View source for Kinmen

{{Short description|County of the Republic of China (Taiwan)}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Jinmen|Jingmen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Kinmen
| official_name            = <!-- Official name in English if different from 'name' -->
| native_name              = 金門縣
| native_name_lang         = zh-Hant
| other_name               = Quemoy
| settlement_type          = [[County (Taiwan)|County]]
| image_skyline            = Kinmen Montage.png
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = Flag of Kinmen County.svg
| image_seal               = Emblem of Kinmen County.svg
| seal_type                = Logo
| image_map                = Taiwan ROC political division map Kinmen County.svg
| map_caption              = 
|image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=260|frame-align=center||plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=8}}
| coordinates              = {{Coord|24.44|118.33|region:TW_type:adm1st|format=dms|display=it}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{ROC-TW}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of China#ROC provinces|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Fujian Province, Republic of China|Fukien]] ''(nominal subdivision)''
| subdivision_type2        = Region
| subdivision_name2        = 
| iso_code                 = TW-KIN
| seat_type                = Seat
| seat                     = [[Jincheng, Kinmen|Jincheng]] (Chincheng, Kincheng)
| seat1_type               = Largest city
| seat1                    = Jincheng
| parts                    = 6 (3 urban, 3 rural)<br />37 (24 urban, 13 rural)
| parts_type               = [[Township (Taiwan)|Townships]]<br />[[Village (Taiwan)|Villages]]
| governing_body           = {{unbulleted list
  |[[Kinmen County Government]]
  |[[Kinmen County Council]]}}
| leader_title1            = County Magistrate
| leader_name1             = [[Chen Fu-hai]]
| area_total_km2           = 150.456
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="Kinmen2">{{cite web|url=https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=22D15C7FFDA4350D#Section_2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302025937/https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=22D15C7FFDA4350D|archive-date=2 March 2022|url-status=live|date=8 December 2017|access-date=9 March 2022|title=About Kinmen |publisher=[[Kinmen County Government]]}}</ref><ref name="Kinmen3">{{cite journal|url=http://rportal.lib.ntnu.edu.tw/bitstream/20.500.12235/85379/4/000904.pdf |title=金門的地理與歷史概說|trans-title=The overview of geography and history of Kinmen|journal=第四章 金門的地理、歷史與總體經濟分析|publisher=[[National Taiwan Normal University]]|language=zh-tw|date=20 February 2006|access-date=9 March 2022|pages=131–134}}</ref><ref name="mj" />{{efn|Area figure excludes the [[Dadeng Subdistrict|Dadeng (Tateng) Islands]].}}
| area_water_percent       = 0
| area_rank                = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|20 of 22]]
| population_total         = 127723
| population_as_of         = March 2020
| population_rank          = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|20 of 22]]
| population_density_km2   = 2777.91
| timezone                 = [[National Standard Time]]
| utc_offset               = +8
| website                  = {{Official website|https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/}}
| module                   = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| county  = Kinmen
| flower  = [[Cymbidium|Four-season orchid]]
| tree    = [[Ceiba|Cotton tree]]
| bird    = [[Upupa epops|Hoopoe]]
 }}
| footnotes                = 
| population_demonym       = Kinmenese
}}

{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Kinmen
| t = 金門
| bpmf = ㄐㄧㄣ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄇㄣˊ
| w = Chin<sup>1</sup>-mên<sup>2</sup>
| p = Jīnmén
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|j|in|1|.|m|en|2}}
| tp = Jinmén
| mps = Jīnmén
| gr = Jinmen
| myr = Jīnmén
| psp = Kinmen
| poj = Kim-mn̂g ''(locally)''<br />''or'' Kim-mûi
| tl = Kim-mn̂g ''(locally)''<br />''or'' Kim-muî
| phfs = Kîm-mùn
| buc = Gĭng-muòng
| j = Gam<sup>1</sup>-mun<sup>4</sup>
| altname = Kinmen county
| t2 = 金門縣
| bpmf2 = ㄐㄧㄣ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄇㄣˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄒㄧㄢˋ
| w2 = Chin<sup>1</sup>-mên<sup>2</sup> Hsien<sup>4</sup>
| p2 = Jīnmén Xiàn
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|j|in|1|.|m|en|2|-|x|yan|4}}
| tp2 = Jinmén siàn
| mps2 = Jīnmén shiàn
| gr2 = Jinmen shiann
| myr2 = Jīnmén syàn
| showflag = ppoj
| poj2 = Kim-mn̂g-koān ''(locally)''<br />''or'' Kim-mûi-koān
| tl2 = Kim-mn̂g-kuān ''(locally)''<br />''or'' Kim-muî-kuān
| phfs2 = Kîm-mùn-yen
| buc2 = Gĭng-muòng gâing
| j2 = Gam<sup>1</sup>-mun<sup>4</sup> jyun<sup>6</sup>
}}
'''Kinmen''', [[English exonyms#Taiwan|alternatively]] known as '''Quemoy''', is a group of [[islands]] and a [[County (Taiwan)|county]] of [[Taiwan]], only {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} east from the city of [[Xiamen]] in [[Fujian]], located at the southeastern coast of the [[People's Republic of China]], from which they are separated by [[Xiamen Bay]]. Kinmen is also {{convert|187|km|mi|abbr=on}} west from the closest shoreline of the [[island of Taiwan]] across the [[Taiwan Strait]].

The county consists of the major island of Kinmen along with several surrounding islets, as well as [[Wuqiu, Kinmen|Wuqiu Township]] remotely located {{convert|133|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast from the rest of the county.<ref name="GNISkinmenisland">{{GEOnet2|6691ABBF475847DCB142C4937E95ABD5|Kinmen Island (Conventional – C)}}, [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency|United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]]</ref> Kinmen is one of two counties that constitute [[Fujian Province, Republic of China|Fuchien Province]]; the other is [[Matsu Islands|Lienchiang County (Matsu)]].

Kinmen's strategic location in the Taiwan Strait has caused [[Cross-Strait relations|numerous confrontations]], making it a visible embodiment of political change on [[Cross-Strait relations|cross-strait relations]]. In August 1958, Kinmen was heavily bombarded by the [[People's Liberation Army]] during the [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis]]. Travel restrictions between Kinmen and the main island of Taiwan were lifted in 1994 following the end of decades-long military administration over Kinmen. A direct ferry route to Xiamen was inaugurated in January 2001 following the establishment of the [[Three Links]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quartly |first=Jules |date=30 September 2004 |title='The Gibraltar of Asia' and a 'Park in the Ocean' |work=Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2004/09/30/2003205028 |access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref>

The People's Republic of China (PRC, [[China]]) claims Kinmen as part of its own [[Fujian|Fujian Province]] and considers Wuqiu to be a separate territory of Fujian apart from Kinmen itself; conversely, the ROC claims the [[Dadeng Subdistrict|Dadeng Islands]] (Tateng) as part of Kinmen, even though the PRC has effectively transferred the jurisdiction of those islands to Xiamen.

==Names==
'''Kinmen''' (金門) means 'golden gate'. The name was first recorded in 1387 when the [[Hongwu Emperor]] appointed Zhou Dexing to administer the island and protect it from pirate attacks.<ref name="Wei2006">{{Cite journal |last=Wei |first=Jian-feng |year=2006 |title=An Examination of Cultural Identity of Residents of Quemoy (Kinmen) |url=http://www.uri.edu/iaics/content/2006v15n1/13%20Jian-Feng%20Wei.pdf |journal=Intercultural Communication Studies |volume=15 |issue=1 |page=134 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429171612/http://www.uri.edu/iaics/content/2006v15n1/13%20Jian-Feng%20Wei.pdf |archive-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> The spelling "Kinmen" is a [[postal romanization]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Postal Romanization |date=1961 |publisher=Directorate General of Posts |location=Taipei, Taiwan |page=6 |language=en |quote=Kinmen (AF) and Taiwan (9) are both postal romanization.}}</ref> This transcription system is a variation of Nanking Syllabary, a system developed by [[Herbert Giles]] in 1892.<ref>Postal Romanization, p. 4.</ref> It was adopted by the Chinese Imperial Post, part of the [[Chinese Maritime Customs Service]] led by Irishman [[Sir Robert Hart, 1st Baronet|Robert Hart]]. It is based on pronunciation in the Southern Mandarin, or [[Lower Yangtze Mandarin|Jianghuai]], dialect. This dialect is widely spoken in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, including the city of Nanjing. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses "Kinmen,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) |year=2019 |title=2019–2020 Taiwan at a Glance |url=http://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF-8/MOFA/glance2019-2020/English.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202173938/http://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF-8/MOFA/glance2019-2020/English.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2020 |pages=1, 22}}</ref> while the [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] gives "Kinmen Island."<ref name="GNISkinmenisland" /> '''Jinmen''' is the island's name both in [[Tongyong Pinyin]] and in [[Hanyu Pinyin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taiwan Place Names |url=http://www.pinyin.info/taiwan/place_names.html |access-date=15 September 2020 |website=Pīnyīn.info |language=zh-tw,en |quote=Jinmen / Jinmen / Kinmen County}}</ref> '''Chin-men''' / '''Chinmen''' is the [[Wade–Giles]] romanization of the county and island's name.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Quemoy-Island Quemoy Island], island, Taiwan, Chinese (Wade-Giles) '''Chin-men Tao''', in ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''</ref>

'''Quemoy''', pronounced {{IPAc-en|k|ɪ|ˈ|m|ɔɪ}} {{Respell|kih|MOY}}, is a name for the island in English and in other European languages.<ref>"[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quemoy Quemoy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307171301/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quemoy |date=2012-03-07 }}", Merriam Webster<br/>"[http://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/autre-region/Quemoy/140008 Quemoy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701111412/http://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/autre-region/Quemoy/140008 |date=2013-07-01 }}", ''Larousse''. {{in lang|fr}}</ref> It may have originated as a Spanish or Portuguese [[transcription (linguistics)|transcription]] of the [[Zhangzhou Hokkien]] pronunciation of the name, ''Kim-mûi''.<ref name="Wei" /> This is the most common form of the islands' name in English. For example, works that deal with the [[First Taiwan Strait Crisis|First]] and [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis|Second Taiwan Strait Crises]] (the Quemoy Incident<ref name="di Genova" />) and the [[1960 United States presidential election]] debates when the islands received prominent worldwide news coverage all use the word Quemoy. In addition, the former National Kinmen Institute of Technology was renamed [[National Quemoy University]] in 2010. Kinmen scholar Wei Jian-feng advocates the use of the word Quemoy to better connect the island to "international society or achieve more recognition in the world".<ref name="Wei">{{Cite journal |last=Wei |first=Jian-feng |year=2009 |title='Quemoy' or 'Kinmen'?: A Translation Strategy for Communication |url=http://www.uri.edu/iaics/content/2009v18n2/12%20Jian-Feng%20Wei.pdf |journal=Intercultural Communication Studies |volume=18 |issue=2 |page=176 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429181932/http://www.uri.edu/iaics/content/2009v18n2/12%20Jian-Feng%20Wei.pdf |archive-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> '''Kimoi''' is a Hokkien-derived spelling also used in the postal romanization system.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/mapofchinashan |title=Index to Map of China |date=1915 |publisher=Far Eastern Geographical Establishment |edition=2nd |location=Shanghai |page=[https://archive.org/details/mapofchinashan/page/31 31] |quote=Kimoi Island (Kinmen) 金門島 Fukien ... ... 福建 ... 24.23N 118.20E}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanford |first=Edward |url=https://archive.org/details/atlasofchineseem00stan |title=Atlas of the Chinese Empire |date=1908 |publisher=The China Island Mission |edition=1 |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/atlasofchineseem00stan/page/n76 24] |quote=Kimoi I. (Kinmen) |author-link=Edward Stanford}}</ref>

==History==
{{Over-quotation|section|date=November 2025}}
[[File:Kinmen Qing Military Governor Office - main gate - DSCF9418.JPG|thumb|[[Kinmen Military Headquarters of the Qing Dynasty]]]]
[[File:Attack in Quemoy 1663.jpg|thumb|Attack in Quemoy (1663)|left]]
[[File:Jiangong Island - DSCF9484.JPG|thumb|left|[[Jiangong Islet]], with a [[Koxinga]] monument, in Kinmen Harbor]]
Humans have lived on Kinmen for 5,800 to 8,000 years.<ref name=aboutKNP/> During the reign of [[Emperor Yuan of Jin|Emperor Yuan]] (317 CE), the [[Five Barbarians]] invasion of China led six extended families to flee south and they settled in Kinmen, then called '''Wuzhou'''.<ref name="aboutKNP">{{Cite web |title=About the Park |url=https://www.kmnp.gov.tw/information/meet_kinmen?language=2 |access-date=16 September 2020 |publisher=Kinmen National Park |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107142843/https://www.kmnp.gov.tw/information/meet_kinmen?language=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> More people settled there during the [[Tang dynasty]], changing the name from'' Wuzhou'' to ''Kinmen''.<ref name="lonelypl">{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/taiwan/taiwans-islands/kinmen/history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420022644/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/taiwan/taiwans-islands/kinmen/history |archive-date=20 April 2016 |access-date=24 May 2016 |website=Lonely Planet}}</ref>

During the [[Ming dynasty]], more migrants settled in Kinmen. [[Koxinga]] used Kinmen as a base to capture [[Formosa]] and Penghu from the Dutch. He cut down trees to build his navy, resulting in massive deforestation that made Kinmen vulnerable to soil erosion.<ref name=lonelypl/>

