The Kinmen Podcast: An Interactive Audiobook
In 2026, I created a podcast series about Kinmen Island. Across 13 episodes, I explore all aspects of Kinmen. You can listen to every episode in order or choose a topic that interests you. Summaries of each episode are also available on this page. I also have a Kinmen ebook, in case you want to read more about the island.
An Audiobook About Taiwan’s Hidden Window
The audio book is for anyone interested in Taiwan, China, or traveling in East Asia, and it is available in three languages: German, English, and Chinese. Each episode features voice-over narration and embedded subtitles in English and Chinese, so everyone can join the journey, no matter their language.
I designed the YouTube thumbnails for a German-speaking audience, so it may look a bit confusing at first. But no worries: all videos are fully dubbed and come with a translated title and description. Depending on your location, browser, and device, you may also need to adjust the language settings of the podcast to your preference.
Note: If you listen to the audiobook in English or Chinese, YouTube allows you to increase the playback speed. You can try speeding it up to 1.25× if the voice-over sounds too slow. Due to the wordy nature of the German language, I had to reduce the pace in other languages to match the timing of the original footage.
Episode 1: Taiwan’s Hidden Window Between China and Taiwan | Introduction
Welcome to the first chapter of the audiobook! We introduce the island group of Kinmen (金門) and talk about some basics. Kinmen is geographically close to Xiamen, yet culturally and politically part of Taiwan (Republic of China).
Visitors value the island for its rich history, stunning architecture, military heritage, and of course, the legendary Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor.
In the first episode, I mention an article about “Why is Kinmen Part of Taiwan?” that you can find on my blog. If you want to read more about Kinmen, check out my knowledge page about the island. But of course, you can also just listen along to the other episodes of the podcast.
Episode 2: The History of Kinmen Since 1937 | Taiwan’s Hidden Window
In episode 2, we talk about the latest history of Kinmen. Since 1937, the island has repeatedly been at the center of global politics. Many sights and events on Kinmen can only be understood when viewed in the context of these unique historical developments.
Ferdinand will discuss the Battle of Guningtou in 1949, the First Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1954, and the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958. And of course, how Kinmen has changed since then. There have been many battles, it is hard to keep track. To do so, I suggest reading this article about the “Battle of Kinmen”.
The second episode covers extensive history and may be difficult to watch. If you would like to see better visuals, I recommend watching my video about the recent history of Kinmen. I visit the most important historical sites and show how Kinmen managed to remain part of Taiwan. And a sidenote here, until today, there seem to be US troops on Kinmen Island.
Episode 3: Kinmen’s Beaches: Blue Diamonds, Sand Thieves & Water-Shy Taiwanese
The “Blue Tears” or “Blue Diamonds” in Kinmen are just one of many secrets you can find on the beaches of the island. In this episode, everything revolves around Kinmen’s beaches. From seafood to swimming and more.
The Blue Tears are for sure one of the most amazing things to see on Kinmen. I did not know about them before moving to the island. And there are many more things about Kinmen that you might not know. For that, read my article about 10 surprising facts about Kinmen Island in Taiwan.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 4: Nature & Wildlife on Kinmen – Taiwan’s Hidden Window
Kinmen is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. I show you the best places for hiking and cycling, for example. Of course, we also talk about the best parks and birdwatching spots.
The nature of the island is unique. Years of military lockdown and old bunkers created an outstanding tourist hotspot. For a small island, Kinmen has a lot of diverste landscapes to offer.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 5: Western-Style Buildings on Kinmen Island, Taiwan
The western-style buildings on Kinmen Island, also known as Yáng Lóu (洋樓), are among the island’s most famous landmarks. I speak about how this unique form of colonial architecture in Taiwan came into being. And why Kinmen played such a central role in its development.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many young men from Kinmen, Taiwan emigrated to Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Some became wealthy. After returning to Kinmen, they built impressive houses in a Western architectural style.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 6: Underrated Island of Xiao Kinmen | Why Lieyu Is Worth Visiting
Most visitors to Kinmen stay on the main island, Da Kinmen, and, if anything, only take a short day trip to the smaller neighboring island, Xiao Kinmen (Lieyu). However, I believe that the smaller island is especially fascinating. In this podcast, I take you to the island’s most important sights, including the Jiugong Tunnel, the Landmine Museum, and the Hujingtou Battle Museum.
