Xiamen Trip Overview
Kinmen is opposite to Xiamen and has earned the reputation of “the park on the sea” because of its fine and beautiful natural landscape. Today, Kinmen has left behind the flames and smoke of its old battlefields and become a tourist attraction. The islands are well worth a couple of days’ investigation, especially if you’re in transit between Taiwan and Xiamen (China), which is a short boat hop away. On this private tour you will visit some famous attractions, ancient tombs, taste delicious food, learn about military history and admire some artwork. Kinmen is a place where you can never have too much fun no matter how many times you visit. Make sure you have two or more visas and let us know if you are allowed to travel to Taiwan without getting a visa first.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Xiamen, China
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Xiamen Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Xiamen, Fujian, China
Kinmen is opposite to Xiamen and has earned the reputation of “the park on the sea” because of its fine and beautiful natural landscape. Today, Kinmen has left behind the flames and smoke of its old battlefields and become a tourist attraction. The islands are well worth a couple of days’ investigation, especially if you’re in transit between Taiwan and Xiamen (China), which is a short boat hop away. On this private tour you will visit some famous attractions, ancient tombs, taste delicious food, learn about military history and admire some artwork. Kinmen is a place where you can never have too much fun no matter how many times you visit. Make sure you have two or more visas and let us know if you are allowed to travel to Taiwan without getting a visa first.
Itinerary
Day 1: Xiamen-Kinmen
Stop At: Juguanglou, Southwest of Jincheng Town, Jincheng Taiwan
Pick you up at your hotel at around 7 o’clock and head to Xiamen Wutong Wharf. Then take a luxury ferry to Kinmen Shuitou Commercial Port. Upon arrival, you will visit JUGUANG TOWER. In 1952, the Juguang Tower was built under the design of renowned architect Sheng Xue-hai. This ancient three-story attic structure has a splendid appearance and extraordinary atmosphere. Inside the tower are exhibition halls displaying documents and materials concerning the history and current status of Kinmen.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Zhaishan Tunnel, Jincheng Township, Jincheng Taiwan
Walking into Zhaishan Tunnel, you can’t help but feel great awe for this huge tunnel. Witness remnants of Taiwan’s military history at Zhaishan Tunnel. Built to escape bombing from mainland China during the 1958-shelling of the island, the two-part 101 m (331 ft) long tunnel was the only way supplies could be transported to the defending island. Construction commenced in 1958 and was conducted 24 hours a day without skipping a day until its completion three years later. The fact that the tunnel is completely made of granite adds to the engineering masterpiece’s impressive features. The water channel comfortably houses 42 small boats, thanks to its 357 m (1,171 ft) length and sits attached to the tunnel. It was abandoned in 1986 due to sediment deposition.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kinmen National Park, No.460, Sec.2, Boyu Rd, Jincheng Township, Jinning 89248 Taiwan
After that, you will head to Kinmen National Park which is the first national park in Taiwan aims for protecting the historic and cultural relics such as battlefield monuments due to its historic background. In 16th century, the Japanese pirates constantly harassed Kinmen, so the government geared up the island with fortresses and arms. Since 1949, Kinmen once again became a battlefield between Chinese Communist and Kuomintang. Battlefield relics include the Guningtou Battle Museum and the August 23rd Artillery Battle Museum. Then have dinner and tranfer to your hotel.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a local hotel
Day 2: Kinmen-Xiamen
Stop At: Mashan Observation Post, Jinsha Township, Kinmen County, 890
After breakfast, head to Mashan Broadcasting and Observation Station. Once inside the gate of the observation station, you enter a tunnel, and see displays of military facilities. There are some speakers in the station. The speakers were loud enough to reach Mainland China, and the locals called this spot “the shouting station”. The propaganda included sweet ballads sung by Teresa Deng, who was an equally popular singer on both sides of the Strait. Now, you can occasionally hear pop music and Taiwanese songs coming gently out of the speakers.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Shishan (Mt. Lion) Howitzer Front, Jinsha Township, Kinmen County, 890
Next stop is Shishan (Mt. Lion) Howitzer Front. It’s Kinmen’s only remaining howitzer base built in a tunnel. The tunnel has various military-related exhibits, including the inner war-preparedness room, ammunition room, arsenal, artillery fort, and walls with slogans etc. The star of the show is the 8-inch Howitzer, a powerful weapon with a firing range of 17 km. The howitzer has an amazingly strong power that can easily destroy a small-size village. It was a contributing factor to the success of the August 23rd Artillery Battle in 1958.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Shanhou Folk Cultural Village, No. 61, Shanhou, Jinsha Township Taiwan
Then head to Shanhou Folk Cultural Village. The overall layout was developed by famous Jiangxi architects and the great attention to detail can be seen in each house’s location, purpose, interior spaces, courtyards, and lofts. The entire project took 25 years to complete. Visiting tourists particularly enjoy standing in the alleys to take photos of the saddleback roofs, gabled walls, swallowtails and blue sky. This work of art by six master craftsmen brought from Tangshan is a must-see destination for all visitors to Kinmen.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kinmen Guest House, 891金門縣金湖鎮山外里山外72之1號
In the afternoon, transfer to Kinmen Guesthouse which is a tunnel hotel that penetrates through granite. It was the most famous guesthouse during the civil war. It was completed in 1980 and has been called “underground Hilton.” The guesthouse has 31 rooms in a tunnel that is 320-meter long. The original two rooms have been preserved: one once accommodated former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, whereas the other accommodated Teresa Teng several times when she was performing for the soldiers in Kinmen, Room No. 018.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Chen Jinglan Western-style Mansion, Jinhu Township, Kinmen County, 891
Then you will take a stroll in the Chen Jing-lan Western-style House. This impressive mansion is the result of one Kinmen businessman’s success in Singapore in the early 1900s. Its all-white exterior, fine carvings and symmetric archways are all features that give it a western rather than Chinese look. Wander inside to find out its interesting history and varied occupants. On the 2nd floor, you can read stories about and see photos of various Kinmen people who left to seek a better life. Then head to the wharf and return to Xiamen.
Duration: 50 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