The [[Zhu Yihai, Prince of Lu|Prince of Lu]], a member of the [[Southern Ming]] dynasty, resisted the invading Manchu [[Qing dynasty]] forces. In 1651, he fled to Kinmen, which the Qing dynasty took in 1663.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wakeman |first=Frederic |title=The Great Enterprise : The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China |date=1986 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0-520-04804-0 |location=Berkeley |page=114}}</ref> During the Qing Dynasty, the Kinmen area was part of [[Tong'an District|Tungan County]].<ref name="govkmeng" /><ref name="cihai" />

===20th century===
After the establishment of the [[Republic of China (1912–49)|Republic of China]] (ROC) in 1912, Kinmen became part of Fujian Province. In 1913, the Kinmen area was made part of [[Siming District|Siming County]].<ref name="cihai" /> Kinmen County was established in 1914.<ref name="cihai" /><ref name="govqz" /> In 1928, the county came under direct administration of the provincial government.<ref name="cihai" />

The [[Empire of Japan]] captured Kinmen in 1937 during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]. They blockaded the island on September 3 and landed on October 23. Fighting was light with ROC forces fleeing rather than fighting. The only casualty was sustained by a local self-defense unit. Many of the residents fled to the mainland or to Southeast Asia. The purpose of the Japanese seizure of Kinmen was to use it as a position from which to attack the neighboring city of Xiamen which they would seize in May 1938. Following the seizure of Xiamen many of the locals who had fled there returned to Kinmen.<ref name="Taipei Times 2022" />

After the capture of the island the county government went into exile in Dadeng.<ref name="govkmeng">{{Cite web |date=8 December 2017 |title=Kinmen Awareness |url=https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=22D15C7FFDA4350D |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527023057/https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=22D15C7FFDA4350D |archive-date=27 May 2018 |access-date=10 August 2019 |website=Kinmen County Government |quote=Long belonging to the administration of Tungan Prefecture of Fujian Province, Kinmen had begun its county administration since 1915.{...}In 1937, the County Government was moved to Dadeng for battle and it was later returned to Kinmen after the victory in 1935.{...}The minerals within Kinmen County include china clay and granite.}}</ref> The Japanese administered Kinmen as a special municipality of Xiamen; the government was composed of locals, people from other parts of occupied China, and Taiwanese.<ref name="Taipei Times 2022" />

A poor harvest in 1938 brought challenges for islanders. The Japanese engaged in economic development of the island including through the use of forced labor. KMT forces engaged in two serious attempts to retake the island and kept up a low level campaign against the Japanese. In 1943, insurgents kidnapped two Taiwanese officials who had been overseeing the salt fields and took them to China before executing them. In retaliation the Japanese authorities rounded up 300 young men from the local community eventually executing four.<ref name="Taipei Times 2022" />

Towards the end of World War II conditions worsened with Japanese authorities [[conscription|conscripting]] 500 locals (with their [[mule]]s) into the military and confiscating household goods. The island came under allied bombing including one attack on 30 August 1944 which killed 19 locals.<ref name="Taipei Times 2022" />

====Post-war====
World War II ended on 15 August 1945 with the surrender of Japan. Following the end of the war there were attacks by locals against Taiwanese who took shelter with the Japanese garrison. Kinmen was effectively ungoverned until 3 October 1945 when ROC forces landed and installed a new government. A celebration on October 10 marked the end of hostilities. Locals who had survived the war following their conscription by the Japanese were treated as traitors by the KMT occupation authorities.<ref name="Taipei Times 2022" >{{cite web |last1=Cheung |first1=Han |title=Taiwan inTime: 'Eight years of vicissitude' |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2022/10/23/2003787551 |website=taipeitimes.com |date=23 October 2022 |publisher=Taipei Times |access-date=18 November 2022}}</ref>

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) by the Chinese Communists in October 1949, Kinmen County was claimed by both the Nationalists and the Communists. Dadeng, [[Xiaodeng Island|Xiaodeng]] and Jiaoyu were taken by the Communists on 9 October<ref name="govqz" /> or 15 October<ref name="twlsdt" /> 1949. While those islands are still claimed by the ROC,<ref name="moikin">{{Cite web |title=05-19 Táiwān dǎoyǔ miànjī |script-title=zh:05-19 臺灣島嶼面積 |trans-title=Location and Area of Islands in Taiwan |url=https://www.moi.gov.tw/files/site_stuff/321/2/year/y05-19.ods |access-date=20 October 2019 |language=zh-tw,en |format=ODS |via=[[Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)|Ministry of the Interior]] |quote=05-19 金門縣島嶼及面積 Area of Islands in Kinmen County 區域別 Locality 面積(平方公里) Area (km<sup>2</sup>){...}外圍島嶼 Offshore Islet{...}大嶝 Dadeng 22.7500 小嶝 Xiaodeng 3.3100 角嶝 Jiaodeng 2.4400{...}資料來源：金門縣政府。 Source： Kinmen County Government. 附 註： 1.大嶝、小嶝、角嶝目前由中國大陸管轄，烏坵鄉由金門縣政府代管。 2.總面積151.656平方公里(不含大小嶝角嶝，含烏坵1.2平方公里)，部分無人島未列入。 Remark： 1.Dadeng, Xiaodeng, Jiaodeng are governed by Mainland China, Wuqiu belongs to other county but mandated by Kinmen County Government. 2.Total Area of Kinmen is 151.656 km<sup>2</sup>(Exclude Dadeng, Xiaodeng, Jiaodeng, Include Wuqiu 1.2 km<sup>2</sup>), some unmanned islands and reefs are not listed.}}</ref> they are governed as part of [[Dadeng Subdistrict]], [[Xiang'an District]], [[Xiamen]], Fujian, China.<ref name="govdd">{{Cite web |date=12 July 2019 |title=Dàdèng jiēdào |script-title=zh:大嶝街道 |url=http://www.xiangan.gov.cn/mlxa/xagk/szyj/201311/t20131106_88087.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809103455/http://www.xiangan.gov.cn/mlxa/xagk/szyj/201311/t20131106_88087.htm |archive-date=9 August 2019 |access-date=10 August 2019 |website=Xiàmén Shì Xiángān Qū rénmín zhèngfǔ |language=zh-hans |quote={{lang|zh-hans|大嶝街道位于厦门市翔安区东南部，隔海北与南安市石井镇毗邻，南与金门岛相对，西南与厦门岛相望，由大嶝、小嶝、角屿三个岛屿组成，总人口约2.6万人，土地面积13.2平方公里，海岸线25.15公里，{...}一方面加快大嶝战地旅游设施建设，另一方面开辟了"游三岛、登白哈、看金门"的旅游航线，组建了一支豪华舒适的旅游船队。}} |script-website=zh:厦门市翔安区人民政府 |trans-website=People's Government of Xiang'an Xiamen}}</ref><ref name="govxa">{{Cite web |title=Mèilì Xiángān |script-title=zh:魅力翔安 |url=http://www.xiangan.gov.cn/mlxa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809101822/http://www.xiangan.gov.cn/mlxa/ |archive-date=9 August 2019 |access-date=9 August 2019 |website=Xiàmén Shì Xiángān Qū rénmín zhèngfǔ |language=zh-hans |quote=翔安区设立于2003年10月19日。陆地总面积420平方公里，海域面积134平方公里，下辖一街（大嶝街道）、四镇（新店、马巷、内厝和新圩），{...}大嶝岛 小嶝岛 角屿 白蛤礁 |script-website=zh:厦门市翔安区人民政府 |trans-website=People's Government of Xiang'an Xiamen}}</ref>

On 25 October 1949, [[People's Liberation Army|People's Liberation Army (PLA)]] forces landed on Kinmen Island near Guningtou beginning the [[Battle of Kuningtou]]. ROC forces successfully defended the island and prevented an attack on Taiwan.

At the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950, retired Admiral [[Charles M. Cooke Jr.]], advisor to President Chiang Kai-shek, opposed withdrawing ROC forces from Quemoy (Kinmen).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Hsiao-ting |author-link=Lin Hsiao-ting |date=6 April 2012 |title=Taiwan's Secret Ally |url=https://www.hoover.org/research/taiwans-secret-ally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906121736/https://www.hoover.org/research/taiwans-secret-ally |archive-date=6 September 2019 |access-date=6 September 2019 |website=[[Hoover Institution]] |quote=In early July, Chiang was seriously considering withdrawing from Quemoy and other tiny coastal possessions off Southeast China to bolster Taiwan's defense and free up 33,000 combat troops for the Korean theater. Even though Cooke fully supported the Nationalist government's probable participation in the Korean War, he vehemently opposed the evacuation from Quemoy. Cooke was convinced that it would not only look weak to the Chinese Communists but damage morale in Taiwan and the entire free world.}}</ref> On 26 July 1950, ROC forces on [[Dadan Island]] (Tatan), in total 298 soldiers, repulsed an attack ([[:zh:大擔島戰役|大擔島戰役]]) from a People's Liberation Army force of 700 soldiers that landed on the island.<ref name="linmateng">{{Cite book |last=Lin |first=Ma-teng 林馬騰 |title=Mì dǎo: Dà èr dǎn de mìjìng mìshǐ |date=2009 |publisher=Lín Mǎténg wénshǐ gōngzuò shì |isbn=978-957-41-6438-7 |language=zh-tw |script-title=zh:秘島：大二膽的秘境秘史}}</ref>{{rp|11, 19–20}} General [[Douglas MacArthur]] and other US officials supported ROC efforts to defend the islands.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng rìjì yǔ mínguó shǐ yánjiū |year=2011 |publisher=Shijie datong chuban youxian gongsi |editor-last=Lu |editor-first=Fang-shang 呂芳上 |volume=2nd |location=Taipei |page=643 |language=zh-tw |script-title=zh:蔣中正日記與民國史研究 |trans-title=Chiang Kai-Shek's Diaries and the Study of Republican Chinese History |quote=其實國府堅守金馬最初是受到美國鼓勵的{...}國府{...}考慮放棄金門，但因東盟總麥克阿瑟將軍（Douglas MacArthur）不贊成{...}韓戰過後到第一次臺海危機（1954年9月至1955年4月）爆發之前，美方也不願中共拿下外島，鼓勵國府增派受美援訓練的部隊駐守外島。}}</ref>
[[File:Txu-oclc-10552568-ng50-15.jpg|thumb|Map including most of the territory of Kinmen County ([[Army Map Service|AMS]], 1954)|left]]
The PLA extensively shelled the island during the [[First Taiwan Strait Crisis|First]] and [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis|Second]] Taiwan Strait crises in 1954–1955 and 1958 respectively. In 1954, the United States considered responding by using [[nuclear weapon]]s against the PRC.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |last2=Yang |first2=Xiyun |date=16 September 2011 |title=Once a Redoubt Against China, Taiwan's Outpost Evolves |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/world/asia/kinmen-seeks-to-evolve-as-china-and-taiwan-improve-ties.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=27 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826114401/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/world/asia/kinmen-seeks-to-evolve-as-china-and-taiwan-improve-ties.html |archive-date=26 August 2017}}</ref> Again in 1958, General [[Nathan Farragut Twining]] and the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] believed that the United States should not permit the loss of the islands to the communists and recommended to President Eisenhower the use of whatever force was necessary, including atomic weapons.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1949–2012  |url=https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/Institutional/Chairmanship_of_the_JCS.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Joint History Office, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |date=2012 |page=93 |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513045627/http://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/Institutional/Chairmanship_of_the_JCS.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The phrase "Quemoy and [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]]" became part of American political language in the [[1960 U.S. presidential election]]. During the debates, both candidates, Vice President [[Richard Nixon]] and Senator [[John F. Kennedy]], pledged to use American forces if necessary to protect Taiwan from invasion by the PRC, which the United States did not recognize as a legitimate government. But in the second debate on 7 October 1960, the two candidates presented different opinions about whether to use American forces to protect [[Taiwan]]'s forward positions, Quemoy and Matsu, also. Senator Kennedy stated that these islands – as little as 9 kilometres (5.5&nbsp;mi) off the coast of China and as much as 170 kilometres (106&nbsp;mi) from Taiwan – were strategically indefensible and were not essential to the defense of Taiwan. Vice President Nixon maintained that since Quemoy and Matsu were in the "area of freedom," they should not be surrendered to the Communists as a matter of principle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norris |first=Robert B. |date=29 November 2010 |title=Quemoy and Matsu: A Historical Footnote Revisited |url=http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2010/0912/comm/norris_quemoymatsu.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020144403/http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2010/0912/comm/norris_quemoymatsu.html |archive-date=20 October 2018 |access-date=1 April 2014 |website=American Diplomacy}}</ref>

Earlier in the debate, then-Vice President Nixon mentioned:<ref name="cspan" /><ref name="matthews" />

{{blockquote|In the Truman Administration 600 million people went behind the [[Iron Curtain]] including the satellite countries of Eastern Europe and [[Loss of China|Communist China]]. In this Administration we have stopped them at Quemoy and Matsu, we have stopped them in Indo China, we have stopped them in [[1958 Lebanon crisis|Lebanon]], we have stopped them in other parts of the world.}}

