beautiful carved beams and wall
paintings.
GENERAL
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Granite Hospital
This hospital is dug entirely into the granite of Mt.Taiwu and began
service in 1980. It contains complete medical care facilities,
including a central air-conditioning system, making it difficult to
believe that the hospital is actually deep in the bowels of an
impregnable mountain.
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Guningtou Battlefield
This was the scene of the 56-hour bloodbath that began when
Communist troops landed on the shore and ended in victory for the
Nationalist forces. A memorial tablet on the coast commemorates the
battle, and the battlefield's entrance, built in the form of a
Chinese city gate, is topped by a bronze statue of a heroic soldier.
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Kinmen Pottery Factory
The Kinmen Pottery Factory is the only government kiln in the ROC.
Built in 1962, this factory turns out bottles for kaoliang spirits;
the bottles are so interesting and artistically designed that they
are avidly sought by collectors everywhere. The factory also makes
other porcelain items such as reproductions of antiques, painted
wall panel, and art objects with Ching Hua and crystallized glaze.
No tourist in Kinmen should miss a visit to this fascinating
factory.
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Mashan Observation Post
Mashan(Horse Mountain)is the point where Kinmen is closest to
mainland China. The distance of separation is only 2,100 meters; at
low tide, when more land area is exposed, the distance shrinks to
just 1,800 meters. The observation station is located in a long,
narrow trench and is equipped with three pairs of high-powered
binoculars through which the daily life of the fishing villages on
the opposite shore can be seen clearly.
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Memorial Arch to Qiu Liang-gong's Mother
This memorial arch is outstanding among traditional stone monuments
and has been designated as a historic site of the first grade. It
was erected in 1812 in honor of the mother of Qiu Liang-gong, a
governor-general of Qiuliang province and resident of Kinmen; the
lady's virtuous contribution was to live 28 years in widowhood
without remarrying. The monument is made of the finest stone and
exhibits exquisite workmanship, making it a true piece of art.
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Wentai Pagoda
This five-story hexagonal stone "pagoda" was
built in 1387, during the Ming Dynasty. The solid granite structure
was designed to serve as a navigational marker for ships negotiating
the treacherous waters near Kinmen. Though small, the pagoda
exhibits an impressively simple and dignified style. Its peak
features carvings and relief work, and stones near its base exhibit
playful Chinese calligraphy written by the Ming Dynasty scholar Chen
Hui as well as the contemporary artist Chang Ta-chien. The pagoda is
designated as a second-grade historic site.
TAIWAN TOP 20
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Kinmen National Park
Historical Background : Kinmen National
Park was established in 1995, 3,780 hectares in area. It is the
sixth national park of Taiwan. The island of Kin Men was constantly
harassed by Japanese pirates in the 16th century; thus, the
government equipped the island with defense works and arms. During
the war between KMT and the Chinese communists, there were several
memorable battles in Kin Men. In addition, there are traditional
southern Fu Chien buildings and shell mounds in Kinmen. The park is
to preserve history and culture and to remember previous wars.
Cultural Highlights : Ku Ning Tou: Ku Ning Tou was developed
as early as the 16th century. It has historical significance and
historical buildings include Ku Ning Tou War History Museum, Pei San
Ku Yang Building, Li Kuang Chien General Temple, etc. Lieh Yu: Lieh
Yu is located near Hsiao Kin Men. Besides its military value, Lieh
Yu also features coastal view and ornithological value. Scenic spots
here include Chiu Kung Tunnel, Ling Shui Lake, Shuang Kou Battle
Village, Hu Ching Tou War History Museum, etc.
Ku Kang Lake: Located at the southwest of Kin Men, Ku Kang Lake
presents variable scenery. The lake vicinity is the early-developed
area in Kin Men due to its convenient transportation. Rich
businessmen used to build new houses here; today, you can find both
traditional Chinese buildings and western buildings here. Tai Wu
Shan: An important place in defense of Taiwan, Peng Hu, Kin Men and
Ma Tzu. Tourist attractions here include the August 23 battle
museum, Yu Ta Wei Memorial Hall, Liao Lo Wan, Chung Shan Memorial
Forest, Ching Kuo Memorial Hall and Chun Lin Village. The God of
Wind: The God of Wind is the guardian of Kin Men. Since the early
17th century, local people have been worshipping the God of Wind,
hoping that the crops will grow well. Today, the God has become a
feature of Kin Men.
