Xiamen Trip Overview
Are you looking for an unusual side of Taiwan to check out, try heading over to Kinmen Island. Exploring Kinmen feels like a step back in time with original style Fujian buildings and lots of green space. History lovers will be fascinated by the many remnants of Kinmen’s past conflict with neighbouring China. On this private day trip you will visit some must-see and famed attractions like Juguang Tower, Zhaishan Tunnel, Kinmen Guesthouse and Kinmen National Park. There are a variety of souvenirs including the special Kinmen knives, peanut candies (gong tang), Kaoliang liquor, noodles and wind lion god products. If you want yo buy them, we can also drive you to the local shop for free. 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: 7 hours
Starts: Xiamen, China
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Xiamen Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Xiamen, Fujian, China
Are you looking for an unusual side of Taiwan to check out, try heading over to Kinmen Island. Exploring Kinmen feels like a step back in time with original style Fujian buildings and lots of green space. History lovers will be fascinated by the many remnants of Kinmen’s past conflict with neighbouring China. On this private day trip you will visit some must-see and famed attractions like Juguang Tower, Zhaishan Tunnel, Kinmen Guesthouse and Kinmen National Park. There are a variety of souvenirs including the special Kinmen knives, peanut candies (gong tang), Kaoliang liquor, noodles and wind lion god products. If you want yo buy them, we can also drive you to the local shop for free. 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
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Zhaishan Tunnel, Jincheng Township, 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 Zhaishan Tunnel first. 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: 45 minutes
Stop At: Chen Shih-Yin Western-Style House, No. 44, Zhupu East Road, Jincheng 893 Taiwan
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.
Duration: 45 minutes
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kinmen, Kinmen
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: 1 hour
Stop At: Juguanglou, Southwest of Jincheng Town, Jincheng Taiwan
A trip to Kinmen wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Juguang Tower, the landmark from the Chinese civil war period. Built in 1953 as a memorial for Kinmen’s fallen soldiers in the Battle of Guningtou 4 years earlier, it’s also a token of Kinmen’s spirit. The tower’s distinctive architecture combines a traditional Chinese tower on top of a contemporary base. Two small cannons at the front date from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Then head to the wharf and return to Xiamen.
Duration: 1 hour