Later in the debate, [[Edward P. Morgan]] asked then-Senator Kennedy:<ref name="cspan">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?33149-1/1960-presidential-candidates-debate |title=October 7, 1960 Presidential Candidates Debate |time=52:34 |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416080346/https://www.c-span.org/video/?33149-1%2F1960-presidential-candidates-debate |archive-date=16 April 2019 |url-status=live |via=[[C-SPAN]]}}</ref><!--<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-4VeDta7Mo  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/z-4VeDta7Mo| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=John F. Kennedy vs Richard Nixon – Second Presidential Debate 1960 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} (starting at 50:00)</ref>--><ref name="jfklibrary">{{Cite web |title=Television Debates: Transcript: Second Debate |url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKCAMP1960/1052/JFKCAMP1960-1052-002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821110144/https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKCAMP1960/1052/JFKCAMP1960-1052-002 |archive-date=21 August 2019 |access-date=21 August 2019 |pages=53, 58–61 |via=[[John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum]]}}</ref><ref name="jointapperances">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RLYjAQAAMAAJ |title=The Joint Appearances of Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Other 1960 Campaign Presentations |date=1961 |publisher=[[US Government Printing Office]] |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=RLYjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163 163] |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 October 1961 |title=Presidential Debate in Washington, DC |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-debate-washington-dc |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=The American Presidency Project |publisher=UC Santa Barbara}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Senator, Saturday on television, you said that you had always thought that Quemoy and Matsu were unwise places to draw our defense line in the Far East. Would you comment further on that, and also address to this question: couldn't a pull-back from those islands be interpreted as [[appeasement]]?}}

[[File:Nationalist China - administrative divisons. LOC 2007633622.jpg|thumb|Chin-men Tao (Quemoy Island, Greater Kinmen), Lieh Hsü (Lesser Kinmen), Tung-ting Hsü (Dongding Island), Wu-ch'iu Hsü (Daqiu), and Hsia Hsü (Xiaoqiu)<br/>"The Nationalist-held islands off the Chinese mainland are nominally a part of Fukien Province, but are presently under military administration." (1962)]]

Then-Senator Kennedy responded to Morgan's question saying:<ref name="cspan" /><ref name="matthews">{{Cite book |last=Matthews |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARqaAAAAQBAJ |title=Chris Matthews Complete Library |date=2013 |publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]] |isbn=9781476764696 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ARqaAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT653&lpg=PT653] |author-link=Chris Matthews}}</ref><ref name="jfklibrary" /><ref name="jointapperances" />

{{Poem quote|Well, the United States has on occasion attempted, mostly in the middle '50s to persuade [[Chiang Kai-shek]] to pull his troops back to Formosa. I believe strongly in the defense of Formosa. These islands are a few miles, five or six miles{{efn|The northern coast of Greater Kinmen (Quemoy) is about five or six miles from the nearest point on mainland Asia in places. In the Matsu Islands, [[Gaodeng Island]] is 5.75 miles from the Beijiao Peninsula. Some ROC-controlled areas are closer than five miles from PRC-controlled areas. For instance, Jiaoyu in [[Dadeng Subdistrict]] is a little more than one mile from the tip of Greater Kinmen in [[Jinsha, Kinmen|Jinsha Township]].}} off the coast of Red China within a general harbor area, and more than a hundred miles{{efn|[[Wuqiu, Kinmen]] is about eighty miles from the closest point on the main island of Taiwan (Formosa). [[Juguang, Lienchiang]] and [[Dongyin, Lienchiang]] are a little more than ninety miles from the closest point. The main islands Greater Kinmen (Quemoy) and [[Nangan, Lienchiang|Nangan]] (Matsu) are over one hundred miles from Taiwan Island.}} from Formosa. We have never said flatly that we will defend Quemoy and Matsu if it is attacked. We say we will defend it if it's part of a general attack on Formosa, but it is extremely difficult to make that judgment.

Now, Mr. [[Christian Herter|Herter]], in 1958, when he was [[United States Under Secretary of State|Under Secretary of State]], said they were strategically indefensible. Admiral [[Raymond A. Spruance|Spruance]] and [[J. Lawton Collins|Collins]] in 1955 said that we should not attempt to defend these islands in their conference on the Far East. General [[Matthew Ridgway|Ridgway]] has said the same thing. I believe that when you get into a war, if you're going to get into a war for the defense of Formosa, it ought to be on a clearly defined line. One of the problems, I think, at the time of South Korea was the question of whether the United States would defend it if it were attacked. I believe that we should defend Formosa, we should come to its defense. It leaves this rather in the air that we will defend it under some conditions but not under others, I think it is a mistake.

Secondly, I would not suggest a withdrawal at the point of the Communist guns. It is a decision finally that the Nationalists should make and I believe that we should consult with them and attempt to work out a plan by which the line is drawn at the Island of Formosa. It leaves 100 miles{{efn|The island of Taiwan is separated from the southeast coast of China by the [[Taiwan Strait]], which ranges from {{convert|220|km|mi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} at its widest point to {{convert|130|km|mi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} at its narrowest.}} between the sea. But with General Ridgway, Mr. Herter, General Collins, Admiral Spruance and many others, I think it is unwise to take the chance of being dragged into a war which may lead to a world war over two islands which are not strategically defensible, which are not according to their testimony, essential to the defense of Formosa.

I think that we should protect our commitments. I believe strongly we should do so in [[West Berlin|Berlin]]. I believe strongly we should do so in Formosa and I believe we should meet our commitments to every country whose security we've guaranteed. But I do not believe that that line, in case of a war, should be drawn on those islands, but instead on the island of Formosa. And as long as they are not essential to the defense of Formosa, it has been my judgement ever since 1954, at the time of the [[Eisenhower Doctrine]] for the Far East, that our line should be drawn in the sea around the island itself.}}

Then–Vice President Nixon retorted:<ref name="cspan" /><ref name="matthews" /><ref name="jointapperances" />

{{Poem quote|I disagree completely with Senator Kennedy on this point.

I remember in the period immediately before the Korean War, South Korea was supposed to be indefensible as well. Generals testified to that, and Secretary [[Dean Acheson|Acheson]] made a very famous speech at the [[National Press Club (United States)|Press Club]] early in the year that the Korean War started, indicating in effect that South Korea was beyond the defense zone of the United States. I suppose it was hoped when he made that speech that we wouldn't get into a war, but it didn't mean that. We had to go in when they came in.

Now I think as far as Quemoy and Matsu are concerned, that the question is not these two little pieces of real estate—they are unimportant. It isn't the few people who live on them—they are not too important. It's the principle involved. These two islands are in the area of freedom. The Nationalists have these two islands. We should not force our Nationalist allies to get off of them and give them to the Communists. If we do that, we start a chain reaction, because the Communists aren't after Quemoy and Matsu, they're after Formosa. In my opinion, this is the same kind of woolly thinking that lead to disaster for America in Korea, I'm against it, I would never tolerate it as President of the United States, and I will hope that Senator Kennedy will change his mind if he should be elected.}}

After the third debate on 13 October 1960, Kennedy's advisers spoke with then Secretary of State Herter and said Kennedy was willing to revise his position on the Quemoy and Matsu issue so as not to give the Communists the impression that the USA would not stand united against aggression. Nixon pointed out the change in Kennedy's position but decided not to press the point due to the importance of the USA's role in what was an extremely tense situation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nixon |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/memoirsofrichard00nixo |title=RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon |date=1978 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0-446-93259-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/memoirsofrichard00nixo/page/272 272] |quote=Once again I hit hard on the Quemoy-Matsu issue, stating that Kennedy's willingness to surrender the islands to the Communists under threat of war was no different from submitting to blackmail. Shortly after the third debate I learned that one of Kennedy's top foreign policy advisers had telephoned Secretary of State Herter to say that Kennedy did not want to give the Communists the impression that America would not stand united against aggression and was therefore prepared to revise his position in order not to appear to oppose the administration on this issue. I saw this as Kennedy's way of trying to slide away from an unpopular position, and my immediate inclination was not to let him get away with it. But the Quemoy-Matsu situation was so tense, and the importance of America's role in discouraging Communist aggression was so great, that I decided not to press the point if Kennedy modified his stand. I pointed out how his changed attitude reflected his lack of experience, and then let the issue drop. |author-link=Richard Nixon |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Nixon's polls among Republicans and Democrats showed overwhelming support for Nixon's position on the issue.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lasky |first=Victor |url=https://archive.org/details/jfkmanmyth00lask |title=J.F.K.: The Man and the Myth |date=1963 |publisher=[[Macmillan Company]] |location=New York City |page=[https://archive.org/details/jfkmanmyth00lask/page/444 444] |author-link=Victor Lasky |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

[[File:Three Principles of the People Unites China.jpg|thumb|"[[Three Principles of the People]] [[Chinese unification|Unify China]]" Wall built before the [[1987 Lieyu massacre]] on [[Dadan Island]] facing mainland China.]]
[[File:Commemorative NT$10 Coin in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Taiwan's Retrocession.png|thumb|Kinmen in the map on the obverse of the Commemorative NT$10 Coin in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Taiwan's Retrocession (1995)]]
Kinmen was originally a military reserve under the [[Martial law in Taiwan|martial law]] [[curfew]]s, which eventually led to the tragedies of innocent civilian casualties,<ref>{{Cite web|title=111司調0025 調查報告 |trans-title=2022 Justice Investigation Report No. 0025 |url=https://www.cy.gov.tw/CyBsBoxContent.aspx?n=133&s=17946 |last=Gao |first=Yong-cheng |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=7 August 2022 |publisher=[[Control Yuan]] |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei}}</ref> such as the 1985 [[Shi Islet#Shiyu slaughter|Shi Islet slaughter]] and the [[1987 Lieyu massacre]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=時論－一封永遠無法寄達的家書 |trans-title=Commentary - A home letter never been delivered |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20131029000502-260502?chdtv |last=Shi |first=Wen-jie |date=29 October 2013 |access-date=26 September 2022 |publisher=China Times |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2008 |script-title=zh:《國軍屠殺越南難民的三七事件》你不知道的台灣 |url=http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/kuan0416/post/1304293327 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908002445/http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/kuan0416/post/1304293327 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |access-date=11 August 2015 |website=pchome.com.tw}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hau |first=Pei-tsun |title=八年參謀總長日記 |trans-title=8-year Diary of the Chief of the General Staff (1981–1989) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2WKCAAAAIAAJ |publisher=[[:zh:天下文化|Commonwealth Publishing]] |date=1 January 2000 |isbn=9576216389 |language=zh-TW |location=Taipei}}</ref> The island was returned to the civilian government in the mid-1990s, after which travel to and from it was allowed. Direct travel between [[mainland China]] and Kinmen re-opened in January 2001 under the mini [[Three Links]], and there has been extensive tourism development on the island in anticipation of mainland tourists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Backgrounder: Milestones in Cross-Straits Relations Over 30 Years |url=http://www.gwytb.gov.cn/en/Headline/201103/t20110316_1787640.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173713/http://www.gwytb.gov.cn/en/Headline/201103/t20110316_1787640.htm |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=4 July 2014 |website=Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council PRC |agency=Xinhua News Agency}}</ref> Direct travel was suspended in 2003 as a result of the [[SARS]] outbreak, but has since resumed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vol. 4, Issue 1 |url=http://globaltaiwan.org/2019/01/vol-4,-issue-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128030340/http://globaltaiwan.org/2019/01/vol-4,-issue-1/ |archive-date=28 January 2019 |access-date=27 January 2019 |website=Global Taiwan Institute}}</ref><ref name="TaipeiTimes4">{{cite web | last=Wei-li | first=Fang | last2=Chung | first2=Jake | title=SARS stops `small three links\' for a month in Kinmen | website=Taipei Times | date=2003-05-17 | url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/17/0000210911 | language=la | access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>

Many Taiwanese businessmen use the link through Kinmen to enter the Chinese mainland, seeing it as cheaper and easier than entering through Hong Kong. However, this changed following the [[2005 Pan–Blue visits to mainland China]] and the 2008 [[2008 Republic of China presidential election|presidential]] and [[2008 Republic of China legislative election|legislative]] victories of the KMT, that allowed easier [[cross-Strait relations]]. Kinmen has experienced a considerable economic boom as businessmen relocate to the island for easier access to the vast markets of the PRC.

