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Changhwa
I
Chiayi
City
I
Hsitou
I
HuaLien
I
Kaohsiung
I
Kinmen
I
Lienchiang |
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Miaoli I
Nantou
I
Penghu
I
Pingtung
I
Taichung
I
Taipei
I
Taitung
I
Tainan |
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Taoyuan
I
Yilan
I
Yunlin
I
Orchid
Island
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Green
Island |
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Kinmen,
also
known
as
Quemoy,
is a
small
island
with
a
very
big
reputation.
Situated
just
off
the
coast
of
Mainland
China,
it
was
the
site
of
fierce
fighting
between
Communist
and
Nationalist
forces
when
the
latter
withdrew
from
the
mainland
in
1949.
In
that
fighting
the
Nationalists
emerged
victorious,
forging
stories
of
loyalty
and
valor
that
live
on
today
as
important
part
of
the
historical
legacy
of
the
Chinese
people
of
Taiwan.
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As a
result,
Kinmen
has
been
regarded
as
hallowed-
almost
sacred-
ground
by
the
people
and
government
of
the
Republic
of
China.
Until
recently
closed
to
outside
visitors
because
of
its
status
as
an
island
fortress
guarding
against
a
continuing
communist
threat,
Kinmen
has
recently
been
opened
to
tourism.
Kinmen
is
actually
an
archipelago
consisting
of
15
islets
including,
besides
Kinmen
itself,
Liehyu
(or
Little
Kinmen),
Tatan,
and
Ertan.
Three
of
the
islets
are
occupied
by
Mainland
China;
the
remainder-those
under
the
control
of
the
ROC-
have
a
total
land
area
of
150.46
square
kilometers.
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The
craggy
island
is
made
up
primarily
of
granite,
which
at
the
highest
point-
Mt.
Taiwu-
rises
253
meters
above
sea
level.
This
hill
is
the
source
of
numerous
streams
that
flow
into
reservoirs
that
supply
water
for
the
local
population
and
beautify
the
landscape
as
well.
Being
relatively
isolated
in
the
sea,
Kinmen
in
the
past
provided
a
popular
haven
for
pirates
and
Japanese
adventurers.
Walls
and
moats
were
first
constructed
on
the
island
as a
defense
against
these
marauders
in
1387,
during
the
reign
of
Emperor
Taitsu
of
the
Ming
dynasty.
This
earned
Kinmen
the
name,
by
which
it
is
still
known
today;
literally
"Golden
Gate",
the
name
actually
translates,
roughly,
as
"Impregnable
Gateway."
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