The Wind Lions of Kinmen Island
If you are asking yourself “What to do on Kinmen Island?”, a great answer is to chase the wind lions (also known as windlions) scattered across the island.
The locals still actively worship these stone statues today. They can be found all over the island. People craft cloaks for them, leave offerings, and pass down mysterious tales about these unique local guardians.
Thus, even if you are not planning to travel to Taiwan, this story is worth reading. After living in Kinmen for a while, I have come to realize that the Wind Lions are more than just tourist attractions; they are historical monuments. And if you do plan to travel to Kinmen and really do not want to learn more about wind lions, check out my Kinmen eBook.
The History of the Wind Lions of Kinmen Island
Once upon a time, the Mongols turned China upside down, and the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 AD) left its mark on Kinmen as well. After the Tang dynasty, the island nearly became treeless, as residents relied on wood for the booming logging and salt industries.
This deforestation made Kinmen vulnerable to incoming monsoons, which caused severe sandstorms and wind damage.
During this time, stone lions were brought from Quanzhou and Zhangzhou as religious guardians to ward off evil. These statues became the weapon of choice against the man-made environmental challenges of the era. Wind Lion were quickly placed in villages or areas most affected by the destructive winds.
Over the years – many years – trees began to regrow, but the statues remained. Today, the Wind Lion Gods are still revered as the guardians of Kinmen. In case you want to see how that looks like watch my video about the wind lions. Or check episode 9 of my Kinmen Podcast.
How to Find the Wind Lions When Traveling in Kinmen
The Wind Lions are everywhere on the island, and several public places have maps of Kinmen with the official Wind Lions marked. Additionally, the Kinmen National Park offers more information and an online map of Kinmen with the wind lions. However, I do not think you will be able to find complete information or a map with all the wind lions of Kinmen.
Even if there were a complete list, it would still be quite a task to visit them all. Some are easier to find, such as the clay-made Wind Lion God in Anqi. But note that the smallest stone Wind Lion God is less than 30 cm tall – at least, that is what I was told, as I did not manage to find it.
A Wind Lion App to the Rescue on Kinmen Island
However, there is an app that can help you find the Wind Lions of Kinmen Island. Unfortunately, I did not manage to find an English version. The app is called “金沙巡禮之尋找金門風獅爺” (Pilgrimage to Kinmen: Searching for the Wind Lions of Kinmen).
The app not only guides you to the Wind Lions. You can also collect a little surprise once you have visited enough of them. But only for a limited time and during designated promotional periods.
The Kinmen Tourism Office calls it the Kinmen version of Pikmin. The Wind Lion app uses GPS positioning and AR technology to confirm that you have visited a Wind Lion. The exact locations and the number of Wind Lions you need to visit depend on the specific treasure hunt event.
I tried it myself and got a toy Wind Lion. It looks a bit like LEGO, but the bricks are actually much smaller. And note that these Wind Lions do not come assembled. Because of the tiny size of the bricks, I spent a full day putting all the pieces together.
Start Chasing the Gods of Kinmen Island
My suggestion? Start exploring Kinmen to find the Wind Lions! If you have enough time, you can even download an app to help locate them. As you search for these stone guardians, be sure to listen to the locals – they have plenty of fascinating stories to share about the Wind Lions.
Pay close attention to the details of the Wind Lion Gods, and you might notice religious symbols embedded in their gestures, facial expressions, accessories, or the items they hold. Each statue has its own unique story and significance. If you are curious to learn more about Kinmen Island, I recommend checking out my Kinmen Travel Tales on YouTube. Beyond the episodes I have already mentioned, there is so much more to discover!
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[…] If you are looking for more general information about Kinmen Island, follow this link for an overview. I have also published articles on why Kinmen is part of Taiwan and on the Wind Lions of Kinmen. […]
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