On 30 June 2014, [[Dadan Island]] and [[Erdan Island]] were handed over from the [[Republic of China Armed Forces|military]] to civilians, represented by [[Kinmen County Government]].<ref name="taipeitimes2">{{Cite news |date=1 July 2014 |title=Jiang Hopeful of Chinese Landing Visas to Islands |page=3 |work=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/07/01/2003594092 |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183012/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/07/01/2003594092 |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> Since 1 January 2015, tourists from [[mainland China]] could directly apply for the [[Entry & Exit Permit for Taiwan]] upon arrival in Kinmen. This privilege also applies to [[Penghu]] and [[Matsu Islands]] as means to boost tourism in the outlying islands of Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Hui-min |last2=Low |first2=Y. F. |date=30 December 2014 |title=Annual Ridership on Kinmen-Fujian Ferry Services Tops 1.5 Million |work=Focus Taiwan News Channel |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201412300006.aspx |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231232924/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201412300006.aspx |archive-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>

On 23 August 2019, the sixty-first anniversary of the beginning of the [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis]], President [[Tsai Ing-wen]] visited the Taiwushan [[Martyrs' shrines (China)|martyrs' shrine]] ({{lang|zh-tw|太武山忠烈祠}}) in [[Mount Taiwu]] where she placed flowers and offered incense.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Kuan-lin 陳冠霖 |date=24 August 2019 |title=823 jì bài xiānliè zǒngtǒng Cài Yīngwén: Wù wàng 823 jīngshén |script-title=zh:823祭拜先烈 總統蔡英文：勿忘823精神 |url=https://www.kmdn.gov.tw/1117/1271/1272/309589 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921111656/https://www.kmdn.gov.tw/1117/1271/1272/309589 |archive-date=21 September 2019 |access-date=21 September 2019 |website=Jīnmén rìbào |language=zh-tw |script-website=zh:金門日報 |trans-website=[[Kinmen Daily News]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:烏坵百年燈塔1.jpg|thumb|[[Wuqiu Lighthouse]]<!-- on Daqiu--> in [[Wuqiu, Kinmen]]]]
[[File:Kinmen.PNG|thumb|Kinmen County map]]
{{see also|List of islands of Taiwan}}
The county is made up of numerous islands and islets<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jīnmén Xiàn xíngzhèng qūyù tú |script-title=zh:金門縣行政區域圖 |url=https://ws.kinmen.gov.tw/001/Upload/305/relpic/8015/6771/3b18e2cb-b0ed-4dac-8076-4afb8f62625d.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808010755/https://ws.kinmen.gov.tw/001/Upload/305/relpic/8015/6771/3b18e2cb-b0ed-4dac-8076-4afb8f62625d.jpg |archive-date=8 August 2019 |access-date=9 August 2019 |language=zh-tw |type=Map |format=jpg |quote={{lang|zh-tw|北碇島 母嶼 白巖 草嶼 東割 烽遂角 后嶼 官澳礁 西園嶼 建功嶼 黑巖 大巖嶼 烏礁 桂子礁 獅嶼 牛心礁 小擔 檳榔嶼 烈嶼 復興嶼 猛虎嶼 兔嶼 石山 大膽島 二擔島 三擔島 四擔島 五擔 大坵島 小坵島}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jīnmén dìqū xiànzhì (jìnzhǐ) shuǐyù tú |script-title=zh:金門地區限制（禁止）水域圖 |url=http://ws.mac.gov.tw/001/Upload/OldFile/public/Attachment/0411459536.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803020713/http://ws.mac.gov.tw/001/Upload/OldFile/public/Attachment/0411459536.pdf |archive-date=3 August 2019 |access-date=9 August 2019 |publisher=[[Mainland Affairs Council]] |language=zh-tw |type=Map |quote=二．限制水域範圍：大金門地區低潮線向外延伸東方海面四千至六千公尺，南方海面八千至一萬公尺，北碇以東海面四千公 尺，大、二膽南海面二千公尺一線以內海域 三、禁止水域範圍：大金門地區低潮線向外延伸東方海面四千公尺，南方海面八千公尺，馬山北方一千五百公尺，北碇以東 海面四千公尺，大、二膽北、西、南海面二千公尺，小金門西海面、檳榔嶼、三腳礁、牛心礁、赤角礁一線以內海域}}</ref><ref name="cihai">{{Cite book |title=Cíhǎi |title-link=Cihai |year=2009 |publisher=Shanghai cishu chubanshe |isbn=9787532628599 |edition=6th |location=Shanghai |page=1124 |language=zh |script-title=zh:辞海 |quote='''金门'''  县名。在福建省东南海上、泉州市西南部。现由台湾省管辖。由以金门岛为主的大、小59个岛屿组成。面积149平方千米，人口约6.45万（2004年）。明置金门千户所，清设金门县丞，属同安县。1913年改隶思明县，1914年析置金门县。1928年直属福建省。农产有甘薯、花生等。矿产有玻璃砂、高岭土、铝土、煤。工业有机械、食品等。特产贡糖、高粱酒、金门马等。通公路。名胜古迹有成功洞、鲁王墓、水尾塔等。{...}'''金门岛'''  亦称"大金门岛"、"吾洲屿"。在福建省东南部、厦门港口外台湾海峡中。属金门县，现由台湾省管辖。岛形如哑铃，东西宽，南北狭，中多丘陵，沿海多港湾、口岸。东西长约20千米，面积131.7平方千米。其西有小金门岛。名胜古迹有牧马侯（陈渊）祠、鲁王墓、海印寺、古岗湖、中山纪念林等。}}</ref><ref name="APA" /> including:
*Kinmen group<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Environment |url=http://www.kmnp.gov.tw/en/KinmenHistory.aspx?cid=2&chk=58a82533-1717-449f-8c94-683ae1b51138 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028081129/http://wwww.kmnp.gov.tw/en/KinmenHistory.aspx?cid=2&chk=58a82533-1717-449f-8c94-683ae1b51138 |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=27 July 2019 |website=[[Kinmen National Park]] |quote=The 12 islands and islets comprising Kinmen mainland, Lieyu (small Kinmen), Da Dan, Er Dan, Dong Ding, Beiding, Cao islet, Hou islet, Jiangong islet, Fuxing islet, Menghu islet, Shi islet occupy an area of 150 square meters in total.}}</ref>
** Kinmen (Kinmen, Main island; {{lang|zh-Hant|大金門, 金門本島}}) (main island; divided into four townships)
**[[Dongding Island]] (Tangtia, Tungting {{linktext|lang=zh-tw|東碇|島}}, {{linktext|lang=zh-tw|東椗|島}}) (in Jinhu Township; approximately {{convert|35|km|abbr=on}} to the southwest)
**[[Beiding Island]] ([[:zh:北碇島|北碇島]]) (in Jinhu Township; approximately {{convert|4|km|abbr=on}} to the east)
**Cao Islet (Ts'ao Hsü; {{linktext|lang=zh-tw|草|嶼}}) (in Jinsha Township) {{coord|24.523335|N|118.437021|E}}
**Hou Islet ({{linktext|lang=zh-tw|后|嶼}}) (in Jinsha Township) {{coord|24.529171|N|118.41233|E}}
**[[Jiangong Islet]] (建功嶼) (in Jincheng Township)
**[[Lieyu|Lesser Kinmen]] (Hsiao Kinmen, Lieyu; {{lang|zh-Hant|小金門, 烈嶼}}) (second largest island under ROC control; in Lieyu Township)
**[[Dadan Island]] {{lang|zh-Hant|(大膽島)}} (in Lieyu Township)
**[[Erdan Island]] ([[:zh:二膽島|二膽島]]) (in Lieyu Township)
**[[Fuxing Islet]] (Fuhsing Islet; Phaktia) ({{linktext|lang=zh-tw|復興|嶼}}) (in Lieyu Township)
**[[Menghu Islet]] (Tiger Island, {{linktext|lang=zh-tw|猛虎|嶼}}) (in Lieyu Township)
**[[Shi Islet]] (Lion Islet) ({{linktext|lang=zh-tw|獅|嶼}}) (in Lieyu Township)
**[[Binlang Islet]] ({{linktext|lang=zh-tw|檳榔嶼}}) (in Lieyu Township)
**''Dadeng'' (''Tateng''<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 1955 |title=Implications of US-ChiCom Geneva Deadlock |url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP79R00890A000600060017-7 |access-date=9 August 2019 |publisher=[[CIA]] |page=6 |quote=2. {redacted}ChiComs are building a causeway to link Tateng Island, the Communist territory nearest Quemoy, to mainland. 3.{redacted}several thousand troops (recently arrived in Amoy from Shanghai) will be garrisoned on Tateng after the causeway is completed (in next two months).}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 1955 |title=Central Intelligence Bulletin |url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP79T00975A002300150001-9 |access-date=9 August 2019 |publisher=[[CIA]] |page=6 |quote=After a lull of several weeks in artillery duels in the Quemoy area, Chinese Nationalist 155mm howitzers on 28 November fired 240 rounds at a causeway which the Chinese Communists are constructing between the mainland and Tateng Island, four to five miles north of Quemoy. Communist artillery responded with 680 rounds. No major damage was reported. {redacted} 2. The Chinese Communists began constructing the 6,300-foot causeway to Tateng apparently in early November. Such a link with the mainland would facilitate supply of Communist military positions on Tateng. Communist artillery now on the island is believed to include only 76mm guns, but 122mm or larger weapons could take any point on Quemoy under fire.(redacted)}}</ref><ref name="14Aug1950" />) (大嶝<ref name="moikin" /><ref name="mj">{{Cite web |date=29 January 2019 |title=Xíngzhèng miànjī |script-title=zh:行政面積 |url=https://kccad.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=62E690FE3873FDD4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607223604/https://kccad.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=62E690FE3873FDD4 |archive-date=7 June 2019 |access-date=9 August 2019 |website=Jīnmén Xiàn zhèngfǔ mínzhèng chǔ |language=zh-tw |quote={{lang|zh-tw|外圍 島嶼 面積單位： (平方公里） 大嶝 22.7500 小嶝 3.3100 角嶼 2.4400{...}附記 本縣縣境總面積153.011平方公里。 (不含中共管轄之大小嶝、角嶼)}} |script-website=zh:金門縣政府民政處 |trans-website=Civil Affairs Department, Kinmen County Government}}</ref><ref name="tjyb">{{Cite report |url=https://ws.kinmen.gov.tw/Download.ashx?u=LzAwMS9VcGxvYWQvMzExL3JlbGZpbGUvMTAwMTAvNjIxNDEyLzFmN2MwNjc4LTRlNGMtNDNmNC04NWQzLWJlOTVhYWY4NTRkMC5wZGY%3D&n=MTLmnIjku73ntbHoqIjmnIjloLEucGRm |title=Jīnmén Xiàn tǒngjì yuèbào |last=Jinmen xian zhengfu zhuji chu |date=December 2017 |pages=5, 6, 8 |language=zh-tw |quote={{lang|zh-tw|極 北 大嶝田墘 東 經 118 19 6 北 緯 24 34 16{...}區 域 別 面 積 ( 平方公里 ) 佔 總 面 積 百 分 比(%){...} 外 圍 島 嶼 大 嶝 22.7500 16.92 小 嶝 3.3100 1.82 角 嶼 2.4400 1.34{...}說 眀：1.本縣縣境總面積153.0110平方公里(不含中共管轄之大小嶝、角嶼)。{...}說 眀：外圍島嶼土地面積不含中共管轄之大嶝、小嶝及角嶼。}} |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513083548/https://ws.kinmen.gov.tw/Download.ashx?u=LzAwMS9VcGxvYWQvMzExL3JlbGZpbGUvMTAwMTAvNjIxNDEyLzFmN2MwNjc4LTRlNGMtNDNmNC04NWQzLWJlOTVhYWY4NTRkMC5wZGY%3D&n=MTLmnIjku73ntbHoqIjmnIjloLEucGRm |archive-date=13 May 2019 |script-title=zh:金門縣統計月報 |trans-title=Kinmen County Monthly Statistics Report |author-mask=Jinmen xian zhengfu zhuji chu 金門縣政府主計處}}</ref>/[[:zh:大嶝岛|大嶝島]]<ref name="twlsdt" />) (under [[PRC]] control from 9 October<ref name="govqz" /> or 15 October 1949;<ref name="twlsdt">{{Cite book |title=Táiwān lìshǐ dìtú |year=2018 |publisher=Taiwan lishi bowuguan |isbn=978-986-05-5274-4 |edition=Expanded and Revised |location=Taipei |pages=154, 158 |language=zh-tw |script-title=zh:臺灣歷史地圖 |trans-title=Taiwan Historical Maps |quote={{lang|zh-hant|古寧頭戰役地圖1949年10月 大嶝島（原屬金門縣） 1共軍佔領大嶝、小嶝、角嶼10.15 小嶝島（原屬金門縣）角嶼{...}大嶝島 小嶝島 角嶼}}}}</ref> part of [[Dadeng Subdistrict]], [[Xiang'an District]], [[Xiamen]], Fujian<ref name="govdd" /><ref name="govxa" />)
**''[[Xiaodeng Island|Xiaodeng]]'' (''Hsiaoteng'',<ref name="14Aug1950">{{Cite web |date=14 August 1950 |title=Chinese Communist Order of Battle, East China Coast |url=https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP82-00457R005500670011-0 |access-date=11 August 2019 |publisher=[[CIA]] |quote=2. The 11 Artillery Regiment is at Ningpo. The 12 and 13 Artillery Regiments moved to South Fukien, and are in Tateng (118-20, 24–35) and Hsiaoteng (11825, 2435) Islands and Amoy respectively.}}</ref> ''Siao Deng''<ref>{{Cite web |author=新辰 陳 |date=11 July 2016 |title=1607 金門 馬山觀測所 馬山觀測站 馬山播音站 地下坑道 還我河山 望遠鏡瞭望 金門國家公園 台灣金門旅遊53 |url=https://flickr.com/photos/derek58/31511526392/ |access-date=9 May 2020 |via=[[Flickr]] |quote=小嶝 Siao Deng}}</ref>) (小嶝<ref name="moikin" /><ref name="mj" /><ref name="tjyb" />/[[:zh:小嶝岛|小嶝島]]<ref name="twlsdt" />) (under [[PRC]] control from 9 October<ref name="govqz" /> or 15 October 1949;<ref name="twlsdt" /> part of [[Dadeng Subdistrict]], [[Xiang'an District]], [[Xiamen]], Fujian<ref name="govdd" /><ref name="govxa" />)
**''Jiaoyu''<ref name="br">{{Cite web |last=Wang |first=Wenjie |date=12 August 2009 |title=Letting Go of the Past |url=http://www.bjreview.com/60th/2009-08/12/content_217680.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314161242/http://www.bjreview.com/60th/2009-08/12/content_217680.htm |archive-date=14 March 2017 |access-date=11 August 2019 |website=[[Beijing Review]] |quote=Located in the southeast waters of Xiamen's Xiang'an District, the Dadeng Isles are {{sic|comprised|hide=y|of}} three islands—Dadeng, Xiaodeng and Jiaoyu. Known as the Three-Hero Islands, they cover an area of 13.2 square kilometers, with a population of approximately 20,000 people.}}</ref>/''Jiao Yu''<ref name="jy">{{GEOnet2|32FA8866B1513774E0440003BA962ED3|Jiao Yu (Approved – N) }}, [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency|United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]]</ref> (''Chiao I.'',<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Copp |first1=DeWitt |url=https://archive.org/details/oddday00copp |title=The Odd Day |last2=Peck |first2=Marshall |date=1962 |publisher=[[William Morrow and Company|William Morrow & Company]] |location=New York City |page=[https://archive.org/details/oddday00copp/page/8 8] |quote=Chiao I. |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> [[:zh:角屿|角嶼]]<ref name="moikin" /><ref name="mj" /><ref name="tjyb" /><ref name="twlsdt" />) (under [[PRC]] control from 9 October<ref name="govqz" /> or 15 October 1949;<ref name="twlsdt" /> part of [[Dadeng Subdistrict]], [[Xiang'an District]], [[Xiamen]], Fujian<ref name="govdd" /><ref name="govxa" />)
*[[Wuqiu, Kinmen|Wuqiu]] (Ockseu, Wuchiu; {{lang|zh-Hant|烏坵}}) group
**Daqiu (Tachiu, Taciou; {{lang|zh-Hant|大坵}}) (in Wuqiu Township)
**Xiaoqiu (Hsiaochiu; {{lang|zh-Hant|小坵}}) (in Wuqiu Township)