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The Kinmen Natinal Park
"Kinmen also has unique cultural attractions
that belie its small size and population of only 50,000. The
government has taken steps to preserve the island's cultural sites
and practices so that visitors today can observe its vibrant, living
culture. Residences in Kinmen are mostly of the three-winged Fuchien-style
architecture. The island's history can be traced also through the
colorful traditional residences that are scattered throughout the
landscape. While the island's people live simple lives closely
linked to the sea, their religious convictions are strong. Folk
spirits are venerated along with such Buddhist and Taoist deities as
Cheng Huang (the city God), Matsu (Goddess of the sea), and Kuanyin
(Goddess of Mercy). A special cultural/religious feature of Kinmen
is the Wind Lion, a local deity originating in the worship of the
forces of nature. The massive construction of ships by the late-Ming
patriot Cheng-kung (Koxinga), who fought against the Manchu court of
the succeeding Ching Dynasty, denuded the previously fertile soil of
Kinmen of trees and transformed it into wasteland. With the very
soil and rocks eroding away, the people were losing their means of
livelihood; in desperation they turned for help to the Wind Lion,
who, they believed could control the winds. They still have faith in
this spirit, whose carved image can be seen at strategic locations
all over Kinmen. The images are full of local flavor and manifest a
combination of the god's animistic and anthropomorphic
characteristics.
MUSEUM / GALLERY /
MEMORY
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August 23 Artillery War Museum
Located in Chungcheng Park, this museum was built in 1988 as a
memorial to the long weeks of the artillery war. Its displays are
designed to give a sense of the valorous events of that period. On
either side of the main entrance to the museum are carved the names
of the 587 soldiers who lost their lives in the bombardment. On the
left side are displayed the man air fighter used by the Nationalist
forces at that time- the F-86 Saber and the main artillery piece,
the 155mm cannon. On the right side is one of the amphibious landing
craft - an LTV-that played such a vital role in transporting troops
and materials during the battle. These displays help observers
imagine what the joint operations of the three service branches must
have been like. Inside the museum are historical artifacts in 12
display areas for charts, photographs, documents, relics, and
models. Together, these comprise a complete history of the artillery
war. A visit to the museum gives observers a strong feeling of how
the military and the civilians of Kinmen drew together to resist the
aggressor when artillery shells were falling on the island in a
dense downpour. Memorial tablets commemorating the victory in the
August 23 Artillery War have been erected at Magpie Mountain and on
Little Kinmen to remind visitors of the sheer determination and
resolute will which allow life to go on, even in the most trying
circumstances.
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Guningtou Battlefield History Museum
This steel-reinforced cement building on the
site of the Kuningtou Battlefield is designed to resemble a
fortress. It was built in 1984 as a memorial to the heroic actions
of Kinmen's defenders, who at great cost drove off the Communist
invaders and won a great victory for the Nationalist forces. The
sides and entrance of the museum are adorned with large relief
sculptures portraying the spirit of the soldiers who fought in this
notable battle. On grassy areas to either side are displayed "Kinmen
Bears" -the M5 AI tanks which played a decisive role in the
fighting. In a circle at the front of the building is a sculpture of
three heroic fighters. Inside the museum are 12 oil paintings by
prominent artists depicting the battle, along with displays of other
materials, documents, and photographs relating to the fighting and
the victory that followed. The aim of the museum is to portray the
spirit of sacrifice manifested by the soldiers who fought so hard
and gave so much for their country.
BEACHES / ISLANDS
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Jui Kwang House
Historical Background : In the
Chinese Year of 54th, the administrative division chief man, Mr.
