Kinmen County and Kinmen Island: Same Same, but Different
I always talk about Kinmen Island: that “one: island belonging to Taiwan but located right next to China. However, that is not entirely correct, because Kinmen is actually a group of islands. In this blog, I want to take a closer look at Kinmen and briefly talk about its geography and the distribution of the Kinmen County population.
If you are planning to travel to the island, I suggest checking out my Kinmen page first or reading my article about “Why Kinmen Is Part of Taiwan.”
There are two main islands, Da Kinmen (Greater Kinmen) and Xiao Kinmen (Lesser Kinmen). Beside that, you have several smaller islets, and Wuqiu Island, which lies more than 130 km away from the other islands in Kinmen County.
Looking at the Map of Kinmen
I “borrowed” the map of Kinmen from Wikipedia on top because it is the only one I could find that shows several of the smaller islands and also Wuqiu. I think I also used this map in my very first video about Kinmen three years ago.
If you search on Google Maps for Kinmen, Wuqiu Island is way too far away to take a decent screenshot. If you want to see more details, I recommend using the official map provided by the Kinmen Tourism Bureau. It is detailed and even includes the names of many smaller islets.
Kinmen County has a total population of 143,000 people, most of whom live on the main island Da Kinmen. Another 5,000 inhabitants live in Xiao Kinmen. As you see in the second map of Kinmen, a major landmark of the Kinmen County is the Kinmen bridge that connects the two main islands. The map also shows the ferry connection between Da Kinmen with Lieyu, but to my knowledge, the fair stopped operating a few years ago.
Wuqiu Island is Part of Kinmen County in Taiwan
I have never been to Wuqiu (also spelled Wuchiou), but it is an administrative region under the Kinmen County Government. Officially, this part of Kinmen has a population of a little over 500 people. However, most of them do not live in Wuqiu permanently. I also assume that the Taiwanese army uses the island as a remote outpost.
And to make things even more complicated, Wuqiu itself is also a group of islands, consisting of Daqiu and Xiaoqiu. Similar to Kinmen, they are named after their size. Very creative 😉
There is a ferry connection from Kinmen, but it reportedly only runs once every two weeks. I have also seen some people sharing photos from Wuqiu on Facebook, though I am not sure whether tourist cruises operate there as well. I read that there is also a ferry connection to the Port of Taichung on Taiwan’s main island, but I cannot confirm that.
Other Parts of Kinmen County: The Most Important Islets
If you have a look at the map of Kinmen above, you can see several smaller islets along the cost. Some are tourist hotspots, like the Dadan Island, others are still not accessible to the public. I picked my personal highlights:
Lieyu Islets (Around Xiao Kinmen)
Surrounding Xiao Kinmen, you will find a few tiny islets such as Houyu or Liuyu. These rocky outcrops played a key role during the Cold War era, hosting military outposts that guarded the narrow strait between Kinmen and China. Today, most are uninhabited, but some can be spotted from the beaches of Lieyu Township.
Little Kinmen is also home to the Kinmen Landmine Museum and the Jiugong Tunnel. Both places you should not miss.
Jiangongyu Islet near Jincheng
Probably the most famous islet of Kinmen is Jiangong Islet. Pay attention to the tides, though, if you miscalculate your timing, you might get stuck on the island and even fined by the national park authorities.
The islet features an old military fortress and the statue of Koxinga, built in 1968 to commemorate the Ming Dynasty hero. I have visited Jiangong Islet several times while filming my travel vlogs. Most recently for my video about “Why Kinmen Is Part of Taiwan.”
Dongding and Xiding Islands
Located southeast of Greater Kinmen, the Dongding (Eastern Tip) and Xiding (Western Tip) Islands are two isolated rocks in the Taiwan Strait. This place is famous for their lighthouses built during the Qing Dynasty. Today these islands are used by the Republic of China military. They are small, windswept, and off-limits to regular visitors but they symbolize Kinmen’s frontier position between Taiwan and China.
Last Words: Visit Kinmen County
I hope you now see the difference between Kinmen Island and Kinmen County. I will admit, even after writing this article, I will probably still just say Kinmen or Kinmen Island. To be honest, most locals do the same, at least in my experience.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to check out my Kinmen Travel Tales playlist on YouTube or explore my other Kinmen blog posts for more stories, tips, and hidden spots around the islands.