== Climate ==
Kinmen's climate is classified as [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa'', bordering on ''Cwa''). Among them, the annual average temperature is {{Convert|21.0|C}}, the hottest month in August is {{Convert|28.5|C}}, and the coldest month is {{Convert|12.6|C}} in January. The annual precipitation is {{Convert|1089.4|mm}}, of which August is the wettest with {{Convert|156.3|mm}}, while November is the driest with only {{Convert|23.5|mm}}.<ref name= ARI/> The extreme temperature throughout the year ranged from {{Convert|1.3|C}} on [[January 2016 East Asia cold wave|January 25, 2016]]<ref name=CWBrecordlows1/> to {{Convert|39.1|C}} on August 31, 2020.<ref name=CWBrecordhighs2/>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first = y
|single line = y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Kinmen ([[Jincheng, Kinmen|Jincheng]]) (2005–2020 normals, extremes 2004–present)
|Jan high C = 	17.9
|Feb high C = 	18.1
|Mar high C = 	20.1
|Apr high C = 	23.7
|May high C = 	27.4
|Jun high C = 	30.1
|Jul high C = 	32.4
|Aug high C = 	32.7
|Sep high C = 	31.9
|Oct high C = 	29.2
|Nov high C = 	25.0
|Dec high C = 	19.9
|Jan mean C = 13.5
|Feb mean C = 13.6
|Mar mean C = 15.5
|Apr mean C = 19.3
|May mean C = 23.4
|Jun mean C = 26.6
|Jul mean C = 28.5
|Aug mean C = 28.6
|Sep mean C = 27.6
|Oct mean C = 24.4
|Nov mean C = 20.6
|Dec mean C = 15.8
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 	10.9
|Feb low C = 	10.9
|Mar low C = 	12.6
|Apr low C = 	16.6
|May low C = 	20.9
|Jun low C = 	24.6
|Jul low C = 	26.3
|Aug low C = 	26.2
|Sep low C = 	24.9
|Oct low C = 	21.6
|Nov low C = 	17.9
|Dec low C = 	13.0
|Jan record high C = 26.2 |Jan record low C = 1.3
|Feb record high C = 28.1 |Feb record low C = 4.1
|Mar record high C = 31.6 |Mar record low C = 4.2
|Apr record high C = 32.1 |Apr record low C = 8.2
|May record high C = 37.8 |May record low C = 12.8
|Jun record high C = 38.4 |Jun record low C = 16.6
|Jul record high C = 39.1 |Jul record low C = 23.0
|Aug record high C = 39.1 |Aug record low C = 22.9
|Sep record high C = 38.2 |Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record high C = 36.7 |Oct record low C = 14.1
|Nov record high C = 33.3 |Nov record low C = 9.5
|Dec record high C = 27.5 |Dec record low C = 3.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 	38.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 	52.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 	83.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 	107.0
|May precipitation mm = 	175.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 	149.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 	104.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 	126.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 	84.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 	33.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 	52.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 	41.8
|Jan humidity = 	71.6
|Feb humidity = 	75.5
|Mar humidity = 	76.1
|Apr humidity = 	78.9
|May humidity = 	83.3
|Jun humidity = 	87.8
|Jul humidity = 	84.1
|Aug humidity = 	82.3
|Sep humidity = 	75.3
|Oct humidity = 	66.9
|Nov humidity = 	70.2
|Dec humidity = 	68.4
|Jan precipitation days = 	5.3
|Feb precipitation days = 	7.9
|Mar precipitation days = 	11.1
|Apr precipitation days = 	11.8
|May precipitation days = 	13.4
|Jun precipitation days = 	12.8
|Jul precipitation days = 	6.2
|Aug precipitation days = 	8.4
|Sep precipitation days = 	6.5
|Oct precipitation days = 	2.3
|Nov precipitation days = 	5.1
|Dec precipitation days = 	4.8
|Jan sun = 	128.7
|Feb sun = 	98.5
|Mar sun = 	110.3
|Apr sun = 	116.2
|May sun = 	123.8
|Jun sun = 	156.8
|Jul sun = 	252.3
|Aug sun = 	217.2
|Sep sun = 	194.9
|Oct sun = 	189.5
|Nov sun = 	146.1
|Dec sun = 	137.8
|source 1 = Central Weather Bureau<ref name= CWB>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240319234416/https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/D/publication.html?key=13
|script-title=zh:94年–109年氣候資料年報-地面資料 : 467360 金門
|archive-date = 19 March 2024
|url = https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/D/publication.html?key=13
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau
|language = en
|access-date = 20 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs1>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_18.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs2>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_19.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計(續) 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlows1>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_20.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlow2>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_21.pdf 
|title = 氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計(續) 
|publisher = Central Weather Bureau 
|language = zh 
|access-date = 20 March 2024}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first = y
|single line = y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Kinmen ([[Jinhu, Kinmen|Jinhu]])
|Jan high C = 16.6
|Feb high C = 16.8
|Mar high C = 20.1
|Apr high C = 23.2
|May high C = 26.1
|Jun high C = 29.5
|Jul high C = 32.1
|Aug high C = 32.2
|Sep high C = 30.7
|Oct high C = 27.6
|Nov high C = 23.8
|Dec high C = 19.7
|Jan mean C = 12.6
|Feb mean C = 13.0
|Mar mean C = 15.1
|Apr mean C = 19.3
|May mean C = 23.1
|Jun mean C = 26.3
|Jul mean C = 28.4
|Aug mean C = 28.5
|Sep mean C = 26.6
|Oct mean C = 23.6
|Nov mean C = 19.4
|Dec mean C = 15.5
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 10.0
|Feb low C = 10.1
|Mar low C = 12.2
|Apr low C = 16.4
|May low C = 20.8
|Jun low C = 23.9
|Jul low C = 25.9
|Aug low C = 25.6
|Sep low C = 24.3
|Oct low C = 20.9
|Nov low C = 16.8
|Dec low C = 12.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 34.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 63.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 92.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 118.3
|May precipitation mm = 139.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 154.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 127.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 156.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 116.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 38.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 23.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 24.2
|Jan humidity = 74.4
|Feb humidity = 76.6
|Mar humidity = 78.4
|Apr humidity = 82.6
|May humidity = 83.1
|Jun humidity = 83.8
|Jul humidity = 81.4
|Aug humidity = 80.3
|Sep humidity = 78.4
|Oct humidity = 72.4
|Nov humidity = 71.2
|Dec humidity = 73.5
|Jan sun = 124.6
|Feb sun = 98.3
|Mar sun = 96.2
|Apr sun = 113.2
|May sun = 138.4
|Jun sun = 182.8
|Jul sun = 246.1
|Aug sun = 227.1
|Sep sun = 188.2
|Oct sun = 187.1
|Nov sun = 150.3
|Dec sun = 151.0
|source 1 = Agricultural Research Institute, Kinmen County<ref name= ARI>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230209122524/https://ari.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=A4A309DBDB70F1D8
|script-title=zh:氣候環境
|archive-date = 9 February 2023
|url = https://ari.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=A4A309DBDB70F1D8
|publisher = Agricultural Research Institute, Kinmen County
|language = zh
|access-date = 9 February 2023}}</ref>
}}

== Geology ==
Kinmen, much like the surrounding Chinese mainland, is predominantly composed of [[Cretaceous]] aged [[granite]], with lesser amounts of [[Eocene]]-[[Oligocene]] [[sandstone]], [[Miocene]] [[basalt]] and [[Pleistocene]]-[[Holocene]] [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]]. The thickness of the sediments varies from 150 metres in the west to only a few metres in the east.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Liou |first1=Tai-sheng |last2=Lu |first2=Hsueh-yu |last3=Lin |first3=Cheng-kuo |last4=Lin |first4=Wayne |last5=Chang |first5=Yu-te |last6=Chien |first6=Jeng-ming |last7=Chen |first7=Wen-fu |year=2009 |title=Geochemical Investigation of Groundwater in a Granitic Island: A Case Study from Kinmen Island, Taiwan |journal=Environmental Geology |language=en |volume=58 |issue=7 |page=1575 |doi=10.1007/s00254-008-1664-7 |bibcode=2009EnGeo..58.1575L |s2cid=128799871}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Expand section|date=December 2018}}
{{Historical populations
|type = Taiwan
|footnote = Source:{{Cite web |title=Populations by city and country in Taiwan |url=http://www.ris.gov.tw/zh_TW/346 |publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)|Ministry of the Interior]] Population Census}}
|1985 	|48846 
|1990 	|42754 
|1995 	|47394 
|2000 	|53832 
|2005 	|76491 
|2010 	|97364 
|2015 	|132799 
}}

==Culture==
[[File:Bomb shells fired from Mainland China, Kinmen, Taiwan.JPG|left|thumb|Artillery shells fired by the People's Liberation Army to Kinmen in the 1950s]]
[[File:瓊林蔡氏家廟風獅爺.JPG|thumb|A [[shisa]] (wind-lion god) carving in Kinmen]]

The people of Kinmen see themselves as Kinmenese, ''Mínnánrén''<!--ROC pronunciation is Mín, not Mǐn http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000031962-->/''Mǐnnánrén'' (people of Southern Fujian), or Chinese. They identify as citizens of the Republic of China but not so much as [[Taiwanese people|Taiwanese]].<ref name="di Genova">{{Cite news |last=di Genova |first=Trista |date=11 July 2007 |title=Study Explores the 'Kinmen Identity' |work=China Post |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/114701.htm |access-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104164106/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/114701.htm |archive-date=4 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wei |first=Jian-feng |year=2006 |title=An Examination of Cultural Identity of Residents of Quemoy (Kinmen) |url=http://www.uri.edu/iaics/content/2006v15n1/13%20Jian-Feng%20Wei.pdf |journal=Intercultural Communication Studies |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=136–137 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429171612/http://www.uri.edu/iaics/content/2006v15n1/13%20Jian-Feng%20Wei.pdf |archive-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> Kinmen's strong Chinese identity was forged during the period of the ROC's military confrontation with the People's Republic of China (1949–1992) when Kinmen was under military administration.<ref name="di Genova" /> In the 1980s, as the militarization decreased and martial law was ended on Taiwan, the [[Taiwan independence movement]] and efforts in de-Sinicization grew in strength on Taiwan.<ref name="di Genova" /> To Kinmenese, however, these developments were viewed with concern and there was a feeling that "Taiwan didn't identify with Kinmen".<ref name="di Genova" /> Many worried that Taiwanese ''de jure'' independence from China would lead to the severing of ties with Kinmen.<ref name="di Genova" /> These concerns play a strong role in [[#Politics|Kinmenese politics]] as well.<ref name="di Genova" /> Legally speaking, Kinmenese people are not Taiwanese either and have a unique identity from that of the Taiwanese. "Taiwanization" is sometimes perceived as a threat to the cultural identity of the Kinmenese people.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wan |first=Tsun-Lun |title=Language Revitalization and Perceived Language Shift: A Case of Kinmenese Hokkien |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337085068 |journal=Chinese History and Society / Berliner China-Hefte |type=Preprint |via=ResearchGate}}</ref>

===Language===
Many of the county's inhabitants speak [[Hokkien]]; the [[Quanzhou dialects|Quanzhou accent]] is predominant. Most residents will say they speak Kinmenese, which is mutually intelligible with [[Taiwanese Hokkien]]. The residents of [[Wuqiu, Kinmen|Wuchiu Township]] speak [[Pu-Xian Min]], as opposed to Hokkien for the rest of Kinmen.

