Fuchien, Province in Taiwan
Fuchien is an administrative unit covering two island groups in the strait between Taiwan and mainland China: Kinmen and Matsu. The two groups lie roughly 10 kilometers from the Chinese coast and consist of several smaller islands with rocky shores and low hills.
After the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the islands remained under Republic of China control while the nearby mainland fell to the People's Republic. In the following decades, the islands served as military outposts in a divided sea.
Local place names across the islands carry traditional Chinese designations that recall the historical links across the strait. Visitors find old family temples and shrines in the villages that residents still maintain today.
The islands are reachable from Taiwan by plane or ferry, with Kinmen receiving more frequent services than Matsu. Once there, renting a car or scooter works best because public transport is limited.
On clear days, you can spot the skyline of mainland Chinese cities from the shores of the islands, lying just a few kilometers away. This proximity makes the islands one of the most geographically unusual parts of Taiwan.
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