If I look at my content history, I have to confess, I do like Lieyu. I made two dedicated videos about Xiao Kinmen. And I also mentioned locations on the smaller Kinmen Island several times in other videos. Since the opening of the Kinmen Bridge, it is also a lot easier to reach “Little Kinmen”. Crossing a 5.4 KM bridge is quite an experience, trust me.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 7: The Ultimate Tourist Guide to Kinmen | Getting There & Practical Tips
In this episode, I share the most important travel information for anyone planning to visit Kinmen. It does not matter if you are traveling as a tourist or planning your trip, this episode gives you everything you need to know in advance.
I talk about arriving at the airport, the best flight connections, the ferry to Xiamen (China), as well as recommended hotels and accommodations. I also cover the best time to visit, the weather, and many practical tips to make your trip more enjoyable.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 8: Products from Kinmen | Kaoliang, Kinmen Knives & More
In Episode 8 of the Kinmen Podcast, everything revolves around products that can only be found on Kinmen. It is best known throughout Taiwan for its Gaoliang liquor. But Kinmen has much more to offer: knives made from melted-down Chinese artillery shells, a wide variety of sweets, and many other products proudly labeled “Made in Kinmen.”
A while ago, I produced a video about the best products from Kinmen Island in Taiwan. There you see Maestro Wu in action, making the famous Kinmen Knives. I have also written a blog about Facts You Did Not Know About Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor that you wanna check out.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 9: Wind Gods, Temples & the World of Deities in Kinmen
In Episode 9 of the Kinmen Podcast, everything is about religion, faith, and the diverse world of gods in Kinmen. We talk about the Wind Gods, their significance for the island, and the most important religious events of the year. The wind lions are more than just a tourist attraction!
You may notice that this episode is rather short. I do not consider myself a religious person. Daoism and Buddhism are not my areas of expertise, so please double-check the information carefully. As usual, I tried my best to fact-check all the details, but with this topic, I believe my podcast may be more prone to mistakes.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 10: A Journey Back in Time to Historic Kinmen | History Before 1949
In this tenth episode of my Kinmen podcast, we go on a journey back in time to historic Kinmen. The focus is on the island’s history before 1949 and the events that have shaped Kinmen’s identity to this day.
I really enjoyed producing this episode, by the way. Probably because I consider myself a bit of a history nerd. If I ever have more time, I would love to dig a bit deeper into the pirate history of Kinmen.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 11: The Ferry from Kinmen in Taiwan to Xiamen in China
Relations between Taiwan and China are better than many people think, at least if you come to Kinmen and take the ferry from there. In this episode, we talk about Xiamen in China, with a particular focus on its close connection to Kinmen.
The last time I went to Xiamen was in 2026. However, I did not manage to produce a video at that time. I did manage to write a blog about how to get from Taiwan to China by ferry. I should try to produce a new video soon.
Kinmen Podcast 12: Tunnels & Military Fortifications of Kinmen – Zhaishan + Jiugong Tunnel & More
The tunnels of Kinmen are my personal favorite attractions on Kinmen: Their history, and the fact that these former defense installations can now be visited so freely, still fascinates me to this day.
As mentioned in the podcast, I have produced several videos about the various tunnels on Kinmen. My personal favorite is the Mashan Observation Station, which marks the closest point between Taiwan and China. I also suggest adding the Jincheng Civil Defense Tunnel in Kinmen to your bucket list. It gives you a vivid idea of what it felt like to live on the island during the years of conflict, including periods of artillery shelling.
Kinmen Podcast Episode 13: Fake News – Kinmen in the (Western) Media & Propaganda History
Relations between Taiwan and China are better than many people think, at least if you come to Kinmen and take the ferry from there. In this episode, we talk about Xiamen in China, with a particular focus on its close connection to Kinmen.
Originally, I planned to make an episode about the history of propaganda in Kinmen, and I do touch on that. But after years on the island and seeing the international coverage, my priorities shifted.
For example, I share my personal experience with the German magazine “Der Spiegel,” which eventually agreed to publish a correction of a terrible documentary about Taiwan featuring Kinmen. (Spoiler: they did not exactly volunteer, I had to “help” a bit.)
I did not plan for the Kinmen Podcast to become a permanent project, so I am currently not planning to publish further episodes.
However, I plan to continue my travel vlog in English. Of course, I am also working on creating more content about Kinmen. You can check out my blog posts about Kinmen Island or my Kinmen Travel Tales playlist on YouTube for the latest updates.