===Others===
Kinmen is notable for a number of cultural products. Due to the extensive shelling by the People's Liberation Army in the 1950s, Kinmen is famous for its [[Kinmen knife|artillery shell knives]]. Local artisans would collect the vast amounts of exploded ordnance and make high-quality knives which are still sought after by chefs and connoisseurs. Kinmen is also home of the regionally famous [[Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor|Kinmen Kaoliang]] liquor, a spirit ranging between 38 and 63 percent alcohol, which is highly appreciated by the Taiwanese. Other local culinary specialties include {{ill|Kinmen noodles|zh|金門麵線}}, ''{{ill|kòng-thn̂g|zh|貢糖}}'' and beef [[jerky]] ([[bakkwa]]).

Like the [[Ryukyus]], Kinmen is known for [[shisa]] (wind-lion god) figures (風獅爺).<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 June 2009 |title=Wind Lion God |url=http://www.kmnp.gov.tw/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=79 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504061824/http://www.kmnp.gov.tw/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=79 |archive-date=4 May 2012 |access-date=20 January 2012 |website=Kinmen National Park}}</ref>

==Military==
Kinmen is home to the [[Republic of China Army|ROC Army]]’s [[101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion]] also known as the ROC Army Frogman, whose main headquarter is garrisoned on Liaoluo Bay (料羅灣).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/27/2003638178|title=Kinmen's 'frogmen' stand guard over Lunar New Year|date=27 January 2016|website=Taipei Times|author-last1=Pan|author-first1=Jason}}</ref> As of 2024, United States soldiers visited the islands.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramzy |first=Austin |title=Taiwan Acknowledges Presence of U.S. Troops on Outlying Islands |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/taiwan-acknowledges-presence-of-u-s-troops-on-outlying-islands-c81c3b6b |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=The Wall Street Journal|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Economy ==
Kinmen's economy is mainly based on tourism and services due to its proximity to mainland China.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hu |first1=Meidong |last2=Li |first2=Dapeng |year=2004 |title=Islands Brought Closer by Culture, Tours and Mazu Belief |url=http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=Interactions&title=Cross-strait+Interactions+and+Exchanges&m_id=29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050423220111/http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=Interactions&title=Cross-strait+Interactions+and+Exchanges&m_id=29 |archive-date=23 April 2005 |access-date=11 January 2009 |website=Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 October 2003 |title=Commentary: Direct, Cross-Strait Three Exchanges Irresistible |url=http://www.chinataiwan.org/english/News/zt/tdl/200310/t20031028_121559.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216064003/http://www.chinataiwan.org/english/News/zt/tdl/200310/t20031028_121559.htm |archive-date=16 February 2012 |access-date=1 January 2012 |website=Chinataiwan.org}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:Juguanglou.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Juguang Tower]] ("Brightness of Ju"), a famous landmark in Kinmen]]

Because of its military importance, development on the island was extremely limited. Only by 2003, Kinmen opened up itself to tourists from [[Fujian]] in [[China|Mainland China]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jennings |first=Ralph |date=15 February 2007 |title=Chinese Tourists Flock to Taiwan's Kinmen Island |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-kinmen-idUSTP19850120070215 |access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref> It is now a popular weekend tourist destination for Taiwanese and is known for its quiet villages, old-style architecture and beaches. Chinese and Taiwanese tour groups also spend a short time touring the island whilst transiting between the ferry and the airport, as an intermediate stop between China and Taiwan. Large parts of Kinmen form the [[Kinmen National Park]] which highlights military fortifications and structures, historical dwellings and natural scenery.

The year 2014 recorded the highest number of passengers traveling by ferry between Kinmen and [[Fujian]] ports for as many as 1.5&nbsp;million people.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 December 2014 |title=Over 1.5 Mil. Have Ridden with Kinmen-Fujian Ferry |work=China Post |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2014/12/31/425332/Over-15.htm |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621182739/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2014/12/31/425332/Over-15.htm |archive-date=21 June 2015}}</ref> Since 1 January 2015, [[China|Chinese mainland]] tourists were no longer required to apply for [[Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan|Exit and Entry Permit]] in advance for visits to Kinmen, [[Penghu]] and [[Matsu Islands]]. Instead, they can apply for it upon arrival at a cost of NT$600.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Tang |first1=Pei-chun |last2=Lee |first2=Hsin-yin |date=10 December 2014 |title=Taiwanese Offshore Islands to Ease Travel for Chinese from Jan. 1 |work=Focus Taiwan News Channel |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201412100015.aspx |access-date=10 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210170134/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201412100015.aspx |archive-date=10 December 2014}}</ref>

By 2016, two infrastructure projects are expected to boost tourism and [[meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions]] visitors to the islands. One includes a yet-to-be-named five-star resort spearheaded by Xiamen property developer, Wu Youhua, president of Xiamen Huatian Group, the first time a Chinese interest has been allowed to invest in the Taiwanese hotel sector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Glenn |date=2011–2012 |title=MICE Development Hits Kinmen |url=http://www.ttgmice.com/index.php/article-level-2/?article_id=5277 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730204507/http://www.ttgmice.com/article-level-2/?article_id=5277 |archive-date=30 July 2013 |website=TTGmice}}</ref>

According to local authorities in Kinmen, they had recorded over 745,000 tourists from mainland China in 2018, who had collectively spent over 360 million dollars during that year.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Eric |last1=Cheung |first2=Will |last2=Ripley |first3=John |last3=Mees |date=2023-06-01 |title=A China-Taiwan DMZ? Meet the Kinmen islanders who want a bridge, not a war |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/01/asia/taiwan-china-tensions-kinmen-island-dmz-intl-hnk/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

====Tourist attractions====
[[File:Jhaishan Tunnel, Kinmen, Taiwan.JPG|thumb|[[Zhaishan Tunnel]]]]
Tourist-related affairs in Kinmen are governed by Transportation and Tourism Bureau of [[Kinmen County Government]]. Major tourist attractions in Kinmen are:<ref name="cihai" />

=====Museums=====
[[August 23 Artillery Battle Museum]], [[Guningtou Battle Museum]], [[Hujingtou Battle Museum]], [[Kinmen Ceramics Museum]], [[Landmine Museum]], [[Lieyu Township Culture Museum]], [[Yu Da Wei Xian Sheng Memorial Museum]].

=====Nature=====
[[Ci Lake]], [[Gugang Lake]], [[Houhu Seashore Park]], [[Jiangong Islet]], [[Jincheng Seaside Park]], [[Kinmen National Park]], [[Lingshui Lake]], [[Tianpu Reservoir]], [[Zhongzheng Park (Kinmen)|Zhongzheng Park]].

=====Historical buildings=====
[[Beishan Old Western-style House]], [[Chenggong Coastal Defense Tunnel]], [[Chen Shi-yin Western Style House]], [[Deyue Gun Tower]], [[Gulongtou Zhenwei Residence]], [[Jindong Movie Theater]], [[Jinshui Elementary School]], [[Juguang Tower]], [[Kinmen Folk Culture Village]], [[Kinmen Military Headquarters of Qing Dynasty]], [[Mashan Broadcasting and Observation Station]], [[Mofan Street]], [[Qingtian Hall]], [[Qionglin Tunnel]], [[Yannan Academy]], [[Wang Chin-cheng's Western House]], [[Wuqiu Lighthouse]] and [[Zhaishan Tunnel]].

=====Religious buildings=====
[[Longfeng Temple]], [[Maoshan Pagoda]], [[Wentai Pagoda]].

===Industry===
Kinmen is famous for the production of [[Kaoliang liquor]], which takes up about 75% of Taiwan's market share, in which it is a strong economic backbone of the county. Traditional industries are also being kept and improved, ranging from agriculture, fishery and livestock. It has a good fishery industry also due to its nature being surrounded by unpolluted sea.

Kinmen also produces its unique [[Kinmen knife]], in which the raw material used to produce it is taken from the remnants of shells fired by the People's Liberation Army in 1958–1978.  The knife was made as gift to the visiting Head of [[Taiwan Affairs Office]] [[Zhang Zhijun]] to Kinmen on 23–24 May 2015 to symbolize mutual peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and to bury the hatchet left from [[Chinese Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Current Situations |url=http://www.investkinmen.com/eng/about/main.php?mainId=1&proId=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518135205/http://www.investkinmen.com/eng/about/main.php?mainId=1&proId=2 |archive-date=18 May 2014 |access-date=19 May 2014 |url-status=usurped |website=Kinmen County Industrial Department and Investment Promotion Committee}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hu |first1=Zep |last2=Chou  |first2=Yi-ling |last3=Kao |first3=Evelyn  |date=24 May 2015 |title=Kinmen Knives Symbolize Cross-Strait Peace: Chinese Official |work=Focus Taiwan News Channel |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201505240010.aspx |access-date=11 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713104921/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201505240010.aspx |archive-date=13 July 2015}}</ref>

===Imported goods===
Kinmen often import more goods from Mainland China than Taiwan Island because of lower costs due to the proximity of the county to the mainland. During the campaign for the [[2014 Taiwan local elections|2014 county magistrate]], all of the magistrate candidates spent their money on campaign materials produced in mainland provinces, such as [[Guangdong]], Zhejiang and [[Fujian]] instead of from Taiwan Island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 2014 |title=Kinmen Candidates Prefer China-Produced Campaign Materials |url=http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20141120000090&cid=1101 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119204530/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20141120000090&cid=1101 |archive-date=19 January 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |website=Want China Times |agency=Central News Agency}}</ref>

==Politics==
{{See also|List of county magistrates of Kinmen}}
[[File:陳委員福海 (第七屆).jpg|thumb|[[Chen Fu-hai]], the incumbent Magistrate of Kinmen County]]

The island consistently votes for the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT). Until the early 1990s, proponents of [[Taiwan independence]] argued that they would consider handing Kinmen over to the PRC in any negotiated settlement. Residents of the island have broadly opposed such measures.

The [[Democratic Progressive Party]] has a minor presence on the island and typically does not present candidates to stand in local elections, although it does hold a single seat in [[Kinmen County Council]] from both of the [[2009 Taiwanese local elections|2009]] and [[2014 Taiwanese local elections|2014 local elections]]. However, the party occasionally lends support to liberal or center-left candidates.

On 29 November 2014, independent candidate [[Chen Fu-hai]] won the [[2014 Taiwanese local elections|county magistrate election]] and took office as the [[List of county magistrates of Kinmen|Magistrate of Kinmen County]] on 25 December 2014, the first independent candidate to win the office. He replaced Magistrate [[Lee Wo-shih]] of the [[Kuomintang]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 2014 |title=Independent Chen Fuhai Wins Kinmen Magistrate Race |url=http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20141129000118&cid=1101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210072639/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20141129000118&cid=1101 |archive-date=10 December 2014 |access-date=5 November 2016 |website=Want China Times |agency=Central News Agency}}</ref> The [[2014 Taiwanese local elections|2014 Kinmen County magistrate election]] consisted of 10 candidates, the highest number of nominated candidates in the electoral history of Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Joy |date=27 November 2014 |title=9-In-1 Elections' Campaigns Run Hot in Taitung and the Outlying Islands |work=China Post |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/analysis/2014/11/27/422758/p1/9-in-1-Elections.htm |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119204009/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/analysis/2014/11/27/422758/p1/9-in-1-Elections.htm |archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref>

[[Kinmen County Constituency]] is represented by a single seat in the [[Legislative Yuan]]. It is currently represented by Chen Yu-chen ({{zh|t=陳玉珍|s=陈玉珍|first=t|p=Chén Yùzhēn}}) of the [[Kuomintang]]. The current majority seats of [[Kinmen County Council]] is from independent, but headed by speaker Hung Yun-tien ({{zh|t=洪允典|p=Hóng Yǔndiǎn}}) of the Kuomintang. The incumbent Magistrate of Kinmen County is independent [[Chen Fu-hai]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introduction to the Magistrate |url=https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=16892BCBAF2F7505 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922054552/https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=16892BCBAF2F7505 |archive-date=22 September 2021 |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=Kinmen County Government}}</ref>

=== Townships ===
[[File:Kinmen.svg|thumb|Subdivision of Kinmen County into townships]]
[[File:Kinmen County Government 20110822 2.jpg|thumb|[[Kinmen County Government]]]]
[[File:Kinmen County Council 20110823.jpg|thumb|[[Kinmen County Council]]]]
[[File:Jinchengtownview.JPG|thumb|[[Jincheng, Kinmen|Jincheng Township]], the county seat of Kinmen]]