Chiang Ching Kuo, cared about the people live and went around and
inspect. The scenery was quiet and beautiful, the weather was nice,
the mountains were magnificent, and the geography was great, this
place made Mr. Chiang feel like the resh air all select by one, the
place is quiet and beautiful Then he changed the name of this farm
from Chien Ching Farm into Ching Ching Farm. And the name of Ching
Ching Farm is using till now. And because Ching Ching Farm is far
away from the broiling city, the air is fresh and clean, the view is
wide, and the scenery is beautiful. It has the name of fairyland on
the fog Fresh, natural and quiet climate with plentiful rainfall
this place a good farm for managing the hacienda, planting the
temperate zone vegetable and fruit, and the floriculture.
Cultural Highlights : There is multi-media introduction on
the first floor, photographs on the second floor corridors and
battle documents on the third floor. Outside the building, there are
two ancient batteries on the grass. Chu Kuang Lo is 2,000 pings in
area, surrounded by the mountain and ocean. It has marvelous scenery
of the lake, the ocean and the Kinmen island.
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Kinmen Folk Village
Historical Background : Kinmen
Cultural Village is located in Shan Hou Tsun. The village was built
in Ching Kuang Hsu year 26 (1900). With an area of 1230 pings, the
village has eighteen buildings and houses of traditional Fu Chien
style. The buildings were built by the Chinese Japanese Wang Kuo
Chen and Wang Ching Hsiang for their relatives and materials were
shipped from Chang Chou, Chuan Chou and Chiang Hsi Province. It took
20 years to finish the construction. The eighteen buildings and
houses were damaged after years of wind erosion. The Kinmen
government redecorated the buildings and claimed it a cultural
village.
Cultural Highlights : The buildings here are
carefully-designed and well-decorated in traditional Chinese style,
presenting the characteristics of Chinese architecture. The
structure, paintings and sculptures are refined. In 1979, the Kinmen
government reconstructed the ancient buildings and set up museums
and exhibition rooms, presenting the best characteristics of Kinmen.
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Kinmen National Park
Historical Background : The Ku
Ning Tou Battle is one of the most important battles between KMT and
the Chinese communists. In 1949, the KMT army withdrew to Taiwan and
Kin Men became a critical military base. The KMT soldiers
strengthened the defense force and prepared for the battle. On
December 24, the communist soldiers attacked Kin Men from Ho Sha to
Ku Ning Tou; on December 25, 1949, the KMT army led by Kao Kui Yuan
fought back with the cooperation of navy and air forces. There were
1200 KMT soldiers risked their lives by attacking the communist
troops from the back. Without any back-up, the KMT soldiers
successfully stopped the communist attack. The battle was known as
the Ku Ning Tou Battle.
Cultural Highlights : Ku Ning Tou Battle History Museum is
located in Lin Tsuo Tsun, exactly where the battle took place. The
construction was completed in 1984, in memory of the historic
battle. There are relief carvings on the front walls, depicting the
fierce battle. On the grass demonstrate the M5A1 tank, which was
used in the battle. In addition, there is a sculpture of 3 brave
soldiers. Besides objects used in the battle, 12 paintings, objects
and documents are also presented in the museum.
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Ku Ning Tou Battle History Musuem
Historical Background : The Ku
Ning Tou Battle is one of the most important battles between KMT and
the Chinese communists. In 1949, the KMT army withdrew to Taiwan and
Kin Men became a critical military base. The KMT soldiers
strengthened the defense force and prepared for the battle. On
December 24, the communist soldiers attacked Kin Men from Ho Sha to
Ku Ning Tou; on December 25, 1949, the KMT army led by Kao Kui Yuan
fought back with the cooperation of navy and air forces. There were
1200 KMT soldiers risked their lives by attacking the communist
troops from the back. Without any back-up, the KMT soldiers
successfully stopped the communist attack. The battle was known as
the Ku Ning Tou Battle.
Cultural Highlights : Ku Ning Tou Battle History Museum is
located in Lin Tsuo Tsun, exactly where the battle took place. The
construction was completed in 1984, in memory of the historic
battle. There are relief carvings on the front walls, depicting the
fierce battle. On the grass demonstrate the M5A1 tank, which was
used in the battle. In addition, there is a sculpture of 3 brave
soldiers. Besides objects used in the battle, 12 paintings, objects
and documents are also presented in the museum.
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