Kinmen County, Archipelago county in southeastern Taiwan.
Kinmen County is an archipelago in the Taiwan Strait, located around 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Xiamen, with Jincheng Township serving as the administrative center. The island group includes several inhabited and uninhabited landmasses separated by shallow waters.
The archipelago became the site of heavy artillery exchanges in 1958 during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, when mainland forces bombarded the coastlines for weeks. This conflict shaped the military and civilian infrastructure of the region for decades.
Residents across the main islands speak the Quanzhou variant of Hokkien, while those in smaller Wuqiu Township use Pu-Xian Min. This linguistic variety reflects long-standing ties to the Fujian coast and shapes everyday life in markets and temples.
A ferry service to Xiamen opened in 2001 and provides direct access from mainland China, making the islands a hub for travelers moving between both sides. The crossing takes just under an hour and offers views of the coastal landscape.
Local craftspeople transform artillery shells from past conflicts into kitchen knives now valued by chefs around the world. The blades combine military heritage with artisan tradition and are sought after as souvenirs.
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