Kinmen County is divided into three urban [[Township (Taiwan)|township]]s and three rural townships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Township Characteristics |url=https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/News.aspx?n=72CD566167A6DD62 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106165717/https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/News.aspx?n=72CD566167A6DD62 |archive-date=6 January 2020 |access-date=9 May 2019 |website=Kinmen County Government| date=14 December 2017 }}</ref> [[Jincheng, Kinmen|Jincheng Township]] is the county seat which houses [[Kinmen County Government]] and [[Kinmen County Council]]. The township also houses the headquarter office of [[Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center]]. Kinmen County has the fewest rural townships among other counties in Taiwan.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! [[Chinese Character|Chinese]] !! [[Hanyu Pinyin]] !! [[Wade–Giles]] !! [[Hokkien]] [[Pe̍h-ōe-jī]] !!  English meaning
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="6"|'''Urban townships'''
|-
| [[Jincheng, Kinmen|Jincheng Township]] || 金城鎮 || {{lang|zh-Latn|Jīnchéng Zhèn}} || Chin¹-ch'eng² Chen⁴ || [[:zh-min-nan:Kim-siâⁿ-tìn|Kim-siâⁿ-tìn]] || 'Golden City'<!--;<br/>'Strong City' <small>''(metaphor)''</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jīn chéng |script-title=zh:金城 |url=https://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/dictView.jsp?ID=94215 |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=Jiàoyùbù "Chóngbiān Guóyǔ cídiǎn xiūdìng běn" |quote=比喻城池堅固。 |script-website=zh:教育部《重編國語辭典修訂本》}}</ref>-->
|-
| [[Jinhu, Kinmen|Jinhu Township]] || 金湖鎮 || {{lang|zh-Latn|Jīnhú Zhèn}} || Chin¹-hu² Chen⁴ || [[:zh-min-nan:Kim-ô͘-tìn|Kim-ô͘-tìn]] || 'Golden Lake'
|-
| [[Jinsha, Kinmen|Jinsha Township]] || 金沙鎮 || {{lang|zh-Latn|Jīnshā Zhèn}} || Chin¹-sha¹ Chen⁴|| [[:zh-min-nan:Kim-soa-tìn|Kim-soa-tìn]] || 'Gold Dust'<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2019 |title=Lìshǐ yángé |script-title=zh:歷史沿革 |url=https://kinsha.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=FF1A391C7BD7A656 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402041420/http://kinsha.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=FF1A391C7BD7A656 |archive-date=2 April 2018 |access-date=22 September 2019 |language=zh-tw |quote=清末民初在原金山港河海交接處發現金沙，因而將港易名為金沙港，在此入海的溪流易名之為金沙溪，行政區以金沙為名。 |script-website=zh:金門縣金沙鎮公所 |trans-website=Jinsha Township Administration, Kinmen County}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="6"|'''Rural townships'''
|-
| [[Jinning, Kinmen|Jinning Township]] || 金寧鄉 || {{lang|zh-Latn|Jīnníng Xiāng}} || Chin¹-ning² Hsiang¹ || [[:zh-min-nan:Kim-lêng-hiong|Kim-lêng-hiong]] || 'Golden Tranquility'
|-
| [[Lieyu|Lieyu Township]] || 烈嶼鄉 || {{lang|zh-Latn|Lièyǔ Xiāng}} || Lie⁴-yü³ Hsiang¹ || [[:zh-min-nan:Lia̍t-sū-hiong|Lia̍t-sū-hiong]] || 'Split-off Islet'<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 July 2017 |title=Lìshǐ yángé |script-title=zh:歷史沿革 |trans-title=Historical Development |url=https://lieyu.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=64E5B639E0751B00 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825162831/https://lieyu.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=64E5B639E0751B00 |archive-date=25 August 2019 |access-date=10 August 2019 |website=Jīnmén Xiàn Lièyǔ Xiāng gōngsuǒ |language=zh-tw |quote={{lang|zh-tw|金門民間傳說烈嶼和大金門本是相連，沒有過海，和大金門的水頭有數公尺之土地相連帶。後有一仙人眼見船隻軍要轉來轉去才能轉進港，非常麻煩，就說：「這條港路上的半島，該讓她(離嶼)去，讓出這條港路，好交通船」。金口一開，烈嶼那塊島慢慢裂開，一直開離大金門所以叫「烈嶼」久而久之，就叫成了「烈嶼」。（金門民間傳說）}} |script-website=zh:金門縣烈嶼鄉公所 |trans-website=Lieyu Township Village Administration, Kinmen County}}</ref><!--The understanding as 'Heroic Islets' needs specific evidence not bold assertion.-->
|-
| [[Wuqiu, Kinmen|Wuqiu Township]] || 烏坵鄉 || {{lang|zh-Latn|Wūqiū Xiāng}} || Wu¹-ch'iu¹ Hsiang¹ || [[:zh-min-nan:O͘-khiu-hiong|O͘-khiu-hiong]] || 'Black Mound'
|}

All those townships on Greater Kinmen Island start their names with ''Jin'' (i.e., ''Kin'', lit. "gold"). Lieyu Township encompasses the entire Lesser Kinmen Island, and is the closest to [[Xiamen]]. [[Wuqiu, Kinmen|Wuqiu Township]] comprises Greater Qiu Islet ({{lang|zh|大坵}}) and Lesser Qiu Islet ({{lang|zh|小坵}}).

Jincheng and Jinsha are the largest of the six townships. Altogether, there are 37 villages in Kinmen County.<!--, three of which – all in ''Zhèn'' ({{lang|zh-hant|鎮}}) – are ''Lǐ''-villages ({{lang|zh|里}}); the rest are ''Cūn''-villages ({{lang|zh|村}}).-->

===Cross-Strait relations===
In the controversy regarding the [[political status of Taiwan]], the People's Republic of China (PRC) has continuously claimed the territory of Kinmen County as part of [[Fujian|its own Fujian Province]], claiming the Kinmen Islands as a county<!--a ''Jinmen County''--> of [[Quanzhou]] [[prefecture-level city]].<ref name="statqz">{{Cite web |title=2018 nián tǒngjì yòng qūhuà dàimǎ hé chéng-xiāng huàfēn dàimǎ: Quánzhōu Shì |script-title=zh:2018年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：泉州市 |trans-title=2018 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Quanzhou City |url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2018/35/3505.html |access-date=10 August 2019 |website=Guójiā tǒngjì jú |language=zh-hans |quote={{lang|zh-hans|统计用区划代码 名称{...}350527000000 金门县{...}} |script-website=zh:国家统计局 |trans-website=National Bureau of Statistics}}</ref><ref name="ch">{{Cite book |title=Cíhǎi |title-link=Cihai |year=2009 |publisher=Shanghai cishu chubanshe |isbn=9787532628599 |editor-last=Xia |editor-first=Zhengnong 夏征农 |edition=6th, in Color |location=Shanghai |page=1863 |language=zh |script-title=zh:辞海 |quote={{lang|zh-hans|'''泉州'''{...}辖丰泽、鲤城、洛江、泉港四区和惠安、安溪、永春、德化、金门五县，代管晋江、石狮、南安三市。}} |editor-last2=Chen |editor-first2=Zhili 陈至立}}</ref><ref name="govqz">{{Cite web |title=Jiànzhì yángé |script-title=zh:建治沿革 |trans-title=Jianzhi History |url=http://www.quanzhou.gov.cn/zfb/zjqz/jzyg/ |access-date=10 August 2019 |website=Quánzhōu Shì rénmín zhèngfǔ |language=zh-hans |quote={{lang|zh-hans|民国3年7月，金门自思明县析出置县，隶属厦门道。{...}民国22年(1933){...}12月13日，四省分别更名为闽海、延建、兴泉、龙汀。兴泉省辖莆田、仙游、晋江、南安、安溪、惠安、同安、金门、永春、德化、大田、思明十二县 ，治设晋江(今泉州市区)。{...}民国23年7月，全省设立十个行政督察区，永春、德化、惠安属第四行政督察区(专署驻仙游)，晋江、南安、安溪、金门属第五行政督察区(专署驻同安)。民国24年(1935)10月，全省改为7个行政督察区、l市。惠安、晋江、南安、金门、安溪、永春、德化属第四区(专署驻同安)。民国26年4月，南安县治徙溪美。10月，日本侵略军攻陷金门岛及烈屿，金门县政府迁到大嶝乡。{...}民国27年(1938){...}8月，金门县政务由南安县兼摄。{...}民国32年(1943)9月，全省调整为8个行政督察区、2个市。第四区专署仍驻永春，下辖永春、安溪、金门、南安、晋江、惠安等九县。德化改属第六区(专署驻龙岩)。 {...}1949年8月24日，福建省人民政府(省会福州)成立。8、9月间，南安、永春、惠安、晋江、安溪相继解放。9月， 全省划为八个行政督察区。9月9日，第五行政督察专员公署成立，辖晋江、南安、同安、惠安、安溪、永春、仙游、莆田、金门(待统一)等九县。公署设晋江县城(今泉州市区)。10月9日，金门县大嶝岛、小嶝岛及角屿解放。11月24日，德化解放，归入第七行政督察区(专署驻永安县)。  　1950年{...}10月17日，政务院批准德化县划归晋江区专员公署管辖；1951年1月正式接管。至此， 晋江区辖有晋江、南安、同安、安溪、永春、德化、莆田、仙游、惠安、金门(待统一)十县。{...}1955年3月12日，奉省人民委员会令，晋江区专员公署改称晋江专员公署，4月1日正式实行。同年5月，省人民政府宣布成立金门县政府。{...}1970年{...}6月18日，福建省革命委员会决定实行。于是,全区辖有泉州市及晋江、惠安、南安、同安、安溪、永春、德化、金门(待统一)八县。同年12月25日，划金门县大嶝公社归同安县管辖。{...}1992年3月6日，国务院批准，晋江撤县设市，领原晋江县行政区域，由泉州代管。1992年5月1日。晋江市人民政府成立，至此，泉州市计辖l区、2市、6县：鲤城区、石狮市、晋江市、惠安县、南安县、安溪县、永春县、德化县、金门县，(待统一)。}} |trans-website=Quanzhou City People's Government |script-website=zh:泉州市人民政府}}</ref><ref name="xzqhqz">{{Cite web |date=14 July 2015 |title=Quánzhōu Shì lìshǐ yángé |script-title=zh:泉州市历史沿革 |trans-title=Quanzhou City Historical Development |url=http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/fj/9622.html |access-date=10 August 2019 |website=Xzqh.org |language=zh-hans |quote={{lang|zh-hans|1949年8月至11月除金门县外各县相继解放，{...}自1949年9月起除续领原辖晋江、惠安、南安、安溪、永泰、德化、莆田、仙游、金门、同安10县外，1951年从晋江县析出城区和近郊建县级泉州市。{...}2003年末，全市总户数1715866户，总人口6626204人，其中非农业人口1696232人（均不包括金门县在内）；}}}}</ref> The PRC claims the Wuqiu (Ockseu) Islands as part of [[Xiuyu District]] in [[Putian]] prefecture-level city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2017 |title=Hǎidǎo zīyuán |script-title=zh:海岛资源 |url=http://www.ptxy.gov.cn/gkxx/zrzy/201709/t20170907_662672.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011052611/http://www.ptxy.gov.cn/gkxx/zrzy/201709/t20170907_662672.htm |archive-date=11 October 2019 |access-date=11 October 2019 |website=Pútián Shì Xiùyǔ Qū rénmín zhèngfǔ |language=zh-hans |quote={{lang|zh-hans|（二）海岛分布 境内海岛主要分布在三大海湾内。兴化湾南部（包括埭头半岛）有海岛32个，其中居民岛3个。南日群岛（包括十八列岛）有海岛65个，其中居民岛5个；平海湾有海岛9个，全为无居民岛；湄洲湾有海岛14个，其中居民岛1个；湄洲湾周边（包括湄洲岛、虎狮列岛）有海岛13个，其中居民岛1个；鸬鹚周边（包括鸬鹚岛）有海岛4个，全为无居民岛；乌丘屿周边（包括乌丘屿）有海岛4个，其中居民岛1个。}} |script-website=zh:莆田市秀屿区人民政府}}</ref><!--{{citation needed span|[[Dongding Island]] is claimed by the PRC as part of [[Longhai City]].|date=August 2020|reason=Almost certainly true based on the map of Zhangzhou administrative divisions. Administrative Division Zhangzhou prfc}}--> Taiwan (Republic of China) claims the Dadeng (Tateng) Islands in [[Dadeng Subdistrict]], [[Xiang'an District]], [[Xiamen]], Fujian as part of Kinmen County.<ref name="mj" /><ref name="taiwan">{{Cite web |title=05-19 Táiwān dǎoyǔ miànjī |script-title=zh:05-19 臺灣島嶼面積 |trans-title=05-19 Area of Islands in Taiwan |url=https://www.moi.gov.tw/files/site_stuff/321/2/year/y05-19.ods |access-date=20 October 2019 |website=[[Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)|Ministry of the Interior]] |language=zh-tw,en |format=ODS |quote=外圍島嶼 小計 Subtotal 29.8550 Offshore 大嶝 Dadeng 22.7500 Islet 小嶝 Xiaodeng 3.3100 角嶝 Jiaodeng 2.4400 附 註： 1.大嶝、小嶝、角嶝目前由中國大陸管轄，烏坵鄉由金門縣政府代管}}</ref><ref name="APA">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/insightguidetaiw00vivi_0 |title=Taiwan |date=2003 |publisher=APA Publications |isbn=9789812349668 |editor-last=Kim |editor-first=Vivien |series=[[Insight Guides]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/insightguidetaiw00vivi_0/page/222 222] |quote=Kinmen is actually an archipelago of 15 islands. Three of them, however, are controlled by China, and only two of the Taiwan-controlled islands – Kinmen main island and '''Hsiao Kinmen''' (Little Kinmen) – are open to tourism. |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:國立金門大學綜合教學大樓 20141231.JPG|thumb|[[National Quemoy University]]]]
In August 2010, [[National Quemoy University]] was established from the predecessor National Kinmen Institute of Technology and Kinmen Division of [[National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences]] established in 1997.<ref name="Lin et al. 2010-08-01">{{Cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Szu-yu |last2=Ni |first2=Kuo-yen |last3=Kuo |first3=Deborah |date=1 August 2010 |title=NTU Lauded as Best University in All Chinese Communities |work=Focus Taiwan News Channel |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201008010007 |access-date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808061627/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201008010007 |archive-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> It is located in Jinning Township. The islands also have a satellite campuses of [[Ming Chuan University]] and [[National University of Kaohsiung]]. Secondary educational institutions include National Kinmen Senior High School and National Kinmen Agricultural and Industrial Vocational Senior High School. In total, there are 24 junior high schools, elementary schools and kindergartens.<ref name="km_aware">{{Cite web |title=Kinmen Awareness |url=http://web.kinmen.gov.tw/Layout/main_en/AllInOne_en_Show.aspx?path=5709&guid=f40cd06f-a797-4e45-9164-5bbc3399e1aa&lang=en-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308062554/http://web.kinmen.gov.tw/Layout/main_en/AllInOne_en_Show.aspx?path=5709&guid=f40cd06f-a797-4e45-9164-5bbc3399e1aa&lang=en-us |archive-date=8 March 2016 |access-date=5 November 2016 |website=Kinmen County Government}}</ref>

The [[Kinmen County Government]] have invested millions in education in Kinmen, with an average of NT$20,000 per student. Schools in the county also accept the growing number of Taiwanese students whose parents are doing business in [[Fujian]], [[China]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lin |first=Miao-jung |date=23 June 2002 |title=Students Get Green Light to Study in Kinmen |work=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/06/23/0000141477/1 |url-status=live |access-date=11 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222031/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/06/23/0000141477/1 |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> The county government has been striving to encourage universities in Taiwan and China to set up branches in the county, as well as to attract Chinese students to study in Kinmen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Development Strategies |url=http://www.investkinmen.com/eng/about/main.php?mainId=5&proId=17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204949/http://www.investkinmen.com/eng/about/main.php?mainId=5&proId=17 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=11 September 2015 |url-status=usurped |website=Kinmen County Industrial Department and Investment Promotion Committee}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Kinmen - Shuitou Harbor - DSCF9374.JPG|left|thumb|[[Tashan Power Plant]]]]

===Electricity===
The Kinmen Power Company was founded in 1967 and gradually built five power plants in the county and is in charge of providing power resources to all residents in Kinmen. It used to rely on [[Diesel fuel|light diesel oil]] which created high cost burden to its management. Since 1992, the ROC central government approved the power company to authorize [[Taiwan Power Company]] (Taipower) for five-year management. All of the power development projects were invested by Taipower and helped the region economic development. In July 1997, Kinmen Power Company was officially incorporated to Taipower. In 1999, the diesel-fired [[Tashan Power Plant]] was built to supply electricity to Kinmen grid. The other smaller power plants were subsequently discontinued to reduce cost.<ref name=km_aware/> The county is also powered by its Jinmen Wind [[wind farm]] with a capacity of 4&nbsp;MW and [[photovoltaic system]] with a capacity of 9 MW.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 December 2020 |title=Overview of the Development of Renewable Energy |url=https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/page.aspx?mid=4495 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113014636/https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/page.aspx?mid=4495 |archive-date=13 January 2021 |access-date=31 December 2020 |website=Taipower}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 May 2020 |title=The Largest in Taiwan! Taipower's First Grid-Connected 2-MW Energy Storage System Operates Today in Kinmen Instant Power Rescue within 0.2 Second |url=https://www.moea.gov.tw/MNS/english/news/News.aspx?kind=6&menu_id=176&news_id=91506 |access-date=16 June 2021 |website=Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C. |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513235349/https://www.moea.gov.tw/MNS/english/news/News.aspx?kind=6&menu_id=176&news_id=91506 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Submarine telecommunication cable===
In August 2012, Kinmen and [[Xiamen]] established the first submarine telecommunication cable between the two sides. On Taiwan side, the infrastructure was constructed by [[Chunghwa Telecom]], while on mainland China's side was done by [[China Telecom]], [[China Unicom]] and [[China Mobile]]. The project began in 1996 and took 16 years to build.<ref name="taipeitimes1">{{Cite news |date=22 August 2012 |title=Chunghwa Telecom Hails Submarine Cable to Xiamen |page=3 |work=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/08/22/2003540904 |url-status=live |access-date=19 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511102354/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/08/22/2003540904 |archive-date=11 May 2014}}</ref>

The telecommunication system consists of two cables, one is an {{convert|11|km|abbr=on}} long cable that runs from Kinmen's Lake Tzu and Xiamen's Mount Guanyin, and the other is a {{convert|9.7|km|abbr=on}} long cable that runs from Guningtou on Greater Kinmen Island (ROC) to Dadeng Island (PRC). The system is a non-repeater system with a bilateral transmission capacity of 90&nbsp;Gbit/s, which might be expanded in the future if demand arises.<ref name="taipeitimes1" />

===Water supply===
[[File:金門太湖淨水廠 20200807153319 04.jpg|thumb|Water treatment plant in Kinmen]]
The current daily water demand for Kinmen is 50,000 tonnes, which are used for households, industries and agriculture sectors. One tonne of water produced for Kinmen costs about NT$50–60 and may surge to NT$70 during summer. In extreme drought condition, water shipment from Taiwan Island may cost as much as NT$200 per tonne. Because Kinmen residents pay only NT$10 for each tonne water they use, the cost of water supply has become a heavy burden for the [[Kinmen County Government|county government]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2015 |title=Kinmen-Fujian Water Pipeline to be Agreed at Upcoming Cross-Strait Talks |url=http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1201&MainCatID=12&id=20150522000075 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801024907/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1201&MainCatID=12&id=20150522000075 |archive-date=1 August 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |website=Want China Times |agency=Central News Agency}}</ref>

For decades, Kinmen has been facing difficulties in water supply to its residents due to its shallow lakes, lack of rainfall and geographical constraints which makes building reservoirs and dams unfeasible. Therefore, Kinmen often overuses its groundwater, causing rising tidal flood and [[soil salinity]].
 
In early September 2013, the [[Government of China|People's Republic of China government]] agreed to supply Kinmen with water from [[Jinjiang, Fujian|Jinjiang City]] in Fujian due to the ongoing [[water shortage]] problem in Kinmen. Kinmen draws more than 8,000 tonnes of [[groundwater]] every day and water from its reservoir is barely enough to support the residents during the dry season. It was judged that a shortage would affect the local economy badly if no mitigation plan was enacted by 2016. The water supply agreement was officially signed on 20 July 2015 in Kinmen between Kinmen County Waterworks Director Weng Wen-kuei ({{lang|zh-hant|翁文貴}}) and Fujian Water Supply Co chairman Zhu Jinliang ({{lang|zh|朱金良}}) witnessed by Kinmen County [[List of county magistrates of Kinmen|Magistrate]] [[Chen Fu-hai]] and Fujian Province Governor [[Su Shulin]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 July 2015 |title=Kinmen Water Deal Not a Security Risk: Official |work=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/21/2003623554 |url-status=live |access-date=20 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145555/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/21/2003623554 |archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

The [[Jinjiang–Kinmen Pipeline]] was officially opened on 5 August 2018 when it first started supplying water, and was celebrated by separate ceremonies held in both Kinmen County and [[Jinjiang, Fujian|Jinjiang City]] in mainland China.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lu |first=Yi-hsuan |date=6 August 2018 |title=Kinmen Starts Importing Chinese Water |work=Taipei Times |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/08/06/2003698048 |url-status=live |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420144021/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/08/06/2003698048 |archive-date=20 April 2019}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Kinmen Airport 01.jpg|left|thumb|[[Kinmen Airport]]]]
[[File:Kinmen - Shuitou Harbor - DSCF9379.JPG|thumb|[[Shuitou Pier]]]]

===Air===
Kinmen is served by [[Kinmen Airport]], a domestic airport located at [[Jinhu, Kinmen|Jinhu Township]], connecting Kinmen with [[Penghu Airport]], Penghu and [[Songshan Airport|Taipei Songshan]], [[Kaohsiung International Airport|Kaohsiung]], [[Taichung International Airport|Taichung]], [[Chiayi Airport|Chiayi]] and [[Tainan Airport]] on Taiwan.

===Sea===
People coming from China can also travel to Kinmen via ferry from [[Xiamen]]'s [[Wutong Ferry Terminal]] or [[Quanzhou]], arriving at [[Shuitou Pier]] in [[Jincheng, Kinmen|Jincheng Township]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 August 2012 |title=Ferry from Xiamen to Kinmen, Taiwan |url=http://www.amoytrip.com/ferry-between-xiamen-and-kinmen-taiwan.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409172516/http://www.amoytrip.com/ferry-between-xiamen-and-kinmen-taiwan.html |archive-date=9 April 2014 |access-date=19 May 2014 |website=Amoy Trip}}</ref> The Kinmen-Quanzhou Ferry is only available to local travelers. Foreigner passport holders are not permitted to use this service.

A new commercial port has been built on newly reclaimed land adjacent to the Shuitou Pier. The new port will handle the majority of sea freight to and from Kinmen. Previously, most of this traffic was handled by a smaller port in Jinhu Township, on the southeast corner of the island. In the past, due to constant [[artillery]] shelling from China, an underground port at the [[Zhaishan Tunnel]] was used to supply the island in times of conflict. It has since been decommissioned and converted into a tourist attraction.

===Road===
A {{convert|5.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} bridge, [[Kinmen Bridge|the Kinmen Bridge]], connecting Kinmen Island (Greater Kinmen) and [[Lieyu, Kinmen|Lieyu]] was completed in October 2022, estimated to cost NT$7.5&nbsp;billion (US$250&nbsp;million).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Hsin-yin |date=9 January 2011 |title=Construction of Kinmen Bridge Begins |work=Focus Taiwan News Channel |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201101090019 |access-date=9 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928120403/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201101090019 |archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |author1=Huang Hui-min and Sean Lin |date=30 October 2022 |title=After 3 decades of stops and starts, Kinmen Bridge opens to traffic |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202210300008 |access-date=1 December 2022 |website=Focus Taiwan}}</ref> It is expected to increase local tourism.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2012 |title=Construction for Kinmen Bridge Begins and President Ma Hopes It Becomes a New Landmark for Kinmen |url=http://www.kinmen.gov.tw/Layout/sub_F/News_NewsContent.aspx?NewsID=103862&frame=86&LanguageType=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621122142/http://www.kinmen.gov.tw/Layout/sub_F/News_NewsContent.aspx?NewsID=103862&frame=86&LanguageType=2 |archive-date=21 June 2015 |access-date=19 May 2014 |website=kinmen.gov.tw}}</ref>

In October 2019, China announced a plan to build a bridge linking [[Xiamen]] to Kinmen. Taiwan's [[Mainland Affairs Council]] (MAC) said that the plans were made unilaterally by China as part of its schemes to absorb Taiwan and divide Taiwanese society, and that they see no need for bridges linking either [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]] or Kinmen to China.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Teng |first=Pei-ju |date=14 October 2019 |title=China Announces 'initial Plans' to Build Bridges to Taiwan's Outlying Islands Matsu, Kinmen |work=Taiwan News |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3795498 |url-status=live |access-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015001758/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3795498 |archive-date=15 October 2019}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160px">
File:Wuwangzaiju.JPG|[[Wu-Wang-Zai-Ju Inscribed Rock|Calligraphy]] by former President [[Chiang Kai-shek]] etched on [[Wu-Wang-Zai-Ju Inscribed Rock]]
File:遍布反登陆桩的上林海滩 - Anti-landing Spikes on Shanglin Coast - 2014.09 - panoramio.jpg|Anti-landing spikes on [[Lesser Kinmen]] (Lieyu) near [[Shi Islet]] with [[Xiamen]] (Amoy) in the background
File:Shuitou historical residence 水頭古厝 - panoramio.jpg|Shuitou historical residence ({{lang|zh-tw|水頭古厝}})
File:Jincheng - Daitianfu - DSCF9406.JPG|Daitianfu ({{lang|zh-tw|代天府}}) in Jincheng
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Taiwan}}
*[[Administrative divisions of Taiwan]]  
*[[Kinmen Agreement]]
* ''[[The Kinmen Bombs]]'', the film of 1986 set in the [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis|Kinmen Shelling War]]
*''[[Island in Between]]'', the film of 2023

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links and further reading ==
{{Sister project links|auto=1|c=Category:Kinmen|wikt=y|d=y|Kinmen}}
* {{Official website|https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/en/}}
* {{Osmrelation}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030707183730/http://content.edu.tw/local/jinmn/jinhu/talisman/ch4/table407.htm Complete list of the villages in each township]
* [http://www.vagabondjourney.com/kinmen-island-china-without-communism/ Kinmen Island: China without the Communism?]
* [https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/09/11/493255462/on-a-rural-taiwanese-island-modern-china-beckons On A Rural Taiwanese Island, Modern China Beckons], ''[[NPR]]'' (11 September 2016)
* [https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/taiwan-on-chinas-shores-idUSRTS1Y3F9 Pictures : Taiwan on China's shores]. Reuters.
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=24.451447,118.361206&spn=0.253372,0.386581&t=k&hl=en Satellite image of Greater Kinmen and Lesser Kinmen by Google Maps]
* [[Michael Szonyi]], ''Cold War Island: Quemoy on the Front Line'', Cambridge University Press (11 August 2008), hardcover, 328 pages, {{ISBN|0521898137}} {{ISBN|978-0521898133}}; trade paperback, 328 pages, {{ISBN|0521726409}}, {{ISBN|978-0521726405}}

{{Administrative divisions of the Republic of China}}
{{Taiwan Outlying islands divisions}}
{{Territorial disputes in East and South Asia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kinmen| ]]
[[Category:Fujian Province, Republic of China]]
[[Category:Islands of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Islands of Fujian]]
[[Category:Taiwan Strait]]
[[Category:Islands of Fujian, Republic of China]]
[[Category:Potential World Heritage Sites in Taiwan]]